Medical terms - Letter A (page 17) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Androgen

A male sex hormone that promotes the development and maintenance of the male sex characteristics. The major androgen is testosterone.
Androgen ablation

Treatment designed to suppress or block the production of male hormones. Androgen suppression can be achieved by surgical removal of the testicles, by taking female sex hormones, or by taking other drugs called…
Androgen insensitivity syndrome, complete

A genetic disorder that makes XY fetuses insensitive (unresponsive) to androgens (male hormones). Instead, they are born looking externally like normal girls. Internally, there is a short blind-pouch vagina and no…
Androgen suppression

Treatment designed to suppress or block the production of male hormones. Androgen suppression can be achieved by surgical removal of the testicles, by taking female sex hormones, or by taking other drugs called…
Androgen suppression therapy

See: Androgen suppression
Androgenic

Pertaining to the development of male characteristics, including body hair, the genital organs and muscle mass. 'Androgenic' is the adjective form of the noun 'androgen,' a word referring to any of the male hormones…
Android pelvis

There are significant differences in the anatomy of the pelvis in the female and male. The android or male pelvis is more robust, narrower, and taller than the female pelvis. The angle of the male pubic arch and the…
Andrology

The branch of medicine concerned with men's health, particularly male infertility and sexual dysfunction. Andrology is literally the study of man (Greek andros, man). It is the male counterpart of gynecology
Androphobia

An abnormal and persistent fear of men. Sufferers experience anxiety even though they may realize they face no real threat. 'Androphobia' is derived from the Greek 'andros' (man) and 'phobos' (fear). 'Andro-' enters…
Androstenedione

A pivotal adrenal steroid that is a precursor to testosterone and other androgens. Known popularly as andro. Has been used as a supplement to increase muscle strength. Taking andro raises testosterone levels above…
Anemia

Anemia: The condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased. Persons…
Anemia and triphalangeal thumbs

See: Aase-Smith syndrome II
Anemia, Addison

Anemia, Addison: A blood disorder caused by a lack of vitamin B12. Patients who have this disorder do not produce the substance in the stomach that allows the body to absorb vitamin B12. This substance is called…
Anemia, addisonian

Anemia, addisonian: A blood disorder caused by a lack of vitamin B12. Patients who have this disorder do not produce the substance in the stomach that allows the body to absorb vitamin B12. This substance is called…
Anemia, aplastic

See: Aplastic anemia
Anemia, Biermer's

Anemia, Biermer's: A blood disorder caused by a lack of vitamin B12. Patients who have this disorder do not produce the substance in the stomach that allows the body to absorb vitamin B12. This substance is called…
Anemia, congenital

See: Congenital anemia
Anemia, Cooley's

Anemia, Cooley's: Better known today as thalassemia (or as beta thalassemia or thalassemia major). The clinical picture of this important type of anemia was first described in 1925 by the pediatrician Thomas Benton…
Anemia, Fanconi

See Fanconi anemia
Anemia, iron deficiency

Anemia, iron deficiency: The most common known form of nutritional disorder in the world, iron deficiency results in anemia because iron is necessary to make hemoglobin, key molecule in red blood cells responsible for…
Anemia, Mediterranean

Better known today as thalassemia (or as beta thalassemia or thalassemia major). The clinical picture of this important type of anemia was first described in 1925 by the pediatrician Thomas Benton Cooley. The name…
Anemia, pernicious

A blood disorder caused by a lack of vitamin B12. Patients who have this disorder do not produce the substance in the stomach that allows the body to absorb vitamin B12. This substance is called intrinsic factor (IF)…
Anemia, refractory

Anemia (a shortage of red blood cells) unresponsive to treatment
Anemia, sickle cell

A genetic blood disease due to the presence of an abnormal form of hemoglobin, namely hemoglobin S. Hemoglobin is the molecule in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the farthest reaches of the…
Anemia, sideroblastic, and spinocerebellar ataxia

ASAT. See: Pagon syndrome
Anemic

Relating to anemia, the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased…
Anencephaly

A neural tube defect (NTD) that occurs when the cephalic (head) end of the neural tube fails to close, usually between the 23rd and 26th days of pregnancy, resulting in the absence of a major portion of the brain…
Anergy

A state of immune unresponsiveness. Induced when the T cell's antigen receptor is stimulated, effectively freezing T cell responses pending a 'second signal' from the antigen-presenting cell. The delivery of the second…
Anesthesia

Loss of feeling or awareness. A general anesthetic puts the person to sleep. A local anesthetic causes loss of feeling in a part of the body such as a tooth or an area of skin without affecting consciousness. Regional…
Anesthesia awareness

The situation that occurs when a patient under general anesthesia becomes aware of some or all events during surgery or a procedure, and has direct recall of those events. Because of the routine use of neuromuscular…
Anesthesia, caudal epidural

See Caudal anesthesia
Anesthesiologist

A physician or, less often, a dentist who is specialized in the practice of anesthesiology, the branch of medicine involving the use of drugs or other agents that cause insensibility to pain. There is a major…
Anesthesiology

The branch of medicine specializing in the use of drugs or other agents that cause insensibility to pain. Anesthesiology may also be defined as continuity of patient care involving preoperative evaluation…
Anesthetic

A substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness. A local anesthetic causes loss of feeling in a part of the body. A general anesthetic puts the person to sleep.
Anesthetic, epidural

An anesthetic injected into the epidural space surrounding the fluid-filled sac (the dura) around the spine which partially numbs the abdomen and legs
Anesthetic, general

An anesthetic that puts the person to sleep
Anesthetic, local

An anesthetic that causes loss of feeling in a small part of the body
Anesthetist

1. In the US, a nurse or technician trained to administer anesthetics.2. In the UK, the same as an anesthesiologist
Anetoderma

An area of slack 'baglike' skin due to a local absence or loss of elastic fibers in the skin. The skin affected by anetoderma often occurs in multiple local areas that typically have distinct borders from normal skin…
Aneuploidy

One or a few chromosomes above or below the normal chromosome number. For example, three number 21 chromosomes or trisomy 21 (characteristic of Down syndrome) is a form of aneuploidy.
Aneurysm

A localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, vein, or the heart. At the area of an aneurysm, there is typically a bulge and the wall is weakened and may rupture. The word 'aneurysm' comes from the Greek 'aneurysma'…
Aneurysm, abdominal

An aneurysm situated within the abdomen (belly). An aneurysm is a localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, vein, or the heart. At the area of an aneurysm, there is typically a bulge and the wall is weakened and may…
Aneurysm, aortic

See: Aortic aneurysm
Aneurysm, arterial

An aneurysm involving an artery. As opposed to a venous aneurysm or a cardiac aneurysm. An aneurysm is a localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, vein, or the heart. At the area of an aneurysm, there is typically a…
Aneurysm, arteriosclerotic

See: Arteriosclerotic aneurysm
Aneurysm, atherosclerotic

See: Atherosclerotic aneurysm
Aneurysm, berry

A berry aneurysm is a small outpouching (aneurysm) that looks like a berry and classically occurs at the point at which a cerebral artery departs from the circular artery (the circle of Willis) at the base of the brain…
Aneurysm, brain

An aneurysm is a localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, vein, or the heart. At the area of an aneurysm, there is typically a bulge and the wall is weakened and may rupture. The word 'aneurysm' comes from the…
Aneurysm, cardiac

Outpouching of an abnormally thin portion of the heart wall. An aneurysm is a localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, vein, or the heart. At the area of an aneurysm, there is typically a bulge and the wall is…
Aneurysm, dissecting

An aneurysm is a localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, vein, or the heart. At the area of an aneurysm, there is typically a bulge and the wall is weakened and may rupture. The word 'aneurysm' comes from the…