|
Eardrum-
a thin, oval-shaped membrane that separates the inner
ear from the outer ear and is responsible for transmitting
sound waves
ECG
(sometimes called an EKG)- an electrocardiogram, which
is a record of the electrical impulses that trigger the
heartbeat; used to diagnose heart disorders
Echocardiogram- an image
of the heart that is created by high-frequency (ultrasound)
sound waves
Eclampsia-
a serious condition that occurs in late pregnancy, characterized
by seizures in the woman
Ectopic-
occurring at an abnormal position or time
Eczema- inflammation of the
skin, usually causing itchiness and sometimes blisters
and scaling; may be caused by allergies, but often occurs
for no apparent reason
Edema-
abnormal buildup of fluid in the body, which may cause
visible swelling
EEG-
see Electroencephalography
Elective-
describes a treatment or procedure that is not urgent
and can be arranged at the patient's convenience
Electroencephalography- a
procedure for recording the electrical impulses of brain
activity
Embolism- the blockage of
a blood vessel by an embolus - something previously circulating
in the blood (such as a blood clot, gas bubble, tissue,
bacteria, bone marrow, cholesterol, fat, etc)
Embryo-
a term used to describe a child in the womb from fertilization
to 8 weeks following fertilization
Emetic-
a substance that causes vomiting; used to treat some cases
of poisoning and drug overdose
Emphysema-
a chronic disease in which the small air sacs in the lungs
(the alveoli) become damaged; characterized by difficulty
breathing
Encephalitis- inflammation
of the brain, usually caused by a virus; may be very mild
and barely noticeable, but is usually serious and can
progress from headache and fever to hallucinations, paralysis,
and sometimes coma
Endarterectomy-
surgery performed to remove the lining of an artery that
has been narrowed by fatty tissue buildup
Endemic- describes a disease
that is always present in a certain population of people
Endocarditis-
inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, usually
the heart valves; typically caused by an infection
Endocardium- the inner lining
of the heart
Endocrine
gland-
a gland that secretes hormones into the bloodstream Endogenous-
arising from inside of the body
Endometrial
polyp-
a growth (usually noncancerous) occurring on the lining
of the uterus
Endometriosis- a condition
in which fragments of the endometrium are found in other
pelvic organs
Endometrium- the membrane
that lines the uterus Endophthalmitis- inflammation of
the inside of the eye
Endorphin-
a group of chemicals produced in the brain that reduce
pain and positively affect mood
Endoscope-
a lighted instrument used to view the inside of a body
cavity
Endothelium-
the layer of flat cells that lines the blood and lymph
vessels, the heart, and other structures in the body
Endotracheal
tube-
a plastic tube that is fed down into the trachea through
the mouth or nose to supply oxygen to a person who is
not breathing properly
Enteritis-
inflammation of the small intestine, usually causing diarrhea
Enterobiasis-
infestation by a pinworm
Enuresis-
the medical term for wetting the bed
Enzyme- a chemical, originating
in a cell, that regulates reactions in the body
Epidemic- a term used to
describe a disease that is rare then suddenly affects
more people than usually expected
Epidermis- the outer layer
of the skin
Epididymis-
a long, coiled tube, exiting from the back of the testicle,
in which sperm mature
Epidural
anesthesia-
a method of pain relief in which a painkilling drug is
injected into the space surrounding the spinal cord to
block sensations in the abdomen and lower body
Epilepsy- a disorder of the
nervous system in which abnormal electrical activity in
the brain causes seizures
Epinephrine- a hormone produced
by the adrenal glands in response to stress, exercise,
or fear; increases heart rate and opens airways to improve
breathing; also called adrenaline
Episcleritis-
a patch of inflammation on the outer layer of the white
of the eye
Episiotomy-
a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the
tissue between the vagina and anus to prevent tearing
of this tissue during childbirth
Epithelium- the layer of
cells that covers the body and lines many organs
Epstein-Barr virus- a virus
that is the cause of mononucleosis and is involved in
Burkitt's lymphoma
Erysipelas- an infection
caused by streptococci bacteria; characterized by fever
and rash
Erythema-
redness of the skin
Erythrocyte-
a red blood cell
Erythrocyte
sedimentation rate-
a measure of the time it takes for red blood cells to
collect at the bottom of a sample of blood; an elevated
rate may mean that there is inflammation somewhere in
the body
Erythroplakia-
red patches in the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat,
or voice box (larynx) that can become cancerous; risk
factors include smoking pipes and chewing tobacco
Esophageal spasm- irregular
contractions of the muscles in the esophagus, which lead
to difficulty swallowing
Esophageal
varices-
swollen veins in the lower esophagus and possibly the
upper part of the stomach; can cause vomiting of blood
and passing of black stool
Esophagus- a tube-shaped
canal in the digestive tract, connecting the throat to
the stomach
Estrogen-
a group of hormones (produced mainly in the ovaries) that
are necessary for female sexual development and reproductive
functioning
Estrogen replacement therapy-
treatment with synthetic estrogen drugs to relieve symptoms
of menopause and to help protect women against osteoporosis
and heart disease
Eustachian tube- the tube
that connects the middle ear and the back of the nose,
draining the middle ear and regulating air pressure
Euthanasia-
painlessly ending the life of a patient with an incurable
disease who requests to die
Excision- the surgical removal
of diseased tissue
Excretion- the process by
which the body rids itself of waste
Exercise
stress test-
the monitoring of the heart during strenuous exercise,
usually on a treadmill or exercise bicycle, to evaluate
how the heart responds to stress
Exercise
thallium test-
an imaging test performed during and after an exercise
stress test to evaluate functioning of the heart muscles
Exogenous-
arising from outside of the body
Expectorant-
a medication used to promote the coughing up of phlegm
from the respiratory tract
Extensor
muscle-
a muscle that causes a joint or limb to straighten
External
version-
external repositioning of the fetus in the womb to the
correct birth position
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy-
a procedure performed to destroy kidney stones using external
shock waves
Extradural anesthesia- injection
of an anesthetic into the space outside the dura mater,
the fibrous membrane that envelops the spinal cord |
