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calcification
The depositing of calcium
salts in the body, which occurs normally in teeth and bones but
abnormally in injured muscles and narrowed arteries.
calcitonin
A hormone
made in the thyroid gland
that controls calcium levels in the blood by slowing the loss of calcium
from bones; used to treat hypercalcemia (excess calcium in the blood).
calcium
A plentiful mineral
in the body and the basic component of teeth and bones; essential for
cell function, muscle contraction, transmission of nerve impulses, and
blood clotting.
calcium channel blocker
A drug used to treat chest
pain, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat by preventing the
movement of calcium into the muscle.
callus
A thickened area of skin
due to consistent pressure or friction, or the area around a bone break
where new bone is formed.
calorie
A unit that is used to
measure the energy content in food.
canal
A tunnel-like passage.
cancer
A group of diseases in
which cells grow unrestrained in an organ or tissue in the body; can
spread to tissues around it and destroy them or be transported through
blood or lymph pathways to other parts of the
body.
cancer
staging
A method to determine how
much a cancer has developed.
candidiasis
A yeast infection caused
by the fungus Candida albicans; occurs
most often in the vagina, but also
in the mouth, on moist skin, or on the penis.
canker
sore
Small, painful sore that
usually occurs on the inside of the lip or cheek, or sometimes under the
tongue; caused by bacteria, irritation of the area, stress, or
allergies.
capillary
A tiny blood vessel that
connects the smallest arteries
to the smallest veins and allows
exchange of oxygen and other materials between blood cells and body
tissue cells.
carbohydrate
A substance, mainly sugar
and starch, that is a main source of energy for the body and is found in
sources such as cereals, breads, pastas, grains, and vegetables.
carbon dioxide
A colorless, odorless gas
present in small amounts in the atmosphere and formed during
respiration.
carcinogen
Anything that can cause cancer.
carcinoma
A cancer
that occurs on the surface or lining of an organ.
cardiac
arrest
The sudden cessation of
the heart's pumping action, possibly due to a heart attack, respiratory
arrest, electrical shock, extreme cold, blood loss, drug overdose, or a
severe allergic reaction.
cardiogenic
shock
A severely dangerous
condition involving decreased blood output from the heart, usually as a
result of a heart attack.
cardiomegaly
A condition marked by
enlargement of the heart, either because of a thickened heart muscle or
an enlarged heart chamber; usually a result of the heart having to work
harder than normal, as occurs with high blood pressure.
cardiomyopathy
A disease of the heart
muscle that results in decreased output and reduced blood flow.
cardiopulmonary
resuscitation
The administration of
heart compression and artificial respiration
to restore circulation and breathing.
cardiovascular system
The heart and blood
vessels that are responsible for circulating blood throughout the body.
carditis
Inflammation of the heart.
carotene
An orange pigment present
in colored plants such as carrots that is converted by the body to the
essential nutrient vitamin A.
carotid
arteries
Four main arteries that carry blood to the head
and neck.
carpal
bones
Eight bones that together
make the wrist.
carpal tunnel syndrome
A condition in which
pressure on the median nerve
in the wrist causes soreness, tingling, and numbness in the thumb and
index and middle fingers.
cartilage
A connective
tissue (softer than bone) that is part of the skeletal system,
including the joints.
cast
A hard plaster or
fiberglass shell that molds to a body part such as an arm and holds it
in place for proper healing.
cataract
A disorder in which the
lens of the eye becomes less transparent and in some cases a milky
white, making vision less clear.
catheter
A hollow, flexible tube
inserted into the body to put in or take out fluid, or to open up or
close blood vessels.
catheterization
A technique in which a
hollow, flexible tube is used to drain body fluids (such as urine), to
introduce fluids into the body, or to examine or widen a narrowed vein or artery.
cAT
scanning
See Computed tomography scanning.
cat-scratch
fever
An illness transmitted to
humans through a cat's bite or scratch, which is thought to be caused by
an unidentified bacteria; characterized by a swollen lymph node or blister near the bite
or scratch, fever, rash, and headache; most commonly occurring in
children.
cauliflower
ear
A deformed ear caused by
repeated injury.
cauterization
The use of heat, an
electric current, or a chemical to destroy tissue or stop bleeding.
cecum
The beginning of the large
intestine, which is connected to the appendix
at its lower end.
cell
The tiny structures that
make up all the tissues of the body and carry out all of its functions.
cellulitis
A skin infection caused by bacteria
(usually streptococci); can lead to tissue damage and blood poisoning if
untreated; characterized by fever, chills, heat, tenderness, and
redness.
central nervous system
The brain and spinal cord.
cerebellum
A region of the brain
located at the back; responsible for coordination of movement and
maintaining balance.
cerebral
palsy
A group of disorders of
movement and posture resulting from damage to the brain early in a
child's development; causes muscle weakness, difficulty coordinating
voluntary movements, and sometimes complete loss of motion.
cerebrospinal fluid
A clear, watery fluid
circulating in and around the brain and spinal column, which contains glucose,
proteins, and salts for nutrition.
cerebrovascular
disease
A disease affecting any artery
supplying blood to the brain; may cause blockage or rupture of a blood
vessel, leading to a stroke.
cerebrum
The largest part of the
brain and the site of most of its activity, including sensory and motor
functions.
cervical
cap
A small rubber cup that is
placed tightly over the cervix to prevent
pregnancy.
cervical dysplasia
Changes that occur in the cells on the surface of the cervix
that usually precede the stages of cancer.
cervical incompetence
A weakness of the neck of
the uterus, which can lead to
spontaneous abortion due to an
inability to support the weight of the fetus.
cervical
smear
A procedure in which cells are scraped off of the cervix
and examined to detect changes that might precede the stages of cancer;
also called a Pap smear.
cervicitis
Inflammation of the cervix.
cervix
A small, round organ
making up the neck of the uterus
and separating it from the vagina .
cesarean
section
An operation performed to
remove a fetus by cutting into the uterus, usually through the abdominal
wall.
chancre
A painless sore that has a
thick, rubbery base and a defined edge; usually occurs on the genitals
after the contraction of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis.
chemotherapy
The treatment of infections
or cancer with drugs that act on disease-producing
organisms or cancerous tissue; may also affect normal cells.
chickenpox
A contagious disease that
causes a rash and a fever; most commonly occurs during childhood.
chlamydia
Microorganisms that cause
several human infections and can be transmitted sexually.
cholecystectomy
The surgical removal of
the gallbladder.
cholera
A bacterial infection of the small intestine
that causes severe watery diarrhea, dehydration, and possibly death.
cholesterol
A substance in body cells that
plays a role in the production of hormones and bile salts and in the
transport of fats in the bloodstream.
chondritis
Inflammation of cartilage.
chondroma
A noncancerous tumor that
occurs in cartilage.
chondromalacia patellae
Painful damage to the cartilage behind the kneecap.
chondrosarcoma
A cancerous cartilage tumor that develops inside of bone or on
its surface.
chorionic villus sampling
A method of diagnosing
fetal defects in which a small amount of tissue is taken from the placenta
and analyzed for abnormalities.
choroiditis
Inflammation of the blood
vessels behind the retina that line
the back of the eye.
chromosome analysis
Examination of a person’s
chromosomes either to determine if that person has an abnormality or to
investigate one.
chronic
Describes a disorder that
continues for a long period of time.
chronic
obstructive lung disease
A combination of the lung
diseases emphysema and bronchitis, characterized by
blockage of airflow in and out of the lungs.
cilia
Tiny, hairlike structures
on the outside of some cells, providing mobility.
circumcision
The surgical removal of
the foreskin of the penis.
cirrhosis of the liver
Gradual loss of liver
function due to cell damage and internal scarring.
claudication
A cramping pain in one or
both legs while walking, which can cause limping.
claustrophobia
Fear of being confined in
an enclosed or crowded space.
clavicle
The medical term for the
collarbone.
cleft
lip
A birth defect in which
the upper lip is split vertically, extending into one or both nostrils.
cleft
palate
A birth defect in which
the roof of the mouth is split, extending from behind the teeth to the
nasal cavity; often occurs with other birth defects such as cleft lip
and partial deafness.
clinical
trial
Carefully monitored and
planned testing of a new drug or treatment.
clitoris
A small female organ
located near the opening of the vagina
that swells when sexually aroused.
clone
An exact copy of a gene,
cell, or organism.
closed
fracture
A bone break that does not
break the skin.
clotting
factor
A substance in the blood
that is needed for blood to harden and stop a wound from bleeding.
clubfoot
A genetic disorder in which
the foot is twisted and misshapen.
cluster
headache
Severe pain that occurs
suddenly and affects one side of the head, including the face and neck.
CNS
See Central nervous system.
coagulation
A process that plays a
large role in the hardening and thickening of blood to form a clot.
cocarcinogen
A substance that does not
cause cancer by itself, but increases the effect
of a substance that does cause cancer.
coccyx
Four fused bones that form
a triangular shape at the base of the spine
(also known as the tailbone).
cochlea
A coiled organ in the
inner ear that plays a large role in hearing by picking up sound
vibrations and transmitting them as electrical signals.
coitus
Sexual intercourse.
cold
sore
A small blister anywhere
around the mouth that is caused by the herpes simplex virus.
colectomy
The complete or partial
surgical removal of the large intestine (the colon), usually as
treatment of a cancerous tumor or a narrowing and blockage of the
intestine.
colic
Waves of pain in the
abdomen that increase in strength, disappear, and return; usually caused
by a stone blocking a bile or urine
passageway or an intestinal infection.
colitis
Inflammation of the large
intestine (the colon), which usually leads to abdominal pain, fever, and
diarrhea with blood and mucus.
collapsed
lung
A condition in which all
or part of a lung cannot expand and fill with air.
colon
The main part of the large
intestine, between the cecum and the rectum.
colonoscopy
Investigation of the
inside of the colon using a long, flexible fiberoptic tube.
color
blindness
Any vision disorder in
which the person sees colors abnormally, has trouble distinguishing
between them, or cannot see them at all.
colostomy
A surgical procedure in
which some part of the colon is cut and moved to
the surface of the abdomen so that feces can be passed into a bag worn
outside of the body.
coma
A condition in which the
area of the brain involved in maintaining consciousness is somehow
affected, resulting in a state of unconsciousness in which the patient
does not respond to stimulation.
comminuted fracture
A crushed or shattered
bone.
common
cold
An infection caused by a virus,
which results in an inflamed lining of the nose and throat;
characterized by a stuffy and runny nose and, sometimes, a sore throat.
communicable disease
A disease that can be
passed from one individual to another.
compound
fracture
A bone break that breaks
the skin.
compression fracture
A break in a short bone in
which its soft tissue is crushed.
computed tomography scanning
A technique for producing
cross-sectional images of the body in which X-rays are passed through
the body at different angles and analyzed by a computer; also called CT
scanning or CAT scanning.
concussion
Disturbance of electrical
activity in the brain due to a blow to the head or neck, causing
temporary loss of consciousness.
congenital
Present or existing at the
time of birth.
congestive heart failure
Inability of the heart to
efficiently pump blood through the body, causing buildup of blood in the
veins and of other body fluids in
tissue.
conjunctiva
The clear membrane
covering the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelid that produces
a fluid that lubricates the cornea and
eyelid.
conjunctivitis
Inflammation of the
conjunctiva; commonly called pinkeye.
connective tissue
Strong tissue that
connects and supports body structures.
constipation
Difficult or infrequent
bowel movements of hard, dry feces.
contraindication
An aspect of a patient's
condition that makes the use of a certain drug or therapy an unwise or
dangerous decision.
contusion
Damage to the skin and
underlying tissue as a result of a blunt injury; a bruise.
corn
A thickened callus on the
foot that is caused by an improperly fitting shoe.
cornea
The clear, dome-shaped
front portion of the eye’s outer covering.
coronary
Describes structures that
encircle another structure (such as the coronary
arteries, which circle the heart); commonly used to refer to a
coronary thrombosis or a heart attack.
coronary arteries
The arteries that branch
off from the aorta and supply oxygen-rich blood to
the heart muscle.
coronary artery bypass surgery
An operation in which a
piece of vein or artery is used to bypass
a blockage in a coronary artery; performed to prevent myocardial infarction and relieve angina pectoris.
coronary heart disease
Disorders that restrict
the blood supply to the heart, including atherosclerosis.
coronary thrombosis
The blockage of a coronary
artery by a blood clot.
corpuscle
A tiny, rounded structure
in the body, such as a red or white blood cell.
corticosteroids
Synthetic drugs that are
used to replace natural hormones
or to suppress the immune system
and help prevent inflammation.
CPR
See Cardiopulmonary
resuscitation.
creatinine
A waste product that is
filtered from the blood by the kidneys
and expelled in urine.
croup
A usually mild and
temporary condition common in children under the age of 4 in which the
walls of the airways become
inflamed and narrow, resulting in wheezing and coughing.
cruciate ligaments
Two ligaments in the knee that cross
each other and help stabilize the knee joint.
CT
scanning
A procedure that uses
X-rays and computers to create cross-sectional images of the body to
diagnose and monitor disease.
culture
The artificial growth of cells, tissue, or microorganisms such as bacteria in a
laboratory.
curettage
The use of a sharp,
spoonlike instrument (a curet) to scrape away tissue that is abnormal or
to obtain a sample that can be analyzed.
CVS
See Chorionic villus sampling.
cyanosis
A bluish discoloration of
the skin, caused by low levels of oxygen
in the blood.
cyst
A lump filled with either
fluid or soft material, occurring in any organ or tissue; may occur for
a number of reasons but is usually harmless unless its presence disrupts
organ or tissue function.
cystectomy
Surgical removal of the
bladder; the bladder is often
replaced with a short length of small intestine.
cystic fibrosis
An inherited disorder in
which the lungs are prone to infection, and fats and other nutrients
cannot be absorbed into the body.
cystoscopy
Examination of the urethra and bladder using a long, thin,
fiberoptic tube.
cystostomy
The surgical placement of
a drainage opening in the bladder.
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