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English Dictionary of Medical Terms (01)

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No:1 - abdomen

(L., possibly from abdere to hide) that portion of the body which lies between the thorax and the pelvis; called also belly and venter. It contains a cavity (abdominal cavity) separated by the diaphragm from the thoracic cavity, above and by the plane of the pelvic inlet from the pelvic cavity below, and lined with a serous membrane, the peritoneum. This cavity contains the abdominal viscera and is enclosed by a wall (abdominal wall or parietes) formed by the abdominal muscles, vertebral column, and the ilia. It is divided into nine regions by four imaginary lines projected onto the anterior wall, of which two pass horizontally around the body (the upper at the level of the cartilages of the ninth ribs, the lower at the tops of the crests of the ilia), and two extend vertically on each side of the body from the cartilage of the eighth rib to the centre of the inguinal ligament, as in A below. The regions are : three upper - right hypochondriac, epigastric, left hypochondriac; three middle - right lateral, umbilical, left lateral; and three lower - right inguinal, pubic, left inguinal).

No:2 - abdominal

(L. abdominalis) pertaining to the abdomen.

No:3 - aberrant

(L. aberrans, ab from + errare to wander) wandering or deviating from the usual or normal course.

No:4 - abnormal

(ab- + L. norma rule) not normal; contrary to the usual structure, position, behaviour, or rule.

No:5 - abortion

(L. abortio) 1. the premature expulsion from the uterus of the products of conception - of the embryo, or of a nonviable fetus. The four classic symptoms, usually present in each type of abortion, are uterine contractions, uterine haemorrhage, softening and dilatation of the cervix, and presentation or expulsion of all or part of the products of conception. 2. premature stoppage of a natural or a pathological process.

No:6 - abrasion

(L. abrasio) 1. the wearing away of a substance or structure (such as the skin or the teeth) through some unusual or abnormal mechanical process. 2. an area of body surface denuded of skin or mucous membrane by some unusual or abnormal mechanical process.

No:7 - abrupt

sudden and unexpected.

No:8 - abscess

(L. abscessus, from ab away + cedere to go) a localized collection of pus caused by suppuration buried in tissues, organs, or confined spaces.

No:9 - absence

see petit mal epilepsy, under epilepsy.

No:10 - absorption

(L. absorptio) 1. the uptake of substances into or across tissues, e.g., skin, intestine, and kidney tubules. 2. in psychology, devotion of thought to one object or activity, with inattention to others. 3. in radiology, the taking up of energy by matter with which the radiation interacts.

No:11 - abstinence

a refraining from the use of or indulgence in food, stimulants, or sexual intercourse.

No:12 - accidental

happening unexpectedly or by chance.

No:13 - accommodation

(L. accommodare to fit to) adjustment, especially that of the eye for various distances.

No:14 - accumulation

the action or process of accumulating; state of being or having accumulated; a collecting together.

No:15 - acidity

L. aciditas) the quality of being acid or sour; containing acid (hydrogen ions).

No:16 - acidosis

a pathologic condition resulting from accumulation of acid or depletion of the alkaline reserve (bicarbonate content) in the blood and body tissues, and characterized by an increase in hydrogen ion concentration.

No:17 - acne

(possibly a corruption of Greek akm a point or of achn chaff) an inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, the specific type usually being indicated by a modifying term; frequently used alone to designate common acne, or acne vulgaris.

No:18 - acrocyanosis

(acro- + cyanosis) a condition marked by symmetrical cyanosis of the extremities, with persistent, uneven, mottled blue or red discoloration of the skin of the digits, wrists, and ankles and with profuse sweating and coldness of the digits. Called also Raynaud's sign.

No:19 - ACTH

adrenocorticotropic hormone.

No:20 - activate

1.to render activity. 2.to become active. 3.to convert (a compound, as a provitamin or enzyme) into an active form or different compound, esp. into one that has a particular biological action (e.g. ergosterol by irradiation to vitamin D2 for use in treating rickets).

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