Medical Dictionary
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An alphabetical listing of General terms and items. |
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Technologist in Chemistry by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
Its measurement in the blood can be used to detect or grade inflammation.
The body of a dead person.
A recently deceased person who has donated an organ or tissue.
Latin = blind.
Latin calx = heel, hence the bone of the heel.
Latin = a spur.
Latin the spur of a bird, hence a spur-like elevation.
Latin calcar = spur, hence spur-shaped.
Deposition of chalky (calcific) material in tissue, leading to bone formation.
Small calcium deposits in breast tissue that can be seen by mammography (see Breast Cancer).
A mineral that is the primary component of hydroxyapatite. It is also vital to many physical processes, including heart rate, blood pressure, muscle contractions, the transmission of nerve signals, and the regulation of internal organs (see Osteoporosis).
The soft tissue swelling at the back of the leg.
Latin = a wine-cup (plural - calices).
Latin callum = hard.
The unit for measuring the amount of energy in food (See Weight Management).
Latin calva = bald head, hence the part of the skull containing the brain - i.e. cranium minus the facial skeleton.
Latin = a wine-cup (plural - calyces).
A type of bacteria. Enteric infections with these bacteria can trigger reactive arthritis in susceptible individuals
Latin canalis = a water-pipe or canal.
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Diminutive of canal.
Adjective, Latin cancelli = grating or lattice.
A malignant neoplasm or tumor characterized by abnormal cell proliferation. Types include carcinoma (which affects epithelial cells), sarcoma (which affects soft tissues), lymphoma and leukemia (which affect lymphoid tissue), and glioma (which affects brain tissue).
Adjective, Latin canis = dog.
A condition that causes premature graying of the hair.
Greek kanthos - used at first for rim of eye, then angle between ends of rims.
Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse by the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc. (ABPANC)
Tiny blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to and remove waste products from cells.
Latin capillaris = hair-like, hence a very thin blood vessel.
A collection of small vessels where the blood flows very slowly to allow plasma to flow in and out to exchange nutrients and waste products with the cells.
Adjective, having a caput from Latin capitis = of a head (q.v.).
Diminutive of caput, Latin = head.
A thick membrane joining together ends of two adjacent bones to form a joint. Its inside is lined with synovium that forms the joint fluid.
Latin = head. Capitis - of a head, adjective - capitate = having a head (cf. decapitate).
Latin caput = head, Medusa = Greek mythical female with snake like hair.
An organic molecule composed mainly of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Carbohydrates constitutes a major class of nutrients, and are present in foods such as bread and pasta.
An agent that promotes the development of cancer.
A malignant tumor of the epithelial cells that line body surfaces and cavities. Carcinoma in situ refers to an early stage of cancer that has not invaded surrounding tissues.
Having to do with the heart.
Latin cardinalis = principal, of primary importance.
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Having to do with to the circulatory system (the heart and blood vessels).
Latin = a keel.
Latin carnea = fleshy.
Greek karoo, to put to sleep (heavy sleep), because compression of the common or internal carotid artery may cause coma.
Greek = wrist, adjective - carpal.
A person who does not show symptoms or have active disease, but who carries an infectious organism and can transmit it to others.
A tissue that covers the ends of bones to form a smooth shock-absorbing surface for joints, and results in very low friction movement. Cartilage also occurs at other sites, such as the nose and the ears.
Tough cartilage plate that permits slight movement (see Arthritis).
Diminutive of Latin caro = flesh, hence, a small fleshy elevation.
A description of a specific clinical case, that is, the development of disease and response to treatment in a single individual.
Non-intimate contact between individuals (e.g., hugging, eating, working together) that does not involve transfer of body fluids and therefore does not pose a risk for transmission of blood-borne diseases.
An increased thickening and clouding of the lens of the eye that can lead to vision loss (see Diabetes).
An FDA classification for drug safety during pregnancy. Category A drugs have not shown a risk to fetuses in controlled studies. Category X includes drugs which animal and human studies or common experience have shown to cause fetal abnormalities or miscarriages.
A hollow, flexible tube used to add or remove fluid to or from the body, commonly inserted into the bladder through the urethra (see Urinary Incontinence).
Latin = tail, adjective - caudate - having a tail.
Latin = a horse's tail.
Some people with advanced AS on rare occasions may get this neurological condition resulting from gradual scarring at the lower end of the spine that entraps the lower spinal nerves. The name cauda equina means horsetail, so named because the lowermost spinal nerves slope downward as a bunch before they exit the vertebral column.
Latin cauda = tail, hence toward the tail, inferior (in human anatomy).
Latin cauda = tail, hence having a tail.
Latin cavum = cave, hollow.
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Latin containing caverns or cave-like spaces.
Latin cavitas = a hollow.
Latin = cave.
Bachelor of Surgery
See complete blood count.
Certificate in Breast Imaging by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT)
Critical Care Nurse Specialist by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
Critical Care Registered Nurse by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
A type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection.
The number of CD4 lymphocytes in one cubic millimeter (mm3) of blood. The CD4 count is one indicator of the progression of HIV disease. A CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3 is a diagnostic criteria for AIDS.
These T cells carry a marker on the surface known as a cluster of differentiation (CD) marker which can be either CD4 or COB. The CD4+ T cells, also known as helper T cells, help orchestrate the antibody responses, and the CDB+ T cells-also called cytotoxic (destructive to cells) or suppressor T cells-are involved in cell-mediated immunity that targets infected cells.
A type of white blood cell that helps regulate and/or carry out the body's immune response. CD8 cells include T-suppressor cells and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes.
Certified Dental Assistant
See Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Certified Diabetes Educator by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE)
Certified Dialysis Nurse by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC)
Complete Decongestive Physiotherapy.
Complete Decongestive Therapy; Complex decongestive therapy.
Latin = blind.
Adjective, Greek koilia = belly.
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Inability to digest and absorb a protein found in wheat, resulting in poor absorption of nutrients from the foods because of damage to the lining of the small intestine; also called gluten intolerance or non-tropical sprue.
The basic unit of living organisms. A cell contains a nucleus and a cell wall (in plants) or a cell membrane (in animals) which surrounds the cellular material, called cytoplasm.
A serious, potentially life-threatening bacterial infection spreads freely, quickly, and uncontrollably through the deeper tissues and the lymphatic or circulatory systems; also known as lymphangitis.
Greek koilos = a hollow
Certified Emergency Nurse by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN)
The U.S. federal government agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that monitors the occurrence of diseases and develops policies for preventing disease and maintaining the health of the population.
Adjective, Latin centrum = centre.
The brain and spinal cord.
Latin = centre.
Adjective, Greek kephale = head.
See histamine dihydrochloride.
Diminutive of Latin cerebrum = brain.
Having to do with the flow of blood to the brain.
See stroke.
Latin = brain, adjective - cerebral.
Latin cera = wax.
Adjective, Latin cervix = neck, hence, pertaining to the neck.
Lymph nodes located along the sides of the neck.
Inflammation of the cervix, the part of the uterus that protrudes into the vagina.
Latin = neck, adjective - cervical.
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A delivery procedure that involves making an incision through the abdominal wall to remove an infant from the uterus (womb).
Chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome. See chronic fatigue syndrome.
Certified Emergency Flight Nurse by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN)
Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse by the Certifying Board of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, Inc. (CBGNA)
A method of testing for food allergy, usually in double-blind experiments in which neither patient nor doctor knows which food is taken in a pharmaceutically prepared pill (see Allergies).
Doctor of Surgery (post-medical degree specialty program)
A chemical, secreted by certain immune system cells, that acts as a messenger between cells and stimulates the activity of cells.
The use of drugs or chemicals to prevent cancer (see Breast Cancer).
The use of drugs to treat disease.
Greek kiasma = cross. (The Greek letter chi = c).
A system of treatment based on manipulation of the spine.
A bacterium that has a predilection to infect the genitourinary tract. Such an infection is the more commonly recognized initiator of reactive arthritis in the United States.
Thick-walled resistant resting spore, especially in Histoplasma capsulatum. See macroconidium.
Master of Surgery (post-medical degree specialty program)
Greek = funnel, plural - choanae.
An agent (especially an herb) that improves bile flow.
Inflammation of the bile duct, often characterized by jaundice.
Obstruction of the flow of bile between the liver, the gall bladder, and the small intestine.
A fatty substance in animal tissue that is an essential component of cell membranes, certain hormones, and nerve fiber insulation. Cholesterol is manufactured by the liver, and is also present in certain foods. There are two primary types of cholesterol in the blood, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is considered a risk factor for heart disease; and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is considered protective.
Adjective, Greek chondros = cartilage.
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Latin = cord.
Adjective, Greek chorion = skin and eidos = shape or form, hence, like a membrane.
Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse by the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) in association with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Certified Hyperbaric Nurse by the Baromedical Nurses Association (BNA)
A thread-like structure within the nucleus of a cell that contains the genes. There are 46 chromosomes in the nucleus of a human cell; 22 of them are in pairs that are given the numbers 1-22, and the remaining two are the X or Y chromosomes (sex chromosomes) that determine a person's sex-males have one X and one Y chromosomes, and females have two X chromosomes.
A long-term or persistent disease. Contrast with acute.
A condition in which HCV or HBV continues to replicate and infect new cells after six months.
A term for lifelong infection of hepatitis B.
Liver inflammation lasting longer than six months.
A condition in which the veins of the legs do not efficiently return blood to the heart; CVI.
Greek = juice.
Greek = juice.
A large, extremely low-density lipoprotein that transports triglyceride from the intestine to fat tissue in the body (see High Cholesterol).
A nearly liquid mass of partly digested food and secretions in the stomach and intestine (see Digestive Health).
Adjective, Latin cilia = eyelashes.
Latin = eyelid, hence, an eyelash; adjective - ciliary, or ciliated.
Latin cineris = of ashes.
Latin girdle or belt, adjective - cingulate.
The use of a tape to measure the circumference of a limb at selected anatomic locations. These measurements are used to calculate limb volume and to fit compression garments.
Verb and adjective, Latin circum = around, and flexere = to bend, hence, bend or bent around.
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A type of liver damage in which normal liver cells are replaced with fibrous scar tissue. In compensated cirrhosis, the liver is damaged but can still function. In decompensated cirrhosis, liver function is severely impaired and scar tissue interferes with normal blood flow through the liver, potentially leading to bleeding varices, ascites, "brain fog," and other symptoms.
Latin = a cistern.
An enlarged lymph vessel that is about 6 centimeters long. It is located in the lumbar region of the abdominal cavity, just to the right of the abdominal aorta. It receives and temporarily stores lymph as it travels upward from the lower portion of the body.
Latin clausum = closed, hence a barrier.
Diminutive of Latin clavis = key - old Roman key was S-shaped.
Removal or elimination, e.g., of a virus or drug from the body.
Greek, cleis = key, a combining form denoting relationship to the clavicle.
Relating to the treatment of patients. A clinical observation is based on a person's observed condition and symptoms, as distinguished from laboratory findings.
An organized procedure for determining the effectiveness of a new drug or therapy by administering the agent to volunteers under controlled conditions. In many clinical trials, new treatments are compared against older standard treatments or an inactive substance (placebo).
Adjective, Greek kline = bed, eidos = shape or form, hence, like a bed-post.
Latin = slope (cf. declivity).
Latin = a drain, sewer; common opening for intestinal, urinary and genital tracts in lower vertebrates, it is a transitory structure in human embryological development.
Bacteria that are normally present in the large intestine, can cause a serious illness called pseudo-membranous colitis in people taking antibiotics, and can sometimes trigger reactive arthritis.
A sticky mass of coagulated blood cells and platelets.
A protein (e.g., fibrinogen, prothrombin, Factor VIII) that is necessary for normal blood clotting. Several clotting factors are synthesized by the liver and production may be impaired when the liver is damaged. People with clotting factor deficiencies may experience prolonged bleeding and easy bruising.
Certified Laboratory Technician
Certified Lymphedema Therapist-Lymphology Association of North America.
Certified Midwife by The American College of Nurse-Midwives Certification Council (ACC)
Certified Medical Assistant (Non-licensed) May perform clerical, administrative, and basic clinical support to doctors. Credentialed after completing a medical assistant program
Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse by the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN)
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Certified Nurse Midwife by The American College of Nurse-Midwives Certification Council (ACC)
Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB)
Certified Nephrology Nurse by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC)
Not a credential, but signifies that an individual has met all the education, examination, or experience requirements necessary to be certified in operating room nursing by the Certification Board Perioperative Nursing of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
Clinical Nurse Specialist (a job title)
See vitamin B12.
Greek kokkyx = cuckoo, whose bill the coccyx resembles.
Latin = snail, hence the spiral cochlea, adjective - cochlear.
Certified Continence Care Nurse by the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)
Adjective, Greek koilia = belly.
An antioxidant agent that is necessary for the proper activity of certain enzymes.
Without septa.
Adjective, Latin = blue, hence, locus coeruleus, a group of nerve cells in the rostral pons coloured blue or black by melanin.
A factor that influences the progression of a disease or the action of a disease-causing agent.
A form of therapy that aims to correct ingrained patterns of negative thoughts and behaviors (see Anxiety, Depression).
Reduction in mental functioning and ability to carry out tasks that require thinking, planning, and memory.
A group of individuals in a study who share a demographic, clinical, or other characteristic.
Concurrent infection with more than one disease-causing organism (e.g., HCV and HIV).
Latin = of the colon.
The main structural protein in connective tissue (see Arthritis).
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A set of fibrous proteins and supporting framework that form the main building blocks of the body, including the internal organs, ligaments, tendon, cartilage, bone, and skin.
Adjective, Latin con = together, and latus = side, hence, alongside.
Genetive (possessive case) of collum, Latin = neck
Diminutive of Latin collis = hill.
Latin = neck (cf. collar).
Greek kolon = large intestine.
Growth of an organism in a host without tissue invasion.
Examination of the interior of the colon using a flexible viewing instrument (see Digestive Health).
A cytokine responsible for regulating the production of white blood cells. Types include granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
Breast fluid produced during the first few days after a baby's birth (prior to milk production) that contains proteins, immunoglobulins, and immune cells.
A sterile invagination of a sporangium, as in the Zygomycetes.
Latin = column, or pillar.
A state of deep unconsciousness; a vegetative state.
Use of two or more drugs together to improve the effectiveness of treatment. In HCV treatment, the term most often refers to the use of interferon plus ribavirin. Contrast with monotherapy.
Estrogen combined with progestogen (see Menopause).
A condition in which LDL and triglyceride levels are very high. (see High Cholesterol).
Adjective, Latin = accompanying.
A symbiotic relationship in which there is no damage to either participant.
Latin con = together, and missum = sent, hence fibres which cross between symmetrical parts.
Adjective, Latin = communicating.
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Very dense bone tissue that forms the outer shell of bones and composes a large part of the long bones of the arms, legs, and ribs. Also called cortical bone or lamellar bone (see Osteoporosis).
An FDA classification that allows individuals to use experimental drugs prior to their approval for a serious illness for which there is no other suitable treatment.
See cirrhosis.
A serologic procedure to determine antibody to fungus infections. Cross reacts with other systemic fungi but is a quantitative test.
An alternative therapy that is used in conjunction with a standard Western treatment.
An inventory of the cellular components of the blood, including red blood cell count, hematocrit and hemoglobin, white blood cell count, and platelet count.
In lymphedema treatment the use of garments and wraps to support the lymphatic system in the affected area, maintain progress made during manual lymph drainage, and to control additional swelling.
A variety of custom-fitted garments or pads that consist of a layer of foam padding stitched between covers of a specialized fabric in a channel-like pattern to stimulate and guide the flow of lymph.
The collapse of a bone, most often a vertebra (see Osteoporosis).
Specialized elastic knit two-way stretch sleeves or stockings that can be worn under clothing throughout the day, including while exercising.
A method of viewing the soft tissues of the body using X-rays.
Latin = shell.
A sheath made of latex, polyurethane, or animal membrane that is worn over the penis to hold ejaculated semen. Condoms are used to prevent pregnancy; latex and polyurethane condoms also protect against HIV, HCV and certain other sexually transmitted diseases. The "female condom" (Reality) is an internal pouch worn inside the vagina or anus.
Greek kondylos = knuckle.
A statistical measure of the likelihood that an experimental result is "true" and not the result of chance alone.
Latin con = together, and fluens = flowing, hence the meeting of more than one stream.
Present from birth.
The form of primary lymphedema that is present from birth; also known as Milroy’s disease or Nonne-Milroy disease.
Heart dysfunction that leads to a build-up of fluids in the body.
The cell that gives rise to a conidium.
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A specialized hypha that gives rise to, or bears a conidium.
A reproductive propagule produced in the absence of nuclear recombination, thus representing anamorphic or asexual reproduction.
Estrogen compounds produced from the urine of pregnant mares. Brand name is Premarin (see Menopause).
Latin con = with, and junctus = joined (cf. junction), hence the continuous bulbar and palpebral lining membrane.
Inflammation of the conjunctiva, a membrane that cover the eye and lines the eyelid.
The material that holds various body structures together; cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels are composed entirely of connective tissue (see Arthritis).
Greek konoeides = resembling a cone, cone shape
A preparation that contains a variety of different types of interferon.
Latin con = together, and strictum = drawn tight, hence, producing narrowing.
A reaction that occurs when the skin comes in direct contact with an allergen or an irritant (see Allergies).
A dose of estrogen and a dose of progestogen taken daily (see Menopause).
Greek tornos = lathe, hence a line which turns - an outline.
Birth control; a device or method that prevents conception (fertilization), implantation, or successful gestation.
Arthritis or prolonged immobility can result in the involved joint becoming less freely moveable. Associated with shortening and wasting of muscles.
Any circumstance or condition that makes a drug or other method of treatment inadvisable in a particular case.
On the opposite side; The unaffected area of lymph drainage.
A comparison group in a clinical trial that is used to verify an experimental result. A control group is typically given an older standard treatment or a placebo rather than the new experimental treatment under study.
In clinical studies the control.group, which is given either the standard treatment for a medical condition under study or an inactive substance (called a placebo), is compared with a group given an experimental treatment to find its efficacy for the disease under study.
A clinical trial in which a group receiving an experimental treatment is compared to a control group that is given a standard treatment or a placebo.
Asthma medications taken on a daily basis to prevent or control asthma symptoms (see Asthma).
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Latin = cone, conus medullaris - the lower end of the spinal cord.
Roche’s brand of ribavirin. see RIBAVIRIN.
The psychological processes following any stressful situation.
Adjective, Greek korax = a crow, and eidos = shape or form, hence, like a crow's beak.
The inner part of a virus that contains its genetic material.
Use of a hollow needle to extract a sample of a lump or other suspicious tissue for examination (see Breast Cancer).
Latin cornu = horn, hence, the dense tissue forming the front of the eyeball.
Latin = shaped like a small horn.
Latin = horn.
Latin = crown. adjective - coronary or coronal; hence a coronal plane is parallel to the main arch of a crown which passes from ear to ear (cf. coronal suture).
Latin corona = crown; hence a coronal plane is parallel to the main arch of a crown which passes from ear to ear (cf. coronal suture).
Adjective, Latin = crown, hence, encircling like a crown.
The small blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle (see Cardiovascular Health).
An x-ray procedure that shows blood moving through the blood vessels and heart. It involves the injection into the bloodstream of a fluid (contrast agent) that can be seen on the x-ray. Also known as coronary angiography; the resulting image is called an angiogram (see Cardiovascular Health).
Surgery that bypasses a blocked coronary artery by grafting a blood vessel taken from another part of the body to restore blood flow to the heart muscle (see Cardiovascular Health).
Damage to or blockage of the arteries that provide blood to the heart muscle.
Adjective, Greek korone = a crown, eidos = shape or form, hence, shaped like a crown.
Latin = body, plural - corpora.
Latin = a little body.
Latin con = together, and ruga = wrinkle, hence a muscle that produces wrinkles.
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Latin = bark, adjective, cortical.
A steroid hormone (e.g., prednisone, cortisone) produced by the cortex of the adrenal gland or manufactured synthetically. Corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, and are used to treat a variety of conditions.
A group of related compounds which, like cortisone, reduce inflammation and irritation caused by many disease processes, including many forms of arthritis, and skin and bowel diseases.
A hormone secreted by the hypothalamus that helps rouse the body to defend against a physical or emotional threat (see Anxiety).
A hormone secreted by the hypothalamus that helps rouse the body when a physical or emotional threat appears (see Depression).
A glucocorticoid, or steroid hormone, released by the adrenal glands and necessary to many basic body functions. This stress hormone is also involved in triggering the "fight or flight" response and similar responses (see Anxiety, Depression).
A natural hormone made by the adrenal gland. Sometimes wrongly used as a synonym for corticosteroids.
Latin = rib. adjective - costal.
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT), after earning an Associate's degree in occupational therapy
Latin = hip, hence os coxae = the hip bone.
Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse by the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc. (ABPANC)
Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
Certified Pediatric Nurse by the National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses, Inc. (NCBPNP/N)
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner by the National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses, Inc. (NCBPNP/N)
Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
Abbreviation for Current Procedural Terminology.
Greek kranion = skull. (In anthropology = skull minus mandible) adjective - cranial.
An enzyme produced by skeletal tissue and heart muscle. One form, creatine kinase-MB, is produced only by the heart; it's usually elevated only when there has been damage to heart tissue — for example, because of a heart attack. A blood test for this enzyme can aid in the diagnosis of heart attack (see Cardiovascular Health).
A metabolic byproduct produced by muscles; high levels in the blood may indicate kidney dysfunction.
Greek = suspender, hence the muscle which suspends the testis.
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A type of scleroderma characterized by a variety of different symptoms (primarily calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia).
Adjective, Latin cribrum = sieve, hence, sieve-like.
Adjective, Greek krikos = ring, and eidos = shape or form, hence, ring-like, i.e. circular.
Latin = crest, crista galli = the (median) crest of a cock.
Credential for nurses who have taken the Certification Examination for Radiologic Nursing by the American Radiological Nurses Association (ARNA)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)
Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (an operating certification) by the Certification Board Perioperative Nursing of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
Certified Registered Nurse Infusion by the Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation of the Infusion Nurses Society (INS)
A chronic inflammatory bowel disease (also called ileitis or regional enteritis), that can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract, though it usually involves the lower small intestine, (the ileum) and the adjacent part of the colon.
Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse by the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN)
Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse - Advanced by the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN)
Certified Respiratory Therapist by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (job title) Or used for
Adjective, Latin crux = cross, hence, crossed like the letter X.
Latin = leg, plural - crura.
An abnormal immune protein.
A condition in which cryoglobulins form in the blood. When the blood is cooled, the cryoglobulins clump together, causing the blood to thicken and restricting blood flow. Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia occurs in many people with HCV, although most do not experience symptoms.
Removal of damaged or cancerous tissue by freezing.
See computed tomography scan.
Adjective, Latin cubitus = elbow.
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Adjective, Greek kuboides = cube-shaped.
Certified Urologic Clinical Nurse Specialist by the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates (SUNA)
Latin = summit (cf. culminate).
A method of growing a microorganism in a laboratory.
Adjective, Latin = a wedge.
Adjective, Latin cuneus = wedge, hence wedge-shaped.
Latin = a wedge, adjective - cuneate.
Oral sex on a woman; contact between the mouth and the vulva or vagina.
Certified Urologic Nurse Practitioner by the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates (SUNA)
Latin = little dome.
Latin = little dome.
Certified Urologic Registered Nurse by the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates (SUNA)
A system of treatment codes developed and published by the American Medical Association
Latin cuspis = a pointed elevation.
Pertaining to the skin.
Certified Wound Care Nurse by the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)
Certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse by the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)
Continuous treatment with estrogen combined with a progestogen for 10–14 days of the month (see Menopause).
See Actidione.
Greek kystis = bladder, adjective - cystic. Back to top
An amino acid; one of the building blocks of glutathione.
A chemical messenger (e.g., interferon, interleukin, tumor necrosis factor) produced by white blood cells. Cytokines coordinate several aspects of the immune response, including stimulating antibody production and activating killer T-cells.
"messenger" molecules that allow cells to communicate and alter one another's function (see Arthritis).
Low levels of blood cells.
The material that makes up the interior of a cell.
An agent that protects cells from damage.
A type of CD8 white blood cell that targets and kills cells infected with viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms.
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