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 Medical dictionary
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Abdomen: the part of the body below the chest.
Abdominal: gut-related.
Abduction: the movement of an arm or leg away from the body.
Aberrant: irregular.
Ablation: the removal of tissue by excision, freezing, burning, or laser
treatment.
Abortion: spontaneous or induced termination of pregnancy.
Abrade: rub or wear away by friction.
Abrasion: graze.
Abrupt: sudden.
Abscess: a collection of pus formed as a result of an infection.
Absorption: how nutrients from food move from the gut into the cells of
the body.
Abstinence: going without.
Accommodation: adjustment.
Accumulation: build-up.
Ace inhibitor: a class of drugs used to treat high blood pressure and
heart failure.
Acemannan (Carrisyn): the potentially active ingredient in aloe vera
juice.
Acetylcholine: a neurotransmitter chemical found in the brain.
Achilles tendon: the large tendon of the
calf muscles of the leg at the back of the ankle attached to the heel bone.
Achalasia: a condition in which the muscles in the oesophagus and the
sphincter between the oesophagus and stomach fail to relax after
swallowing.
Achilles tendonitis: the Achilles tendon
itself is inflamed, tender and often swollen. See also plantar fasciitis.
Achlorhydria: lack of acid in stomach.
Achromia: the absence of pigmentation in red blood cells and skin.
Acidophilus: bacteria found in yogurt that help restore a supportive
bacterial environment to an intestinal tract whose normal intestinal bacterial
population ("flora") has been disturbed by disease or antibiotics. Ingesting acidophilus also may be useful
in preventing candidiasis (thrush),
including in the vagina.
Acidosis: high blood acidity.
Acid reflux: stomach acid returning to the oesophagus.
Acne: a chronic skin disorder caused by inflammation of the hair
follicles and the sebaceous glands.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: see AIDS.
Acrocyanosis: blueness.
Acromegaly: a condition of increased growth hormone production.
ACTH: a hormone.
Actin: a muscle protein that works with myosin in muscle
contraction.
Actomyosin: a protein, formed by actin and myosin in the contraction of
muscle fibres.
Acuity: sharpness, especially in vision.
Acupressure: a technique relying on the theory underlying acupuncture
but using pressure instead of needles.
Acupuncture: an ancient therapeutic technique using needles to stimulate
specific points on the body for analgesic or curative effects.
Acusis: normal hearing.
Acute: refers to intense, short-term symptoms or
illnesses that either resolve or evolve into long-lasting, chronic disease manifestations.
Acute leukaemia: a rapidly progressive cancer of the blood of sudden
onset and characterised by the uncontrolled proliferation of immature blood
cells which take over the bone
marrow and spill into the blood stream. If left untreated is fatal within a
few weeks or months.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL): a rapidly
progressing cancer of the blood affecting the type of white blood cell known as lymphocytes. It is the most common
form of childhood leukaemia.
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML): a rapidly progressing
cancer of the blood affecting immature cells of the bone marrow, usually of the white cell population.
Acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia: see acute myeloid
leukaemia.
Acute promyelocytic leukaemia: this is one form of acute
myeloid leukaemia. The condition responds particularly well to a drug
called retinoic acid which causes differentiation of the leukaemia cells which then die.
Adam's apple: a swelling at the front of the neck, just beneath the
skin, caused by the thyroid cartilage.
Addiction: an uncontrollable, habitual dependence upon a substance or
activity.
Addison's disease: a condition in which there is an adrenal
insufficiency.
Adduction: the movement of an arm or leg toward the body.Adenitis: gland inflammation.
Adenoids: lymphoid tissue located behind the nasal cavity.
Adenoma: non-cancerous tumour.
Adenovirus: a group of viruses that causes lung, stomach, intestine and
eye infections.
Adenosine diphosphate (ADP): the chemical that takes up energy released
during biochemical reactions to form adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Adenosine monophosphate (AMP): a mononucleotide that is important in
cell biochemistry and can be convertible to ADP or ATP.
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP): a chemical which helps living organisms
convert glycogen to glucose.
ADH: see Antidiuretic hormone.
Adherence: the degree to which a patient follows drug schedules. A
synonym for compliance.
Adhesion: sticking together of internal tissues, often after an
operation.
Adhesive capsulitis: the medical term
for frozen shoulder - inflammation of the lining or
'capsule' of the shoulder joint.
Adipose tissue: is composed of fat cells held together by a thin,
fibrous material just below the skin.
Adjuvant: in vaccines, a substance added to increase the immune
response.
Adnexitis: fallopian tube/ovary inflammation.
Adrenal glands: two organs that sit on top of the kidneys and make and
release hormones such as adrenalin.
Adrenaline: a hormone created in the adrenal glands. It is a
neurotransmitter chemicals found in the brain.
Adrenergic: acting like adrenaline.
Adrenocorticotropin Hormone (ACTH): a hormone that promotes the growth
and development of the adrenal cortex and stimulates the cortex to secret
glucocorticoids.
Adrenolytic: adrenaline-blocking.
Adverse: harmful.
Aerobic: with oxygen.
Aerobic exercise: repetitive movement of large muscles (eg running)
resulting in an increased supply of oxygen to the muscles.
Aerophagy: air swallowing.
Aerosol: fluid droplets suspended in air; a mist or spray.
Aetiology: the scientific study of the factors which cause a disease
e.g. environmental factors such as infections and radiation.
Affinity: attraction.
Affirmations: positive statements about how you want to think, feel and
behave.
Agalactia: not producing milk.
Agammaglobulinaemia: immune deficiency.
Agent: substance.
Agglutination: clumping together of red
blood cells.
Aggravation: worsening.
Aggregation: joining.
Agonist: a drug that both binds to receptors and has an intrinsic effect
on a cell or a drug.
Agranulocytosis: bone marrow
poisoning.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome): the late
stage of the illness triggered by infection with human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV).
Akinesia: lack of voluntary muscle movement.
Alanine aminotransaminase: see ALT.
Albinism: a hereditary lack of pigment, or melanin, in the skin, eyes
and other tissues.
Albumin: water-soluble blood protein.
Albuminuria: abnormally high amounts of albumin (a protein) in the
urine, this may be a sign of kidney disease.
Aldosterone: a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex, involved in blood
pressure control and the regulation of sodium and potassium concentrations.
Alexander Technique: an educational therapy aimed at improving physical
and mental well-being by changes of habitual posture.
Alimentary: digestion-related.
Alkaline: a substance that neutralizes acids. Alkaline
Phosphatase: an enzyme produced in the liver as well as in bone and other
tissues. Elevated serum levels of the enzyme are indicative of liver disease,
bile duct obstruction in particular.
Alkalosis: high blood alkalinity.
Alkylating agents: drugs which interact with genetic material(DNA) in such a way as to prevent division
of the cells. See also chemotherapy.
Allele: alternate forms of a specific gene. Each allele is an individual member of
a gene pair and is inherited from one parent.
Allergens: substance causing an allergic
reaction.
Allergy: a reaction to a substance, such as pollen, pet dander, or
certain foods leading to sneezing, wheezing, watery eyes, diarrhoea and a rash.
Allogeneic bone marrow
transplant: a bone marrow
transplant using marrow collected from a "matched" healthy donor,
usually a brother or sister. The risks associated with the transplant increase
with age and 55 years of age is generally regarded as the upper limit.
Allograft: see allogeneic bone
marrow transplant.
Allolalia: a speech impediment.
Alopecia: the loss of hair.
Alpha-blockers: a class of drugs that lower blood pressure by relaxing
muscle in artery walls. They also relieve prostate symptoms by relaxing muscle
round the bladder outlet.
ALT (alanine aminotransaminase): a liver enzyme that
plays a role in protein metabolism, like AST. Elevated serum
levels of ALT are a sign of liver damage from disease or drugs. ALT is also
known as SGPT (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase).
Alternative medicine: a catch-all
phrase for a long list of treatments or medicinal systems, including
traditional systems such as Chinese or Ayurvedic
medicine as well as homeopathy,
various herbals and many other miscellaneous treatments that have not been
accepted by the mainstream, or Western, medical establishment. Alternative
medicine may be referred to as complementary medicine.
Alveoli: tiny air sacs in the lungs where oxygen
from the air is exchanged for waste gases like carbon dioxide from the blood.
(One sac is called an "alveolus").
Alveolitis: lung inflammation.
Alzheimer Disease: a degenerative brain disorder that destroys brain
cells leading to progressive deterioration of intellect, disorganization of
personality and an inability to carry out normal tasks of daily living.
Amblyopia: sight problems.
Ambulant: walking.
Amenorrhoea: absence or abnormal cessation of the periods.
Amine: organic compound containing nitrogen.
Amino acid: the nitrogen-containing organic
molecules that are the building blocks for proteins, including enzymes, muscles
and structural molecules. The human body uses 20 of the 80 amino acids found in
nature.
Amnesia: memory loss.
Amniocentesis: removal of a sample of amniotic fluid for prenatal
testing. Cells from the unborn child can be extracted from the fluid which
surrounds it in the womb and tested for certain abnormalities.
Amnion: sack containing the fetus.
Amoebiasis: a parasitic intestinal infection caused by tiny unicellular
microorganisms called amoebas. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloating and
abdominal pain.
Ampoule: small sealed flask.
Amputation: the surgical removal of part or all of a limb.
Amylase: a starch-splitting enzyme secreted by salivary glands and the
pancreas to aid digestion of food.
Amyloidosis: amyloidosis is not a specific disease but the term for a
group of conditions in which an abnormal substance called amyloid is deposited
throughout the body.
Anabolic: body-building.
Anaemia: a shortage of haemoglobin (oxygen-carrying pigment) in the
blood resulting in a decrease in the ability of the blood to carry oxygen
around the body.
Anaerobic: without oxygen.
Anaerobic exercise: muscles straining against resistance for short
periods (eg tug of war) without an increased supply of oxygen.
Anaesthesia: deadening of sensation.
Anaesthetic: drug to deaden sensation.
Anabolic: refers to metabolic processes that build new tissue in the
body.
Anabolic steroid: a synthetic steroid used to increase muscle mass and
weight. Anabolic steroids are versions of the natural hormone testosterone but
have fewer masculinizing, or androgenic effects.
Anaemia: the incapacity of blood to transport
enough oxygen to the body's tissues. Anaemia may be caused by an abnormally low
number of red blood cells or insufficient or
defective haemoglobin, the protein
that carries oxygen in red blood cells.
Anal: involving the anus
Analgesics: drugs used to relieve the conscious perception of pain. As
well as dulling pain they lower raised body temperature and most of them reduce inflammation.
Analogous: similar.
Anaphylactic: related to severe allergic response.
Anaphylaxis: a severe allergic reaction to an antigen, causing airway closure, low blood pressure and
lung spasms. In the absence of treatment, this condition ultimately leads to
life-threatening shock (collapse due to insufficient blood flow in the body)
and death.
Anaplastic: cancer cells that grow and divide rapidly.
Anastomosis: connection between two vessels or tubes.
Anatomical: body-related.
Androgen: a hormone or synthetic substance with masculinizing (or
androgenic) effects, such as testosterone.
Androgenic: masculinizing.
Anergia: inactivity.
Anergic: relating to the immune system's inability to produce a marked
reaction in response to foreign antigens.
Aneurysm: swelling in an artery wall caused by a weakness in the
wall.
Angiitis: blood vessel inflammation.
Angina: a disease marked by brief attacks of chest pain or tightness
often triggered by exercise, stress or cold weather.
Angiogenesis: the process of new blood vessel growth.
Angiogram: an X-ray examination of blood vessels after injecting a
substance opaque to X-rays.
Angiography: an imaging technique that provides a picture of blood
vessels.
Angioneurotic: vein neuron disorder.
Angio-oedema: an accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in
cells, tissues or serious cavities.
Anhydrous: without water.
Anion: an ion carrying a negative charge.
Anionic: with an anion.
Anisocoria: different sized eyes.
Ankylosing spondylitis: a rheumatic
disease that affects the spine and may lead to some degree of stiffness in the
back. Spondylitis=inflammation of the joints of the spine and comes from the
Greek word for vertebrae (spondylos). As the inflammation goes and healing
takes place, bone grows out from both sides of the vertebrae and may join the
two together; this stiffening is called ankylosis.
Annular: circular or ring-shaped.
Anodontia: failure of some or all of the teeth to develop.
Anogenital: anus and genital-related.
Anomaly: a veriant from normal.
Anorectal: back passage-related.
Anorexia: loss of appetite.
Anosmia: lack of sense of smell.
Anovulatory: without producing an egg.
Anoxia: total lack of oxygen.
Antacid: indegestion remedy that neutralises acid in the stomach.
Antagonist: substance tending to nullify effects of another.
Antecedent: forerunner.
Anterior: positioned toward the front.
Anterograde: moving forward.
Anthelmintic: anti-worm drug.
Anthracyclines: drugs which are used in leukaemia therapy to prevent cell
division by disrupting the structure of the DNA. See also chemotherapy.
Antibiotics: drugs which kill or stop the
growth of bacteria, for example penicillin.
Antibodies: naturally produced substances in
the blood which destroy or neutralize specific toxins or 'foreign bodies', for
example viruses. They are produced by the white blood cells known as lymphocytes in response to exposure
to antigens.
Anticoagulant: substance that prevents blood clotting.
Anticholinergic: a drug that limits certain body processes controlled by
the parasympathetic nervous system.
Anticonvulsant: substance to stop fitting.
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH): also known as
vassopressin, released from the pituitary gland and acts on the kidneys,
increasing their reabsorption of water.
Antidote: a substance that counteracts the effects of poison.
Anti-emetic: preventing or arresting vomiting.
Antifibrinolytic: drug to stop breakdown of blood clots.
Antigen: a substance which stimulates cells of the
body's defence system to react against it by producing antibodies.
Antihypertensive: high blood pressure drug.
Anti-inflammatory: substance to reduce inflammation and swelling
Antilymphocyte globulin: antibodies which
attach to and destroy lymphocytes. This may be used clinically by injection
into a vein, for example in aplastic anaemia.
One form, called antithymocyte globulin, acts specifically against t-cells.
Antimetabolites: a group of anti-cancer drugs which prevent cells
growing and dividing by blocking the chemical reactions required in the cell to
produce DNA. See also chemotherapy.
Antimicrobial: substance to kill microorganisms.
Antimitotic: anti-cancer drug.
Antimycotic: fungus treatment.
Antineoplastic: anti-cancer drug.
Anti-nuclear antibody: when found in the blood and the patient is not
taking drugs, it is known to cause a positive test for LUPUS in most cases, but
is not necessarily conclusive.
Antioestrogenic: oestrogen suppressant.
Antioxidant: a substance that prevents or reverses oxidation eg Vitamins
C, E and beta-carotene.
Antiphlogistic: swelling and fever treatment.
Antipruritic: itch treatment.
Antipyretic: antifebrile, reducing fever.
Antiseptics: chemicals applied to the skin to destroy
microorganisms.
Antiserum: immune serum containing antibodies against a disease.
Antispasmodic: spasm treatment.
Antithrombotic: blood clotting treatment.
Antitumour: anti-cancer drug.
Antitussive: cough medicine.
Antiviral: virus treatment.
Anuria: non-production of urine.
Anus: back passage.
Anxiolytic: tranquilizer.
Aorta: the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to
the rest of the body.
Apgar score: a numbered score doctors use to assess a baby's physical
state at the time of birth.
Aphasia: the loss of ability to speak or understand speech.
Aphonia: loss of the voice.
Aphthous ulcer: a painful oral or oesophageal sore of unknown cause that
has a deep eroded base.
Aplasia: failure of production of blood cells in the bone marrow. Usually this condition
affects all types of blood cells which is called aplastic anaemia.
Aplastic anaemia: a rare disorder
characterised by the failure of the bone
marrow to produce blood cells. It may occur as an inherited condition (see fanconi's anaemia) or, more often, the
disease develops later in life. This is called acquired aplastic anaemia. It
leads to a severe shortage of all types of blood cell causing tiredness,
susceptibility to infection and serious problems with bleeding.
Apnoea: a pause in breathing; conventionally more than 10 seconds. From
the Greek a (without) pnoea (breath).
Apoplexy: a stroke.
Apoptosis: a type of cellular suicide triggered by stimulation of
particular receptors on a cell's surface. It is a metabolic process driven by
cellular enzymes in which the cell's chromosomes and then the cell itself
breaks down into fragments. In the immune system, apoptosis is a process that
eliminates unneeded cells.
Apraxia: impaired ability to carry out purposeful movements in an
individual who does not have significant motor problems.
Appendicectomy: the removal of the appendix.
Appendix: a short pouch attached to the first part of the large
intestine (caecum).
Apyretic: without fever, afebrile.
Aqueous: water soluble.
Arachnoiditis is an inflammation of the arachnoid lining of the thecal sac and
the Cauda Equina nerve roots, producing severe, incapacitating pain and
neurological disability.
Arachnoiditis: inflammation of the arachnoid lining of the thecal sac
and the Cauda Equina nerve roots, producing severe, incapacitating pain and
neurological disability.
Aromatherapy: the use of fragrant oils may have arisen from the ancient
use of aromatic herbs in Egypt, India, Greece and the Arab world. Traditionally
the essential oils have been used as stimulants, relaxants, antiseptics and
anti-inflammatories.
Aromatic: scented.
Arrhythmia: irregular heartbeat.
Arrhythmogenic: causing abnormal heartbeat
Arterial: relating to one or more arteries or the entire system of
arteries.
Arteriography: artery X-ray.
Arteriole: a small artery that leads to capillary blood vessels.
Arteriolar: artery-related.
Arteriosclerosis: hardening of the arteries.
Arteriovenous: artery and vein-related.
Arteritis: inflammation of arteries, e.g. polyarteritis nodosa. Also see vasculitis.
Artery: a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
Arthralgia: joint pain - this can be present in inflammatory or
non-inflammatory conditions.
Arthritides: the plural form of the term arthritis.
Arthritis: a term meaning inflammation of the
joint(s), but which is often used to include all joint disorders. Sometimes
joints are damaged through the disease process of arthritis.
Arthropathy: disease affecting a joint.
Arthroplasty: meaning literally 'to refashion a joint'; i.e. replacing
the joint by a complete or partial replacement with an artificial joint. See
also joint replacement.
Arthroscope: a telescope for looking at joints.
Arthroscopy: examining joints through a telescope.
Arthrosis: another term for osteoarthritis.
Articular: of or relating to the joints.
Ascites: a collection of fluid in the abdomen, often caused by severe
liver disease such as cirrhosis or cancer.
Aseptic: clean
Aspartate aminotransaminase: see AST.
Asperger syndrome: a form of autism, a disability
which affects the way a person communicates and relates to others.
Aspergillus: a fungus that infects the lungs, causing a disease known as
aspergillosis. The infection can spread through the blood to other organs and
cause lesions in the skin, ear, nasal sinuses in addition to the lungs, as well
as occasionally in the bones, meninges, heart, kidneys or spleen.
Asphyxia: lack of oxygen due to trouble with breathing or poor oxygen
supply in the air.
Aspiration: a technique of withdrawing fluid or tissue using a
needle.
Assay: analytical test used to detect the presence and concentration of
a drug, virus or other substance in bodily fluids or tissues.
AST (aspartate aminotransaminase): a liver enzyme that
plays a role in protein metabolism, like ALT. Elevated serum
levels of AST are a sign of liver damage from disease or drugs. AST is also
known as SGOT (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase).
Asthenia: weakness.
Asthma: a chronic respiratory condition marked by reversible narrowing
of the airways.
Astigmatism: a chronic eye condition causing blurred vision.
Astrocytomas: brain tumors that are composed of cells called
astrocytes.
Asymptomatic: without symptoms.
Asystole: when the heart stops beating.
Ataxia: lack of coordination.
Atheroma: a fatty material clogging up of the
arteries.
Atherosclerosis: the process in which
fatty and fibrous deposits cause narrowing and hardening of arteries.
Athlete's foot: a fungal infection
which thrives in moist, warm areas of skin such as that between the toes.
Atony: lack of muscle tone.
Atopic: relating to or marked by atopy.
Atopy: type I allergic reaction, one with strong familial tendencies
caused by allergens such as pollens, foods, venom.
Atoxic: non-poisonous.
Atresia: a missing opening from the oesophagus, intestines, or anus.
Atrial: related to the atrium of the heart.
Atrioventricular: related to the atrium and ventricles of the heart.
Atrium: chamber of the heart
Atrophy: a wasting or shrinking of cells, tissue, organs or muscle.
Attenuated virus: a weakened virus
strain that can no longer infect or produce disease. An attenuated virus might
potentially be used as a vaccine.
Atypical: unusual.
AUC (Area Under the Curve): a measure of total exposure or total effect,
as defined by charting on a graph the change in a critical variable over a
period of time and then calculating the area between the curve and the
horizontal axis (which represents elapsed time from the start of the study).
Blood levels of drug and viral load during
treatment are two parameters frequently quantified by the AUC.
Auditory: hearing-related.
Augment: to increase in size, amount, degree, or severity.
Aura: warning senstion.
Aural: heard.
Auricular: ear-related.
Auscultation: listening with a stethoscope.
Autism: a disability which affects the way a person
communicates and relates to others.
Autogenic therapy: a form of relaxation and light self-hypnosis based on
the repetition of six suggestion commands e.g. 'My legs and arms are heavy.',
followed by an appropriate positive affirmation to promote change.
Autogenous chondrocyte implantation (ACI): healthy cartilage cells
removed from the patient, grown in the laboratory and transplanted to bring
regeneration into the damaged area.
Autograft: see autologous bone marrow
transplant.
Autoimmune disease: diseases caused by an
individual's immune system producing antibodies
against tissues of its own body.
Autoimmune thrombocytopaenia purpura: see also idiopathic thrombocytopaenia purpura.
Autoinnoculation: when germs on one part of the body infect another part
of the body.
Autologous: referring to a naturally occurring substance derived from
and used within the same individual.
Autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT): a bone marrow transplant using the
patient's own bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells which have been collected
and stored at an early stage of disease.
Automatism: repetitive movements
Autonomic nervous system: the nervous system that maintains vital
functions of the body without the need for conscious thought.
Autosomes: all the chromosomes other than the X and Y (the sex
chromosomes) are known as autosomes. Autosomal inheritance means that an
abnormal gene can affect either sex.
Avascular necrosis: death of certain
types of tissue without a blood supply or with a poor blood supply e.g. in
cartilage or bone.
Avulsion: tearing away of a body structure from its attachment.
Axial: the region of the body consisting of the trunk, neck and
head.
Axilla: armpit.
Axillary: structures located in the arm, or armpit.
Ayurveda: an Asian medical system which has its
beginnings more than two thousand years ago. Ayurveda literally means the
science of longevity. It is an entire system so used herbal remedies, massage,
yoga and meditation.
Axon: the long, filamentous part of a nerve cell that carries nerve
impulses away.
Azospermia: lack of sperm.
Azotaemia: kidney failure.
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