Medical terms - Letter A
1,573 terms start with the letter A.
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Adrenal cortex
The outer portion of the adrenal gland located on top of each kidney. The adrenal cortex produces steroid hormones which regulate carbohydrate and fat metabolism and mineralocorticoid hormones which regulate salt and…
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Adrenal failure
A condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the adrenal hormones that control important functions such as blood pressure. The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys. The adrenal is made up of an…
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Adrenal gland
One of a pair of small glands, each of which sits on top of one of the kidneys. The adrenal is made up of an outer wall (the cortex) and an inner portion (the medulla). The adrenal glands produce hormones that help…
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Adrenal medulla
The inner portion of adrenal gland. (The outer portion is the adrenal cortex). The adrenal medulla makes epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Epinephrine is secreted in response to low blood…
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Adrenaline
A substance produced by the medulla (inside) of the adrenal gland, adrenaline (the official name in the British Pharmacopoeia) is synonymous with epinephrine. Technically speaking, adrenaline is a sympathomimetic…
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Adrenoleukodystrophy
A rare genetic (inherited) disorder characterized by the breakdown or loss of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells in the brain and progressive dysfunction of the adrenal gland. Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is one of…
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ADU
Accessory dwelling unit
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Adult acne
Popular name for rosacea. For more information, see: Rosacea
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Adult primary liver cancer
A tumor in which the cancer starts during adulthood in cells in the liver. Also called hepatocellular carcinoma. Primary liver cancer is different from cancer that has metastasized (spread) from another place in the…
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Adult respiratory distress syndrome
Better known as ARDS. See: ARDS
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Adult T-cell leukemia
Abbreviated ATL. A malignancy of mature T lymphocytes (T cells) with its onset in adulthood caused by infection with the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) and characterized by circulating malignant T-lymphocytes, skin…
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Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma
See: Adult T-cell leukemia
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Adult T-cell lymphoma
See: Adult T-cell leukemia
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Adult-onset diabetes
Type 2 diabetes. See also Diabetes, type 2
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Adult-onset Still disease
Although Still disease was first described in children, it is known to begin in adults (rarely). Of all patients with Still disease, 100% have high intermittent fever; 100% have joint inflammation and pain, muscle pain…
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Advance directives
These directives pertain to treatment preferences and the designation of a surrogate decision-maker in the event that a person should become unable to make medical decisions on their own behalf. Advance directives…
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Advance grief
See: Anticipatory grief
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Advance medical directives
Advance medical directives Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Advance medical directives Advance medical directives: These directives pertain to treatment preferences and the…
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Advanced maternal age
Usually defined as age 35 or more for the mother at the time of delivery of her baby. Advanced maternal age predisposes to Down syndrome (trisomy 21). The risk of having a Down syndrome baby rises with maternal age. It…
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Advanced paternal age
A man who is age 40 years or older at the time of conception. (There is no universally accepted definition of advanced paternal age but this criterion is often used in genetic counseling.) Advanced paternal age is…
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Adventitia
The outermost connective tissue covering of any organ, vessel, or other structure. For example, the connective tissue that surrounds an artery is called the adventitia because it is considered extraneous to the artery…
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Adventitious
Coming from an external source or occurring in an unusual place or manner. Not inherent, inherited or innate but rather occurring accidentally or spontaneously. When a doctor or nurse auscults (listens to) the chest or…
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Adverse drug event
See: Adverse reaction
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Adverse drug reaction
See: Adverse reaction
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Adverse effect
A harmful or abnormal result. An adverse effect may be caused by administration of a medication or by exposure to a chemical and be indicated by an untoward result such as by illness or death
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Adverse event
In pharmacology, any unexpected or dangerous reaction to a drug
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Adverse reaction
In pharmacology, any unexpected or dangerous reaction to a drug. An unwanted effect caused by the administration of a drug. The onset of the adverse reaction may be sudden or develop over time. Also called an adverse…
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AED (automated external defibrillator)
See: Automated external defibrillator
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Aer-, aero-
Prefix indicating a problem due to air or gas, such as aerogastria (excess stomach gas.
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Aerobic
Oxygen-requiring. Aerobic bacteria need oxygen to grow. Aerobic exercise requires the heart and lungs to work harder to meet the body's increased oxygen demand
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Aerobic exercise
Brisk physical activity that requires the heart and lungs to work harder to meet the body's increased oxygen demand. Aerobic exercise promotes the circulation of oxygen through the blood. Examples of aerobic exercise…
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Aerophagia
Swallowing too much air, a common cause of gas in the stomach and belching. Everyone swallows small amounts of air when eating or drinking. However, rapid eating or drinking, chewing gum, smoking, or ill-fitting…
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Aerophobia
An abnormal and persistent fear of flying. Sufferers experience severe anxiety even though they usually realize that the flying does not pose a threat commensurate with their fear. Aerophobia also means an irrational…
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Aerosinusitis
Sinus troubles, particularly with pain, due to changing atmospheric pressures, as when going up or down in a plane. Also called barosinusitis or sinus barotrauma
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Aerosol
1. In general, a fine mist or spray which contains minute particles.2. In medicine, a spray administered by a nebulizer and inhaled for treatment.3. In medicine, a mist that causes disease as, for example, the…
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Aerosolization
The production of an aerosol -- a fine mist or spray containing minute particles. See: Aerosol
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Aerospace medicine
The fields of medicine concerned with the maintenance of health, safety, and performance of those in aviation and space travel. Aerospace medicine is the sum of aviation medicine and space medicine -- health in flight…
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Aerotitis
Middle ear problems due to changing atmospheric pressures, as when a plane descends to land. The problems include ear pain, ringing, diminished hearing and, sometimes, dizziness. The word aerotitis (pronounced…
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Aerotitis media
See Aerotitis
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Aesculapius
That stick with the snake curled around it is the staff (the rod) of Aesculapius (also called Asklepios), the ancient god of medicine. His Greek name was Asklepios and his Roman name Aesculapius. In reality, Asklepios…
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Aetiology
The study of the causes. For example, of a disorder. The word 'aetiology' is mainly used in medicine, where it is the science that deals with the causes or origin of disease, the factors which produce or predispose…
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AFAP
Attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis
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Affect
The emotional tone a person expresses. A person's affect may be appropriate or inappropriate to the situation. One type of inappropriate affect is a flat affect or blunted affect, a common feature of schizophrenia
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Affective disorder, seasonal (SAD)
Depression that tends to occur (and recur) as the days grow shorter in the fall and winter. It is believed that affected persons react adversely to the decreasing amounts of light and the colder temperatures as the fall…
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Afferent
Carrying toward. A vein is an afferent vessel since it carries blood toward from the heart. An afferent nerve carries impulses toward the central nervous system. The opposite of afferent is efferent
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Afferent nerve
A nerve that carries impulses toward the central nervous system (CNS). The opposite of an afferent nerve is an efferent nerve that carries impulses away from the CNS
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Afferent vessel
A vessel that carries blood toward the heart. A vein or venule
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Affinity
In immunology, the strength of binding interaction between antigen and antibody molecules
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AFIP
The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
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Aflatoxin
A toxin produced by mold that can damage the liver and may lead to liver cancer. Aflatoxins cause cancer in some animals. The fungi that produce aflatoxin grow on crops such as peanuts (especially) and wheat, corn…