Glossary of all health topics

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AAA - noun an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta associated with old age and hypertension
ADD - noun a condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders; verb make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of;make an addition by combining numbers; state or say further;constitute an addition; determine the sum of; bestow a quality on
ADHD - noun a condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders
AIDS - noun a serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles
ALL - adj. completely given to or absorbed by; quantifier; used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class; adv. to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (`whole' is often used informally for `wholly')
ALS - noun thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord; results in progressive muscle atrophy that starts in the limbs
ARDS - noun acute lung injury characterized by coughing and rales; inflammation of the lungs which become stiff and fibrous and cannot exchange oxygen; occurs among persons exposed to irritants such as corrosive chemical vapors or ammonia or chlorine etc.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - noun an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta associated with old age and hypertension
Abdominal Pregnancy - noun ectopic pregnancy in the abdominal cavity
Abdominal - adj. of or relating to or near the abdomen; noun the muscles of the abdomen
Abortion - noun termination of pregnancy; failure of a plan
Abscess - noun symptom consisting of a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue
Abuse - noun a rude expression intended to offend or hurt; cruel or inhumane treatment; improper or excessive use; verb use wrongly or improperly or excessively; use foul or abusive language towards;change the inherent purpose or function of something; treat badly
Achondroplasia - noun an inherited skeletal disorder beginning before birth; cartilage is converted to bone resulting in dwarfism
Acne Rosacea - noun a skin disease of adults (more often women) in which blood vessels of the face enlarge resulting in a flushed appearance
Acne - noun an inflammatory disease involving the sebaceous glands of the skin; characterized by papules or pustules or comedones
Acoustic - adj. of or relating to the science of acoustics; noun a remedy for hearing loss or deafness
Acromegaly - noun enlargement of bones of hands and feet and face; often accompanied by headache and muscle pain and emotional disturbances; caused by overproduction of growth hormone by the anterior pituitary gland (due to a tumor)
Actinic Keratosis - noun an overgrowth of skin layers resulting from extended exposure to the sun
Acupuncture - noun treatment of pain or disease by inserting the tips of needles at specific points on the skin
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia - noun acute leukemia characterized by proliferation of immature lymphoblast-like cells in bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and blood; most common in children
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia - noun acute leukemia characterized by proliferation of immature lymphoblast-like cells in bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and blood; most common in children
Acute Myeloid Leukemia - noun acute leukemia characterized by proliferation of granular leukocytes; most common in adolescents and young adults
Acute - adj. having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course; of critical importance and consequence; extremely sharp or intense; having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; of an angle; less than 90 degrees; ending in a sharp point; noun a mark (') placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation
Adenoidectomy - noun surgical removal of the adenoids; commonly performed along with tonsillectomy
Adenoma - noun a benign epithelial tumor of glandular origin
Adenomyosis - noun the presence of endometrium elsewhere than in the lining of the uterus; causes premenstrual pain and dysmenorrhea
Adoption - noun the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception; a legal proceeding that creates a parent-child relation between persons not related by blood; the adopted child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural child of the adoptive parents (including the right to inherit); the appropriation (of ideas or words etc) from another source
Agent Orange - noun a herbicide used in the Vietnam War to defoliate forest areas
Aging - adj. growing old; noun the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age; acquiring desirable qualities by being left undisturbed for some time
Agoraphobia - noun a morbid fear of open spaces (as fear of being caught alone in some public place)
Air Pollution - noun pollution of the atmosphere
Airsickness - noun motion sickness experienced while traveling by air (especially during turbulence)
Alcohol - noun a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent; any of a series of volatile hydroxyl compounds that are made from hydrocarbons by distillation
Allergic Rhinitis - noun rhinitis caused by an allergic reaction
Allergy - noun hypersensitivity reaction to a particular allergen; symptoms can vary greatly in intensity
Alopecia - noun loss of hair (especially on the head) or loss of wool or feathers; in humans it can result from heredity or hormonal imbalance or certain diseases or drugs and treatments (chemotherapy for cancer)
Alternative Medicine - noun the practice of medicine without the use of drugs; may involve herbal medicines or self-awareness or biofeedback or acupuncture
Alzheimer's Disease - noun a progressive form of presenile dementia that is similar to senile dementia except that it usually starts in the 40s or 50s; first symptoms are impaired memory which is followed by impaired thought and speech and finally complete helplessness
Amblyopia - noun visual impairment without apparent organic pathology
Amenorrhea - noun absence or suppression of normal menstrual flow
Amnesia - noun partial or total loss of memory
Amniocentesis - noun (pregnancy) extraction by centesis of amniotic fluid from a pregnant woman (after the 15th week of pregnancy) to aid in the diagnosis of fetal abnormalities
Amputation - noun a surgical removal of all or part of a limb; a condition of disability resulting from the loss of one or more limbs
Amyloidosis - noun a disorder characterized by deposit of amyloid in organs or tissues; often secondary to chronic rheumatoid arthritis or tuberculosis or multiple myeloma
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - noun thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord; results in progressive muscle atrophy that starts in the limbs
Anabolic - adj. characterized by or promoting constructive metabolism; of or related to the synthetic phase of metabolism
Anaphylaxis - noun hypersensitivity reaction to the ingestion or injection of a substance (a protein or drug) resulting from prior contact with a substance
Anatomy - noun a detailed analysis; the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals; alternative names for the body of a human being
Anemia - noun genus of terrestrial or lithophytic ferns having pinnatifid fronds; chiefly of tropical America; a deficiency of red blood cells; a lack of vitality
Anencephaly - noun a defect in brain development resulting in small or missing brain hemispheres
Anesthesia - noun loss of bodily sensation with or without loss of consciousness
Angiitis - noun inflammation of a blood vessel or lymph duct
Angina - noun any disease of the throat or fauces marked by spasmodic attacks of intense suffocative pain; a heart condition marked by paroxysms of chest pain due to reduced oxygen to the heart
Angioplasty - noun an operation to repair a damaged blood vessel or unblock a coronary artery
Ankylosing Spondylitis - noun a chronic form of spondylitis primarily in males and marked by impaired mobility of the spine; sometimes leads to ankylosis
Anorexia Nervosa - noun (psychiatry) a psychological disorder characterized by somatic delusions that you are too fat despite being emaciated
Anosmia - noun absence of the sense of smell (as by damage to olfactory nasal tissue or the olfactory nerve or by obstruction of the nasal passages)
Anthrax - noun a disease of humans that is not communicable; caused by infection with Bacillus anthracis followed by septicemia; a highly infectious animal disease (especially cattle and sheep); it can be transmitted to people
Antisocial Personality Disorder - noun a personality disorder characterized by amorality and lack of affect; capable of violent acts without guilt feelings (`psychopathic personality' was once widely used but was superseded by `sociopathic personality' to indicate the social aspects of the disorder, but now `antisocial personality disorder' is the preferred term)
Anxiety - noun a vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune; a relatively permanent state of anxiety occurring in a variety of mental disorders
Aortic Aneurysm - noun an aneurysm of the aorta
Aortic Stenosis - noun abnormal narrowing of the aortic valve
Aphasia - noun inability to use or understand language (spoken or written) because of a brain lesion
Aplastic Anemia - noun anemia characterized by pancytopenia resulting from failure of the bone marrow; can be caused by neoplasm or by toxic exposure
Apnea - noun transient cessation of respiration
Appendicitis - noun inflammation of the vermiform appendix
Arrhythmia - noun an abnormal rate of muscle contractions in the heart
Arsenic - noun a very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms; arsenic and arsenic compounds are used as herbicides and insecticides and various alloys; found in arsenopyrite and orpiment and realgar; a white powdered poisonous trioxide of arsenic; used in manufacturing glass and as a pesticide (rat poison) and weed killer
Arteriosclerosis - noun sclerosis of the arterial walls
Arthritis - noun inflammation of a joint or joints
Arthrography - noun roentgenographic examination of a joint after injection of radiopaque contrast medium; produces an arthrogram
Arthroplasty - noun surgical reconstruction or replacement of a malformed or degenerated joint
Arthroscopy - noun a minimally invasive operation to repair a damaged joint; the surgeon examines the joint with an arthroscope while making repairs through a small incision
Artificial Insemination - noun the introduction of semen into the oviduct or uterus by some means other than sexual intercourse
Artificial - adj. artificially formal; contrived by art rather than nature;not arising from natural growth or characterized by vital processes
Asbestos - noun a fibrous amphibole; used for making fireproof articles; inhaling fibers can cause asbestosis or lung cancer
Asbestosis - noun lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos particles
Ascorbic Acid - noun a vitamin found in fresh fruits (especially citrus fruits) and vegetables; prevents scurvy
Aspergillosis - noun disease especially in agricultural workers caused by inhalation of Aspergillus spores causing lumps in skin and ears and respiratory organs; an opportunistic infection by a fungus of the genus Aspergillus; characterized by inflammation and lesions of the ear and other organs; severe respiratory disease of birds that takes the form of an acute rapidly fatal pneumonia in young chickens and turkeys
Asthma - noun respiratory disorder characterized by wheezing; usually of allergic origin
Astigmatism - noun (optics) defect in an optical system in which light rays from a single point fail to converge in a single focal point;(ophthalmology) impaired eyesight resulting usually from irregular conformation of the cornea
Ataxia - noun inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements; unsteady movements and staggering gait
Atelectasis - noun collapse of an expanded lung (especially in infants); also failure of pulmonary alveoli to expand at birth
Atherosclerosis - noun a stage of arteriosclerosis involving fatty deposits (atheromas) inside the arterial walls
Atherosclerotic - adj. of or relating to atherosclerosis
Athlete's Foot - noun fungal infection of the feet
Atopic Dermatitis - noun a severe form of dermatitis characterized by atopy
Atrial Fibrillation - noun fibrillation of the muscles of the atria of the heart
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - noun a condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders
Autism - noun (psychiatry) an abnormal absorption with the self; marked by communication disorders and short attention span and inability to treat others as people
BPH - noun enlarged prostate; appears to be part of the natural aging process
BSE - noun a fatal disease of cattle that affects the central nervous system; causes staggering and agitation
Bacteremia - noun transient presence of bacteria (or other microorganisms) in the blood
Bacterial - adj. relating to or caused by bacteria
Balanitis - noun inflammation of the head of the penis
Belching - noun the forceful expulsion of something from inside; a reflex that expels wind noisily from the stomach through the mouth
Bellyache - noun an ache localized in the stomach or abdominal region; verb complain
Benign - adj. pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence;kindness of disposition or manner; not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor)
Bereavement - noun state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
Bioethics - noun the branch of ethics that studies moral values in the biomedical sciences
Biopsy - noun examination of tissues or liquids from the living body to determine the existence or cause of a disease
Bioterrorism - noun terrorism using the weapons of biological warfare
Biotin - noun a B vitamin that aids in body growth
Bipolar Disorder - noun a mental disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression
Birth Control - noun limiting the number of children born
Bisexual - adj. sexually attracted to both sexes; having an ambiguous sexual identity; noun a person who is sexually attracted to both sexes
Bladder - noun a bag that fills with air; a distensible membranous sac (usually containing liquid or gas)
Bleeding - noun flow of blood from a ruptured blood vessels
Blepharospasm - noun spasm of the eyelid muscle resulting in closure of the eye
Blindness - noun the state of being blind or lacking sight
Blood Glucose - noun glucose in the bloodstream
Blood Poisoning - noun invasion of the bloodstream by virulent microorganisms from a focus of infection
Blood Pressure - noun the pressure of the circulating blood against the walls of the blood vessels; results from the systole of the left ventricle of the heart; sometimes measured for a quick evaluation of a person's health
Blood Sugar - noun glucose in the bloodstream
Blood - noun temperament or disposition; the fluid (red in vertebrates) that is pumped by the heart; people viewed as members of a group; the descendants of one individual; a dissolute man in fashionable society; verb smear with blood, as in a hunting initiation rite, where the face of a person is smeared with the blood of the kill
Body Odor - noun malodorousness resulting from a failure to bathe
Body Weight - noun the weight of a person's body
Botox - noun a neurotoxin (trade name Botox) that is used clinically in small quantities to treat strabismus and facial spasms and other neurological disorders characterized by abnormal muscle contractions; is also used by cosmetic surgeons to smooth frown lines temporarily
Botulinum Toxin - noun any of several neurotoxins that are produced by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum; causes muscle paralysis
Botulism - noun food poisoning from ingesting botulin; not infectious; affects the CNS; can be fatal if not treated promptly
Bowel Movement - noun a euphemism for defecation
Braces - noun an appliance that corrects dental irregularities
Bradycardia - noun abnormally slow heartbeat
Breast Cancer - noun cancer of the breast; one of the most common malignancies in women in the US
Bronchial Asthma - noun respiratory disorder characterized by wheezing; usually of allergic origin
Bronchiolitis - noun inflammation of the membranes lining the bronchioles
Bronchitis - noun inflammation of the membranes lining the bronchial tubes
Bronchopneumonia - noun pneumonia characterized by acute inflammation of the walls of the bronchioles
Bruxism - noun involuntarily or unconsciously clenching or grinding the teeth, typically during sleep
Bubonic Plague - noun the most common form of the plague in humans; characterized by chills, prostration, delirium and the formation of buboes in the armpits and groin; does not spread from person to person
Bulimia - noun pathologically insatiable hunger (especially when caused by brain lesions); a disorder of eating seen among young women who go on eating binges and then feel guilt and depression and self-condemnation
Burns - noun celebrated Scottish poet (1759-1796); United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)
Burping - noun a reflex that expels wind noisily from the stomach through the mouth
Bursitis - noun inflammation of a bursa; frequently in the shoulder
C-Section - noun the delivery of a fetus by surgical incision through the abdominal wall and uterus (from the belief that Julius Caesar was born that way)
CABG - noun open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is opened and a section of a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of the coronary artery and improve the blood supply to the heart
CAD - noun someone who is morally reprehensible; software used in art and architecture and engineering and manufacturing to assist in precision drawing
CAM - noun a rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear motion; a river in east central England that flows past Cambridge to join the Ouse River
CJD - noun rare (usually fatal) brain disease (usually in middle age) caused by an unidentified slow virus; characterized by progressive dementia and gradual loss of muscle control
CPR - noun an emergency procedure consisting of external cardiac massage and artificial respiration; the first treatment for a person who has collapsed and has no pulse and has stopped breathing; attempts to restore circulation of the blood and prevent death or brain damage due to lack of oxygen
CVA - noun a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain
Caffeine - noun a bitter alkaloid found in coffee and tea that is responsible for their stimulating effects
Calcium - noun a white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light; the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust; an important component of most plants and animals
Cancer - noun type genus of the family Cancridae; the fourth sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about June 21 to July 22; a small zodiacal constellation in the northern hemisphere; between Leo and Gemini; (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Cancer; any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division; it may spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream
Candidiasis - noun an infection caused by fungi of the genus Monilia or Candida (especially Candida albicans)
Cannabis - noun the most commonly used illicit drug; considered a soft drug, it consists of the dried leaves of the hemp plant; smoked or chewed for euphoric effect; any plant of the genus Cannabis; a coarse bushy annual with palmate leaves and clusters of small green flowers; yields tough fibers and narcotic drugs
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - noun a toxic condition that results from inhaling and absorbing carbon monoxide gas
Carcinoma - noun any malignant tumor derived from epithelial tissue; one of the four major types of cancer
Cardiac Arrest - noun absence of systole; failure of the ventricles of the heart to contract (usually caused by ventricular fibrillation) with consequent absence of the heart beat leading to oxygen lack and eventually to death
Cardiac - adj. of or relating to the heart
Cardiomyopathy - noun a disorder (usually of unknown origin) of the heart muscle (myocardium)
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - noun an emergency procedure consisting of external cardiac massage and artificial respiration; the first treatment for a person who has collapsed and has no pulse and has stopped breathing; attempts to restore circulation of the blood and prevent death or brain damage due to lack of oxygen
Cardiospasm - noun a spasm of the cardiac sphincter (between the esophagus and the stomach); if the cardiac sphincter does not relax during swallowing the passage of food into the stomach is obstructed
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - noun a painful disorder caused by compression of a nerve in the carpal tunnel; characterized by discomfort and weakness in the hands and fingers and by sensations of tingling, burning or numbness
Cat Scratch Disease - noun a disease thought to be transmitted to humans by a scratch from a cat
Cataract - noun a large waterfall; violent rush of water over a precipice; clouding of the natural lens of the eye
Causalgia - noun a burning pain in a limb along the course of a peripheral nerve; usually associated with skin changes
Celiac Disease - noun a disorder in children and adults; inability to tolerate wheat protein (gluten); symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea and emaciation; often accompanied by lactose intolerance
Cellulitis - noun an inflammation of body tissue (especially that below the skin) characterized by fever and swelling and redness and pain
Cerebral Aneurysm - noun an aneurysm of the carotid artery
Cerebral Hemorrhage - noun bleeding from a ruptured blood vessel in the brain
Cerebral Palsy - noun a loss or deficiency of motor control with involuntary spasms caused by permanent brain damage present at birth
Cesarean Section - noun the delivery of a fetus by surgical incision through the abdominal wall and uterus (from the belief that Julius Caesar was born that way)
Chalazion - noun a small sebaceous cyst of the eyelid resulting when a Meibomian gland is blocked
Change of Life - noun the time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends
Charley-Horse - noun a muscular cramp (especially in the thigh or calf) following vigorous exercise
Chemical Warfare - noun warfare using chemical agents to kill or injure or incapacitate the enemy
Chemotherapy - noun the use of chemical agents to treat or control disease (or mental illness)
Chest Pain - noun pain in the chest
Chest - noun box with a lid; used for storage; usually large and sturdy; furniture with drawers for keeping clothes; the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
Chickenpox - noun an acute contagious disease caused by herpes varicella zoster virus; causes a rash of vesicles on the face and body
Chilblains - noun inflammation of the hands and feet caused by exposure to cold and moisture
Child Abuse - noun the physical or emotional or sexual mistreatment of children
Child Care - noun a service involving care for other people's children
Child - noun a young person of either sex; a human offspring (son or daughter) of any age; an immature childish person; a member of a clan or tribe
Childbirth - noun the parturition process in human beings; having a baby; the process of giving birth to a child
Childhood - noun the state of a child between infancy and adolescence; the time of person's life when they are a child
Chiropractic - noun a method of treatment that manipulates body structures (especially the spine) to relieve low back pain or even headache or high blood pressure
Choking - noun the act of suffocating (someone) by constricting the windpipe; a condition caused by blocking the airways to the lungs (as with food or swelling of the larynx)
Cholangitis - noun inflammation of the bile ducts
Cholecystectomy - noun surgical removal of the gall bladder (usually for relief of gallstone pain)
Cholelithiasis - noun the presence of gallstones in the gallbladder
Cholera - noun an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food
Cholestasis - noun a condition in which little or no bile is secreted or the flow of bile into the digestive tract is obstructed
Cholesterol - noun an animal sterol that is normally synthesized by the liver; the most abundant steroid in animal tissues
Chorea - noun any of several degenerative nervous disorders characterized by spasmodic movements of the body and limbs;chorea in dogs
Chromium - noun a hard brittle multivalent metallic element; resistant to corrosion and tarnishing
Chronic Bronchitis - noun a form of bronchitis characterized by excess production of sputum leading to a chronic cough and obstruction of air flow
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia - noun chronic leukemia characterized by lymphoblast-like cells; more common in older men
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - noun a nonreversible lung disease that is a combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis; usually patients have been heavy cigarette smokers
Chronic - adj. being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
Cicatrix - noun a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
Circumcision - noun the act of circumcising; surgical removal of the foreskin of males; the act of circumcising performed on males eight days after birth as a Jewish and Muslim religious rite; (Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Church) feast day celebrating the circumcision of Jesus; celebrated on January 1st
Cirrhosis - noun a chronic disease interfering with the normal functioning of the liver; the major cause is chronic alcoholism
Clap - noun a sudden very loud noise; a sharp abrupt noise as if two objects hit together; may be repeated; a common venereal disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae; symptoms are painful urination and pain around the urethra; verb clap one's hands together; strike together so as to produce a sharp percussive noise;strike with the flat of the hand; usually in a friendly way, as in encouragement or greeting; put quickly or forcibly; strike the air in flight; cause to strike the air in flight; clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval
Claudication - noun disability of walking due to crippling of the legs or feet
Cleft Palate - noun a congenital fissure of the hard palate
Climate Change - noun a change in the world's climate
Cloning - noun a general term for the research activity that creates a copy of some biological entity (a gene or organism or cell)
Cluster Headache - noun a painful recurring headache associated with the release of histamine from cells
Coal Miner's Lung - noun lung disease caused by inhaling coal dust
Cocaine - noun a narcotic (alkaloid) extracted from coca leaves; used as a surface anesthetic or taken for pleasure; can become powerfully addictive
Coccidioidomycosis - noun an infection of the lungs and skin characterized by excessive sputum and nodules
Coccyx - noun the end of the vertebral column in humans and tailless apes
Colic - noun acute abdominal pain (especially in infants)
Colitis - noun inflammation of the colon
Colon Cancer - noun a malignant tumor of the colon; early symptom is bloody stools
Colonoscopy - noun visual examination of the colon (with a colonoscope) from the cecum to the rectum; requires sedation
Color Blindness - noun genetic inability to distinguish differences in hue
Colostomy - noun a surgical operation that creates an opening from the colon to the surface of the body to function as an anus
Coma - noun a state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness; usually the result of disease or injury; (astronomy) the luminous cloud of particles surrounding the frozen nucleus of a comet; forms as the comet approaches the sun and is warmed; a usually terminal tuft of hairs especially on a seed
Common Cold - noun a mild viral infection involving the nose and respiratory passages (but not the lungs)
Common - adj. having no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual; belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public; commonly encountered; being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language; of or associated with the great masses of people; to be expected; standard; common to or shared by two or more parties;lacking refinement or cultivation or taste; of low or inferior quality or value; noun a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area
Compression Fracture - noun fracture in which the bone collapses (especially in short bones such as vertebrae)
Concussion - noun any violent blow; injury to the brain caused by a blow; usually resulting in loss of consciousness
Confidentiality - noun discretion in keeping secret information; the state of being secret
Congenital - adj. present at birth but not necessarily hereditary; acquired during fetal development
Congestive Heart Failure - noun inability to pump enough blood to avoid congestion in the tissues
Conjunctivitis - noun inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye
Constipation - noun irregular and infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowels; can be a symptom of intestinal obstruction or diverticulitis; the act of making something futile and useless (as by routine)
Contact Dermatitis - noun a delayed type of allergic reaction of the skin resulting from skin contact with a specific allergen (such as poison ivy)
Contraception - noun birth control by the use of devices (diaphragm or intrauterine device or condom) or drugs or surgery
Cooley's Anemia - noun a fatal form of homozygous thalassemia (inherited from both parents) in which there is no hemoglobin; skeletal deformations; heart and spleen and liver enlarged
Coping - noun brick that is laid sideways at the top of a wall
Copper - noun any of various small butterflies of the family Lycaenidae having coppery wings; a reddish-brown color resembling the color of polished copper; a copper penny; a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor; uncomplimentary terms for a policeman; verb coat with a layer of copper
Cor Pulmonale - noun enlargement of the right ventricle of the heart due to disease of the lungs or of the pulmonary blood vessels
Corn Syrup - noun syrup prepared from corn
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft - noun open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is opened and a section of a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of the coronary artery and improve the blood supply to the heart
Coronary Artery Disease - noun a stage of arteriosclerosis involving fatty deposits (atheromas) inside the arterial walls
Coronary - adj. surrounding like a crown (especially of the blood vessels surrounding the heart); noun obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery by a blood clot (thrombus)
Cosmetic Dentistry - noun the branch of dentistry dealing with the appearance of the teeth
Cosmetic Surgery - noun plastic surgery to remove wrinkles and other signs of aging from your face; an incision is made near the hair line and skin is pulled back and excess tissue is excised
Cosmetic - adj. serving an aesthetic purpose in beautifying the body; serving an esthetic rather than a useful purpose; noun a toiletry designed to beautify the body
Costochondritis - noun inflammation at the junction of a rib and its cartilage
Cough - noun the act of exhaling air suddenly with a noise; sudden expulsion of air from the lungs that clears the air passages; a common symptom of upper respiratory infection or bronchitis or pneumonia or tuberculosis; verb exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion
Cradle Cap - noun a dermatitis of the scalp that is common in infants
Crib Death - noun sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant during sleep
Crohn's Disease - noun a serious chronic and progressive inflammation of the ileum producing frequent bouts of diarrhea with abdominal pain and nausea and fever and weight loss
Croup - noun a disease of infants and young children; harsh coughing and hoarseness and fever and difficult breathing; the part of a quadruped that corresponds to the human buttocks
Cryptococcosis - noun a fungal infection characterized by nodular lesions--first in the lungs and spreading to the nervous system
Cushing's Syndrome - noun a glandular disorder caused by excessive cortisol
Cyclothymic Disorder - noun a mild bipolar disorder that persists over a long time
Cystic Fibrosis - noun the most common congenital disease; the child's lungs and intestines and pancreas become clogged with thick mucus; caused by defect in a single gene; there is no cure
Cystitis - noun inflammation of the urinary bladder and ureters
Cystocele - noun hernia in which the urinary bladder protrudes through the wall of the vagina; sometimes occurs after childbirth
D - noun the 4th letter of the Roman alphabet; a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
Dandruff - noun loose scales shed from the scalp; a condition in which white scales of dead skin are shed by the scalp
Day Care - noun childcare during the day while parents work
Deafness - noun partial or complete loss of hearing
Degenerative Joint Disease - noun chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints; the most common form of arthritis occurring usually after middle age
Dehydration - noun the process of extracting moisture; depletion of bodily fluids; dryness resulting from the removal of water
Delirium - noun a usually brief state of excitement and mental confusion often accompanied by hallucinations; state of violent mental agitation
Delivery - noun the act of delivering a child; the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail); the voluntary transfer of something (title or possession) from one party to another; the event of giving birth; recovery or preservation from loss or danger;(baseball) the act of throwing a baseball by a pitcher to a batter;your characteristic style or manner of expressing yourself orally
Dementia - noun mental deterioration of organic or functional origin
Dengue - noun an infectious disease of the tropics transmitted by mosquitoes and characterized by rash and aching head and joints
Dental Caries - noun soft decayed area in a tooth; progressive decay can lead to the death of a tooth
Dental - adj. of or relating to the teeth; of or relating to dentistry;noun a consonant articulated with the tip of the tongue near the gum ridge
Dentistry - noun the branch of medicine dealing with the anatomy and development and diseases of the teeth
Dermatitis - noun inflammation of the skin; skin becomes itchy and may develop blisters
Dermatology - noun the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases
Dermatomyositis - noun myositis characterized by weakness of limb and neck muscles and much muscle pain and selling accompanied by skin rash affecting cheeks and eyelids and neck and chest and limbs; progression and severity vary among individuals
Diabetes Insipidus - noun a rare form of diabetes resulting from a deficiency of vasopressin (the pituitary hormone that regulates the kidneys); characterized by the chronic excretion of large amounts of pale dilute urine which results in dehydration and extreme thirst
Diabetes Mellitus - noun diabetes caused by a relative or absolute deficiency of insulin and characterized by polyuria
Diabetes - noun any of several metabolic disorders marked by excessive urination and persistent thirst
Diabetic Diet - noun a diet designed to help control the symptoms of diabetes
Dialysis - noun separation of substances in solution by means of their unequal diffusion through semipermeable membranes
Diaper Rash - noun dermatitis of the thighs and buttocks of infants; supposedly caused by ammonia in the urine in the child's diapers
Diaphragmatic Hernia - noun hernia resulting from the protrusion of part of the stomach through the diaphragm
Diarrhea - noun frequent and watery bowel movements; can be a symptom of infection or food poisoning or colitis or a gastrointestinal tumor
Dietary - adj. of or relating to the diet; noun a regulated daily food allowance
Dieting - noun the act of restricting your food intake (or your intake of particular foods)
Diphtheria - noun acute contagious infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae; marked by the formation of a false membrane in the throat and other air passages causing difficulty in breathing
Diverticulitis - noun inflammation of a diverticulum in the digestive tract (especially the colon); characterized by painful abdominal cramping and fever and constipation
Divorce - noun the legal dissolution of a marriage; verb get a divorce; formally terminate a marriage; part; cease or break association with
Domestic Violence - noun violence or physical abuse directed toward your spouse or domestic partner; usually violence by men against women
Down Syndrome - noun a congenital disorder caused by having an extra 21st chromosome; results in a flat face and short stature and mental retardation
Drinking Water - noun water suitable for drinking
Drinking - noun the act of consuming liquids; the act of drinking alcoholic beverages to excess
Driving - adj. having the power of driving or impelling; acting with vigor; noun the act of controlling and steering the movement of a vehicle or animal; hitting a golf ball off of a tee with a driver
Dropsy - noun swelling from excessive accumulation of serous fluid in tissue
Drug Abuse - noun excessive use of drugs
Dry Mouth - noun abnormal dryness of the mouth resulting from decreased secretion of saliva
Duodenal Ulcer - noun a peptic ulcer of the duodenum
Dwarfism - noun a genetic abnormality resulting in short stature
Dyscalculia - noun impaired ability to learn grade-appropriate mathematics
Dysentery - noun an infection of the intestines marked by severe diarrhea
Dyskinesia - noun abnormality in performing voluntary muscle movements
Dyslexia - noun impaired ability to learn to read
Dysmenorrhea - noun painful menstruation
Dysosmia - noun a disorder in the sense of smell
Dyspepsia - noun a disorder of digestive function characterized by discomfort or heartburn or nausea
Dysphagia - noun condition in which swallowing is difficult or painful
Dyspnea - noun difficult or labored respiration
Dysuria - noun painful or difficult urination
EMF - noun the rate at which energy is drawn from a source that produces a flow of electricity in a circuit; expressed in volts
ERT - noun the coordinated universal time when an event is received on Earth
E - noun the 5th letter of the Roman alphabet; the base of the natural system of logarithms; approximately equal to 2.718282...; the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees; a radioactive transuranic element produced by bombarding plutonium with neutrons; a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body
Ebola - noun a severe and often fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys and chimpanzees) caused by the Ebola virus; characterized by high fever and severe internal bleeding; can be spread from person to person; is largely limited to Africa
Echocardiography - noun a noninvasive diagnostic procedure that uses ultrasound to study to structure and motions of the heart
Ecstasy - noun a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion; a state of elated bliss; street names for methylenedioxymethamphetamine
Ectopic Pregnancy - noun pregnancy resulting from gestation elsewhere than in the uterus
Eczema - noun generic term for inflammatory conditions of the skin; particularly with vesiculation in the acute stages
Edema - noun swelling from excessive accumulation of serous fluid in tissue
Emphysema - noun an abnormal condition of the lungs marked by decreased respiratory function; associated with smoking or chronic bronchitis or old age
Encephalitis - noun inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus; symptoms include headache and neck pain and drowsiness and nausea and fever (`phrenitis' is no longer in scientific use)
Encopresis - noun involuntary defecation not attributable to physical defects or illness
Endocarditis - noun inflammation of the endocardium and heart valves
Endometrial Cancer - noun cancer of the uterine lining
Endometriosis - noun the presence of endometrium elsewhere than in the lining of the uterus; causes premenstrual pain and dysmenorrhea
Endoscopy - noun visual examination of the interior of a hollow body organ by use of an endoscope
Enterovirus - noun any of a group of picornaviruses that infect the gastrointestinal tract and can spread to other areas (especially the nervous system)
Enuresis - noun inability to control the flow of urine and involuntary urination
Eosinophilia - noun a symptom of allergic states; increased eosinophils in the blood
Epilepsy - noun a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions
Erectile Dysfunction - noun impotence resulting from a man's inability to have or maintain an erection of his penis
Ergonomics - noun the branch of engineering science in which biological science is used to study the relation between workers and their environments
Erythroblastosis Fetalis - noun severe anemia in newborn babies; the result of Rh incompatibility between maternal and fetal blood; typically occurs when the child of an Rh-negative mother inherits Rh-positive blood from the father; can be diagnosed before birth by amniocentesis
Essential Tremor - noun tremor of unknown cause (usually of the hands and head) that develops in older people; often mistaken for Parkinsonism but is not life-threatening and can usually be kept under control
Ewing's Sarcoma - noun malignant tumor in bone marrow (usually in the pelvis or in long bones)
Exercise - noun the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit; a task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding; systematic training by multiple repetitions; (usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches; the act of using; verb do physical exercise; give a workout to; learn by repetition; put to use; carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions
Eyeglasses - noun optical instrument consisting of a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
Falls - noun the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris); a steep descent of the water of a river
False Teeth - noun a removable denture
Familial Hypercholesterolemia - noun congenital disorder characterized by high levels of cholesterol and early development of atherosclerosis
Family History - noun part of a patient's medical history in which questions are asked in an attempt to find out whether the patient has hereditary tendencies toward particular diseases
Family Planning - noun limiting the number of children born
Farmer's Lung - noun alveolitis caused by an allergic reaction to fungal spores in the dust that is inhaled from moldy hay
Farsightedness - noun seeing ahead; knowing in advance; foreseeing; abnormal condition in which vision for distant objects is better than for near objects
Fatigue - noun (always used with a modifier) boredom resulting from overexposure to something; temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work; used of materials (especially metals) in a weakened state caused by long stress; labor of a nonmilitary kind done by soldiers (cleaning or digging or draining or so on); verb exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress; get tired of something or somebody
Fecal Impaction - noun accumulation of hardened feces in the rectum or lower colon which the person cannot move
Female Circumcision - noun excision of the clitoris
Female - adj. being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop; for or pertaining to or composed of women or girls; characteristic of or peculiar to a woman; noun an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes (spermatozoa); a person who belongs to the sex that can have babies
Ferritin - noun a protein containing 20% iron that is found in the intestines and liver and spleen; it is one of the chief forms in which iron is stored in the body
Fertility - noun the state of being fertile; capable of producing offspring; the property of producing abundantly and sustaining vigorous and luxuriant growth; the ratio of live births in an area to the population of that area; expressed per 1000 population per year
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - noun a medical condition in which body deformation or facial development or mental ability of a fetus is impaired because the mother drank alcohol while pregnant
Fever Blister - noun caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)
Fever - noun intense nervous anticipation; a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
Fiber - noun a leatherlike material made by compressing layers of paper or cloth; a slender and greatly elongated solid substance; the inherent complex of attributes that determine a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions
Fibrocystic Breast Disease - noun the presence of one or more cysts in a breast
First Aid - noun emergency care given before regular medical aid can be obtained
Fitness - noun the condition of being suitable; the quality of being qualified; good physical condition; being in shape or in condition;fitness to traverse the seas
Flatulence - noun a state of excessive gas in the alimentary canal;pompously embellished language
Flu - noun an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease
Folate - noun a B vitamin that is essential for cell growth and reproduction
Folic Acid - noun a B vitamin that is essential for cell growth and reproduction
Folliculitis - noun inflammation of a hair follicle
Food Allergy - noun allergic reaction to a substance ingested in food
Food Poisoning - noun illness caused by poisonous or contaminated food
Food - noun any substance that can be metabolized by an organism to give energy and build tissue; anything that provides mental stimulus for thinking; any solid substance (as opposed to liquid) that is used as a source of nourishment
Foster Care - noun supervised care for delinquent or neglected children usually in an institution or substitute home
Friedreich's Ataxia - noun sclerosis of the posterior and lateral columns of the spinal cord; characterized by muscular weakness and abnormal gait; occurs in children
Frostbite - noun destruction of tissue by freezing and characterized by tingling, blistering and possibly gangrene
Fungal - adj. of or relating to fungi
GHB - noun a club drug available in liquid or powder form is taken orally (frequently combined with alcohol); used to incapacitate individuals for the commission of sexual assault and rape
Gambling - noun the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)
Gangrene - noun necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass; the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply); verb undergo necrosis
Gas Gangrene - noun (pathology) a deadly form of gangrene usually caused by clostridium bacteria that produce toxins that cause tissue death; can be used as a bioweapon
Gastritis - noun inflammation of the lining of the stomach; nausea and loss of appetite and discomfort after eating
Gastroenteritis - noun inflammation of the stomach and intestines; can be caused by Salmonella enteritidis
Gastroesophageal Reflux - noun reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus
Gastrointestinal - adj. of or relating to the stomach and intestines
Gay - adj. homosexual or arousing homosexual desires; given to social pleasures often including dissipation; offering fun and gaiety;full of or showing high-spirited merriment; bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer; brightly colored and showy; nounsomeone who practices homosexuality; having a sexual attraction to persons of the same sex
Generalized Anxiety Disorder - noun an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or trembling of lightheadedness or irritability etc that has lasted for more than six months
Genetic Counseling - noun guidance for prospective parents on the likelihood of genetic disorders in their future children
Genital Herpes - noun an infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) that is usually transmitted by sexual contact; marked by recurrent attacks of painful eruptions on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital area
Germ Warfare - noun the use of harmful bacteria as a weapon
German Measles - noun a contagious viral disease that is a milder form of measles lasting three or four days; can be damaging to a fetus during the first trimester
Glandular Fever - noun an acute disease characterized by fever and swollen lymph nodes and an abnormal increase of mononuclear leucocytes or monocytes in the bloodstream; not highly contagious; some believe it can be transmitted by kissing
Glasses - noun optical instrument consisting of a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
Glaucoma - noun increased pressure in the eyeball due to obstruction of the outflow of aqueous humor; damages the optic disc and impairs vision (sometimes progressing to blindness)
Glioma - noun a tumor of the brain consisting of neuroglia
Global Warming - noun an increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere (especially a sustained increase that causes climatic changes)
Glossitis - noun inflammation of the tongue
Glucose - noun a monosaccharide sugar that has several forms; an important source of physiological energy
Goiter - noun abnormally enlarged thyroid gland; can result from underproduction or overproduction of hormone or from a deficiency of iodine in the diet
Gonorrhea - noun a common venereal disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae; symptoms are painful urination and pain around the urethra
Gout - noun a painful inflammation of the big toe and foot caused by defects in uric acid metabolism resulting in deposits of the acid and its salts in the blood and joints
Graves' Disease - noun exophthalmos occurring in association with goiter; hyperthyroidism with protrusion of the eyeballs
Grief - noun something that causes great unhappiness; intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
Grippe - noun an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease
Gulf War Syndrome - noun a medical condition of uncertain origin that affected many veterans of the 1991 Gulf War; characterized by fatigue and headache and dizziness and nausea and rashes and joint pain and respiratory disorders
Gynecomastia - noun excessive development of the breasts in males; usually the result of hormonal imbalance or treatment with certain drugs (including some antihypertensives)
HDL - noun a lipoprotein that transports cholesterol in the blood; composed of a high proportion of protein and relatively little cholesterol; high levels are thought to be associated with decreased risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis
HIV - noun infection by the human immunodeficiency virus; the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); it replicates in and kills the helper T cells
HMO - noun group insurance that entitles members to services of participating hospitals and clinics and physicians
HRT - noun hormones (estrogen and progestin) are given to postmenopausal women; believed to protect them from heart disease and osteoporosis
Halitosis - noun offensive breath
Hansen's Disease - noun chronic granulomatous communicable disease occurring in tropical and subtropical regions; characterized by inflamed nodules beneath the skin and wasting of body parts; caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae
Hardening of the Arteries - noun sclerosis of the arterial walls
Hashimoto's Disease - noun autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland; most common in middle-aged women
Hay Fever - noun a seasonal rhinitis resulting from an allergic reaction to pollen
Head Lice - noun infestation of the scalp with lice
Headache - noun pain in the head caused by dilation of cerebral arteries or muscle contractions or a reaction to drugs; something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness
Health Insurance - noun insurance against loss due to ill health
Heart Attack - noun a sudden severe instance of abnormal heart function
Heart Failure - noun inability of the heart to pump enough blood to sustain normal bodily functions
Heart Murmur - noun an abnormal sound of the heart; sometimes a sign of abnormal function of the heart valves
Heart Rate - noun the rate at which the heart beats; usually measured to obtain a quick evaluation of a person's health
Heart Surgery - noun any surgical procedure involving the heart
Heartburn - noun a painful burning sensation in the chest caused by gastroesophageal reflux (backflow from the stomach irritating the esophagus); symptomatic of an ulcer or a diaphragmatic hernia or other disorder
Heat Exhaustion - noun a condition marked by dizziness and nausea and weakness caused by depletion of body fluids and electrolytes
Heimlich Maneuver - noun an emergency procedure to help someone who is choking because food is lodged in the trachea
Hemangioma - noun benign angioma consisting of a mass of blood vessels; some appear as birthmarks
Hematoma - noun a localized swelling filled with blood
Hematuria - noun the presence of blood in the urine; often a symptom of urinary tract disease
Hemiplegia - noun paralysis of one side of the body
Hemochromatosis - noun pathology in which iron accumulates in the tissues; characterized by bronzed skin and enlarged liver and diabetes mellitus and abnormalities of the pancreas and the joints
Hemodialysis - noun dialysis of the blood to remove toxic substances or metabolic wastes from the bloodstream; used in the case of kidney failure
Hemophilia - noun congenital tendency to uncontrolled bleeding; usually affects males and is transmitted from mother to son
Hemorrhage - noun flow of blood from a ruptured blood vessels;verb lose blood from one's body
Hemorrhagic Stroke - noun stroke caused by the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain
Hepatitis A - noun an acute but benign form of viral hepatitis caused by an RNA virus that does not persist in the blood serum and is usually transmitted by ingesting food or drink that is contaminated with fecal matter
Hepatitis B - noun an acute (sometimes fatal) form of viral hepatitis caused by a DNA virus that tends to persist in the blood serum and is transmitted by sexual contact or by transfusion or by ingestion of contaminated blood or other bodily fluids
Hepatitis C - noun a viral hepatitis clinically indistinguishable from hepatitis B but caused by a single-stranded RNA virus; usually transmitted by parenteral means (as injection of an illicit drug or blood transfusion or exposure to blood or blood products)
Hepatitis - noun inflammation of the liver caused by a virus or a toxin
Hepatocellular Carcinoma - noun carcinoma of the liver
Hepatolenticular Degeneration - noun a rare inherited disorder of copper metabolism; copper accumulates in the liver and then in the red blood cells and brain
Herbal Medicine - noun the use of medicinal herbs to prevent or treat disease or promote health; a medicine made from plants and used to prevent or treat disease or promote health
Herbal - adj. of or relating to herbs; noun tea-like drink made of leaves of various herbs
Hernia - noun rupture in smooth muscle tissue through which a bodily structure protrudes
Heroin - noun a narcotic that is considered a hard drug; a highly addictive morphine derivative; intravenous injection provides the fastest and most intense rush
Herpes Genitalis - noun an infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) that is usually transmitted by sexual contact; marked by recurrent attacks of painful eruptions on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital area
Herpes Simplex - noun a herpes virus that affects the skin and nervous system; an infection caused by the herpes simples virus; affects the skin and nervous system; produces small temporary (but sometimes painful) blisters on the skin and mucous membranes
Herpes Zoster - noun a herpes virus that causes shingles;eruptions along a nerve path often accompanied by severe neuralgia
Herpes - noun any of the animal viruses that cause painful blisters on the skin; viral diseases causing eruptions of the skin or mucous membrane
Hiatal Hernia - noun hernia resulting from the protrusion of part of the stomach through the diaphragm
High Blood Pressure - noun a common disorder in which blood pressure remains abnormally high (a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or greater)
High-Risk - adj. not financially safe or secure
Hives - noun an itchy skin eruption characterized by weals with pale interiors and well-defined red margins; usually the result of an allergic response to insect bites or food or drugs
Hoarding - noun large outdoor signboard
Homeopathy - noun a method of treating disease with small amounts of remedies that, in large amounts in healthy people, produce symptoms similar to those being treated
Homosexuality - noun a sexual attraction to (or sexual relations with) persons of the same sex
Hormone Replacement Therapy - noun hormones (estrogen and progestin) are given to postmenopausal women; believed to protect them from heart disease and osteoporosis
Huffing - noun an act of forcible exhalation
Human Genome Project - noun an international study of the entire human genetic material
Human Immunodeficiency Virus - noun the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); it replicates in and kills the helper T cells
Huntington's Disease - noun hereditary disease; develops in adulthood and ends in dementia
Hydrocephalus - noun an abnormal condition in which cerebrospinal fluid collects in the ventricles of the brain; in infants it can cause abnormally rapid growth of the head and bulging fontanelles and a small face; in adults the symptoms are primarily neurological
Hydrophobia - noun a morbid fear of water; a symptom of rabies in humans consisting of an aversion to swallowing liquids; an acute viral disease of the nervous system of warm-blooded animals (usually transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal); rabies is fatal if the virus reaches the brain
Hyperactivity - noun a condition characterized by excessive restlessness and movement
Hypercalcemia - noun the presence of abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood; usually the result of excessive bone resorption in hyperparathyroidism or Paget's disease
Hypercholesterolemia - noun the presence of an abnormal amount of cholesterol in the cells and plasma of the blood; associated with the risk of atherosclerosis
Hyperglycemia - noun abnormally high blood sugar usually associated with diabetes
Hyperhidrosis - noun excessive and profuse perspiration
Hyperkalemia - noun higher than normal levels of potassium in the circulating blood; associated with kidney failure or sometimes with the use of diuretic drugs
Hyperlipidemia - noun presence of excess lipids in the blood
Hyperopia - noun abnormal condition in which vision for distant objects is better than for near objects
Hyperparathyroidism - noun excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone resulting in abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood; can affect many systems of the body (especially causing bone resorption and osteoporosis)
Hyperpigmentation - noun unusual darkening of the skin
Hypersensitivity - noun extreme sensitivity; pathological sensitivity
Hypertension - noun a common disorder in which blood pressure remains abnormally high (a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or greater)
Hyperthyroidism - noun an overactive thyroid gland; pathologically excessive production of thyroid hormones or the condition resulting from excessive production of thyroid hormones
Hypocalcemia - noun abnormally low level of calcium in the blood; associated with hypoparathyroidism or kidney malfunction or vitamin D deficiency
Hypoglycemia - noun abnormally low blood sugar usually resulting from excessive insulin or a poor diet
Hypokalemia - noun abnormally low level of potassium in the circulating blood leading to weakness and heart abnormalities; associated with adrenal tumors or starvation or taking diuretics
Hyponatremia - noun abnormally low level of sodium in the blood; associated with dehydration
Hypoparathyroidism - noun inadequate secretion of parathyroid hormone resulting in abnormally low levels of calcium in the blood
Hypopigmentation - noun unusual lack of skin color
Hypotension - noun abnormally low blood pressure
Hypothermia - noun subnormal body temperature
Hypothyroidism - noun an underactive thyroid gland; a glandular disorder resulting from insufficient production of thyroid hormones
Hysterectomy - noun surgical removal of the uterus
ICU - noun a hospital unit staffed and equipped to provide intensive care
IUD - noun contraceptive device consisting of a piece of bent plastic or metal that is inserted through the vagina into the uterus
I - noun the 9th letter of the Roman alphabet; a nonmetallic element belonging to the halogens; used especially in medicine and photography and in dyes; occurs naturally only in combination in small quantities (as in sea water or rocks)
Icterus - noun type genus of the Icteridae; yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bile pigment (bilirubin) in the blood; can be a symptom of gallstones or liver infection or anemia
Ileostomy - noun surgical procedure that creates an opening from the ileum through the abdominal wall to function as an anus; performed in cases of cancer of the colon or ulcerative colitis
Immunization - noun the act of making immune (especially by inoculation)
Impacted Tooth - noun a disorder in which a tooth is so crowded in its socket that it cannot erupt normally
Impetigo - noun a very contagious infection of the skin; common in children; localized redness develops into small blisters that gradually crust and erode
Impotence - noun an inability (usually of the male animal) to copulate; the quality of lacking strength or power; being weak and feeble
Incontinence - noun involuntary urination or defecation; indiscipline with regard to sensuous pleasures
Indigestion - noun a disorder of digestive function characterized by discomfort or heartburn or nausea
Infantile Paralysis - noun an acute viral disease marked by inflammation of nerve cells of the brain stem and spinal cord
Infantile - adj. being or befitting or characteristic of an infant; of or relating to infants or infancy; indicating a lack of maturity
Infectious Mononucleosis - noun an acute disease characterized by fever and swollen lymph nodes and an abnormal increase of mononuclear leucocytes or monocytes in the bloodstream; not highly contagious; some believe it can be transmitted by kissing
Infertility - noun the state of being unable to produce offspring; in a woman it is an inability to conceive; in a man it is an inability to impregnate
Inflammatory Bowel Disease - noun inflammation of the colon
Influenza - noun an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease
Informed Consent - noun consent by a patient to undergo a medical or surgical treatment or to participate in an experiment after the patient understands the risks involved
Inguinal Hernia - noun hernia in which a loop of intestine enters the inguinal canal; the most common type of hernia in males
Insomnia - noun an inability to sleep; chronic sleeplessness
Insulin - noun hormone secreted by the isles of Langerhans in the pancreas; regulates storage of glycogen in the liver and accelerates oxidation of sugar in cells
Insurance - noun promise of reimbursement in the case of loss; paid to people or companies so concerned about hazards that they have made prepayments to an insurance company; written contract or certificate of insurance; protection against future loss
Intermittent Claudication - noun lameness due to pain in leg muscles because the blood supply is inadequate; pain subsides with rest
Intestinal Obstruction - noun blockage of the intestine (especially the ileum) that prevents the contents of the intestine from passing to the lower bowel
Intracranial Aneurysm - noun an aneurysm of a cranial artery
Intraocular Lens - noun an artificial lens that is implanted into the eye of someone to replace a damaged natural lens or someone who has had a cataract removed
Intussusception - noun (biology) growth in the surface area of a cell by the deposit of new particles between existing particles in the cell wall; the folding in of an outer layer so as to form a pocket in the surface
Iron Deficiency Anemia - noun a form of anemia due to lack of iron in the diet or to iron loss as a result of chronic bleeding
Iron - adj. extremely robust; noun home appliance consisting of a flat metal base that is heated and used to smooth cloth; a golf club that has a relatively narrow metal head; implement used to brand live stock; a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood; verbpress and smooth with a heated iron
Irritable Bowel Syndrome - noun recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea (often alternating with periods of constipation); often associated with emotional stress
Ischemic Stroke - noun the most common kind of stroke; caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain (as from a clot blocking a blood vessel)
Itching - noun an irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch
J - noun the 10th letter of the Roman alphabet; a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second
Jaundice - noun yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bile pigment (bilirubin) in the blood; can be a symptom of gallstones or liver infection or anemia; a rough and bitter manner; verb affect with, or as if with, jaundice; distort adversely
Jet Lag - noun fatigue and sleep disturbance resulting from disruption of the body's normal circadian rhythm as a result of jet travel
Jock Itch - noun fungal infection of the groin (most common in men)
Juvenile Diabetes - noun severe diabetes mellitus with an early onset; characterized by polyuria and excessive thirst and increased appetite and weight loss and episodic ketoacidosis; diet and insulin injections are required to control the disease
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis - noun a form of rheumatoid arthritis that affects children; large joints become inflamed and bone growth may be retarded
K - noun street names for ketamine; the 11th letter of the Roman alphabet; a unit of information equal to one thousand (1024) bytes;the basic unit of thermodynamic temperature adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites; a light soft silver-white metallic element of the alkali metal group; oxidizes rapidly in air and reacts violently with water; is abundant in nature in combined forms occurring in sea water and in carnallite and kainite and sylvite
Kawasaki Disease - noun an acute disease of young children characterized by a rash and swollen lymph nodes and fever; of unknown cause
Kernicterus - noun an abnormal accumulation of bile pigment in the brain and other nerve tissue; causes yellow staining and tissue damage
Kidney Failure - noun inability of the kidneys to excrete wastes and to help maintain the electrolyte balance
Klinefelter's Syndrome - noun syndrome in males that is characterized by small testes and long legs and enlarged breasts and reduced sperm production and mental retardation; a genetic defect in which an extra X chromosome (XXY) is present in the male
Kyphosis - noun an abnormal backward curve to the vertebral column
LDL - noun a lipoprotein that transports cholesterol in the blood; composed of moderate amount of protein and a large amount of cholesterol; high levels are thought to be associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis
L - noun the 12th letter of the Roman alphabet; a metric unit of capacity equal to the volume of 1 kilogram of pure water at 4 degrees centigrade and 760 mm of mercury (or approximately 1.76 pints); a cgs unit of illumination equal to the brightness of a perfectly diffusing surface that emits or reflects one lumen per square centimeter
Lactose Intolerance - noun congenital disorder consisting of an inability to digest milk and milk products; absence or deficiency of lactase results in an inability to hydrolyze lactose
Laryngitis - noun inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx; characterized by hoarseness or loss of voice and coughing
Lassa Fever - noun an acute contagious viral disease of central western Africa; characterized by fever and inflammation and muscular pains and difficulty swallowing; can be used as a bioweapon
Latex - noun a milky exudate from certain plants that coagulates on exposure to air; a water-base paint that has a latex binder
Lead Poisoning - noun toxic condition produced by the absorption of excessive lead into the system
Leg - noun (nautical) the distance traveled by a sailing vessel on a single tack; a cloth covering consisting of the part of a pair of trousers that covers a person's leg; one of the supports for a piece of furniture; a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle;a structure in animals that is similar to a human leg and used for locomotion; the limb of an animal used for food; a section or portion of a journey or course; a prosthesis that replaces a missing leg; a part of a forked or branching shape
Legionnaires' Disease - noun acute (sometimes fatal) lobar pneumonia caused by bacteria of a kind first recognized after an outbreak of the disease at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia in 1976; characterized by fever and muscle and chest pain and headache and chills and a dry cough
Leishmaniasis - noun sores resulting from a tropical infection by protozoa of the genus Leishmania which are spread by sandflies
Leprosy - noun chronic granulomatous communicable disease occurring in tropical and subtropical regions; characterized by inflamed nodules beneath the skin and wasting of body parts; caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae
Lesbian - adj. of female homosexuality; noun a resident of Lesbos;a female homosexual
Leukemia - noun malignant neoplasm of blood-forming tissues; characterized by abnormal proliferation of leukocytes; one of the four major types of cancer
Life-Support - adj. of or pertaining to equipment or methods used to sustain life
Liver Cancer - noun malignant neoplastic disease of the liver usually occurring as a metastasis from another cancer; symptoms include loss of appetite and weakness and bloating and jaundice and upper abdominal discomfort
Lockjaw - noun an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds; spasms of the jaw and laryngeal muscles may occur during the late stages
Lou Gehrig's Disease - noun thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord; results in progressive muscle atrophy that starts in the limbs
Lumbago - noun backache affecting the lumbar region or lower back; can be caused by muscle strain or arthritis or vascular insufficiency or a ruptured intervertebral disc
Lumpectomy - noun surgical removal of a tumor without removing much of the surrounding tissue or lymph nodes; performed in some cases of breast cancer
Lung Cancer - noun carcinoma of the lungs; one of the commonest forms of cancer
Lupus - noun a constellation in the southern hemisphere near Centaurus; any of several forms of ulcerative skin disease
Lyme Disease - noun an acute inflammatory disease characterized by a rash with joint swelling and fever; caused by bacteria carried by the bite of a deer tick
Lymphedema - noun swelling (usually in the legs) caused by lymph accumulating in the tissues
Lymphoma - noun a neoplasm of lymph tissue that is usually malignant; one of the four major types of cancer
MDMA - noun a stimulant drug that is chemically related to mescaline and amphetamine and is used illicitly for its euphoric and hallucinogenic effects; it was formerly used in psychotherapy but in 1985 it was declared illegal in the United States
MS - noun a form of address for a woman; the form of a literary work submitted for publication; a master's degree in science; a state in the Deep South on the gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate States during the American Civil War; a chronic progressive nervous disorder involving loss of myelin sheath around certain nerve fibers
M - noun the 13th letter of the Roman alphabet; concentration measured by the number of moles of solute per liter of solution; the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
Macular Degeneration - noun degeneration of the cells of the macula lutea which results in blurred vision and can cause blindness; usually age-related
Mad Cow Disease - noun a fatal disease of cattle that affects the central nervous system; causes staggering and agitation
Magnesium - noun a light silver-white ductile bivalent metallic element; in pure form it burns with brilliant white flame; occurs naturally only in combination (as in magnesite and dolomite and carnallite and spinel and olivine)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - noun the use of nuclear magnetic resonance of protons to produce proton density images
Makeup - noun cosmetics applied to the face to improve or change your appearance; an event that is substituted for a previously cancelled event; the way in which someone or something is composed
Malaria - noun an infective disease caused by sporozoan parasites that are transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito; marked by paroxysms of chills and fever
Male - adj. being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that perform the fertilizing function in generation; for or pertaining to or composed of men or boys; characteristic of a man; noun an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes (ova); the capital of Maldives in the center of the islands; a person who belongs to the sex that cannot have babies
Malignancy - noun (medicine) a malignant state; progressive and resistant to treatment and tending to cause death; quality of being disposed to evil; intense ill will
Malnutrition - noun a state of poor nutrition; can result from insufficient or excessive or unbalanced diet or from inability to absorb foods
Mammography - noun a diagnostic procedure to detect breast tumors by the use of X rays
Manic Depressive Illness - noun a mental disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression
Maple Syrup Urine Disease - noun an inherited disorder of metabolism in which the urine has a odor characteristic of maple syrup; if untreated it can lead to mental retardation and death in early childhood
Marijuana - noun a strong-smelling plant from whose dried leaves a number of euphoriant and hallucinogenic drugs are prepared; the most commonly used illicit drug; considered a soft drug, it consists of the dried leaves of the hemp plant; smoked or chewed for euphoric effect
Mastectomy - noun surgical removal of a breast to remove a malignant tumor
Measles - noun an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in children
Medicaid - noun health care for the needy; a federally and state-funded program
Medicare - noun health care for the aged; a federally administered system of health insurance available to persons aged 65 and over
Medicinal - adj. having the properties of medicine
Mediterranean Anemia - noun an inherited form of anemia caused by faulty synthesis of hemoglobin
Melanoma - noun any of several malignant neoplasms (usually of the skin) consisting of melanocytes
Memory - noun an electronic memory device; the power of retaining and recalling past experience; the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered; something that is remembered; the area of cognitive psychology that studies memory processes
Meniere's Disease - noun a disease of the inner ear characterized by episodes of dizziness and tinnitus and progressive hearing loss (usually unilateral)
Meningioma - noun a tumor arising in the meninges which surround the brain and spinal cord; usually slow growing and sometimes malignant
Meningitis - noun infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the meninges (the tissues that surround the brain or spinal cord) usually caused by a bacterial infection; symptoms include headache and stiff neck and fever and nausea
Meniscus - noun (physics) the curved upper surface of a nonturbulent liquid in a vertical tube; (optics) a lens that is concave on one side and convex on the other; (anatomy) a disk of cartilage that serves as a cushion between the ends of bones that meet at a joint
Menopause - noun the time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends
Menstruation - noun the monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause
Mental Health - noun the psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment
Mental Retardation - noun lack of normal development of intellectual capacities
Mercury - noun temperature measured by a mercury thermometer;the smallest planet and the nearest to the sun; (Roman mythology) messenger of Jupiter and god of commerce; counterpart of Greek Hermes; a heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures
Mesothelioma - noun a rare form of carcinoma of the mesothelium lining lungs or abdomen or heart; usually associated with exposure to asbestos dust
Metabolic - adj. undergoing metamorphosis; of or relating to metabolism
Methadone - noun synthetic narcotic drug similar to morphine but less habit-forming; used in narcotic detoxification and maintenance of heroin addiction
Methamphetamine - noun an amphetamine derivative (trade name Methedrine) used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant
Micturition - noun the discharge of urine
Migraine - noun a severe recurring vascular headache; occurs more frequently in women than men
Milk Intolerance - noun congenital disorder consisting of an inability to digest milk and milk products; absence or deficiency of lactase results in an inability to hydrolyze lactose
Miscarriage - noun failure of a plan; a natural loss of the products of conception
Mitral Valve Prolapse - noun cardiopathy resulting from the mitral valve not regulating the flow of blood between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart
Molar Pregnancy - noun an abnormality during pregnancy; chorionic villi around the fetus degenerate and form clusters of fluid-filled sacs; usually associated with the death of the fetus
Molluscum Contagiosum - noun a virus disease of the skin marked by round white swellings; transmitted from person to person (most often in children or in adults with impaired immune function)
Moniliasis - noun an infection caused by fungi of the genus Monilia or Candida (especially Candida albicans)
Mono - adj. designating sound transmission or recording or reproduction over a single channel; noun an acute disease characterized by fever and swollen lymph nodes and an abnormal increase of mononuclear leucocytes or monocytes in the bloodstream; not highly contagious; some believe it can be transmitted by kissing
Mononucleosis - noun an acute disease characterized by fever and swollen lymph nodes and an abnormal increase of mononuclear leucocytes or monocytes in the bloodstream; not highly contagious; some believe it can be transmitted by kissing
Morphea - noun localized scleroderma
Motion Sickness - noun the state of being dizzy or nauseated because of the motions that occur while traveling in or on a moving vehicle
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome - noun an acute disease of young children characterized by a rash and swollen lymph nodes and fever; of unknown cause
Multiple Myeloma - noun myeloma that develops in several places at the same time
Multiple Sclerosis - noun a chronic progressive nervous disorder involving loss of myelin sheath around certain nerve fibers
Mumps - noun an acute contagious viral disease characterized by fever and by swelling of the parotid glands
Muscular Dystrophy - noun any of several hereditary diseases of the muscular system characterized by weakness and wasting of skeletal muscles
Myasthenia Gravis - noun a chronic progressive disease characterized by chronic fatigue and muscular weakness (especially in the face and neck); caused by a deficiency of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junctions
Myeloid - adj. of or relating to bone marrow; of or relating to the spinal cord
Myelomeningocele - noun a congenital defect of the central nervous system in which a sac containing part of the spinal cord and its meninges protrude through a gap in the vertebral column; frequently accompanied by hydrocephalus and mental retardation
Myocardial Infarction - noun destruction of heart tissue resulting from obstruction of the blood supply to the heart muscle
Myopia - noun (ophthalmology) eyesight abnormality resulting from the eye's faulty refractive ability; distant objects appear blurred
Myositis - noun inflammation of muscle tissue
N - noun the 14th letter of the Roman alphabet; (of a solution) concentration expressed in gram equivalents of solute per liter; a unit of force equal to the force that imparts an acceleration of 1 m/sec/sec to a mass of 1 kilogram; equal to 100,000 dynes; the cardinal compass point that is at 0 or 360 degrees; a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues
Narcissism - noun an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself
Narcolepsy - noun a sleep disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep
Nearsightedness - noun (ophthalmology) eyesight abnormality resulting from the eye's faulty refractive ability; distant objects appear blurred
Nephritis - noun an inflammation of the kidney
Nephroblastoma - noun malignant renal tumor of young children characterized by hypertension and blood in the urine and the presence of a palpable mass
Nephrolithiasis - noun the presence of kidney stones (calculi) in the kidney
Neuroblastoma - noun malignant tumor containing embryonic nerve cells; usually metastasizes quickly
Neurofibromatosis - noun autosomal dominant disease characterized by numerous neurofibromas and by spots on the skin and often by developmental abnormalities
Neurogenic Bladder - noun a urinary bladder disorder caused by a lesion in the nervous system
Neuroma - noun any tumor derived from cells of the nervous system
Neuropathy - noun any pathology of the peripheral nerves
Nevus - noun a blemish on the skin that is formed before birth
Newborn - adj. having just or recently arisen or come into existence;recently borne; noun a baby from birth to four weeks
Niacin - noun a B vitamin essential for the normal function of the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract
Nicotine - noun an alkaloid poison that occurs in tobacco; used in medicine and as an insecticide
Noise - noun incomprehensibility resulting from irrelevant information or meaningless facts or remarks; the auditory experience of sound that lacks musical quality; sound that is a disagreeable auditory experience; a loud outcry of protest or complaint; sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound); electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb communication; the quality of lacking any predictable order or plan;verb emit a noise
Nosebleed - noun bleeding from the nose
Nutrition - noun the scientific study of food and drink (especially in humans); (physiology) the organic process of nourishing or being nourished; the processes by which an organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and maintenance; a source of materials to nourish the body
Nystagmus - noun involuntary movements of the eyeballs; its presence or absence is used to diagnose a variety of neurological and visual disorders
O - noun the blood group whose red cells carry neither the A nor B antigens; the 15th letter of the Roman alphabet; a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
Oak - noun a deciduous tree of the genus Quercus; has acorns and lobed leaves; the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
Obesity - noun more than average fatness
Occupational Therapy - noun physical therapy involving the therapeutic use of crafts and hobbies for the rehabilitation of handicapped or convalescing patients (especially for emotionally disturbed patients)
Oncology - noun the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of tumors
Ophthalmology - noun the branch of medicine concerned with the eye and its diseases
Oral Cancer - noun malignant neoplasm of the lips of mouth; most common in men over the age of 60
Oral Herpes - noun caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)
Oral - adj. a stage in psychosexual development when the child's interest is concentrated in the mouth; fixation at this stage is said to result in dependence, selfishness, and aggression; of or involving the mouth or mouth region or the surface on which the mouth is located; using speech rather than writing; of or relating to or affecting or for use in the mouth; noun an examination conducted by word of mouth
Orthodontia - noun the branch of dentistry dealing with the prevention or correction of irregularities of the teeth
Orthostatic Hypotension - noun low blood pressure occurring in some people when they stand up
Osteitis Deformans - noun a disease of bone occurring in the middle aged and elderly; excessive bone destruction sometimes leading to bone pain and fractures and skeletal deformities
Osteoarthritis - noun chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints; the most common form of arthritis occurring usually after middle age
Osteogenesis Imperfecta - noun autosomal dominant disorder of connective tissue characterized by brittle bones that fracture easily
Osteomalacia - noun abnormal softening of bones caused by deficiencies of phosphorus or calcium or vitamin D
Osteomyelitis - noun an inflammation of bone and bone marrow (usually caused by bacterial infection)
Osteoporosis - noun abnormal loss of bony tissue resulting in fragile porous bones attributable to a lack of calcium; most common in postmenopausal women
Osteosarcoma - noun malignant bone tumor; most common in children and young adults where it tends to affect the femur
Ostomy - noun surgical procedure that creates an artificial opening for the elimination of bodily wastes
Otitis Media - noun inflammation of the middle ear; common in children
Over-the-Counter - adj. (of securities) not quoted on a stock exchange; purchasable without a doctor's prescription
Overweight - adj. usually describes a large person who is fat but has a large frame to carry it; noun the property of excessive fatness
Ozone - noun a colorless gas (O3) soluble in alkalis and cold water; a strong oxidizing agent; can be produced by electric discharge in oxygen or by the action of ultraviolet radiation on oxygen in the stratosphere (where it acts as a screen for ultraviolet radiation)
PAD - noun the foot or fleshy cushion-like underside of the toes of an animal; a usually thin flat mass of padding; a block of absorbent material saturated with ink; used to transfer ink evenly to a rubber stamp; the large floating leaf of an aquatic plant (as the water lily); a number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge;temporary living quarters; a platform from which rockets or space craft are launched; verb add padding to; line or stuff with soft material; add details to; walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
PID - noun inflammation of the female pelvic organs (especially the Fallopian tubes) caused by infection by any of several microorganisms (chiefly gonococci and chlamydia); symptoms are abdominal pain and fever and foul-smelling vaginal discharge
PKU - noun a genetic disorder of metabolism; lack of the enzyme needed to turn phenylalanine into tyrosine results in an accumulation of phenylalanine in the body fluids which causes various degrees of mental deficiency
PMS - noun a syndrome that occurs in many women from 2 to 14 days before the onset of menstruation
PTSD - noun an anxiety disorder associated with serious traumatic events and characterized by such symptoms as survivor guilt, reliving the trauma in dreams, numbness and lack of involvement with reality, or recurrent thoughts and images
P - noun the 16th letter of the Roman alphabet; a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms
Pain - noun a somatic sensation of acute discomfort; emotional distress; a fundamental feeling that people try to avoid; a bothersome annoying person; a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder; something or someone that causes trouble; a source of unhappiness; verb cause emotional anguish or make miserable;cause bodily suffering to and make sick or indisposed
Pancreatic Cancer - noun cancer of the pancreas
Pancreatitis - noun inflammation of the pancreas; usually marked by abdominal pain
Panic Disorder - noun an anxiety disorder characterized by unpredictable panic attacks; the attacks are usually severe but brief
Pantothenic Acid - noun a vitamin of the vitamin B complex that performs an important role in the oxidation of fats and carbohydrates and certain amino acids; occurs in many foods
Paralysis Agitans - noun a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by tremor and impaired muscular coordination
Paralysis - noun loss of the ability to move a body part
Paraplegia - noun paralysis of the lower half of the body (most often as a result of trauma)
Parkinson's Disease - noun a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by tremor and impaired muscular coordination
Paronychia - noun low-growing annual or perennial herbs or woody plants; whitlowworts; infection in the tissues adjacent to a nail on a finger or toe
Passive - adj. lacking in energy or will; expressing that the subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb;peacefully resistant in response to injustice; noun the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb
Patella - noun type genus of the family Patellidae: common European limpets; a small flat triangular bone in front of the knee that protects the knee joint
Pediatrics - noun the branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of infants and children
Pee - noun informal terms for urination; liquid excretory product;verb eliminate urine
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - noun inflammation of the female pelvic organs (especially the Fallopian tubes) caused by infection by any of several microorganisms (chiefly gonococci and chlamydia); symptoms are abdominal pain and fever and foul-smelling vaginal discharge
Pelvis - noun a structure shaped like a funnel in the outlet of the kidney into which urine is discharged before passing into the ureter;the structure of the vertebrate skeleton supporting the lower limbs in humans and the hind limbs or corresponding parts in other vertebrates
Pemphigus - noun a skin disease characterized by large thin-walled blisters (bullae) arising from normal skin or mucous membrane
Peptic Ulcer - noun an ulcer of the mucous membrane lining of the alimentary tract
Pericarditis - noun inflammation of the pericardium
Periodontal Disease - noun a disease that attacks the gum and bone and around the teeth
Peritonitis - noun inflammation of the peritoneum
Persian Gulf War - noun a war fought between Iraq and a coalition led by the United States that freed Kuwait from Iraqi invaders; 1990-1991
Perspiration - noun salty fluid secreted by sweat glands; the process of the sweat glands of the skin secreting a salty fluid
Pertussis - noun a disease of the respiratory mucous membrane
Phantom Limb - noun the illusion that a limb still exists after it has been amputated
Pharyngitis - noun inflammation of the fauces and pharynx
Phenylketonuria - noun a genetic disorder of metabolism; lack of the enzyme needed to turn phenylalanine into tyrosine results in an accumulation of phenylalanine in the body fluids which causes various degrees of mental deficiency
Pheochromocytoma - noun a vascular tumor of the adrenal gland; hypersecretion of epinephrine results in intermittent or sustained hypertension
Phosphorus - noun a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms; a planet (usually Venus) seen just before sunrise in the eastern sky
Physical Fitness - noun good physical condition; being in shape or in condition
Physical Therapy - noun therapy that uses physical agents: exercise and massage and other modalities
Phytotherapy - noun the use of plants or plant extracts for medicinal purposes (especially plants that are not part of the normal diet)
Pica - noun magpies; eating earth or clay or chalk; occurs in some primitive tribes or sometimes in cases of nutritional deficiency; a linear unit (1/6 inch) used in printing
Piles - noun a large number or amount; pain caused by venous swelling at or inside the anal sphincter
Pinguecula - noun a slightly elevated elastic tissue deposit in the conjunctiva that may extend to the cornea but does not cover it
Pinkeye - noun inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye
Plague - noun an annoyance; any large scale calamity (especially when thought to be sent by God); any epidemic disease with a high death rate; a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal; a swarm of insects that attack plants; verb annoy continually or chronically; cause to suffer a blight
Plaque - noun (pathology) a small abnormal patch on or inside the body; a memorial made of brass
Plasmacytoma - noun neoplasm of plasma cells (usually in bone marrow)
Plastic - adj. capable of being influenced or formed; forming or capable of forming or molding or fashioning; capable of being molded or modeled (especially of earth or clay or other soft material); noun generic name for certain synthetic or semisynthetic materials that can be molded or extruded into objects or films or filaments or used for making e.g. coatings and adhesives
Pleurisy - noun inflammation of the pleura of the lungs (especially the parietal layer)
Plumbism - noun toxic condition produced by the absorption of excessive lead into the system
Pneumoconiosis - noun chronic respiratory disease caused by inhaling metallic or mineral particles
Pneumonia - noun respiratory disease characterized by inflammation of the lung parenchyma (excluding the bronchi) with congestion caused by viruses or bacteria or irritants
Pneumonic Plague - noun a rapidly progressive and frequently fatal form of the plague that can spread through the air from person to person; characterized by lung involvement with chill, bloody expectoration and high fever
Pneumothorax - noun abnormal presence of air in the pleural cavity resulting in the collapse of the lung; may be spontaneous (due to injury to the chest) or induced (as a treatment for tuberculosis)
Poison Ivy - noun climbing plant common in eastern and central United States with ternate leaves and greenish flowers followed by white berries; yields an irritating oil that causes a rash on contact;dermatitis resulting from contact with the poison ivy plant
Poison Oak - noun dermatitis resulting from contact with a poison oak plant; climbing plant common in eastern and central United States with ternate leaves and greenish flowers followed by white berries; yields an irritating oil that causes a rash on contact
Poison Sumac - noun dermatitis resulting from contact with a poison sumac plant; smooth American swamp shrub with pinnate leaves and greenish flowers followed by greenish white berries; yields an irritating oil
Poisoning - noun the act of giving poison to a person or animal with the intent to kill; the physiological state produced by a poison or other toxic substance
Poliomyelitis - noun an acute viral disease marked by inflammation of nerve cells of the brain stem and spinal cord
Pollution - noun undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities; the act of contaminating or polluting; including (either intentionally or accidentally) unwanted substances or factors; the state of being polluted
Polycystic Kidney Disease - noun kidney disease characterized by enlarged kidneys containing many cysts; often leads to kidney failure
Polymyositis - noun myositis characterized by weakness of limb and neck muscles and much muscle pain and swelling; progression and severity vary among individuals
Poop - noun the rear part of a ship; slang terms for inside information; a stupid foolish person; obscene terms for feces
Porphyria - noun a genetic abnormality of metabolism causing abdominal pains and mental confusion
Posture - noun characteristic way of bearing one's body; the arrangement of the body and its limbs; capability in terms of personnel and materiel that affect the capacity to fight a war; a rationalized mental attitude; verb assume a posture as for artistic purposes; behave affectedly or unnaturally in order to impress others
Potassium - noun a light soft silver-white metallic element of the alkali metal group; oxidizes rapidly in air and reacts violently with water; is abundant in nature in combined forms occurring in sea water and in carnallite and kainite and sylvite
PrEP - noun preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home)
Prednisone - noun a dehydrogenated analogue of cortisol (trade names Orasone or Deltasone or Liquid Pred or Meticorten); used as an anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of arthritis and as an immunosuppressant
Preeclampsia - noun abnormal state of pregnancy characterized by hypertension and fluid retention and albuminuria; can lead to eclampsia if untreated
Pregnancy - noun the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus
Premature Ejaculation - noun ejaculation during the early stages of sexual excitement or soon after the insertion of the penis into the vagina
Premature Labor - noun labor beginning prior to the 37th week of gestation
Premenstrual Syndrome - noun a syndrome that occurs in many women from 2 to 14 days before the onset of menstruation
Presbyopia - noun farsightedness resulting from a reduced ability to focus caused by loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens with age
Prescription - adj. available only with a doctor's written prescription;noun written instructions from a physician or dentist to a druggist concerning the form and dosage of a drug to be issued to a given patient; written instructions for an optician on the lenses for a given person; directions prescribed beforehand; the action of prescribing authoritative rules or directions; a drug that is available only with written instructions from a doctor or dentist to a pharmacist
Prevention - noun the act of preventing
Privacy - noun the quality of being secluded from the presence or view of others; the condition of being concealed or hidden
Proctitis - noun inflammation of the rectum; marked by bloody stools and a frequent urge to defecate; frequently associated with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
Progeria - noun a rare abnormality marked by premature aging (grey hair and wrinkled skin and stooped posture) in a child
Prostate Cancer - noun cancer of the prostate gland
Proteinuria - noun the presence of excessive protein (chiefly albumin but also globulin) in the urine; usually a symptom of kidney disorder
Pruritus Ani - noun chronic itching of the skin around the anus
Pruritus - noun an intense itching sensation that can have various causes (as by allergies or infection or lymphoma or jaundice etc.)
Psoriasis - noun a chronic skin disease characterized by dry red patches covered with scales; occurs especially on the scalp and ears and genitalia and the skin over bony prominences
Psoriatic Arthritis - noun a form of rheumatoid arthritis usually affecting fingers and toes and associated with psoriasis
Ptosis - noun drooping of the upper eyelid caused by muscle paralysis and weakness
Puberty - noun the time of life when sex glands become functional
Pulmonary Embolism - noun blockage of the pulmonary artery by foreign matter or by a blood clot
Pulmonary Emphysema - noun an abnormal condition of the lungs marked by decreased respiratory function; associated with smoking or chronic bronchitis or old age
Pulmonary - adj. relating to or affecting the lungs
Pulse - noun the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart; edible seeds of various pod-bearing plants (peas or beans or lentils etc.); the rate at which the heart beats; usually measured to obtain a quick evaluation of a person's health; (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients); verb produce or modulate (as electromagnetic waves) in the form of short bursts or pulses or cause an apparatus to produce pulses; drive by or as if by pulsation;expand and contract rhythmically; beat rhythmically
Pyelonephritis - noun inflammation of the kidney and its pelvis caused by bacterial infection
Pyrexia - noun a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
Q Fever - noun an acute disease resembling influenza
Q - noun the 17th letter of the Roman alphabet
Quackery - noun medical practice and advice based on observation and experience in ignorance of scientific findings; the dishonesty of a charlatan
Quadriplegia - noun paralysis of both arms and both legs
R - noun the 18th letter of the Roman alphabet; the length of a line segment between the center and circumference of a circle or sphere; (physics) the universal constant in the gas equation: pressure times volume = R times temperature; equal to 8.3143 joules per kelvin per mole; a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air
Rabies - noun an acute viral disease of the nervous system of warm-blooded animals (usually transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal); rabies is fatal if the virus reaches the brain
Radiation Therapy - noun (medicine) the treatment of disease (especially cancer) by exposure to a radioactive substance
Radiography - noun photography that uses other kinds of radiation than visible light; the process of making a radiograph; producing an image on a radiosensitive surface by radiation other than visible light
Radiotherapy - noun (medicine) the treatment of disease (especially cancer) by exposure to a radioactive substance
Radon - noun a radioactive gaseous element formed by the disintegration of radium; the heaviest of the inert gasses; occurs naturally (especially in areas over granite) and is considered a hazard to health
Rape - noun the crime of forcing a woman to submit to sexual intercourse against her will; the act of despoiling a country in warfare; Eurasian plant cultivated for its seed and as a forage crop;verb destroy and strip of its possession; force (someone) to have sex against their will
Recreational - adj. of or relating to recreation; engaged in as a pastime
Rectocele - noun protrusion or herniation of the rectum into the vagina; can occur if pelvic muscles are weakened by childbirth
Regional Enteritis - noun a serious chronic and progressive inflammation of the ileum producing frequent bouts of diarrhea with abdominal pain and nausea and fever and weight loss
Regional Ileitis - noun a serious chronic and progressive inflammation of the ileum producing frequent bouts of diarrhea with abdominal pain and nausea and fever and weight loss
Rehabilitation - noun the restoration of someone to a useful place in society; the treatment of physical disabilities by massage and electrotherapy and exercises; vindication of a person's character and the re-establishment of that person's reputation; the conversion of wasteland into land suitable for use of habitation or cultivation
Reiter's Syndrome - noun an inflammatory syndrome (etiology unknown) predominantly in males; characterized by arthritis and conjunctivitis and urethritis
Renal Failure - noun inability of the kidneys to excrete wastes and to help maintain the electrolyte balance
Restless Legs - noun feeling of uneasiness and restlessness in the legs after going to bed (sometimes causing insomnia); may be relieved temporarily by walking or moving the legs
Retinal Detachment - noun visual impairment resulting from the retina becoming separated from the choroid in the back of the eye; treated by photocoagulation
Retinoblastoma - noun malignant ocular tumor of retinal cells; usually occurs before the third year of life; composed of primitive small round retinal cells
Retinol - noun an unsaturated alcohol that occurs in marine fish-liver oils and is synthesized biologically from carotene
Rh Incompatibility - noun incompatibility of Rh blood types; a transfusion of Rh-positive blood given to a Rh-negative person (or vice versa) can result in hemolysis and anemia
Rhabdomyosarcoma - noun a highly malignant neoplasm derived from striated muscle
Rheumatic Fever - noun a severe disease chiefly of children and characterized by painful inflammation of the joints and frequently damage to the heart valves
Rheumatoid Arthritis - noun a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities; something (possibly a virus) triggers an attack on the synovium by the immune system, which releases cytokines that stimulate an inflammatory reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint
Rheumatoid Spondylitis - noun a chronic form of spondylitis primarily in males and marked by impaired mobility of the spine; sometimes leads to ankylosis
Riboflavin - noun a B vitamin that prevents skin lesions and weight loss
Rickets - noun childhood disease caused by deficiency of vitamin D and sunlight associated with impaired metabolism of calcium and phosphorus
Ringworm - noun infections of the skin or nails caused by fungi and appearing as itching circular patches
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever - noun caused by rickettsial bacteria and transmitted by wood ticks
Rohypnol - noun a depressant and tranquilizer (trade name Rohypnol) often used in the commission of sexual assault; legally available in Europe and Mexico and Colombia
Root Canal - noun the passage in the root of a tooth through which its nerve and blood vessels enter the pulp cavity
Rosacea - noun a skin disease of adults (more often women) in which blood vessels of the face enlarge resulting in a flushed appearance
Roseola - noun any red eruption of the skin
Rubella - noun a contagious viral disease that is a milder form of measles lasting three or four days; can be damaging to a fetus during the first trimester
Rubeola - noun an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in children
SAD - adj. experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness; of things that make you feel sad; bad; unfortunate
SARS - noun a respiratory disease of unknown etiology that apparently originated in mainland China in 2003; characterized by fever and coughing or difficulty breathing or hypoxia; can be fatal
SCID - noun a congenital disease affecting T cells that can result from a mutation in any one of several different genes; children with it are susceptible to infectious disease; if untreated it is lethal within the first year or two of life
SIDS - noun sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant during sleep
SLE - noun an inflammatory disease of connective tissue with variable features including fever and weakness and fatigability and joint pains and skin lesions on the face or neck or arms
Safety - noun a score in American football; a player is tackled behind his own goal line; a safe place; the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions; (baseball) the successful act of striking a baseball in such a way that the batter reaches base safely; contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse; a device designed to prevent injury
Sarcoidosis - noun a chronic disease of unknown cause marked by the formation of nodules in the lungs and liver and lymph glands and salivary glands
Sarcoma - noun a usually malignant tumor arising from connective tissue (bone or muscle etc.); one of the four major types of cancer
Scabies - noun a contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation
Scarlet Fever - noun an acute communicable disease (usually in children) characterized by fever and a red rash
Schizophrenia - noun any of several psychotic disorders characterized by distortions of reality and disturbances of thought and language and withdrawal from social contact
Sciatica - noun neuralgia along the sciatic nerve
Scleroderma - noun genus of poisonous fungi having hard-skinned fruiting bodies: false truffles; an autoimmune disease that affects the blood vessels and connective tissue; fibrous connective tissue is deposited in the skin
Scoliosis - noun an abnormal lateral curve to the vertebral column
Screening - noun testing objects or persons in order to identify those with particular characteristics; fabric of metal or plastic mesh;the display of a motion picture; the act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of it
Seasickness - noun motion sickness experienced while traveling on water
Seborrheic Dermatitis - noun a chronic skin disease associated with seborrhea and greasy scales on the scalp or eyelids or other parts of the skin
Selenium - noun a toxic nonmetallic element related to sulfur and tellurium; occurs in several allotropic forms; a stable grey metallike allotrope conducts electricity better in the light than in the dark and is used in photocells; occurs in sulfide ores (as pyrite)
Semen - noun the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
Seminoma - noun malignant tumor of the testis; usually occurring in older men
Senility - noun the state of being senile; mental infirmity as a consequence of old age; sometimes shown by foolish infatuations
Sepsis - noun the presence of pus-forming bacteria or their toxins in the blood or tissues
Septicemia - noun invasion of the bloodstream by virulent microorganisms from a focus of infection
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - noun a respiratory disease of unknown etiology that apparently originated in mainland China in 2003; characterized by fever and coughing or difficulty breathing or hypoxia; can be fatal
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency - noun a congenital disease affecting T cells that can result from a mutation in any one of several different genes; children with it are susceptible to infectious disease; if untreated it is lethal within the first year or two of life
Sewage - noun waste matter carried away in sewers or drains
Sex - noun the properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of their reproductive roles; all of the feelings resulting from the urge to gratify sexual impulses; either of the two categories (male or female) into which most organisms are divided; activities associated with sexual intercourse; verb tell the sex (of young chickens); stimulate sexually
Sexual Assault - noun a statutory offense that provides that it is a crime to knowingly cause another person to engage in an unwanted sexual act by force or threat
Shaking Palsy - noun a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by tremor and impaired muscular coordination
Shingles - noun eruptions along a nerve path often accompanied by severe neuralgia
Shoes - noun a particular situation
Shortness of Breath - noun a dyspneic condition
Sigmoidoscopy - noun visual examination (with a sigmoidoscope) of the lower third of the colon in a search for polyps
Singultus - noun (usually plural) the state of having reflex spasms of the diaphragm accompanied by a rapid closure of the glottis producing an audible sound; sometimes a symptom of indigestion
Sinusitis - noun inflammation of one of the paranasal sinuses
Skin Cancer - noun a malignant neoplasm of the skin
Skin Rash - noun any red eruption of the skin
Sleep Apnea - noun apnea that occurs during sleep
Sleep - noun a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended; a torpid state resembling deep sleep; a period of time spent sleeping; euphemisms for death (based on an analogy between lying in a bed and in a tomb); verbbe asleep; be able to accommodate for sleeping
Smallpox - noun a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever and weakness and skin eruption with pustules that form scabs that slough off leaving scars
Smokeless - adj. emitting or containing little or no smoke
Smoking - adj. emitting smoke in great volume; noun the act of smoking tobacco or other substances; a hot vapor containing fine particles of carbon being produced by combustion
Snoring - adj. breathing during sleep with harsh noises caused by vibration of the uvula or soft palate; noun the act of snoring or producing a snoring sound
Snuff - adj. snuff colored; of a greyish to yellowish brown; nounfinely powdered tobacco for sniffing up the nose; a pinch of smokeless tobacco inhaled at a single time; the charred portion of a candlewick; sensing an odor by inhaling through the nose; verbinhale audibly through the nose; sniff or smell inquiringly
Social Phobia - noun any phobia (other than agoraphobia) associated with situations in which you are subject to criticism by others (as fear of eating in public or public speaking etc)
Sodium - noun a silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group; occurs abundantly in natural compounds (especially in salt water); burns with a yellow flame and reacts violently in water; occurs in sea water and in the mineral halite (rock salt)
Sore Throat - noun inflammation of the fauces and pharynx
Spasticity - noun the quality of moving or acting in spasms
Spina Bifida - noun a not uncommon congenital defect in which a vertebra is malformed; unless several vertebrae are affected or there is myelomeningocele there are few symptoms; can be diagnosed by amniocentesis
Splenomegaly - noun an abnormal enlargement of the spleen
Splinters - noun wood in small pieces or splinters
Spondylitis - noun inflammation of a spinal joint; characterized by pain and stiffness
Spondylolisthesis - noun a forward dislocation of one vertebra over the one beneath it producing pressure on spinal nerves
Spontaneous Abortion - noun a natural loss of the products of conception
Squint - adj. (used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy; noun the act of squinting; looking with the eyes partly closed; abnormal alignment of one or both eyes; verb cross one's eyes as if in strabismus; partly close one's eyes, as when hit by direct blinding light; be cross-eyed; have a squint or strabismus
Statistics - noun a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters
Sterility - noun the state of being unable to produce offspring; in a woman it is an inability to conceive; in a man it is an inability to impregnate; (of non-living objects) the state of being free of pathogenic organisms
Sterilization - noun the procedure of making some object free of live bacteria or other microorganisms (usually by heat or chemical means); the act of making an organism barren or infertile (unable to reproduce)
Still's Disease - noun a form of rheumatoid arthritis that affects children; large joints become inflamed and bone growth may be retarded
Stillbirth - noun a natural loss of the products of conception
Stoma - noun a mouth or mouthlike opening (especially one created by surgery on the surface of the body to create an opening to an internal organ); a minute epidermal pore in a leaf or stem through which gases and water vapor can pass
Stomach Ache - noun an ache localized in the stomach or abdominal region
Stomach Flu - noun inflammation of the stomach and intestines; can be caused by Salmonella enteritidis
Stool - noun a simple seat without a back or arms; (forestry) the stump of a tree that has been felled or headed for the production of saplings; a plumbing fixture for defecation and urination; solid excretory product evacuated from the bowels; verb have a bowel movement; grow shoots in the form of stools or tillers; react to a decoy, of wildfowl; lure with a stool, as of wild fowl
Strabismus - noun abnormal alignment of one or both eyes
Strep Throat - noun an infection of the oral pharynx and tonsils by streptococcus
Stress Incontinence - noun urinary incontinence that occurs when involuntary pressure is put on the bladder by coughing or laughing or sneezing or lifting or straining
Stress - noun the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch); (physics) force that produces strain on a physical body; difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension; special emphasis attached to something;(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense; verbput stress on; utter with an accent; to stress, single out as important;test the limits of
Stye - noun an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid
Substance Abuse - noun excessive use of drugs
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - noun sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant during sleep
Sugar - noun a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative; informal terms for money; an essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals; includes simple sugars with small molecules as well as macromolecular substances; are classified according to the number of monosaccharide groups they contain; verb sweeten with sugar
Suicide - noun the act of killing yourself; a person who kills himself intentionally
Sunburn - noun redness of the skin caused by exposure to the rays of the sun; a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun; verb get a sunburn by overexposure to the sun
Sunscreen - noun a cream spread on the skin; contains a chemical (as PABA) to filter out ultraviolet light and so protect from sunburn
Sunstroke - noun sudden prostration due to exposure to the sun or excessive heat
Surgery - noun a room where a doctor or dentist can be consulted;the branch of medical science that treats disease or injury by operative procedures; a medical procedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body; a room in a hospital equipped for the performance of surgical operations
Surrogate - adj. providing or receiving nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties; noun someone who takes the place of another person; a person appointed to represent or act on behalf of others
Sweat - noun condensation of moisture on a cold surface; use of physical or mental energy; hard work; salty fluid secreted by sweat glands; agitation resulting from active worry; verb excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin
Swelling - noun abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement;the swelling of certain substances when they are heated (often accompanied by release of water)
Swine Flu - noun an acute and highly contagious respiratory disease of swine caused by the orthomyxovirus thought to be the same virus that caused the 1918 influenza pandemic
Syncope - noun (phonology) the loss of sounds in the interior of a word (as in `fo'c'sle' for `forecastle'); a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain
Syphilis - noun a common venereal disease caused by the treponema pallidum spirochete; symptoms change through progressive stages; can be congenital (transmitted through the placenta)
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - noun an inflammatory disease of connective tissue with variable features including fever and weakness and fatigability and joint pains and skin lesions on the face or neck or arms
TB - noun a unit of information equal to a trillion (1,099,511,627,776) bytes or 1024 gigabytes; infection transmitted by inhalation or ingestion of tubercle bacilli and manifested in fever and small lesions (usually in the lungs but in various other parts of the body in acute stages); a metallic element of the rare earth group; used in lasers; occurs in apatite and monazite and xenotime and ytterbite
TIA - noun brief episode in which the brain gets insufficient blood supply; symptoms depend on the site of the blockage
TPN - noun administration of a nutritionally adequate solution through a catheter into the vena cava; used in cases of long-term coma or severe burns or severe gastrointestinal syndromes
Tachycardia - noun abnormally rapid heartbeat (over 100 beats per minute)
Tanning - noun making leather from rawhide; process in which skin pigmentation darkens as a result of exposure to ultraviolet light;beating with a whip or strap or rope as a form of punishment
Tardive Dyskinesia - noun involuntary rolling of the tongue and twitching of the face or trunk or limbs; often occurs in patients with Parkinsonism who are treated with phenothiazine
Tears - noun the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
Teen - adj. being of the age 13 through 19; noun a juvenile between the onset of puberty and maturity
Teeth - noun the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
Temperature - noun the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity); the somatic sensation of cold or heat
Temporal Arteritis - noun inflammation of the temporal arteries; characterized by headaches and difficulty chewing and (sometimes) visual impairment
Tendinitis - noun inflammation of a tendon
Tennis Elbow - noun painful inflammation of the tendon at the outer border of the elbow resulting from overuse of lower arm muscles (as in twisting of the hand)
Tension Headache - noun a headache located at the back of the head; usually caused by body tension resulting from overwork or psychological stress
Testicular Cancer - noun malignant tumor of the testis; usually occurring in older men
Tetanus - noun a sustained muscular contraction resulting from a rapid series of nerve impulses; an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds; spasms of the jaw and laryngeal muscles may occur during the late stages
Thalassemia - noun an inherited form of anemia caused by faulty synthesis of hemoglobin
Thiamine - noun a B vitamin that prevents beriberi; maintains appetite and growth
Thirst - noun a physiological need to drink; strong desire for something (not food or drink); verb feel the need to drink; have a craving, appetite, or great desire for
Thoracentesis - noun removal of fluid from the chest by centesis for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome - noun tingling sensations in the fingers; caused by compression on a nerve supplying the arm
Thrombocytopenia - noun a blood disease characterized by an abnormally small number of platelets in the blood
Thrombophlebitis - noun phlebitis in conjunction with the formation of a blood clot (thrombus)
Thrush - noun songbirds characteristically having brownish upper plumage with a spotted breast; a woman who sings popular songs;candidiasis of the oral cavity; seen mostly in infants or debilitated adults
Thyrotoxicosis - noun an overactive thyroid gland; pathologically excessive production of thyroid hormones or the condition resulting from excessive production of thyroid hormones
Tinea Pedis - noun fungal infection of the feet
Tinnitus - noun a ringing or booming sensation in one or both ears; a symptom of an ear infection or Meniere's disease
Tiredness - noun temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
Tobacco - noun leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion; aromatic annual or perennial herbs and shrubs
Tonsillectomy - noun surgical removal of the palatine tonsils; commonly performed along with adenoidectomy
Tonsillitis - noun inflammation of the tonsils (especially the palatine tonsils)
Tooth Decay - noun soft decayed area in a tooth; progressive decay can lead to the death of a tooth
Torticollis - noun an unnatural condition in which the head leans to one side because the neck muscles on that side are contracted
Toxemia - noun blood poisoning caused by bacterial toxic substances in the blood; an abnormal condition of pregnancy characterized by hypertension and edema and protein in the urine
Toxic Shock Syndrome - noun syndrome resulting from a serious acute (sometimes fatal) infection associated with the presence of staphylococcus; characterized by fever and diarrhea and nausea and diffuse erythema and shock; occurs especially in menstruating women using highly absorbent tampons
Toxoplasmosis - noun infection caused by parasites transmitted to humans from infected cats; if contracted by a pregnant woman it can result in serious damage to the fetus
Tracheostomy - noun a surgical operation that creates an opening into the trachea with a tube inserted to provide a passage for air; performed when the pharynx is obstructed by edema or cancer or other causes
Transfusion - noun the action of pouring a liquid from one vessel to another; the introduction of blood or blood plasma into a vein or artery
Transient Ischemic Attack - noun brief episode in which the brain gets insufficient blood supply; symptoms depend on the site of the blockage
Transplantation - noun the act of removing something from one location and introducing it in another location; an operation moving an organ from one organism (the donor) to another (the recipient)
Treatment - noun care by procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury; the management of someone or something; a manner of dealing with something artistically; an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic
Tremor - noun an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear); a small earthquake; shaking or trembling (usually resulting from weakness or stress or disease); verb shake with seismic vibrations
Trichomoniasis - noun infection of the vagina
Trigeminal Neuralgia - noun intense paroxysmal neuralgia along the trigeminal nerve
Trisomy 21 - noun a congenital disorder caused by having an extra 21st chromosome; results in a flat face and short stature and mental retardation
Tropical Medicine - noun the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that are found most often in tropical regions
Tubal Ligation - noun a sterilization procedure with women; both Fallopian tubes are tied in two places and the tubes removed in between the ligations
Tubal Pregnancy - noun ectopic pregnancy in a Fallopian tube
Tuberculosis - noun infection transmitted by inhalation or ingestion of tubercle bacilli and manifested in fever and small lesions (usually in the lungs but in various other parts of the body in acute stages)
Tularemia - noun a highly infectious disease of rodents (especially rabbits and squirrels) and sometimes transmitted to humans by ticks or flies or by handling infected animals
Tumor - noun an abnormal new mass of tissue that serves no purpose
Twins - noun (mineralogy) two interwoven crystals that are mirror images on each other; the third sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about May 21 to June 20
Type II Diabetes - noun mild form of diabetes mellitus that develops gradually in adults; can be precipitated by obesity or severe stress or menopause or other factors; can usually be controlled by diet and hypoglycemic agents without injections of insulin
Typhoid Fever - noun serious infection marked by intestinal inflammation and ulceration; caused by Salmonella typhosa ingested with food or water
U - adj. (chiefly British) of or appropriate to the upper classes especially in language use; noun the 21st letter of the Roman alphabet; a heavy toxic silvery-white radioactive metallic element; occurs in many isotopes; used for nuclear fuels and nuclear weapons; a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine
Ulcer - noun a circumscribed inflammatory and often suppurating lesion on the skin or an internal mucous surface resulting in necrosis of tissue
Ulcerative Colitis - noun a serious chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine and rectum characterized by recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and fever and chills and profuse diarrhea
Ultrasound - noun very high frequency sound; used in ultrasonography; using the reflections of high-frequency sound waves to construct an image of a body organ (a sonogram); commonly used to observe fetal growth or study bodily organs
Umbilical Hernia - noun protrusion of the intestine and omentum through a hernia in the abdominal wall near the navel; usually self correcting after birth
Underweight - adj. being very thin
Undescended Testicle - noun a testis that fails to move into the scrotum as the male fetus develops
Upset Stomach - noun a disorder of digestive function characterized by discomfort or heartburn or nausea
Urinalysis - noun (medicine) the chemical analysis of urine (for medical diagnosis)
Urinary Incontinence - noun inability to control the flow of urine and involuntary urination
Urination - noun the discharge of urine
Urticaria - noun an itchy skin eruption characterized by weals with pale interiors and well-defined red margins; usually the result of an allergic response to insect bites or food or drugs
V - noun the 22nd letter of the Roman alphabet; a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt; equivalent to the potential difference across a resistance of 1 ohm when 1 ampere of current flows through it; a soft silvery white toxic metallic element used in steel alloys; it occurs in several complex minerals including carnotite and vanadinite
Vaccination - noun the scar left following inoculation with a vaccine;taking a vaccine as a precaution against contracting a disease
Vaginismus - noun muscular contraction that causes the vagina to close; usually an anxiety reaction before coitus or pelvic examination
Vaginitis - noun inflammation of the vagina (usually associated with candidiasis)
Valley Fever - noun an infection of the lungs and skin characterized by excessive sputum and nodules
Varicella Zoster Virus - noun the member of the herpes virus family that is responsible for chickenpox
Vasculitis - noun inflammation of a blood vessel
Vasectomy - noun surgical procedure that removes all or part of the vas deferens (usually as a means of sterilization); is sometimes reversible
Venereal Disease - noun a communicable infection transmitted by sexual intercourse or genital contact
Venous Thrombosis - noun thrombosis of a vein without prior inflammation of the vein; associated with sluggish blood flow (as in prolonged bedrest or pregnancy or surgery) or with rapid coagulation of the blood
Verruca - noun (pathology) a firm abnormal elevated blemish on the skin; caused by a virus
Vertigo - noun a reeling sensation; a feeling that you are about to fall
Veterinary Medicine - noun the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals (especially domestic animals)
Violence - noun an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists); a turbulent state resulting in injuries and destruction etc.;the property of being wild or turbulent
Viral Hepatitis - noun hepatitis caused by a virus
Viral - adj. relating to or caused by a virus
Vitamin A - noun any of several fat-soluble vitamins essential for normal vision; prevents night blindness or inflammation or dryness of the eyes
Vitamin B - noun originally thought to be a single vitamin but now separated into several B vitamins
Vitamin C - noun a vitamin found in fresh fruits (especially citrus fruits) and vegetables; prevents scurvy
Vitamin D - noun a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
Vitamin E - noun a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body
Vitamin K - noun a fat-soluble vitamin that helps in the clotting of blood
Vitiligo - noun an acquired skin disease characterized by patches of unpigmented skin (often surrounded by a heavily pigmented border)
Vomiting - noun the reflex act of ejecting the contents of the stomach through the mouth
W - noun the 23rd letter of the Roman alphabet; a unit of power equal to 1 joule per second; the power dissipated by a current of 1 ampere flowing across a resistance of 1 ohm; the cardinal compass point that is a 270 degrees; a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite
Walleye - noun pike-like freshwater perches; strabismus in which one or both eyes are directed outward
Water Pollution - noun pollution of the water in rivers and lakes
Weariness - noun temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
West Nile Virus - noun the flavivirus that causes West Nile encephalitis
Whiplash - noun an injury to the neck (the cervical vertebrae) resulting from rapid acceleration or deceleration (as in an automobile accident); a quick blow delivered with a whip or whiplike object
Whooping Cough - noun a disease of the respiratory mucous membrane
X - noun the 24th letter of the Roman alphabet; street names for methylenedioxymethamphetamine
Xerostomia - noun abnormal dryness of the mouth resulting from decreased secretion of saliva
Y - noun the 25th letter of the Roman alphabet; a silvery metallic element that is common in rare-earth minerals; used in magnesium and aluminum alloys
Yellow Fever - noun caused by a flavivirus transmitted by a mosquito
Z - noun the 26th letter of the Roman alphabet; the ending of a series or sequence
Zinc - noun a bluish-white lustrous metallic element; brittle at ordinary temperatures but malleable when heated; used in a wide variety of alloys and in galvanizing iron; it occurs as zinc sulphide in zinc blende; verb coat or cover with zinc
von Recklinghausen's Disease - noun autosomal dominant disease characterized by numerous neurofibromas and by spots on the skin and often by developmental abnormalities
von Willebrand's Disease - noun a form of hemophilia discovered by Erik von Willebrand; a genetic disorder that is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait; characterized by a deficiency of the coagulation factor and by mucosal bleeding

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