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 Medical dictionary
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Iatrogenic disease: a disease produced as a
consequence of medical or surgical treatment.
Ichthyosis: scaly skin.
Icterus: jaundice.
Idiopathic: term applied to diseases to indicate that their cause is
unknown.
Idiopathic thrombocythaemia purpura (ITP): a rare
disorder characterised by an acute shortage of platelets with resultant bruising and
spontaneous bleeding. Anti-platelet antibodies are detectable in some cases.
It may present in either an acute or a chronic form.
Ileum: the lower end of the small intestine.
Ileus: intestinal blockage.
Immobilization: stopping movement.
Immune complex: the result of a reaction between an antigen and a
specific antibody.
Immune deficiency: impaired ability of the body's defence mechanisms to
combat infections by bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Immune response: the reaction of the body
to an antigen, for example an infectious
agent, or to the tissues of another individual as in the rejection of an organ
transplant.
Immune system: the body's complicated
natural defense against disruption caused by invading infections and cancers.
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP): an immune disorder that results
in a low number of platelets in the
blood.
Immunity: natural or acquired resistance provided by the immune system
to a specific disease.
Immunization: the process of protecting an individual against
communicable diseases by injecting weakened or killed infectious organisms into
the body to cause the immune system to produce antibodies and activate T-cells against the organism without
causing the full-blown disease.
Immunocompetent: refers to an immune system
capable of developing a normal protective response when confronted with
invading infections or cancer.
Immunocompromised: refers to an immune
system in which the response to infections and tumors is subnormal.
Immunodeficiency: a condition resulting from a defective immune system.
Immunogenic:producing immunity.
Immunoglobulins: proteins in the blood
plasma which function as antibodies
and play an important part in controlling infections.
Immunological: immunity study-related.
Immunosuppression: a treatment induced
reduction in the body's defence mechanisms.
Impetigo: a contagious superficial infection of the skin caused by staphylococci and streptococci.
Impotence: inability of a man to experience an erection.
Impregnation: making pregnant.
In situ: in the normal place.
In vivo: in the body.
In vitro: in a test tube.
Incarceration: strangulated hernia.
Incidence: number of cases.
Incision: cut.
Incisive: cutting.
Incontinence: a condition in which there is a loss of control over the
bladder or bowel.
Incubation period: the period of time it takes between first contact
witha virus or bacteria and when signs (symptoms) first appear.
Indication: purpose for which a drug is prescribed.
Indigestion: digestive upset, which may include flatulence, heartburn,
nausea or vomiting. See also dyspepsia.
Induction therapy: the initial, concentrated phase of a particular
treatment.
Induration: hardening.
Infarction: death of a tissue through lack of oxygen.
Infection: when a bacteria or virus enters the body, grows, and does
damage.
Infiltrate: material deposited as a result of filtration.
Inflammation: living tissue's reaction to
injury; in an inflamed area the flow of blood increases, resulting in heat and
redness; fluid and cells leak into the tissue, causing swelling. Most
inflammatory reactions are short-lasting responses to injury, but in some
diseases inflammation is both persistent (chronic) and abnormal.
Inflammatory arthritis/inflammatory arthropathy: this group of
conditions includes systemic diseases (of or concerning the whole body, not
confined to a particular part) which target joints (e.grheumatoid arthritis) as well as
purely local inflammatory disorders (e.g.septic arthritis). It includes
some of the most severe, painful and disabling chronic diseases, many of which
start in children or young adults. In inflammatory arthropathies the joint lining
becomes inflamed, which can damage the surface of the joint and underlying
bone.
Influenza: flu.
Infusion: the process of administering a medication to an individual by
slowly injecting a dilute solution of the compound into a vein.
Ingestion: swallowing.
Inguinal: groin-related.
Inguinal hernia: the protrusion of the
intestines or fat through the muscle of the abdominal wall.
Inhalation: breathing in.
Inherent: natural.
Innervation: nerve distribution.
Inotropic: affecting muscular contractions.
Insomnia: sleeplessness.
Inspiration: breathing in.
Insulin: a hormone that helps the body to utilize glucose for energy,
produced by the beta cells of the pancreas.
Integumentary: of skin.
Intention tremor: shakiness.
Intercostal: between the ribs.
Interferons: a family of proteins derived from human cells and involved
in fighting viral infections.
Interindividual: between individuals.
Interleukin: a whole family of proteins, some
of which may be important in triggering inflammation in the joints. See also cytokine;lymphokine.
Interstitial: in gaps between tissue.
Intertrigo: superficial inflammation of two
skin ssurfacesthat are in contact, such as between thighs or under breasts.
Intervertebral: between two adjacent vertebrae.
Intestines: the gut.
Intolerance: allergy to a food, drug, or other substance.
Intoxication: poisoning.
Intractable: any condition that does not respond to treatment.
Intraindividual: within the individual.
Intramuscular injection: injection into the muscle.
Intraocular: within the eye.
Intrapartum: during birth.
Intrathecal injection: injection of drugs into the spinal fluid.
Intravascular: within a blood vessel.
Intravenous infusion: the giving of antibiotics, blood products,
anti-cancer drugs or nutrients into a patient's vein over a prolonged period of
time.
Intravenous injection: the giving of drugs into a vein through a
syringe.
Intrinsic: internal.
Intubation: inserting a tube into the larynx to assist respiration.
Intussusception: a rare disorder in which part of the intestines folds
into another part of the intestines, causing blockage.
In utero: Latin term for "in the uterus." Refers to events
that occur in the womb during pregnancy.
Invasive: tending to spread and invade healthy tissue.
Inversion: to turn inward.
In vitro: literally meaning "in glass". Used to describe
studies carried out on living cells or tissues grown in the laboratory.
In vivo: in living tissue or in a whole organism.
Iridocyclitis: eye inflammation.
Iritis: eye irritation.
Irrigation: washing.
Ischaemia: local anaemia due to mechanical obstruction of the blood
supply.
Ischaemic: relating to or infected by ischaemia.
Ischaemic heart disease: coronary heart
disease.
IUCD: Intrauterine birth control device, which prevents implantation of
an embryo into the uterus should
fertilisation occur, coil.
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