Medical terms - Letter A (page 13) | MedicalVocabulary.org

ALS3

See: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 3
ALS4

See: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 4
ALS5

See: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 5
ALS6

See: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 6
ALS7

See: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 7
ALS8

See: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 8
Alstrom syndrome

A progressive genetic disorder characterized by obesity, deafness, and visual problems in childhood and diabetes with insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes) and kidney failure in adulthood. Individuals with Alstrom…
Alstrom-Hallgren syndrome

See: Alstrom syndrome
Alstrom-Hallgren syndrome

See: Alstrom syndrome
ALT (alanine aminotransferase)

An enzyme normally present in liver and heart cells that is released into the bloodstream when the liver or heart is damaged. The blood ALT levels are elevated with liver damage (for example, from viral hepatitis) or…
Alteplase

Alteplase: Generic name of a tissue plasminogen activator produced by recombinant DNA technology. The brand name is Activase. See: Tissue plasminogen activator.
Alternate hemiplegia

See: Alternating hemiplegia of childhood
Alternating hemiplegia of childhood

A rare neurological disorder with frequent temporary episodes of paralysis of one side of the body (hemiplegia) usually beginning before the age of 18 months. The eye movements, face, or limbs can be paralysed on either…
Alternating hemiplegia syndrome

See: Alternating hemiplegia of childhood
Alternative medical system

A system of alternative medicine built upon a complete system of theory and practice. Often, such systems have evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the US or Europe. Alternative…
Alternative medicine

Alternative medicine: Healing arts not taught in traditional Western medical schools that promote options to conventional medicine that is taught in these schools.. An example of an alternative therapy is using a…
Alternative Medicine, National Center for Compleme

See: National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Alternative splicing

A mechanism by which different forms of mature mRNAs (messengers RNAs) are generated from the same gene. Alternative splicing is a regulatory mechanism by which variations in the incorporation of the exons, or coding…
Altitude illness

>If possible, don't fly or drive to high altitude. Start below 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) and walk up. >If you do fly or drive, do not over-exert yourself or move higher for the first 24 hours. >If you go above 10,000…
Altitude sickness

>If possible, don't fly or drive to high altitude. Start below 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) and walk up. >If you do fly or drive, do not over-exert yourself or move higher for the first 24 hours. >If you go above 10,000…
Altitude, acclimatization to

>The depth of respiration increases; >The pressure in the pulmonary arteries increases, forcing blood into portions of the lung which are normally not used at sea level; >We make more red blood cells to carry oxygen…
Altitude, high

>High altitude: 8,000 - 12,000 feet (2,438 - 3,658 meters); >Very high altitude: 12,000 - 18,000 feet (3,658 - 5,487 meters); and >Extremely high altitude: 18,000+ feet (5,500+ meters). Most people can go up to 8,000…
Altretamine

El ODYvAlign=top bgColor=#cccccc colSpan=2> vAlign=top width='100%' bgColor=#ffffff>Our Altretamine Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Altretamine Altretamine: Brand name…
Aluminum

A naturally occurring element that makes up about 8% of the surface of the earth and is always found combined with other elements such as oxygen, silicon, and fluorine. Aluminum is is the most common metallic element in…
Aluminum poisoning

See: Aluminum
Aluminum toxicity

See: Aluminum
Alveolar

Pertaining to the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in the alveoli which look like cells in a honeycomb. The word comes from the Latin diminutive of 'alveus'…
Alveolar hydatid disease

>By directly ingesting food contaminated with stool from foxes or coyotes. This might include grass, herbs, greens, or berries gathered from fields. >By petting or handling household cats and dogs infected with the E…
Alveolar proteinosis

See: Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
Alveoli

The plural of alveolus. The alveoli are tiny air sacs within the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
Alveolitis

Inflammation of the alveoli, the air sacs in the lungs
Alveolus

One of the tiny air sacs located at the very ends of the bronchioles within the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. The alveolus looks like a cell in a honeycomb. The word comes from the…
Alvit

Trade name of the insecticide dieldrin. See: Aldrin and dieldrin
Alzheimer disease

See: Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer disease, early-onset familial

Alzheimer disease that runs in families and strikes at an unusually early age (with its onset under the age of 60). About 7% of early-onset cases of Alzheimer's are familial and are inherited in an autosomal dominant…
Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease: A progressive neurologic disease of the brain that leads to the irreversible loss of neurons and dementia. The clinical hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease are progressive impairment in memory…
Am

Symbol for americium
AMA

The American Medical Association. The AMA's mission statement proclaims: 'We are the Voice of the American Medical Profession. 'We are the partnership of physicians and their professional associations dedicated to…
Amalgam

In dentistry, an alloy of mercury, silver, tin, etc. used in dental restorations
Amastia

A rare condition wherein the normal growth of the breast or nipple does not occur. Unilateral amastia (just on one side) is often associated with absence of the pectoral muscles. Bilateral amastia (with absence of both…
Amathophobia

An abnormal and persistent fear of dust. Sufferers experience anxiety even though they realize dust poses no threat. From the Greek 'amathos' (sand) and 'phobos' (fear).
Amaurosis fugax

A symptom described as a shade coming down over the eye. A partial or complete loss of sight that is temporary. This temporary interference with vision is usually related to atherosclerosis in the blood vessels that…
Amaurotic familial idiocy

An outdated term for Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) which is concisely defined by OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man) as 'an autosomal recessive, progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which in the classic infantile…
Amazia

A condition wherein the breast tissue is absent, but the nipple is present. Amazia typically is a result of radiation or surgery. In amazia, the breast tissue (or what tissue was scheduled to develop into a breast at…
Ambidextrous

1. Able to use both the right and left hands with equal dexterity. Neither right- nor left-handed.2. By extension, shifty, deceitful, or hypocritical
Ambien

Brand name for the sedative hypnotic drug zolpidem used for sleep. For more information, see: zolpidem
Ambient

Surrounding, present on all sides; encompassing. As, the ambient noise is deafening, or the ambient light is blinding. From the Latin 'ambire' meaning 'to go around.
Ambiguous genitalia

Genitalia that are neither typically female nor typically male. Also known as intersexual genitalia. Girls (with a 46, XX chromosome constitution) can have virilized genitalia due to excess androgen action. Conversely…
Amblyopia

Amblyopia: Partial or complete loss of vision in one eye caused by conditions that affect the normal development of vision. These conditions include strabismus, in which the eyes are crossed inward (esotropia) or turned…
Amblyopia, nocturnal

Amblyopia refers to blindness so nocturnal amblyopia is, literally, night blindness. Listed in medical dictionaries under 'Nyctalopia' from the Greek nyct (night) + aloas (obscure or blind) + opsis (vision), the…