Medical terms - Letter A
1,573 terms start with the letter A.
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AHD
Abbreviation for alveolar hydatid disease; American Hospital Directory; and atherosclerotic heart disease
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Aicardi syndrome
A genetic disorder characterized by the partial or complete agenesis of the corpus callosum (the structure that links the 2 hemispheres of the brain), infantile spasms (a characteristic form of childhood seizures)…
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AID (artificial insemination by donor)
A procedure in which a fine catheter (tube) is inserted through the cervix (the natural opening of the uterus) into the uterus (the womb) to deposit a sperm sample from a donor other than the woman's mate directly into…
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Aid, vibrotactile
See: Vibrotactile aid
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AIDS
Disease due to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
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AIDS dementia complex
Dementia complex: A brain disorder that occurs in people with AIDS that causes the loss of cognitive capacity, affecting the ability to function in a social or occupational setting. The exact mechanism by which HIV…
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AIDS wasting syndrome
The involuntary weight loss of 10% of baseline body weight plus either chronic diarrhea (two loose stools per day for more than 30 days) or chronic weakness and documented fever (for 30 days or more, intermittent or…
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AIDS-related complex
A term used to describe people with HIV infection who have only mild symptoms of illness such as swollen lymph glands. The term is rarely used today
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AIH (artificial insemination by husband)
A procedure in which a fine catheter (tube) is inserted through the cervix (the natural opening of the uterus) into the uterus (the womb) to deposit a sperm sample from the woman's mate directly into the uterus. The…
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Ailurophobia
An abnormal and persistent fear of cats which produces an undue anxiety reaction even though sufferers realize their fear is irrational. Sufferers of ailurophobia may fear not only the scratch or bite of a cat, but also…
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Air bag
A bag that fills with air, designed for frontal impact crashes, the kind of crashes which account for more than half of all passenger vehicle occupant deaths. Air bags are designed to limit head and chest injuries. But…
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Air travel with diabetes
A concern for patients with diabetes is flying with medications and supplies. Letters from doctors are not recommended since security has concerns that these may be easily forged. The currently recommended way to fly…
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Air-conditioner lung
A form of the sick building syndrome caused by organisms that contaminate humidifiers and the piping of air conditioner ducts. The air conditioner blows cold air containing spores of the organisms throughout the…
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Airway
The path air follows to get into and out of the lungs. The mouth and nose are the normal entry and exit ports. Entering air then passes through the back of the throat (pharynx), continues through the voice box (larynx)…
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Airway obstruction
>Adults: The Heimlich maneuver. >Children over 1 year of age: A series of 5 abdominal thrusts (a children's version of the Heimlich maneuver >Infants under 1 year of age: A combination of 5 back blows (with the flat of…
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AK
1. Above the knee. 2. Acanthamoeba keratitis. 3. Actinic keratosis
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AKA (above the knee amputation)
In general usage, this would be read to mean 'also known as.' For example, William Jefferson (aka 'Bill') Clinton. However, in medical parlance, AKA means 'above the knee amputation.' A nurse scrubbing for an AKA is…
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Akathisia
A movement disorder characterized by a feeling of inner restlessness and a compelling need to be in constant motion as well as by actions such as rocking while standing or sitting, lifting the feet as if marching on the…
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Akinesia
Impaired body movement; without movement (or without much movement). Akinesia is a term used in neurology to denote the absence (or poverty) of movement. The word 'akinetic' comes from the prefix 'a-' meaning 'without'…
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Akinetic
Without movement (or without much movement). A term used in neurology to denote the absence (or poverty) of movement. The word 'akinetic' comes from the prefix 'a-' meaning 'without' + the Greek word 'kinesis' meaning…
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Akinetic mutism
A state in which a person is unspeaking (mute) and unmoving (akinetic). A textbook on clinical neurology observes that a person with akinetic mutism has 'sleep-waking cycles but, when apparently awake, with eyes open…
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AKU
Alkaptonuria
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Al-hijamah
Arabic term for the practice of cupping. See: Cupping
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Ala
Alanine. See also: Amino acid symbols
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ALA
1. Alpha-linolenic acid 2.Aminolevulinic acid, a naturally occurring chemical in the body that is converted to protoporphryn IX, a light-sensitive compound. Aminolevulinic acid has been used in the photodynamic therapy…
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Alactasia
Lack of the enzyme lactase which is needed to digest the milk sugar lactose. See: Lactase deficiency
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Alagille syndrome
Also known as arteriohepatic dysplasia, this is a genetic disorder characterized by jaundice in the newborn period, liver disease with cholestasis, peripheral pulmonic stenosis and unusual face. Children with Alagille…
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Alanine
An amino acid, one of the 20 building blocks of protein. Alanine is not an 'essential' amino acid. It is not essential to the diet, but can be made by the body from other substances. Alanine was discovered in protein in…
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Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
An enzyme that is normally present in liver and heart cells. ALT is released into blood when the liver or heart is damaged. The blood ALT levels are thus elevated with liver damage (for example, from viral hepatitis) or…
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Alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase
A liver enzyme known, for short, as AGXT. See: AGXT
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Alarm clock headache
A relatively rare form of headache in which the patient is awakened from sleep at the same time every night, usually between 1 and 3 o'clock, with intense dull or throbbing pain over the whole head. Each episode may…
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Alb-
Prefix from the Latin 'albus' meaning 'white.' As in albino and albinism. The term 'albino' was first applied by the Portuguese to 'white' people they encountered in West Africa. Those 'white' people probably had…
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Albert Sabin
See: Sabin, Albert
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Albinism
A group of genetic disorders in which there is partial or total lack of the pigment melanin in the eyes, skin, and hair. See also: Albinism, oculocutaneous; Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome.
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Albinism and hemorrhagic diathesis
Pigmented reticuloendothelial cells: See: Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome
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Albinism, oculocutaneous
An hereditary disorder characterized by deficiency of the pigment melanin in the eyes, skin and hair. The lack of eye pigment causes photophobia (sensitivity to light), nystagmus, and decreased visual acuity…
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Albino
A person with albinism. The term was first applied by the Portuguese to people in West Africa who may have had partial or complete albinism. From the Latin albus for white. See also: Albinism.
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Albright syndrome
Tough white fibrous tissue. The tunica albuginea of the testis, for example, is the layer of dense whitish inelastic tissue that surrounds the testis.
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Albuginea
Tough white fibrous tissue. The tunica albuginea of the testis, for example, is the layer of dense whitish inelastic tissue that surrounds the testis
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Albumen
The white of an egg, the part of the egg from which meringues are made. Albus in Latin is white. Not to be confused with 'albumin' which is the main protein in human blood and the key to the regulation of the osmotic…
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Albumin
The main protein in human blood and the key to the regulation of the osmotic pressure of blood. Chemically, albumin is soluble in water, precipitated by acid, and coagulated by heat. Note that albumin is spelled with an…
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Albuminuria
More than the normal amount of albumin in the urine. Albumin is the predominant protein in human blood and it is the key to the regulation of the osmotic pressure of blood. It is normal to have some albumin in urine…
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ALCAM
A receptor expressed on T cells which is involved in the adhesion of cells. ALCAM stands for activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule. The gene encoding ALCAM is on chromosome 3 in region 3q13.1-q13.2. The ALCAM gene…
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Alcohol
An organic chemical in which one or more hydroxyl (OH) groups are attached to carbon (C) atoms in place of hydrogen (H) atoms. Common alcohols include ethyl alcohol or ethanol (found in alcoholic beverages), methyl…
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Alcohol abuse
Use of alcoholic beverages to excess, either on individual occasions ('binge drinking') or as a regular practice. For some individuals-children or pregnant women, for example-almost any amount of alcohol use may be…
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Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute
One of the National Institutes of Health, NIAAA's mission is to 'conduct research focused on improving the treatment and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems to reduce the enormous health, social, and…
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Alcohol poisoning
A condition in which a toxic amount of alcohol (ethanol, ethyl alcohol) has been drunk, usually in a short period of time. The toxicity is related to the blood level of the alcohol. The individual may become extremely…
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Alcohol, pregnancy
The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy carries the danger of damaging the fetus.
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Alcoholics Anonymous
A free, self-help organization founded to assist people addicted to alcohol in breaking old behavior patterns and gaining support for living a sober lifestyle
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Alcoholism
Physical dependence on alcohol to the extent that stopping alcohol use will bring on withdrawal symptoms. In popular and therapeutic parlance, the term may also be used to refer to ingrained drinking habits that cause…