A Glossary

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A

abdomen - The area between the chest and the hips. Contains the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen.

abdominal bracing - Technique of tensing the stomach muscles to support the spine.

abdominal hysterectomy - The uterus is removed through the abdomen via a surgical incision.

ablation - Elimination or removal.

abortion - Medical termination of a pregnancy before the fetus has developed enough to survive outside the uterus.

ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor - A medication that lowers blood pressure.

absorption - The way nutrients from food move from the small intestine into the cells in the body.

accessory digestive organs - Organs that help with digestion but are not part of the digestive tract. These organs are the tongue, glands in the mouth that make saliva, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder.

acetylcholine - A neurotransmitter that is a derivative of choline; released at the ends of nerve fibers in the somatic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

action tremor - A tremor that increases when the hand is moving voluntarily.

acupuncture - A procedure used in or adapted from Chinese medical practice in which specific body areas are pierced with fine needles for therapeutic purposes or to relieve pain or produce regional anesthesia.

adenocarcinoma - A cancer that develops in the lining or inner surface of an organ.

adhesion - A band of scar tissue that joins normally separated internal body structures, most often after surgery, inflammation, or injury in the area.

adjuvant treatment - Treatment that is added to other therapies to increase effectiveness.

adrenal glands - Two glands, one on top of each kidney, which produce a variety of hormones that affect nearly every body system.

adrenaline - See epinephrine.

advance directives - Legal documents such as living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care decisions that detail a person's wishes regarding medical treatment prior to an illness or accident.

AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) - A protein produced by a developing fetus that is present in amniotic fluid and, in smaller amounts, in a pregnant woman's blood. Abnormal levels of AFP found in a blood test between the 15th and 18th weeks of pregnancy can indicate abnormalities in the fetus.

aerophagia - A condition that occurs when a person swallows too much air; causes gas and frequent belching.

agonist - A drug that increases neurotransmitter activity by stimulating the dopamine receptors directly.

akinesia - No movement.

alactasia - An inherited condition causing the lack of the enzyme needed to digest milk sugar.

allergen - The substance that triggers an allergic reaction.

allergy - An acquired, abnormal immune response to a substance that can cause a broad range of inflammatory reactions.

alimentary canal - Gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

allodynia - Pain due to a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain.

allogeneic transplantation - To transfer a tissue or organ genetically different although belonging to or obtained from the same species.

alzheimer's disease - A progressive, degenerative disease that occurs in the brain. It results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior.

amenorrhea - Absence or cessation of menstrual periods.

amniocentesis - Prenatal diagnostic procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is withdrawn through a needle inserted through a pregnant woman's abdominal wall into the uterus, then examined in a laboratory to detect genetic abnormalities in a fetus.

amniotic fluid - Clear liquid that surrounds and protects the fetus throughout pregnancy.

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - A terminal neurological disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of motor cells in the spinal cord and brain. It is often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease."

anal fissure - A small tear in the anus that may cause itching, pain, or bleeding.

anal fistula - A channel that develops between the anus and the skin. Most fistulas are the result of an abscess (infection) that spreads to the skin.

analgesia - Absence of pain in response to stimulation that would normally be painful.

anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock) - A sudden, severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction caused by food allergy, insect stings or medications. Symptoms can include hives, swelling (especially of the lips and face), difficulty breathing (either because of swelling in the throat or an asthmatic reaction), vomiting, diarrhea, cramping and a fall in blood pressure.

anastomosis - An operation to connect two body parts. An example is an operation in which a part of the colon is removed and the two remaining ends are rejoined.

anatomical - 1. Concerned with anatomy. 2. Concerned with dissection. 3. Related to the structure of an organism.

anemia - Not enough red blood, red blood cells, or hemoglobin (HEE-muh-gloh-bin) in the body. Hemoglobin is a protein in the blood that contains iron.

aneurysm - A sac-like protrusion from a blood vessel or the heart.

anesthesiology - The medical study and application of pain-killing medication.

anesthetic - An agent that causes loss of sensation with or without the loss of consciousness.

angina pectoris (also called angina) - Recurring chest pain or discomfort that happens when some part of the heart does not receive enough blood.

angiodysplasia - Abnormal or enlarged blood vessels in the gastrointestinal tract.

angiography - An x-ray that uses dye to detect bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

angioplasty - A non-surgical procedure for treating diseased arteries.

anovulation - Failure of the ovaries to produce or release mature eggs.

anoscopy - A test to look for fissures, fistulae, and hemorrhoids using a special instrument, called an anoscope, to look into the anus.

antacids - Medicines that balance acids and gas in the stomach.

antibodies - Proteins produced by the immune system to fight specific bacteria, viruses, or other antigens.

antibody (also called an immunoglobulin) - A complex protein that is manufactured by lymphocytes to neutralize or destroy an antigen or foreign protein. Many types of antibodies are protective, however, inappropriate or excessive formation of antibodies may lead to illness.

anticoagulant - A medication that keeps blood from clotting.

anticholinergics - Anti-Parkinson drugs that block the action of acetylcholine, thereby rebalancing it in relation to dopamine and reducing rigidity and tremor; e.g., Artane, Cogentin.

anticholinergics - Medicines that calm muscle spasms in the intestine.

antidiarrheals - Medicines that help control diarrhea.

antiemetics - Medicines that prevent and control nausea and vomiting.

antigen - A protein marker on the surface of cells that identifies the cell.

antihistamine drugs - A group of drugs that block the effects of histamine, a chemical released in body fluids during an allergic reaction.

antihypertensive - A medication or other therapy that lowers blood pressure.

anti-inflammatory drugs - Drugs that reduce the symptoms and signs of inflammation.

antioxidants - Compounds that protect against cell damage inflicted by molecules called oxygen-free radicals, which are a major cause of disease and aging.

antispasmodics - Medicines that help reduce or stop muscle spasms in the intestines.

antrectomy - An operation to remove the upper portion of the stomach, called the antrum. This operation helps reduce the amount of stomach acid. It is used when a person has complications from ulcers.

anus - The opening at the end of the digestive tract where bowel contents leave the body.

aorta - The largest artery in the body and the primary blood vessel leading from the heart to the body.

aortic valve - The valve that regulates blood flow from the heart into the aorta.

aphasia - Partial or total loss of the ability to articulate ideas or comprehend spoken or written language, resulting from damage to the brain caused by injury or disease.

arrhythmia - An abnormal heartbeat rhythm.

arteriosclerosis - Commonly called "hardening of the arteries;" a variety of conditions caused by fatty or calcium deposits in the artery walls causing them to thicken.

arteriovenous - Of, relating to, or connecting both arteries and veins.

artery - A blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body.

arthralgia - Pain in a joint, usually due to arthritis or arthropathy.

arthritis - Literally means joint inflammation; a general term for more than 100 conditions, known as rheumatic diseases, that affect not only the joints but also other parts of the body, including important supporting structures such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as well as some internal organs.

arthroscopy - A surgical procedure used to visualize, diagnose, and treat problems inside a joint.

articulation - Bringing articulatory organs together so as to shape the sounds of speech (anatomy) the point of connection between two bones or elements of a skeleton especially if the articulatio allows motion.

ascending colon - The part of the colon on the right side of the abdomen.

ascites - A buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Ascites is usually caused by severe liver disease such as cirrhosis.

assisted reproductive technology (ART) - Medical procedures, such as intrauterine insemination, that are performed to help infertile couples conceive.

asthma - A chronic, inflammatory lung disease characterized by recurrent breathing problems usually triggered by allergens (infection, exercise, cold air, and other factors may also be triggers).

asymptomatic - The condition of having a disease, but without any symptoms of it.

ataxia - Loss of balance.

atherectomy - A non-surgical procedure that involves removing plaque from the walls of arteries with a rotating blade.

atherosclerosis - A type of arteriosclerosis caused by a build-up of plaque in the inner lining of an artery.

athetosis - Slow, involuntary movements of the hands and feet.

atherosclerosis - Where fat/yellow plaque is deposited on the arterial walls.

atonic colon - Lack of normal muscle tone or strength in the colon. This is caused by the overuse of laxatives or by Hirschsprung's disease. It may result in chronic constipation. Also called lazy colon. See Hirschsprung's Disease.

atrioventricular (AV) node - A cluster of cells between the atria and ventricles that regulate the electrical current.

atrioventricular block - An interruption of the electrical signal between the atria and the ventricles.

atrium (atria pl.) - One of two upper chambers in the heart.

atrophy - Wasting away of a body part or tissue.

atresia - Lack of a normal opening from the esophagus, intestines, or anus.

atrophic gastritis - Chronic irritation of the stomach lining. Causes the stomach lining and glands to wither away.

atrophy - Wasting, shrinkage of muscle tissue or nerve tissue.

audiological - The study of hearing, especially hearing defects and their treatment.

autoimmune hepatitis - A liver disease caused when the body's immune system destroys liver cells for no known reason.

axon - The long, hairlike extension of a nerve cell that carries a message to the next nerve cell.

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