Medical terms - Letter A (page 11) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Aldose reductase inhibitor

A class of drugs used to prevent eye and nerve damage in diabetes. Aldose reductase is an enzyme that is normally present in the eye and in many other parts of the body. It helps change glucose into a sugar alcohol…
Aldosterone

A hormone made by the outer portion (cortex) of the adrenal gland that regulates the balance of salt and water in the body. Pronounced AL·do·ste·rone. Aldosterone is secreted in response to low salt levels. Aldosterone…
Aldosteronism

Overproduction of the hormone aldosterone from the cortex (the outer layer) of the adrenal gland or a tumor containing that type of tissue. Excess aldosterone (pronounced al'-do-ster-one) results in low potassium levels…
Aldrec

Trade name of the insecticide aldrin. See: Aldrin and dieldrin
Aldrex

Trade name of the insecticide aldrin. See: Aldrin and dieldrin
Aldrin

See: Aldrin and dieldrin
Aldrin and dieldrin

A type of still, an apparatus used in the process of distillation. Alembics were employed in chemistry and biomedical laboratories as well as in distilling cognac. By extension, "alembic" is anything that refines or…
Alembic

A type of still, an apparatus used in the process of distillation. Alembics were employed in chemistry and biomedical laboratories as well as in distilling cognac. By extension, 'alembic' is anything that refines or…
Aleut health

See: Artic health
Aleve

See: Naproxen
Alexander disease

A slowly progressive and ultimately fatal brain disorder that most commonly occurs in children. The infantile form of the disease is characterized by megalencephaly (an abnormally large head), seizures, spasticity and…
Alexander technique

A process that teaches how to properly coordinate body and mind to release harmful tension and to improve posture, coordination and general health. The technique is named for the Australian Frederick Matthias Alexander…
Alexia

A neurological disorder characterized by loss of the ability to read or understand the written word. Alexia is a complex visual disturbance resulting from disease in the visual-association areas at the back of the…
Algia

Word ending indicating pain, as in arthralgia (joint pain), cephalgia (headache), fibromyalgia, mastalgia (breast pain), myalgia (muscle pain), and neuralgia (nerve pain). Derived from the Greek algos meaning pain
Algophobia

An abnormal and persistent fear of pain. The fear is excessive, beyond that which is expected under the circumstances, producing an anxiety reaction. From the Greek 'algos' (pain) and 'phobos' (fear). Note that an…
Alice in Wonderland syndrome

A syndrome of distorted space, time and body image. The patient with the Alice in Wonderland syndrome has a feeling that their entire body or parts of it have been altered in shape and size. The syndrome is usually…
Alice Stewart

See: Stewart, Alice
Alien hand syndrome

Syndrome: The feeling that one's hand is possessed by a force outside of ones control. The syndrome typically arises after trauma to the brain, after brain surgery or after a stroke or an infection of the brain. A…
Alienist

The term 'alienist' was heading for obsolescence until it was returned to a position of some prominence by the 1994 book 'The Alienist' by the historian/novelist Caleb Carr. The story of 'The Alienist' starts In New…
Alimentary

Concerning food, nourishment, and the organs of digestion. From the Latin alimentum meaning nourishment
Alimentary canal

The digestive tract. See: Gastrointestinal tract
Alkaline phosphatase

An enzyme made in the liver, bone, and the placenta and normally present in high concentrations in growing bone and in bile. Alkaline phosphatase is released into the blood during injury and during such normal…
Alkaloid

A member of a large group of chemicals that are made by plants and have nitrogen in them. Many alkaloids possess potent pharmacologic effects. The alkaloids include cocaine, nicotine, strychnine, piperine, caffeine…
Alkaloid, vinca

See: Vinca alkaloid
Alkalosis

A dangerous decrease in the normal acidity of the blood. There is too much base in the blood and body. This is a distinctly abnormal condition. It results from the accumulation of base or from the depletion of acid. The…
Alkaptonuria

Alkaptonuria: A genetic metabolic disorder due to deficiency of the enzyme homogentisic acid (HGA) dioxygenase. Deficiency of this enzyme leads to the three cardinal features of alkaptonuria --the presence of…
Alkyl group

In chemistry, a group of atoms derived from an alkane (a hydrocarbon with no carbon-to-carbon multiple bonds) by the loss of a hydrogen atom
ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia)

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, also less often called acute lymphocytic leukemia. See: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Allele

An alternative form of a gene. One of the different forms of a gene that can exist at a single locus (spot on a chromosome). Also one of the different forms of any segment of a chromosome
Allelic

Pertaining to an allele, an alternative form of a gene. A single allele is inherited from each parent
Allergen

A substance that is foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction in certain people. For examples, pollen, dander, mold.
Allergic conjunctivitis

Inflammation of the whites of the eyes (the conjunctivae) with itching and redness of the eyes and tearing, due to allergy
Allergic contact dermatitis

A red, itchy, weepy reaction where the skin has come into contact with a substance that the immune system recognizes as foreign, such as poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac or certain preservatives in creams and…
Allergic contact eczema

Also called allergic contact dermatitis, this is a red, itchy, weepy reaction where the skin has come into contact with a substance that the immune system recognizes as foreign, such as poison ivy or certain…
Allergic granulomatosis

A disease (also often called the Churg-Straus syndrome) characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels in persons with a history of asthma or allergy. The symptoms of the Churg-Strauss syndrome include fatigue…
Allergic granulomatous angiitis

See: Churg-Strauss syndrome
Allergic purpura

See: Schonlein-Henoch purpura
Allergic reaction

The hypersensitive response of the immune system of an allergic individual to a substance. When an allergen enters the body, it causes the body's immune system to develop an allergic reaction in a person with an allergy…
Allergic rhinitis

Medical term for hay fever, a condition due to allergy that mimics a chronic cold. (Hay fever is a misnomer since hay is not a usual cause of this problem and there is no fever. Many substances cause the allergic…
Allergic rhinitis, perennial

Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) that occurs throughout the year
Allergic rhinitis, seasonal

Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) which occurs during a specific season
Allergic salute

The person with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) often rubs his/her nose using the index finger. This is the so-called 'allergic salute.
Allergic vasculitis

Vasculitis: A disease (also more commonly called the Churg-Straus syndrome) characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels in persons with a history of asthma or allergy. The symptoms of the Churg-Strauss syndrome…
Allergy

Allergy: A misguided reaction to foreign substances by the immune system, the body system of defense against foreign invaders, particularly pathogens (the agents of infection). The allergic reaction is misguided in that…
Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Inst.

One of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), the mission of the NIAID is 'to support and conduct research and research training (that) strives to understand, treat, and ultimately prevent the myriad infectious…
Allergy desensitization

Stimulation of the immune system with gradually increasing doses of the substances to which a person is allergic, the aim being to modify or stop the allergy 'war' (by reducing the strength of the IgE and its effect on…
Allergy immunotherapy

Stimulation of the immune system with gradually increasing doses of the substances to which a person is allergic. The aim is to modify or stop the allergy by reducing the strength of the IgE response. This form of…
Allergy scratch test

Allergy scratch test: Test done on the skin to identify the allergy substance (the allergen) that is the trigger for an allergic reaction. A small amount of the suspected allergy-provoking substance is placed on the…
Allergy shots

See Allergy desensitization
Allergy skin test

Allergy skin test: Test done on the skin to identify the allergy substance (the allergen) that is triggering the allergic reaction. A small amount of the suspected allergy-provoking substance is placed on the skin. The…