Medical dictionary

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Habitual: usual.
Haematemesis: vomiting blood.
Haematocrit: see packed cell volume.
Haematological (niet: hemaetological): blood study-related.
Haematologist: a doctor specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of blood diseases.
Haematology: the study of blood diseases includingleukaemia.
Haematoma: bruising.
Haematopoiesis: term to describe the production and maturation of blood cells from very primitive stem cells. This takes place in the bone marrow which is a spongy tissue in the middle of bones.
Haematuria: any condition in which the urine contains blood or red blood cells.
Haemeralopia: day blindness.
Haemochromatosis: a genetic disorder where excessive absorption and storage of iron leads to damage and functional impairment of several organs including the liver.
Haemodialysis: dialysis of the blood.
Haemoglobin: the iron containing pigment in red blood cells which carries oxygen around the body. Lack of haemoglobin is called anaemia. Normal values are between 12-18 grams per 100 ml of blood.
Haemolysis: destruction of red blood cells.
Haemoperfusion: method of removing poison from blood.
Haemophilia: a genetic disorder that affects mostly men and prevents normal blood clotting.
Haemopoiesis:see haematopoiesis.
Haemoptysis: the spitting of blood derived from the lungs or bronchial tubes.
Haemorrhage: bleeding either to the outside through the skin or internally.
Haemorrhagic: relating to bleeding.
Haemorrhoidectomy: an operation to remove hemorrhoids.
Haemorrhoids: piles.
Haemospermia: a condition in which the semen is red or pink in colour. Unless there is a history of trauma to the genitalia it is assumed to be caused by bleeding from the small blood vessels in the seminal vesicles.
Haemostasis: stopping bleeding.
Hairy cell leukaemia: a rare leukaemia related to chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and characterised by the presence of abnormal cells with "hair- like" projections.
Half-life: the amount of time required for half of a given substance (such as a drug) or half the current population of a given cell type to be eliminated from the body.
Halitosis: bad breath.
Hallux rigidus: osteoarthritis of the big toe joint with a stuck, rigid toe (often painful).
Hallux valgus: osteoarthritis of the big toe joint with outward angulation of the toe.
Hamstring muscles: a group of muscles at the back of the knee.
Hayfever: an allergy to pollen. Most problems occur in the summer and are caused by grass pollen.
HDL: high density lipoprotein cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol thought to have a cleansing effect in the bloodstream.
Heart attack: blockage of a coronary artery resulting in death of an area of heart muscle.
Heart block: a fault in the hearts natural pacemaker causing the heart to beat abnormally slowly.
Heartburn: a painful, burning feeling in the chest caused by stomach acid flowing back into the oesophagus.
Heberden's nodes: firm swellings of the end joints of fingers, often painless when fully formed - the hallmark of nodalosteoarthritis.
Hellerwork: based on movement education as well as deep tissue manipulation.
Hemianopia: defective vision or blindness that impairs half of the normal field of vision.
Hemiparesis: paralysis on one side of the body.
Hemiparetic tremors: uncontrollable shaking affecting the limbs on the spastic side of the body in those who have spastic hemiplegia.
Hemiplegia: paralysis of one side.
Henoch-Schönlein purpura: the most common vasculitis in childhood (although not exclusively found in children), it is usually a transient disease which involves large joint arthritis, gastrointestinal symptoms and a purple rash over the lower legs and buttocks caused by bleeding into the skin from inflamed capillaries.
Hepatic: liver-related.
Hepatitis: inflammation of the liver..
Hepatobiliary: liver and bile duct-related.
Hepatocellular: liver cell-related.
Hepatomegaly: enlargement of the liver.
Hepatotoxic: poisonous to liver cells.
Herbalism: herbal remedies individually blended to help enhance the immune system, helps with gynaecological conditions, infectious diseases and addictions with no side effects.
Hermetic: airtight.
Hernia: the protrusion of a part of an organ through abdominal tissue or membrane.
Herniorrhaphy: an operation to repair a hernia.
Herpes simplex: fever blister, cold sore.
Herpes zoster: chickenpox/shingles virus.
Herpetic: relating to or ccharacterised by herpes.
Hiatus hernia: a condition where stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus.
Hickman line: a narrow plastic tube or catheter which is inserted, under anaesthetic, into a major blood vessel in the chest. It is used for patients undergoing intensive therapy and provides a route for taking blood samples and administering drugs without repeated needle puncture of a vein.
Hilum: part of an organ where nerves and vessels enter and leave.
Hirsutism: hairiness.
Histamine: a chemical present in cells that is released during an allergic reaction.
Histiocytosis: histiocytes are cells produced in the bone marrow and assist in recognising invading bacteria and parasites. Histiocytes are normally found in skin, liver, lung, gut, lymphatic glands, spleen, bones and parts of the brain but in histiocytosis they wander elsewhere in the body.
Histological: microscopic study of body-related.
Histology: the investigation of tissue samples by chemical and microscopical analysis.
HIV: the retrovirus recognized as the agent that induces AIDS.
Hives: an eruption of itching weals usually of systemic origin, sometimes due to hypersensitivity to foods or drugs.
HLA antigens: a complex family of genetically inherited proteins which are found on the surface of cells: throughout the body. They determine the "match" between patient and potential donor in bone marrow transplantation. HLA factors are inherited from the mother and father and so the greatest chance of having the same HLA type is between brothers and sisters, that is 1 in 4.
HLA-B27: HLA-B27 is an inherited antigen normally only found in about 8% of caucasians, and of these around 20% will develop one of the associated diseases. Associated with auto-immune disease, HLA-B27 is a genetic marker found in white blood cells. About 90% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis have the positive HLA-B27 genetic marker.
HLA-DR4: genetic marker showing a predisposition to rheumatoid arthritis.
Hodgkin's disease: a type of lymphoma.
Homoeopathy: remedies derived from mineral, plants and animal sources that stimulate the body's own healing mechanism.
Homeostasis: self-regulating information feedback.
Homogeneous: uniform.
Homologous: of same essential nature.
Hormone: an active chemical substance formed in one part of the body and carried in the blood to other parts of the body where it stimulates or suppresses cell and tissue activity.
Hormone replacement therapy: replacement of the female hormone oestrogen after output from the ovaries has declined or stopped.
Host: a plant or animal that supports the growth of a parasite or infectious organism.
HPV (Human Papillomavirus): a member of the papova family of viruses. HPV causes warts or nipple-like protrusions on the skin. HPV has also been associated with cervical cancer in woman as well as anal cancer in either sex.
HRT: Hormone replacement therapy.
Humeral: upper arm-related.
Humeroscapular: shoulder-related.
Humoral: involving body humour.
Huntington's disease: a hereditary disorder of the central nervous system most often characterised by chronic progressive chorea and dementia without remissions.
Hydration: adding water.
Hydroalcoholic: water and alcohol-related.
Hydrocephalus: a condition in which the primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain.
Hydrolysis (niet: hydrolyse): adding water to split a compound.
Hydrophilic: readily absorbing moisture.
Hydrophobia: rabies.
Hydrophobic: not readily absorbing water.
Hydrotherapy: involves specialist exercises (a type of physiotherapy) which take place in a warm water pool (usually at a temperature of 33-37°C), i.e. warmer than a normal swimming pool.
Hydroxylation: introducing hydroxyl into a substance.
Hyperaemia: excess of blood in a part.
Hyperaesthesia: increased sensitivity to stimulation.
Hyperalgesia: excessive sensitiveness to pain.
Hyperbaric: at higher than normal pressure or weight.
Hypercalcaemia: increased levels of calcium in the blood.
Hypercapnia: excess of carbon dioxide in the blood. This is the gas normally breathed out which will rise if breathing is inadequate. Usually measured by taking an arterial blood sample.
Hypercholesterolaemia: presence of an abnormally large amount of cholesterol in the blood cells and plasma of the circulating blood.
Hyperlipidaemia: raised levels of blood lipids.
Hyperemesis: excessive vomiting.
Hypereosinophilic syndrome: in some patients the number of eosinophils in the blood is markedly and persistently raised with no obvious cause such as a parasite infection.
Hypergammaglobulinemia: abnormally high blood levels of immunoglobulins (antibodies).
Hyperglycaemia: high blood sugar.
Hyperhidrosis: excessive sweating.
Hyperkalaemia: excessive potassium in the blood.
Hyperkeratosis: thickening of the skin.
Hyperkinesia: hyperactivity.
Hyperlipidaemia: increase in blood fat levels.
Hypermetropia: farsightedness.
Hypermobility: see joint hypermobility.
Hyperostosis: abnormal bone thickening.
Hyperpigmentation: abnormally increased pigmentation.
Hyperplasia: increase in the number of normal cells in tissue.
Hyperpyrexia: extreme fever.
Hyperreflexia: exaggerated reflexes.
Hypersecretion: excessive secretion.
Hypersensitivity: over-sensitivity.
Hyperstimulation: over-stimulation.
Hypertension: high blood pressure.
Hyperthermia: high body temperature.
Hyperthyroidism: a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much hormone.
Hypertonia: increased tone.
Hypertrichosis: excess hair.
Hypertrophy: increase in the size of an organ.
Hyperuricaemia: gout.
Hypervitaminosis: vitamin overdose.
Hypervolaemia: abnormal increase in blood volume.
Hypnagogic state: the naturally occurring hypnotic condition when one is about to wake up.
Hypnogenic: Objects (watch, wand, etc.) used to assist in inducing an hypnotic state.
Hypnogram: the final print out of the all-night sleep stages (REM and non-REM.
Hypnoid: resembling hypnosis or sleep.
Hypnopomic state: the naturally occurring hypnotic condition when one is about to fall asleep. Excellent for inducing self-hypnotic suggestions that are 'slept on', and upon waking, are realised.
Hypnosis: a trance-like state induced by suggestion in which the mind readily accepts ideas, resulting in a focusing of attention and a reduction of the ability to make conscious decisions; a state of total mental concentration, yet complete physical relaxation. An alternative state of consciousness.
Hypnotherapy: treatment for mental or physical illness based on or usinghypnosis.
Hypnotic: sleeping tablet.
Hypoacusis: slight deafness.
Hypodermic: under the skin.
Hypoglossal nerve: the nerve that controls the movement of the tongue.
Hypoglycaemia: low blood sugar.
Hypogonadism: sterility.
Hypokalaemia: low blood potassium.
Hypomania: persistent slight hyperactivity.
Hypophyseal: pituitary gland-related.
Hypoplasia: tissue or organ underdevelopment.
Hypotension: low blood pressure.
Hypotensive: with low blood pressure.
Hypothalamic: brain-related.
Hypothalamus: an area of the forebrain which regulates pituitary gland functions.
Hypothermia: a condition in which the temperature of the body is abnormally low.
Hypothesis: theory.
Hypothyroidism: diminished production of thyroid hormone, leading to thyroid deficiency.
Hypotonia: decreased tone.
Hypotrophy: ageing.
Hypouricaemia: lack of uric acid in the blood.
Hypoventilation: holding your breath.
Hypovitaminosis: vitamin deficiency.
Hypovolaemia: low blood volume.
Hypoxaemia: blood oxygen deficiency.
Hypoxia: tissue oxygen deficiency.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: brain damage caused by poor blood flow or insufficient oxygen supply to the brain.
Hysterectomy: removal of the womb.

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