P Glossary

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P

pacemaker - An electronic device that is surgically implanted into the patient's heart and chest to regulate heartbeat.

pagets disease - 1. A disease, occurring chiefly in old age, in which the bones become enlarged and weakened, often resulting in fracture or deformation. 2. A form of breast cancer affecting the areola and nipple. 3. A skin cancer arising from apocrine sweat glands.

pain - An unpleasant sensory or emotional experience primarily associated with tissue damage, or described in terms of tissue damage, or both.

pain threshold - The least experience of pain that a person can recognize.

pain tolerance level - The greatest level of pain that a person is prepared to tolerate.

palliative treatment - Therapy that relieves symptoms, such as pain, but does not alter the course of the disease. Its primary purpose is to improve the quality of life.

pallidotomy - A surgical procedure in which a part of the brain called the globus pallidus is lesioned in order to improve symptoms of tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia.

palpitation - Irregular heartbeat.

palsy - Paralysis of a muscle or group of muscles.

pancreas - A gland that makes enzymes for digestion and the hormone insulin.

pancreatitis - Irritation of the pancreas that can make it stop working; most often caused by gallstones or alcohol abuse.

pap test/smear - Test in which a sample of cells is taken from the cervix and examined to detect cancer or precancerous changes.

papillary stenosis - A condition in which the openings of the bile ducts and pancreatic ducts narrow.

parietal cells - Cells in the stomach wall that make hydrochloric acid.

parkinsonism - The name given to a group of disorders with similar features - four primary symptoms (tremor, rigidity, postural instability, and bradykinesia) that are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells.

parkinson's disease (PD, Parkinson's) - The most common form of parkinsonism, is a slowly progressing, degenerative disease that is usually associated with the following symptoms all of which result from the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells: tremor or trembling of the arms, jaw, legs, and face; and stiffness or rigidity of the limbs and trunk.

pathology - The condition of an organ, tissue, or fluid produced by disease.

peak flow meter - A portable, inexpensive, hand-held device used to measure how air flows from lungs in one "fast blast" to measure the ability to push air out of the lungs. Measurements with a peak flow meter help the patient and physician monitor your asthma. These measurements can be important and help your physician prescribe medicines to keep asthma in control.

pediatric ophthalmology - The branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, functions, pathology, and treatment of the child’s eye.

pelvic node dissection - Lymph nodes near the prostate are removed to determine if cancer has spread.

pelvis - A basin-shaped structure that supports the spinal column and contains the sacrum, coccyx, and hip bones (ilium, pubis, and ischium).

pepsin - An enzyme made in the stomach that breaks down proteins.

peptic - Related to the stomach and the duodenum, where pepsin is present.

peptic ulcer - A sore in the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum; usually caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. An ulcer in the stomach is a gastric ulcer; an ulcer in the duodenum is a duodenal ulcer.

percutaneous - Passing through the skin.

percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) - Angioplasty.

percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography - X-rays of the gallbladder and bile ducts; a dye is injected through the abdomen to make the organs show up on the x-ray.

perianal - The area around the anus.

pericardiocentesis - A diagnostic procedure that uses a needle to draw fluid from the pericardium.

pericarditis - Inflammation of the membrane that surrounds the heart.

pericardium - The membrane that surrounds the heart.

perimenopause - Transition period of waning ovarian function that precedes menopause.

perineal - Related to the perineum.

perineum - The area between the anus and the sex organs.

peristalsis - Wavelike contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

peritoneum - The lining of the abdominal cavity.

peritonitis - Infection of the peritoneum.

pernicious anemia - Anemia caused by a lack of vitamin B12.

pessary - Rubber or plastic device that is inserted through the vagina to help hold the uterus in place in women who have prolapse of the uterus.

PET (positron emission tomography) - In nuclear medicine, it produces 3-D computer-reconstructed images measuring and determining the biochemistry or physiology in a specific organ, tumor or other metabolically active site.

peutz-jeghers syndrome - An inherited condition, in which many polyps grow in the intestine.

phantom limb pain - Pain or discomfort felt by an amputee in the area of the missing limb.

pharmacotherapy - Treatment of disease through the use of drugs.

pharynx - The space behind the mouth. Serves as a passage for food from the mouth to the esophagus and for air from the nose and mouth to the larynx.

PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) - infection of the upper female reproductive tract.

pituitary gland - gland at the base of the brain that secretes hormones and regulates and controls other hormone-secreting glands and many body processes, including reproduction.

placenta - Organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy to link the blood supplies of a pregnant woman and fetus to provide nutrients and remove waste products from the fetus.

placenta previa - Abnormal location of the placenta in the lower part of the uterus, near or over the cervix.

placental abruption - Premature detachment of the placenta from the wall of the uterus causing severe bleeding that is life threatening to both a pregnant woman and fetus.

planar - In nuclear medicine, it provides a two-dimensional view of the organ being imaged.

plantar warts - Warts that occur on the sole of the foot and look like calluses as a result of an infection or a specific virus.

plastic surgery - Surgery concerned with therapeutic or cosmetic reformation of tissue.

plaque - Deposits of fat or other substances attached to the artery wall.

platelets - Cells found in the blood.

PMS (premenstrual syndrome) - range of physical and emotional symptoms that some women experience prior to their monthly periods.

polymyalgia rheumatica - Condition of unknown cause that affects the lining of joints, particularly in the shoulders and hips.

polyp - Tissue bulging from the surface of an organ. Although these growths are not normal, they often are not cause for concern. However, people who have polyps in the colon may have an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

polyposis - The presence of many polyps.

polyunsaturated fat - A type of fat found in vegetable oils and margarines that doesn't appear to raise blood cholesterol levels.

porphyria - A group of rare, inherited blood disorders. When a person has porphyria, cells fail to change chemicals (porphyrins) to the substance (heme) that gives blood its color. Porphyrins then build up in the body. They show up in large amounts in stool and urine, causing the urine to be colored blue. They cause a number of problems, including strange behavior.

portal hypertension - High blood pressure in the portal vein. This vein carries blood into the liver. Portal hypertension is caused by a blood clot. This is a common complication of cirrhosis.

portal vein - The large vein that carries blood from the intestines and spleen to the liver.

portosystemic shunt - An operation to create an opening between the portal vein and other veins around the liver. Can also be accessed via the jugular vein in angiography. Known as T.I.P.S.

positron emission tomography (PET) - A nuclear scanning device that gives a three-dimensional picture of the heart to provide information about the flow of blood through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle.

postcholecystectomy syndrome - A condition that occurs after gallbladder removal. The muscle between the gallbladder and the small intestine does not work properly, causing pain, nausea, and indigestion. Also called biliary dyskinesia.

postgastrectomy syndrome - A condition that occurs after an operation to remove the stomach (gastrectomy). See also dumping syndrome.

posturography - A force platform that evaluates somatosensory and visual influences on posture and equilibrium.

postvagotomy stasis - Delayed stomach emptying; occurs after surgery on the vagus nerve.

predisposition - Tendency to develop a certain disease.

preeclampsia - Disorder of pregnancy characterized by increased blood pressure, water retention, and protein in the urine.

preterm labor - Labor that begins before the 37th week of pregnancy.

prevalence – Statistic that equals the total number of people in a population with a certain disease at a given time.

prick skin test - A test to determine if a patient is allergic to certain substances. A physician places a drop of the substance being tested on the patient's forearm or back and pricks the skin with a needle, allowing a tiny amount to enter the skin. If the patient is allergic to the substance, a wheal (mosquito bite-like bump) will form at the site within about 15 minutes.

primary biliary cirrhosis - A chronic liver disease which slowly destroys the bile ducts in the liver, which prevents release of bile. Long-term irritation of the liver may cause scarring and cirrhosis in later stages of the disease.

primary care physician - Your assigned physician. This physician will manage your care and assign you to a specialist if necessary.

primary sclerosing cholangitis - Irritation, scarring, and narrowing of the bile ducts inside and outside the liver. Bile builds up in the liver and may damage its cells. Many people with this condition also have ulcerative colitis.

proctalgia fugax - Intense pain in the rectum that occasionally happens at night. Caused by muscle spasms around the anus.

proctectomy - An operation to remove the rectum.

proctitis - Irritation of the rectum.

proctocolectomy - An operation to remove the colon and rectum. Also called coloproctectomy.

proctocolitis - Irritation of the colon and rectum.

proctologist - A doctor who specializes in disorders of the anus and rectum.

proctoscope - A short, rigid metal tube used to look into the rectum and anus.

proctoscopy - Looking into the rectum and anus with a proctoscope.

proctosigmoiditis - Irritation of the rectum and the sigmoid colon.

proctosigmoidoscopy - An endoscopic examination of the rectum and sigmoid colon. See also endoscopy.

progesterone - A female sex hormone, produced by the ovaries during the second half of the menstrual cycle.

progestin - Synthetic form of the female sex hormone progesterone.

prognosis - A prediction of the course of the disease; the future prospects for the patient.

prolactin - Hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates breast development and milk production.

prokinetic drugs - Medicines that cause muscles in the GI tract to move food. An example is cisapride.

prolapse - A condition that occurs when a body part slips from its normal position.

prolapse of the uterus - Displacement of the uterus down into the vagina caused by a weakening of supporting tissues in the pelvis.

prostatalgia - Pain in the prostate gland.

prostate acid phosphatase (PAP) - An enzyme produced by the prostate that is elevated in some patients when prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate.

prostate-specific antigen (PSA) - An antigen made by the prostate gland and found in the blood that may indicate cancer in the prostate gland.

prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test - A blood test used to help detect prostate cancer by measuring a substance called prostate-specific antigen made by the prostate.

prostatism - Any condition of the prostate that causes interference with the flow of urine from the bladder.

prostatitis - An inflamed condition of the prostate gland that may be accompanied by discomfort, pain, frequent urination, infrequent urination and sometimes fever.

protein - One of the three main classes of food. Protein is found in meat, eggs, and beans. The stomach and small intestine break down proteins into amino acids. The blood absorbs amino acids and uses them to build and mend cells. See also amino acids.

proton pump inhibitors - Medicines that stop the stomach's acid pump.

prune belly syndrome - A condition of newborn babies, in which the baby has no abdominal muscles, so the stomach looks like a shriveled prune. Also called Eagle-Barrett syndrome.

pruritus ani - Itching around the anus.

pseudomembranous colitis - Severe irritation of the colon caused by Clostridium difficile bacteria. Occurs after taking oral antibiotics, which kill bacteria that normally live in the colon.

psychiatry - The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders.

pudendal block - Pain relieving procedure used during childbirth in which an anesthetic is injected into tissues surrounding the pudendal nerves on either side of the vagina. It blocks pain in the tissues between the vagina and anus.

pulmonary - Pertains to lungs and respiratory system.

pulmonary edema - A condition in which there is a fluid accumulation in the lungs caused by an incorrectly functioning heart.

pulmonary valve - The heart valve located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery that controls blood flow to the lungs.

pulmonary vein - The vessel that carries newly oxygenated blood to the heart from the lungs.

pulse oximeter - A device that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.

pyelonephritis - Kidney infection.

pyloric sphincter - The muscle between the stomach and the small intestine.

pyloric stenosis - A narrowing of the opening between the stomach and the small intestine.

pyloroplasty - An operation to widen the opening between the stomach and the small intestine to allow contents to pass more freely from the stomach.

pylorus - The opening from the stomach into the top of the small intestine (duodenum).

pyramidal pathway - A collection of nerve tracts that travel from the cerebral cortex through the pyramid of the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the spinal cord. Within the pyramid of the medulla, fibers cross from one side of the brain to the opposite side of the spinal cord; the pyramidal pathway is intact in Parkinson's disease.

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