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Medical Definitions

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Glossary of medical definitions

Abdomen – Part of body between the chest and the hips.

Abdominal hysterectomy – Surgical removal of uterus through the abdomen.

Ablative therapy - Removal or destruction of an organ during operation.

Accessory digestive organs - Organs helping digestion, not being a part of digestive tract.

Accessory movement – Involuntary joint movements.

Acquired deafness - Hearing loss that happens after birth.

Adjuvant treatment – Supplementary treatment to improve effectiveness

Advanced cancer - Cancer in spreading phase.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation – Treatment with the help of stem cells.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor – Drugs reducing blood pressure.

Antihistamine drugs – Drugs that reverse the effects of histamine when allergic reaction occurs.

Anti-inflammatory drugs – Inflammation-reducing medicine.

Articular cartilage – Tissues that cover the ends of bones.

Artificial ventilation - Mechanical support of breathing.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) -  Ways to assist infertile couples to be able to reproduce.

Atrophic gastritis - Chronic stomach inflammation damaging inner surface.

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) test – Examination of hearing problems of young children.

Augmentative devices – Devices to improve speech.

Balance disorder - Labyrinth damage.

Basal body temperature – Measuring temperature to determine ovulation activity.

Blood plasma – Nutritious contents of blood such as glucose, proteins, minerals, etc.

Body mass index (BMI) – Measurements of healthy weight by taking into account the height and weight.

Breast conservation therapy – Lumpectomy. Surgical removal of a part of breast to prevent cancer.

Cardiac output – Measurement of blood pumping.

Carotid arteries - Major arteries in the neck, under the skull.

Cerebral embolism - Blood clot carried to the brain artery.

Clinical trials – Research to discover methods and medication to prevent cancer.

Complementary medicine – Additional therapy to support standard medicine.

Computed tomography (CT or CAT scan) - Non-invasive, cross-sectional scanning of internal organs.

Cone biopsy – Conization. Biopsy with the help of cone-shaped device to remove a part from the cervix.

Coronary heart disease – Atherosclerosis. Narrowing of coronary arteries narrow.

Coronary thrombosis - Clot formation in the heart muscle.

Cystic duct – Tube between gallbladder to small intestine.

Dental fluorosis – Discoloration of teeth due to water containing excessive amount of fluor.

Diastolic blood pressure - Lowest count of blood pressure between heartbeats.

Digestive system - Organs breaking down the food and converting them into body nutrients.

Digital rectal exam (DRE) – Manual examination of rectum and prostate.

Dyspraxia of speech – Damaging of speech muscles impairing oral communication.

Elective surgery – Optional operation.

Emergency surgery – Instant operation due to emergency.

Enteral nutrition - Tube feeding. Provision of food through a tube via the nose, the stomach, or the small intestine.

Epidural anesthetic - Anesthetic injection to numb the lower extremities.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate – Measurement of red blood cells that settle on the bottom of a test tube to diagnose disease.

Esophageal ulcer -  Ulcer type caused by taking pills.

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) - Supplying female hormone (estrogen) that cannot be produced naturally after menopause.

Extra pyramidal system - Nerve cells, nerve tracts, and pathways.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - Pituitary gland hormone in the brain.

Functional (motility) disorders – Situation that adversely affects nerve and muscle function.

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract – Tube extending from mouth to the anus.

General anesthetic – It keeps the patient unconscious during operation.

Gray matter - Dark tissues of the central nervous system, including cerebral cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, etc.

Ganglion cysts - Non-cancerous lumps around hands.

Gastrocolic reflex - Activation in the gastrointestinal tract immediately after eating.

Hearing disorder – Loss of hearing ability.

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) - "Good" cholesterol that helps removing bad cholesterol.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - Use of estrogen and progestin after menopause.

Immunosuppressive medications – Drugs used to suppress the body's immune system to prevent rejection of transplanted organs.

Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) - Blood sugar levels that are high but still lower than those in diabetes.

In vitro fertilization – Fertilization of woman's egg outside her body.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Bowel problems related to irritation and ulcers in gastrointestinal tract.

Informed consent form - Form prepared for patients explaining risks involved in the surgery.

Inpatient surgery – Operation conducted in the hospital.

Intestinal flora - Bacteria, yeasts, and fungi in the intestines.

Intrauterine insemination – Injection of sperm into the uterus.

Invasive cancer – Spreading cancer.

Joint locking – Having a foreign substance between the joint surfaces.

Jumper's knee - Degeneration of tendon around the knee-cap.

Knee reconstruction - Mechanical knee restoration.

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Labyrinthine hydrops – High levels of fluid in the ears resulting in hearing loss and loss of balance.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy – Removal of gallbladder by surgery.

Local anesthesia – Anesthetic fluid injected to numb a certain area for operation.

Lower back - Lumbar spine connecting upper body to the lower body.

Lymphatic system – Organs such as bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes.

Magnetic field therapy - Alternating magnetic fields produce electric current to affect the flow of blood.

Mean blood pressure - Average blood pressure.

Median nerve – Nerve system related to neural function of the upper limb.

Motion sickness - Dizziness, sweating, and vomiting created by motion.

Musculoskeletal system - Bones, joints, tendons, muscles, and nerves.

Myocardial infarction – Heart attack that occurs when less amount of oxygen is allowed to pass to the heart muscle.

Myofascial pain - Pain in jaw, neck and shoulder muscles.

Needle biopsy – Biopsy with the help of a hollow needle.

Nerve sparing technique - Operation by controlling neurovascular bundles.

Neural plasticity – Adaptation of nervous system to impact.

Neurogenic communication disorder – Loss of communication skills due to damage to nervous system.

Noninvasive procedures – Diagnosis without entering body.

Nuclear medicine – Radiological technique to examine the body by using small amounts of radioactivity.

Ocular hypertension - Intraocular pressure higher than 21 mm Hg.

On-off effect – Movement changes in patient status.

Open surgery – Operation by exposing organs.

Orthopaedic surgery – Operation on musculoskeletal system.

Otoacoustic emissions – Detection of low level of sounds in ear canal with the help of a microphone.

Palliative treatment – Temporary therapy to reduce pain rather than complete cure.

Patellar tendonitis - Patellar ligament inflammation.

Peptic ulcer – Ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria.

Perilymph fistula – Entry of inner ear fluid into middle ear.

Peripheral stem cell transplantation – Use of cancer-treated and frozen stem cells to cure.

Placental abruption – Serious bleeding due to premature detachment of the placenta.

Plantar wart – Viral foot wart.

Polyunsaturated fat - Fat found in vegetable oils and margarines.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) - Nuclear scanning of heart in three-dimensional graphic.

Prelingually deafened – Deaf that occurs speaking.

Proctalgia fugax - Rectal pain.

Prostate Acid Phosphatase (PAP) – High level of enzyme produced by prostate indicating the extent to which cancer was spread.

Pyramidal pathway - Nerve tracts from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord.

Radial keratotomy - Surgery to correct refractive problem.

Radical mastectomy – Total removal of breast by surgery.

Radical retro pubic prostatectomy – Surgical removal of prostate and seminal vesicles.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) – Amounts of nutrients to be taken on daily basis advised by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Science.

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) – Over active sympathetic muscle reflex.

Respiratory system - Organs that intake, carry, and use oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.

Rheumatic fever – Disease due to heart valve damage during early ages.

Self-monitoring blood glucose - Counting glucose in blood by the patient.

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) – Disease spread via sexual contact.

Small bowel enema – Radiological examination of small intestine by asking patient to drink barium.

Spasmodic dysphonia – Temporary loss of voice.

Specific Language Impairment (SLI) – Lack of communication skill with no obvious bodily disorder.

Speech-language pathologist – Specialist who treat problems related to speech and communication.

Spinal anesthetic - Injection of anesthetic into the spinal canal fluid before surgery.

Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (SIL) - Detection of precancerous change in cervix cells.

Straight Leg Raise (SLR) - Measuring sciatic nerve status.

Syndromic hearing impairment – Hereditary hearing loss or deafness.

Systolic blood pressure – High blood pressure at the time of heart contraction.

Telemetry unit - Transmitter to check the status of heart via radio transmission to an outside location for evaluation.

Tracheoesophageal Fistula (TEF) – Situation where food and saliva cannot go through.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) - Stroke-like event of short duration caused by blocked blood vessel.

Transurethral Resection of Prostate (TURP) – Partial removal of prostate without incision.

Ultraviolet radiation – Radiation caused by invisible sun rays.

Velocardiofacial syndrome - Hereditary heart defect causing learning and other body functions.

Ventricular fibrillation – Inability to pump blood.

Vestibular system – Body mechanism relating to navigation, balance, and posture.

Vibrotactile aids – Devices helping deaf people to understand sound by touching.

Viral hepatitis - Hepatitis caused by virus.

Whole blood – Complete blood with all of its components (white and red blood cells, platelets, etc.).

Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer (ZIFT) – Removing eggs from ovaries, fertilizing with sperm, and inserting them into fallopian tubes.

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