Abdominal cavity- the part of the
body between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the thighs,
containing most of the digestive and urinary systems along with
some reproductive organs
ABO
blood groups-The
system by which human blood is classified, based on proteins
occurring on red blood cells; the four classification groups
are A, AB, B, and O
Abortion-
termination of a pregnancy; can occur because of natural causes
(called a miscarriage) or be a medical intervention
Abscess-
an accumulation of pus in a body tissue, usually caused by a
bacterial infection
ACE
inhibitor-
a drug typically used to treat high blood pressure (Angiotensin-Converting
Enzyme inhibitor)
Achilles
tendon-
the tendon at the back of the lower leg that connects the calf
muscle to the heel bone
Acid-base
balance-
the mechanisms that the body uses to keep its fluids close to
neutral (neither basic nor acidic) so that the body can function
properly
Acidosis-
a condition marked by abnormally high acid levels in the blood,
associated with some forms of diabetes, lung disease, and severe
kidney disease
Acid
reflux-
a disorder in which acid in the stomach comes up into the esophagus,
because the valve separating the stomach and esophagus does
not function properly
Acne-
a skin condition characterized by inflamed, pus-filled areas
that occur on the skin's surface, most commonly occurring during
adolescence
Acquired-
a word describing any condition that is not present at birth,
but develops some time during life
AIDS-
Acronym for Acquired immuno deficiency syndrome. An infection
by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes a weakening
of the immune system
Acute-
describes a condition or illness that begins suddenly and is
usually short-lasting
Acute
respiratory disease-
an urgent condition in which oxygen levels in the blood are
lower than normal and breathing is difficult
Addiction- dependence on a substance
(such as alcohol or other drugs) or an activity, to the point
that stopping is very difficult and causes severe physical and
mental reactions
Adenitis-
infection and inflammation of a gland, especially a lymph node
Adipose
tissue-
another term for fatty tissue; it stores energy, insulates,
and cushions the body
Adjuvant
therapy-
the use of drugs or radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer
along with surgery
Adrenal
failure-
a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough
of the hormones that control important functions such as blood
pressure
Adrenal
glands-
two small glands located on top of the kidneys that secrete
several important hormones into the blood
Adverse
reaction-
an unintended and unwanted side effect of some sort of treatment,
usually drug therapy
Aerobic
exercise-
physical activity during which the heart and lungs must work
harder to meet the body's increased oxygen demand
Affective
disorder-
a mental disorder involving abnormal moods and emotions; affective
disorders include manic-depressive disorder
Afterbirth-
the placenta and membranes that are eliminated from the woman's
uterus following the birth of a child
Afterpains-
normal contractions of the uterus after childbirth that usually
occur for the first few days after delivery
AIDS-
see Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
AIDS-related
complex-
symptoms including weight loss, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes
experienced by people who are infected with HIV but do not yet
have AIDS
Air
embolism-
the blockage of an artery by air bubbles, which may have entered
during surgery or after an injury
Airway
obstruction-
blockage of the passage of air through the windpipe to the lungs
Airways-
the passageways that air moves through while traveling in and
out of the lungs during breathing
Albinism-
a condition in which people are born with insufficient amounts
of the pigment melanin, which is responsible for hair, skin,
and eye color
Alcoholic
cardiomyopathy-
heart damage and failure caused by intake of too much alcohol
Alimentary
canal-
another term for the digestive tract
Alkalosis-
dangerously decreased acidity of the blood, which can be caused
by high altitudes, hyperventilation, and excessive vomiting
Alkylating
agents-
substances used in cancer treatment that interfere with the
division of cells
Allergen-
a substance that causes an allergic reaction
Allergic
rhinitis-
irritation of the nasal passages and the whites of the eyes,
causing sneezing, runny nose, and sore eyes
Allergy-
a negative reaction to a substance that in most people causes
no reaction
Alopecia-
baldness or loss of hair, mainly on the head, either in defined
patches or completely; the cause is unknown
ALS-
see Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Altitude
sickness-
headaches, dizziness, and nausea usually experienced at heights
above 8,000 ft because of reduced oxygen in the air
Alzheimer disease- a condition
that occurs late in life and worsens with time in which brain
cells degenerate; it is accompanied by memory loss, physical
decline, and confusion
Amenorrhea-
absence of menstrual periods, occurring either after or before
menstruation has begun
Amniocentesis-
a procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed
from the mother's womb in order to detect abnormalities of the
fetus
Amniotic
fluid-
clear fluid that surrounds a fetus during pregnancy and cushions
and protects it
Amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis-
the most common of a group of disorders known as motor neuron
diseases, in which the nerves in the brain that control the
movement of muscles degenerate and muscle function is gradually
lost; commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease
Anabolic
steroid-
a drug similar to the male hormone testosterone that builds
muscles and strengthens bones, but has adverse side effects
Anal
fissure-
a long, open sore on the skin of the anus
Anal
fistula-
an abnormal tubelike passage connecting the anus to the surface
of the surrounding skin
Analgesic-
a drug that relieves pain, such as aspirin or acetaminophen
Anal
sphincter-
a ring of muscle fibers at the opening of the rectum, controlling
the opening and closing of the anus
Anaphylactic
shock-
a life-threatening allergic reaction resulting in difficulty
breathing and low blood pressure
Anatomy-
the structure of bodies; commonly refers to the study of body
structure
Androgen-
a hormone (such as testosterone) that causes development of
male characteristics and sex organs
Anemia-
a condition in which the blood does not contain enough hemoglobin,
the compound that carries oxygen from the lungs to other parts
of the body
Anencephaly-
a fatal birth defect in which the brain and spinal cord have
failed to develop, resulting in the absence of a portion of
the skull and brain
Anesthesia-
a loss of sensation in a certain part of the body or throughout
the body
Anesthetic-
a substance that temporarily causes a person to be unable to
feel pain, either in a certain area or over the entire body
Aneurysm-
an abnormal swelling of the wall of an artery, caused by a weakening
in the vessel wall
Angina
pectoris-
pain experienced in the chest, arms, or jaw because of a lack
of oxygen to the heart muscle
Angioma-
a tumor made of blood vessels or lymph vessels that is not cancerous
Angioplasty- the use of surgery
to make a damaged blood vessel function properly again; may
involve widening or reconstructing the blood vessel
Anorexia
nervosa-
a dangerous eating disorder mainly affecting young girls in
which the sufferer has an intense fear of looking fat, avoids
food, and loses weight excessively
Antacid-
a drug that neutralizes stomach acids; used to treat indigestion,
heartburn, and acid reflux
Antibiotic
resistance-
the development by bacteria of the ability to live in the presence
of a certain antibiotic, making treatment difficult
Antibiotics-
bacteria-killing substances that are used to fight infection
Antibody-
a protein made by white blood cells that reacts with a specific
foreign protein as part of the immune response
Anticoagulants-
drugs used to stop abnormal blood clotting, such as to prevent
stroke
Antiemetics-
drugs used to treat nausea and vomiting
Antihistamine-
a drug that relieves an allergic reaction by stopping the effects
of histamine, the substance responsible for the negative symptoms
associated with the reaction
Antihypertensives-
drugs used to relieve the symptoms and prevent the damage that
can occur from high blood pressure
Antioxidants-
substances that protect against cell damage by guarding the
cell from oxygen free radicals
Antipsychotics-
drugs used to treat severe mental disorders
Antiseptics-
chemicals applied to the skin that prevent infection by killing
bacteria and other harmful organisms
Anus-
the opening through which feces are passed from the body
Aorta-
the main artery in the body, carrying oxygenated blood from
the heart to other arteries in the body
Aortic
stenosis-
narrowing of the opening of the aortic valve in the heart, which
increases resistance to blood flow from the left ventricle to
the aorta; commonly a birth defect or caused by scarring and
calcium accumulation in the valve from rheumatic fever
Apgar
score-
a system for evaluating the health of a newborn baby; rated
on a scale of 0-10
Aplasia-
the complete or partial failure of any organ or tissue to grow
Aplastic
anemia-
a severely reduced number of red blood cells, white blood cells,
and platelets
Apnea-
a possibly life-threatening condition in which breathing stops,
for either a short or long period of time
Appendectomy-
surgical removal of the appendix to treat appendicitis
Appendicitis-
inflammation of the appendix
Appendix-
a short, tubelike structure that branches off the large intestine;
does not have any known function
ARC-
see AIDS-related complex
Arteriosclerosis-
a disorder causing thickening and hardening of artery walls
Arteritis-
inflammation of the walls of an artery that causes the passageway
to become narrower; can lead to tissue damage because oxygen
is not properly supplied
Artery-
a large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to tissues
and organs in the body
Arthritis-
a disease of the joints characterized by inflammation, pain,
stiffness, and redness
Arthroscopy-
a procedure used to examine the inside of a joint using a viewing
tube (an endoscope)
Artificial
insemination-
injection of semen into the cervix
Artificial
respiration/ventilation-
the forcing of air (either by mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose
means) into the lungs of a person who has stopped breathing
Ascites-
excess fluid in the abdominal cavity, which leads to swelling
Ascorbic
acid-
the chemical term for vitamin C
Aspermia-
the failure either to produce or to ejaculate sperm
Asphyxia-
the medical term for suffocation; can be caused by choking on
an object, by lack of oxygen in the air, or by chemicals such
as carbon monoxide, which reduce the amount of oxygen in the
blood
Asthma- a disorder characterized
by inflamed airways and difficulty breathing
Astigmatism-
a disorder in which the front surface of the eye (the cornea)
is not correctly spherical, resulting in blurry vision
Atherectomy-
a procedure performed to remove plaque that is blocking an artery
Atheroma-
fatty deposits on the inner walls of blood vessels, which can
cause narrowing and decrease blood flow
Atherosclerosis-
narrowing of the lining of the arteries due to the accumulation
of fat and other materials; leads to coronary heart disease,
stroke, and other disorders
Athlete's
foot-
an infection between the toes caused by a fungus, which leads
to sore, cracked, and peeling skin
Atresia-
a birth defect in which a normal body opening or canal is absent;
usually requires surgical repair soon after birth
Atria-
the two upper chambers of the heart; the singular form is atrium
Atrial
fibrillation-
an irregular heartbeat in which the upper chambers of the heart
(the atria) beat inconsistently and rapidly
Atrial
flutter-
an irregular heartbeat in which the upper chambers of the heart
(the atria) beat rapidly but consistently
Atrial
septal defect-
a hole located in the wall between the two upper chambers of
the heart
Atrophy-
the shrinkage or near disappearance of a tissue or organ
Attention-deficit
disorder-
a disorder mainly present in children and adolescents, characterized
by learning and behavior problems, inability to pay attention,
and sometimes hyperactivity
Audiogram-
a graph showing a person's hearing ability, determined from
a set of tests examining hearing acuity of different sound frequencies
Aura-
a "warning" signal that comes before a migraine headache or
an epileptic seizure, which might include emotions or sensations
of movement or discomfort
Auscultation- the act of listening
to sounds within the body, such as the heartbeat, with a stethoscope
Autism-
a mental disorder characterized by an inability to relate to
other people and extreme withdrawal
Autoimmune
disease-
a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks itself
Autonomic
nervous system-
the part of the nervous system that controls automatic body
functions, such as heart rate, sweating, pupil dilation, and
digestion; divided into the sympathetic nervous system and the
parasympathetic nervous system
Autopsy-
the examination of a body following death, possibly to determine
the cause of death or for research
Autosomal
dominant-
a term describing a gene on any chromosome other than the sex
chromosomes that produces its effect whenever it is present;
can also describe the effect of the gene itself
Autosomal
recessive-
a term used to describe a gene on any chromosome other than
the sex chromosomes that produces its effect only when two copies
of it are present; can also describe the effect of the gene
itself
Axilla-
medical term for the armpit
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