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hair
follicle
A tiny opening in the skin
from which a hair grows.
halitosis
The clinical term for bad
breath; commonly caused by poor oral hygiene or eating certain foods; if
persistent it can be a sign of illness.
hallucination
A perception that occurs
when there is actually nothing there to cause it (such as hearing voices
when there are none).
hammer
toe
An abnormality in the tendons of the toe that causes the toe
to be flexed at all times.
hamstring
muscle
A muscle located at the
back of the thigh that bends the leg at the knee and moves the leg
backward.
hardening of the arteries
The common name for arteriosclerosis.
hashimoto’s disease
A disease in which the
body’s immune system
attacks cells of the thyroid
gland, resulting in a decrease in thyroid hormones.
hay
fever
The common name for allergic
rhinitis.
HDL
See high-density
lipoprotein.
heart
attack
See myocardial
infarction.
heart
block
A disorder of the heart
caused by a blockage of the nerve
impulses to the heart that regulate heartbeat; may lead to dizziness,
fainting, or stroke.
heartburn
A burning sensation
experienced in the center of the chest up to the throat; may be caused
by overeating, eating spicy food, or drinking alcohol; recurrent
heartburn may be caused by acid reflux.
heart
disease
See coronary heart disease.
heart
failure
The inability of the heart
to pump blood effectively.
heart-lung machine
A machine that takes over
the functions of the heart and lungs during certain types of surgery.
heart
rate
The rate at which the
heart pumps blood, measured in the number of heartbeats per minute.
heart
valve
The structure at each exit
of the four chambers of the heart that allows blood to exit but not to
flow back in.
heat exhaustion
Fatigue, dizziness, and nausea experienced because of
overexposure to heat; if not treated it can result in heat stroke.
heat
stroke
A life-threatening
condition resulting from extreme overexposure to heat, which disrupts
the body's system of regulating temperature.
heel
spur
An abnormal, often painful
outgrowth of bone on the back of the heel.
heimlich
maneuver
A first-aid technique for
choking; dislodges an object that is blocking a person’s airway.
helper
T cells
White blood cells, responsible
for regulating other cells in the body's immune system, that are the main
targets of the AIDS virus; also called CD4 cells.
hemangioma
A purple-red mark on the
skin, caused by an excess of blood vessels.
hemarthrosis
Bleeding into and swelling
of a joint.
hematemesis
Vomiting of blood.
hematocrit
The percentage of total
blood volume that consists of red blood cells, which is
determined by laboratory testing; can be an indicator of disease or
injury.
hematoma
An accumulation of blood
from a broken blood vessel.
hematuria
Blood in the urine, which
can be caused by urinary tract disorders (such as cysts,
tumor, or stones) or by an infection.
hemochromatosis
A genetic disorder in which
too much iron is absorbed from food.
hemodialysis
A method used to treat
kidney failure, in which blood is passed through a machine that purifies
it and returns it to the body.
hemoglobin
The pigment in red blood cells that is
responsible for carrying oxygen;
hemoglobin bound to oxygen gives blood its red color.
hemoglobinuria
Hemoglobin in the urine.
hemolysis
The breakdown of red blood
cells in the spleen, which is normal but can cause jaundice and anemia when the red blood cells are
broken down too quickly.
hemophilia
An inherited disorder in
which a person's blood lacks a certain protein
important in forming blood clots, leading to excessive bleeding.
hemorrhage
The medical term for
bleeding.
hemorrhoid
A bulging vein either at the opening of the anus or just inside the anus, often
caused by childbirth or straining during bowel movements.
hemospermia
Blood in the semen.
hemostasis
The stopping of bleeding
by the body’s mechanisms.
hemothorax
An accumulation of blood
between the chest wall and the lungs.
hepatectomy
Surgical removal of all or
part of the liver.
hepatic
A term used to describe
something that is related to the liver.
hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver,
which may be caused by a viral infection,
poisons, or the use of alcohol or other drugs.
hepatitis
A
A form of hepatitis caused
by the hepatitis A virus, usually transmitted by contact with
contaminated food or water.
hepatitis
B
A form of hepatitis
(generally more serious than hepatitis A) caused by the hepatitis B
virus, which is transmitted through sexual contact or contact with
infected blood or body fluids.
hepatitis
C
A form of hepatitis caused
by the hepatitis C virus, which is transmitted through sexual contact or
contact with infected blood or body fluids.
hepatitis
D
A form of hepatitis that
only causes symptoms when the individual is already infected with hepatitis B.
hepatoma
A cancerous tumor of the liver.
hepatomegaly
Enlargement of the liver.
hereditary
Describes a genetic trait
that is passed from parents to children.
hereditary spherocytosis
A genetic disorder in which red blood cells are smaller,
rounder, and more fragile than normal, causing hemolytic anemia.
hermaphroditism
A rare condition in which
an individual is born with both male and female reproductive organs.
hernia
The bulging of an organ or
tissue through a weakened area in the muscle wall.
herniated disk
See disk prolapse.
herpes encephalitis
Brain inflammation caused
by a herpes simplex virus that has spread from another part of the body.
herpes
simplex
Infection by the herpes
simplex virus, which causes blisterlike sores on the face, lips, mouth,
or genitals; in rare cases, can also affect the eyes, fingers, or brain.
herpes
zoster
See shingles.
heterosexuality
Being sexually attracted
to members of the opposite sex.
hiatal
hernia
A type of hernia in which
the stomach bulges up into the chest cavity through an opening in the diaphragm.
hiccup
Involuntary sudden
contraction of the diaphragm
along with the closing of the vocal
cords, producing a "hiccup" sound.
high-density
lipoprotein
A type of protein
found in the blood that removes cholesterol
from tissues, protecting against heart disease.
hirschsprung's
disease
A condition that is
present at birth in which nerve cells do not develop in parts of the intestine,
causing the intestine to narrow and block the passage of feces.
hirsutism
Excessive hair or hair
growth in unusual places, especially in women.
histamine
A chemical in some cells
of the body that is released during allergic reactions, causing inflammation; also causes
production of acid in the stomach and narrowing of the airways.
h1
(histamine) blocker
A drug that blocks the
action of histamine; used to treat inflammation.
h2
(histamine) blocker
A drug used in the
treatment of peptic ulcers
that blocks histamine from causing acid production in the stomach.
histoplasmosis
A respiratory disease
acquired by inhaling the spores of a fungus
found in soil, especially where there are bird or bat droppings.
HIV
See human
immunodeficiency virus.
hives
The common term for
urticaria, an itchy, inflamed rash that results from an allergic
reaction.
Hodgkin's disease
A cancer
of lymphoid tissue (found in lymph
nodes and the spleen) that
causes the lymph nodes to enlarge and function improperly; may cause
illness, fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
homeostasis
The body's coordinated
maintenance of the stable, internal environment by regulating blood
pressure, blood sugar, body temperature, etc.
homocystinuria
A genetic disorder in which an
enzyme deficiency causes a
substance called homocystine to build up in the blood, leading to mental
handicap and skeletal abnormalities.
homosexuality
Being sexually attracted
to members of the same sex.
hookworm
Infestation by a small,
round, blood-sucking parasite; commonly causes a rash on the foot, but
can also cause cough, pneumonia,
and anemia.
hormonal implant
Surgical insertion of a
small object just under the skin that slowly releases a synthetic
hormone for purposes such as birth control.
hormone
A chemical produced by a
gland or tissue that is released into the bloodstream; controls body
functions such as growth and sexual development.
hormone replacement therapy
The use of natural or
artificial hormones to treat hormone deficiencies.
hospice
A hospital or an area of a
hospital dedicated to treating people who are dying, often of a specific
cause.
hot
flash
A sudden, temporary
feeling of heat and sometimes sweating; usually occurs as a result of
low estrogen levels in women because of menopause or after a hysterectomy.
HTLV
See human
T-cell lymphotrophic virus.
human
immunodeficiency virus
A retrovirus that attacks helper T cells of the immune system and causes
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); transmitted through sexual
intercourse or contact with infected blood.
human
T-cell lymphotrophic virus
A virus similar to HIV
that affects the same helper T
cells, but usually accompanies adult T-cell leukemia or T-cell
lymphomas.
hydramnios
An excess of amniotic fluid in the uterus during pregnancy.
hydrocele
A painless swelling of the
scrotum, caused by a collection of
fluid around the testicle;
commonly occurs in middle aged men.
hydrocephalus
Excess cerebrospinal fluid within
the brain; commonly referred to as "water on the brain".
hydrocortisone
A corticosteroid drug that is
used to treat inflammation and allergies.
hygiene
The practice, maintenance,
and study of health; commonly refers to cleanliness.
hymen
A thin fold of membrane
partly closing the opening of the vagina;
usually torn during first sexual intercourse or insertion of a tampon.
hyperactivity
A type of behavior
characterized by excessive physical activity, sometimes associated with
neurological or psychological causes.
hyperalimentation
A method of providing nutrients
by the use of a tube or intravenously to a person who cannot eat food or
needs nutrients because of an illness.
hyperbilirubinemia
A condition in which there
is too much bilirubin, a substance produced
when red blood cells are broken down; can lead to jaundice.
hypercalcemia
A condition marked by
abnormally high levels of calcium
in the blood; can lead to disturbance of cell function in the nerves and
muscles and, if not treated, can be fatal.
hypercholesterolemia
An abnormally high level
of cholesterol in the blood, which
can be the result of an inherited disorder or a diet that is high in
fat.
hyperglycemia
A condition characterized
by abnormally high levels of glucose
in the blood, usually as a result of untreated or improperly controlled diabetes mellitus.
hyperlipidemia
A general term for a group
of disorders in which lipid
levels in the blood are abnormally high, including hypercholesterolemia.
hyperparathyroidism
Overactivity of the parathyroid glands, which
increases calcium levels in the blood (called hypercalcemia)
and decreases calcium in bones (causing osteoporosis).
hyperplasia
The enlargement of an
organ or tissue.
hypersensitivity
An excessive response of
the body’s immune system to
a foreign protein.
hypertension
Abnormally high blood pressure, even when at
rest.
hyperthermia
An abnormally high body
temperature.
hyperthyroidism
Overactivity of the thyroid gland, causing
nervousness, weight loss, fatigue, and diarrhea.
hypertrophy
Increase in the size of an
organ due to an increase in the size of its cells.
hyperventilation
Abnormally rapid
breathing.
hypochondriasis
An abnormal condition in
which a person is overly concerned with health and believes that he or
she is suffering from a major illness despite medical opinion to the
contrary.
hypodermic
needle
A thin, hollow needle
attached to a syringe; used to inject a medication under the skin, into
a vein, or into a muscle.
hypoglycemia
Abnormally low levels of glucose in the blood.
hypoplasia
Failure of a tissue or
organ to develop normally.
hypotension
The medical term for
abnormally low blood pressure,
which results in reduced blood flow to the brain, causing dizziness and
fainting.
hypothermia
An abnormally low body
temperature.
hypothyroidism
Underactivity of the thyroid gland, causing
tiredness, cramps, a slowed heart rate, and possibly weight gain.
hypoventilation
A slower-than-normal
breathing rate.
hypoxemia
A reduced level of oxygen
in the blood.
hypoxia
A reduced level of oxygen
in tissues.
hysterectomy
Surgical removal of the uterus.
hysteria
A term used to describe
symptoms that are caused by mental stress and occur in someone who does
not have a mental disorder.
hysterosalpingography
An X-ray examination
performed to examine the inside of the uterus
and fallopian tubes, in
order to investigate and possibly treat infertility.
hysteroscopy
A method used to examine
the inside of the uterus and the cervix using a viewing instrument.
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