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 Medical dictionary
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Labile: unstable.
Laceration: tear.
Lacrimal: tear-related.
Lactase an enzyme that acts as a catalyst to convert lactose into
glucose and galactose.
Lactation: milk production.
Lactic acid: a weak acid produced by cells when they break down glucose
to produce energy by anaerobic metabolism.
Lactose: a type of sugar found in milk and milk products.
Lactose intolerance: the inability to digest milk products due to the
lack of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down milk sugar (lactose).
Laminectomy: surgical procedure which is designed to relieve pressure on
the spinal cord or nerve root that is being caused by a slipped or herniated
disk in the lumbar spine.
Laparoscope: an endoscope for
the abdominal region of the body.
Laparoscopy: abdominal keyhole surgery.
Laparotomy: any operation that involves opens up ingthe abdomen.
Large granular lyphocytic leukaemia: a chronic leukaemia which affects t-cells.
Laryngitis: sore throat caused by inflammation of the larynx.
Larynx: the 'voice-box' in the neck.
Lassitude: wearniness.
Latency: a quiescent period during a disease process.
Latent period: inactive period.
Lateral: towards the side.
Lavage: a cleaning of the stomach and colon.
Laxative: medicine to relieve constipation.
LDL: low density lipoprotein cholesterol, the "bad"
cholesterol believed to be linked to fat accumulation in the arteries.
Lenticular: lense-related.
Leprosy: a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae.
Leptospirosis: infectious disease caused by
infection with Leptospira.
Lesion: a disturbed area of tissue -- a wound, injury, nodule or tumour
on the skin or elsewhere.
Leukaemia: from the greek meaning "white
blood". Often referred to as cancer
of the blood. Characterised by the widespread uncontrolled proliferation of
large numbers of abnormal blood cells, usually of the white cell lineages, which take over the bone marrow and often spill out into
the blood stream.
Leukaemogenesis: the development of leukaemia.
Leukapheresis: method of separating blood into its liquid and cellular
components and for the removal of white blood
cells before returning the remainder of the blood to the patient. It is
used to reduce the white cell count when chemotherapy is to be avoided, for
example during pregnancy.
Leukocyte: white blood cell.
Leukocytosis: increased white blood
cell count.
Leukopaenia: condition in which the number of white cells in the blood is greatly reduced.
Leads to an increased risk of infections.
Leukoplakia: white patch on a mucous membrane.
Leukorrhoea: vaginal discharge.
Lice: head lice are the most common kind of lice to infect humans. They
are sometimes called nits, which is actually the name of the tiny white eggs
they hatch from.
Lichenification: skin hardening and thickening.
Lichen sclerosus: a poorly recognised skin condition which mainly
affects the vulval and perianal area.
Ligament: short band of tough, flexible, fibrous
connective tissue which link bones together and make the joint stable. Each
joint has several ligaments.
Light therapy: bright light can be used to reset the biological clock.
Light therapy, as currently used, refers to treatments that increase production
of Vitamin D (thus aiding absorption of some minerals).
Limbic: edge-related.
Lineage: describes cells with a common ancestry, that is developing from
the same type of identifiable immature cell.
Li-fraumeni syndrome: an inherited family trait carrying an increased
risk of cancer during childhood and early
adulthood.
Lipid: fatty substances such as cholesterol and
triglycerides. Lipids do not dissolve in water but are more soluble in organic
solvents.
Lipodystrophy: fat metabolism disturbance.
Lipoma: a benign tumor containing fat.
Lipophilic: with an affinity for fat.
Lipoprotein: any complex of fat and protein.
Liposome: fatty or oily globule.
Lithotripsy: the operation of crushing a stone in the urinary
bladder.
Liquifilm: thin liquid layer of coating.
Livedo: mottling.
Liver: a large abdominal organ that makes bile, changes food into
energy, and filters alcohol and toxins from the blood.
Loading dose: initial dose.
Lochia: post-birth vaginal discharge.
Locomotor: movement-related.
Lordosis: abnormal increased forward curvature of the lumbar spine.
Lumbago: lower back pain.
Lumbar: the lower region of the back between the lowest ribs and the top
of the pelvis.
Lumbar puncture: a procedure for removing spinal fluid from around the
spinal cord using a fine needle in the lower part of the back.
Lumen: inside of a tube.
Lupus: see systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE).
Luxation: dislocation.
Lyme disease: is caused by a type of bacteria (spirochaete) which is
carried by a tick found on wild animals which may cause a transient arthritis often treated with antibiotics. It was first described
in the town of Lyme, USA.
Lymph: a transparent, slightly yellow fluid that carries lymphocytes to and from the lymph nodes and helps to collect foreign microbes.
Lymph is derived from tissue fluids. The fluid passes through the lymphatic
ducts and then enters the bloodstream.
Lymph nodes or glands: small structures found
throughout the body, e.g. Neck, groin, armpits, abdomen, which contain both
mature and immature lymphocytes.
Lymphadenopathy: lymph node swelling.
Lymphangitis: lymphatic vessel
inflammation.
Lymphatic system: this consists of the
spleen, lymph nodes and areas of lymphoid tissue
such as the tonsils. It plays a major part of the body's immune response.
Lymphocyte: a type of white blood cell, includingB-cells and T-cells.
Lymphoid: referring to the lymphatic
system including lymphocytes and lymph nodes.
Lymphokine: a substance produced by lymphocytes, a particular kind of white blood cell, with effects on other
cells in the immune system. See also cytokine;interleukin.
Lymphoma: a cancer which originates in lymphoid tissue,
including the lymph glands, liver, spleen, bowel and bone marrow. The disease results
from the uncontrolled production of lymphocytes. The
general term includes about a dozen different forms of the disease but there
are two main categories: hodgkin's
disease and non-hodgkin's lymphoma.
Lymphoproliferation: an increase in the production of lymphocytes. This may occur as a normal response to
infection.
Lyophilisate: freeze.
Lysis: the splitting and dissolution of cellular or viral material by
chemical action.
Lytic: cell destruction-related.
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