Medical terms - Letter A (page 7) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Adducted thumbs with mental retardation

A syndrome with the following characteristic features: > >neurologically: mental retardation and aphasia (lack of speech) >limbs: adducted (clasped) thumbs, absent extensor pollicis longus and/or brevis muscles to the…
Adduction

Movement of a limb toward the midline of the body. The opposite of adduction is abduction. An adductor muscle pulls toward the midline of the body. For example, the adductor muscles of the legs pull the legs toward the…
Adductor muscle

Any muscle that pulls a body part toward the midline. For example, the adductor muscles of the legs pull the legs toward the midline of the body so the legs are closer together. The word 'adductor' comes from the Latin…
Adductor spasmodic dysphonia

A disorder in which sudden muscle spasms cause the vocal folds (or vocal cords) to slam together. See: spasmodic dysphonia
ADE

Adverse drug event. See: Adverse reaction..
Aden-

See: Adeno-
Adenine (A)

One member of the A-T (adenine-thymine) base pair in DNA. The other base pair in DNA is G-C (guanine-cytosine). Each base pair forms a 'rung of the DNA ladder.' A DNA nucleotide is made of a molecule of sugar, a…
Adenitis

Inflammation of a gland. From the aden-, gland + -itis, inflammation
Adeno-

Prefix referring to a gland, as in adenoma and adenopathy. From the Greek aden meaning originally 'an acorn' and later 'a gland' in the form of an acorn. Before a vowel, adeno- becomes aden-, as in adenitis…
Adenocarcinoma

A cancer that develops in the lining or inner surface of an organ. More than 95 percent of prostate cancers are adenocarcinoma
Adenoid cystic carcinoma

A type of cancer that most often develops in the salivary glands of the head and neck. It may arise in other sites such as the skin, lacrimal gland, trachea, breast, cervix and prostate. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC)…
Adenoidectomy

Adenoidectomy: The surgical removal of the adenoids.
Adenoiditis

Infection of the adenoids.
Adenoids

Masses of lymphoid tissue in the upper part of throat behind the nose.
Adenoids and Tonsils

Adenoids and Tonsils: These celebrated structures (adenoids and tonsils) in the back of the throat are composed of tissue similar to the lymph nodes or 'glands.'
Adenoma

A benign tumor that arises in or resembles glandular tissue. If it becomes cancerous, it is called an adenocarcinoma
Adenoma colon family history

See: Colon cancer family history
Adenomatous polyposis coli

See: APC (meaning 3)
Adenomatous polyposis coli, autosomal recessive

See: MYH
Adenomyoma

A nodule that forms around tissue of the inner uterus (endometrial tissue) as a result of adenomyosis. See adenomyosis.
Adenomyomata

Plural form of adenomyoma
Adenomyosis

Pronounced a-den-o- mi-o-sis, this is a common benign condition of the uterus in which the endometrium (the mucous membrane lining the inside of the uterus) grows into the myometrium (the uterine musculature located…
Adenomyosis uteri

Also known more succinctly as adenomyosis (pronounced ad-den-o-mi-o- sis), this is a common benign condition of the uterus in which the endometrium (the mucous membrane lining the inside of the uterus) grows into the…
Adenopathy

Large or 'swollen' lymph nodes. Synonymous with lymphadenopathy
Adenosine

A nucleoside containing adenine as its base. Adenosine acts to dilate the coronary arteries and is employed in the adenosine thallium scan of the heart
Adenosine deaminase (ADA)

An enzyme that plays a key role in salvaging purine molecules
Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency

A genetic (inherited) condition that results in a immune deficiency disorder called severe combined immunodeficiency disease. Adenosine deaminase is an enzyme that plays a key role in salvaging purine molecules. ADA…
Adenosine thallium scan

A method of examining the heart to obtain information about the blood supply to the heart muscle. Special cameras take a series of pictures of the heart. Radioactive thallium is injected into the bloodstream and serves…
Adenosine triphosphate

An important carrier of energy in cells in the body and a compound that is important in the synthesis (the making) of RNA. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a nucleotide (a building block of a nucleic acid such as RNA)…
Adenovirus

A group of viruses responsible for a spectrum of respiratory disease as well as infection of the stomach and intestine (gastroenteritis), eyes (conjunctivitis), and bladder (cystitis) and rash. Adenovirus respiratory…
ADH (antidiuretic hormone)

A peptide molecule that is released by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain after being made nearby (in the hypothalamus). ADH has an antidiuretic action that prevents the production of dilute urine (and so is…
ADH secretion, inappropriate

The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) results in the inability to put out dilute urine, perturbs fluid (and electrolyte) balance, and causes nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, confusion and…
ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Adhesion

The union of two opposing tissue surfaces (often in reference to the sides of a wound). Also refers to scar tissue strands that can form in the area of a previous operation, such as within the abdomen after a…
Adhesive capsulitis

Constant severe limitation of the range of motion of the shoulder due to scarring around the shoulder joint. Adhesive capsulitis is an unwanted consequence of rotator cuff disease -- damage to the rotator cuff, the set…
ADI

Acceptable daily intake
Adipocyte

A fat cell, a connective tissue cell that has differentiated and become specialized in the synthesis (manufacture) and storage of fat. The adipocyte is important to the body in maintaining proper energy balance, storing…
Adiponectin

A protein hormone produced and secreted exclusively by adipocytes (fat cells) that regulates the metabolism of lipids and glucose. Adiponectin influences the body's response to insulin. Adiponectin also has…
Adipose

'Adipose' means 'fat' but is usually used to refer specifically to tissue made up of mainly fat cells such as the yellow layer of fat beneath the skin. The word 'adipose' comes from the Latin 'adeps' meaning 'fat…
Adipose most abundant gene transcript 1

Abbreviated APM1. The APM1 gene encodes the hormone adiponectin
Adjacent

Lying nearby. Related terms include superjacent, subjacent, and circumjacent. From ad-, near + the Latin jacere, to lie = to lie near
Adjuvant

The Latin 'adjuvans' means to help, particularly to reach a goal. Adjuvant therapy for cancer is surgery followed by chemotherapy or radiation to help decrease the risk of the cancer recurring (coming back). An adjuvant…
Adjuvant chemotherapy

Chemotherapy given after tumor surgery. The idea underpinning adjuvant chemotherapy is that the chemotherapy drugs are more effective after the main tumor has been removed and any remaining cancer is in small amounts…
Adjuvant therapy

Treatment that is given in addition to the primary (initial) treatment. Adjuvant treatment is an addition designed to help reach the ultimate goal. Adjuvant therapy for cancer usually refers to surgery followed by…
ADLs (activities of daily living)

The things we normally do in daily living including any daily activity we perform for self-care (such as feeding ourselves, bathing, dressing, grooming), work, homemaking, and leisure. The ability or inability to…
Admission

Entry. As a patient admission (into a hospital). The opposite of admission in this context is discharge
Admitting physician

The doctor responsible for admitting a patient to a hospital or other inpatient health facility
Adnexa

This Latin word (in the plural) is used in medicine in reference to appendages. For example, in gynecology the adnexa are the 'appendages' of the uterus, namely the ovaries, Fallopian tubes and ligaments that hold the…
Adoption medicine

Medicine for the adopted child, including pre-adoption counseling and evaluation based on a child's medical records as well as post-adoption consultations and, often, primary care of the adopted child. The field of…
ADR

Adverse drug reaction. See: Adverse reaction..