Medical terms - Letter A (page 16) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 5

ALS5. A form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) inherited in an autosomal recessive manner due to mutation in a gene on chromosome 15q15.1-q21.1
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 6

ALS6. A form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) inherited in an autosomal dominant manner due to mutation in a gene on chromosome 16q12
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 7

ALS7. A form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) inherited in an autosomal dominant manner due to mutation in a gene on chromosome 20ptel
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 8

ALS8. A form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) inherited in an autosomal dominant manner due to mutation in a gene on chromosome 20ptel
AN

The military designation for hydrogen cyanide. See: Cyanide
An-

Prefix very much employed in medicine and all of the health sciences, indicating 'not, without, or -less.' For example, the prefix 'an' figures into these words: anemia (without blood), anophthalmia (no eye), anotia (no…
ANA

Antinuclear antibody, an unusual antibody directed against structures within the nucleus of the cell. ANAs are found in patients whose immune system is predisposed to cause inflammation against their own body tissues…
Anaerobic

Not requiring oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria do not need oxygen to grow; in fact, oxygen is usually toxic to them. An anaerobic environment lacks oxygen
Anaesthesia

See: Anesthesia
Anal atresia

Congenital absence of an opening at the bottom end of the intestinal tract. Also called imperforate anus. Occurs in about 1 in 5,000 births. It is corrected by surgery. Atresia refers here to the absence of a normal…
Anal fissure

Anal fissure: Common tear in the anal canal. Anal fissure is a common cause of red blood in the stool.
Anal fistula

An opening in the skin near the anus that leads into a blind pouch or may connect through a tunnel with the rectal canal
Anal incontinence

Inability to hold feces in the rectum. This is due to failure of voluntary control over the anal sphincters. This failure results in the untimely passage of feces and gas. There are many causes of anal incontinence…
Anal itching

L ODYvAlign=top bgColor=#cccccc colSpan=2> vAlign=top width='100%' bgColor=#ffffff>Our Anal itching Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Anal itching Anal itching: Irritation of…
Anal papilla

A skin tag that projects up from the junction between the skin and the inside lining of the anus. Anal papillae tend to occur with anal fissures and may be detected on a digital examination of the anus or with a scope…
Anal papillae

The plural of anal papilla. See: Anal papilla
Analbuminemia

1. Properly, an absence of albumin from the blood.2. More loosely, a low level of albumin in the blood. Synonymous in this usage with hypoalbuminemia
Analgesia

The inability to feel pain while still conscious. From the Greek an-, without + algesis, sense of pain.
Analgesic

A drug or medicine given to reduce pain without resulting in loss of consciousness. Analgesics are sometimes referred to as painkiller medications. There are many different types of analgesic medications available in…
Analgesic drug

A drug designed to control pain. Analgesic comes from the Greek an-, without + algesis, sense of pain = without a sense of pain.
Analog

In biochemistry, a substance that is similar, but not identical, to another
Analogous

In anatomy, similar in appearance or function but otherwise different. Two structures may be analogous if they serve the same purpose but differ evolutionary in origin as, for example, human and insect legs. As compared…
Analysis

A psychology term for processes used to gain understanding of complex emotional or behavioral issues
Analysis, linkage

Study aimed at establishing linkage between genes. Today linkage analysis serves as a way of gene-hunting and genetic testing. Linkage is the tendency for genes and other genetic markers to be inherited together because…
Analytic sensitivity

The lowest level of a substance that can be detected by an analytic method
Analytic specificity

How well an assay detects only a specific substance and does not detect closely related substances
Anaphia

The inability to feel touch. From the Greek prefix an, not + Greek haphe, touch = inability to (feel) touch. A person with anaphia is said to be anaptic.
Anaphylactic shock

A widespread and very serious allergic reaction. Symptoms include dizziness, loss of consciousness, labored breathing, swelling of the tongue and breathing tubes, blueness of the skin, low blood pressure, heart failure…
Anaphylactoid purpura

See: Schonlein-Henoch purpura
Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis: Allergic reaction. In severe cases, this can include potentially deadly anaphylactic shock.
Anaplasmosis

A tick-borne disease of cattle, sheep, and related ruminants caused by a microorganism called Anaplasma marginale and characterized by anemia and jaundice. Also called gallsickness and gall sickness
Anaplastology

The art and science of restoring a malformed or absent part of the human body through artificial means. An anaplastologist makes prosthetic devices. From the Greek ana, again, + plastos, formed. See also: Prosthesis
Anaprox

See: Naproxen
Anaptic

Suffering from an impaired sense of touch, (a state called anaphia) or tactile anesthesia. An anaptic person has anaphia (an, not + Greek haphe, touch = inability to (feel) touch.
Anastomosis

The connection of normally separate parts or spaces so they intercommunicate. An anastomosis may be naturally occurring or artificially constructed and be created during the process of embryonic development or by…
Anastrozole

An oral antiestrogen. Anastrozole inhibits the enzyme aromatase in the adrenal glands that produces the estrogens (estradiol and estrone) and thereby lowers their levels. Brand name: Arimidex. See also: Aromatase…
Anat.

The abbreviation for anatomy, the study of form. Gross anatomy involves structures that can be seen with the naked eye. It is as opposed to microscopic anatomy (or histology) which involves structures seen under the…
Anatomic orientation terms

In anatomy, certain terms are used to denote orientation. For example, a structure may be horizontal, as opposed to vertical. Some of the terms of anatomic orientation are as follows: > >Anterior: The front, as opposed…
Anatomical position

The position with the body erect with the arms at the sides and the palms forward. The anatomical position is of importance in anatomy because it is the position of reference for anatomical nomenclature. Anatomic terms…
Anatomical snuffbox

A hollow seen on the radial aspect (the thumbside) of the dorsum (the back) of the wrist when the thumb is extended fully. The reason that it is called the anatomical snuffbox is that snuff (powdered tobacco) could be…
Anatomy

The study of form. Gross anatomy involves structures that can be seen with the naked eye. It is as opposed to microscopic anatomy (or histology) which involves structures seen under the microscope. Traditionally, both…
Anatomy in the Bible

There are in the Bible but few direct references to the internal organs. Biblical poetry, however, abounds with expressions in which the names of such organs are used metaphorically, e.g.: 'His archers compass me round…
Anatomy, Gray's

See: Gray's Anatomy
Anatomy, gross

Better known among medical students simply as 'gross', gross anatomy is the study of the form of structures that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. Gross anatomy is distinct from microscopic anatomy (or…
Anatomy, microscopic

Known among medical students simply as 'micro', microscopic anatomy is the study of the form of normal structures seen under the microscope, as opposed to gross anatomy which involves structures that are big enough to…
Anatripsis

The use of friction as a treatment modality for a medical condition. Anatripsis may or may not also involve the application of a medicament
ANC

The absolute neutrophil count, the number of white blood cells (WBCs) that are neutrophils. The ANC is not measured directly. It is derived by multiplying the WBC count times the percent of neutrophils in the…
Ancylostoma infection

Hookworm, an intestinal parasite that usually causes diarrhea or cramps. Heavy infestation with hookworm can be serious for newborns, children, pregnant women, and persons who are malnourished. Hookworm infections occur…
Anderson-Fabry disease

See: Fabry disease
Andro

Short for androstenedione, a normal precursor to testosterone and other androgens. Taking andro can raise testosterone levels. See: Androstenedione