Medical terms - Letter A (page 9) | MedicalVocabulary.org

AFO (ankle-foot orthosis)

Ankle-foot orthosis
AFP (alpha-fetoprotein)

AFP is a plasma protein that is normally produced by the fetus. It serves as the basis for some valuable tests. AFP is manufactured principally in the fetus's liver and, also, in the fetal gastrointestinal (GI) tract…
African American

An American of black African descent. The term may also be written with a hyphen as African-American. The term entered into usage largely starting in 1988, when the Rev. Jesse Jackson held a news conference to urge…
African sleeping sickness

Also called African trypanosomiasis, a systemic disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei that is transmitted by the bite of the tsetse fly, a gray-brown insect about the size of a honeybee. African…
African tapeworm

The beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata), the most common of the big tapeworms that parasitizes people, contracted from infected raw or rare beef. Can grow to be 12-25 feet (3.6-7.5 m) long in the human intestine.
African tick typhus

One of the tick-borne rickettsial diseases of the eastern hemisphere, similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but less severe, with fever, a small ulcer (tache noire) at the site of the tick bite, swollen glands nearby…
African trypanosomiasis

See: African sleeping sickness
African-American

See: African American
Afterbirth

The placenta + the fetal membranes that are normally expelled from the uterus after the birth of the baby. Hence, the 'afterbirth.' The placenta is of course the organ that joins the mother and fetus and permits the…
Agammaglobulinemia

Total or near-total absence of gamma globulin, a protein fraction of the blood rich in antibodies, due to certain genetic diseases such as Bruton agammaglobulinemia or to acquired diseases such as HIV/AIDS
Age by decade

>Denarian: Someone age 10 to 19. >Vicenarian: Someone in his or her twenties. >Tricenarian: Someone in his or her thirties. >Quadragenarian: Someone in his or her forties. >Quinquagenarian: Someone in his or her…
Age of father

See: Paternal age
Age of mother

See: Maternal age
Age-related deafness

See: Presbycusis
Age-related macular degeneration

Macular degeneration: An eye disease with its onset usually after age 60 that progressively destroys the macula, the central portion of the retina, impairing central vision. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) rarely…
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

An agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Public Health Service that works with states and other federal agencies to prevent exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites. The agency…
Agenesis

Lack of development of something. For example, agenesis of a toe means that toe failed to form.
Agenesis of the corpus callosum

A congenital abnormality (a birth defect) in which there is partial or complete absence (agenesis) of the corpus callosum, the area of the brain which connects the two cerebral hemispheres (the two halves of the brain)…
Agenesis of the gallbladder

This is a condition in which the gallbladder fails to develop. This happens in approximately one out of every 1,000 people. Gallbladder agenesis occurs alone in more than two-thirds (70%) of cases. The person with…
Agenesis, sacral

Failure of formation of all or part of the sacrum (the lowest section of the spine). Currarino syndrome is a condition characterized by the combination of: > >Partial absence of the sacrum (the lowest portion of spine)…
Agent Orange

An herbicide and defoliant containing 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T and trace amounts of dioxin. Agent Orange was used as a defoliant in the Vietnam War. There has been concern about Agent Orange as a carcinogen and teratogen…
Agent, anti-infective

Something capable of acting against infection, by inhibiting the spread of an infectious agent or by killing the infectious agent outright. Anti-infective is a general term that encompasses antibacterials, antibiotics…
Agent, antibiotic

A drug used to treat bacterial infections. The original definition of an antibiotic was a substance produced by one microorganism that selectively inhibits the growth of another microorganism. However, wholly synthetic…
Agent, antifungal

A drug used to treat fungal infections. Examples of antifungal drugs include miconazole (MONISTAT) and clotrimazole (LOTRIMIN, MYCELEX).
Agent, antihypertensive

As the name suggests, a drug aimed at reducing high blood pressure (hypertension)
Agent, antimicrobial

See: Antimicrobial agent
Agent, antiprotozoal

An agent that destroys protozoa or inhibits their growth and ability to reproduce. A few of the protozoa of medical importance include Plasmodium (the cause of malaria); Entamoeba histolytica (the cause of amebiasis…
Agent, antiviral

An agent that kills viruses or suppresses their replication and, hence, inhibits their capability to multiply and reproduce. For example, amantadine (BRAND name: SYMMETREL) is a synthetic (man- made) drug that inhibits…
Agent, tocolytic

A medication that can inhibit labor, slow down or halt the contractions of the uterus. Tocolytic agents are widely used today to treat premature labor and permit pregnancy to proceed and so let the fetus gain in size…
Ageusia

The inability to taste sweet, sour, bitter, or salty substances. Some people can taste but their ability to do so is reduced; they are said to have hypogeusia
Aggressive

In oncology, quickly growing, tending to spread rapidly. As, for example, an aggressive tumor
Aggressive angiomyxoma

A slow-growing tumor of stromal cells which occurs primarily in the genital and pelvic regions. This tumor is much more common in women. It can range from relatively small tumors to football-size masses in the pelvis…
Aggressive lymphoma

A lymphoma that tends to grow and spread quickly and cause severe symptoms. In contrast to an indolent or low-grade lymphoma which tends to grow quite slowly and cause fewer symptoms. Aggressive lymphoma are also known…
Aging

The process of becoming older, a process that is genetically determined and environmentally modulated. Research into aging: To sum up the state of research into aging is well beyond the confines of this space (and this…
Aging, National Institute on

One of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The mission of the National Institute on Aging is to 'lead a national program of research on the biomedical, social, and behavioral aspects of the aging process; the…
Agita

Heartburn, acid indigestion, an upset stomach or, by extension, a general feeling of upset. The word is Italian-American slang derived from the Italian 'agitare' meaning 'to agitate.
Agitated depression

A major depressive disorder with restlessness and motor excitement. Agitated depression was once called melancholia agitata. It is now also known as mixed mania
Agnate

1. As a noun, a relative on the father's side. 2. As an adjective, related on the father's side. As opposed to enate (someone related on the mother's side) From the Latin agnatus, the past participle of agnasci (to…
Agnosia

The inability to recognize and identify objects or persons despite having knowledge of the characteristics of those objects or persons. People with agnosia may have difficulty recognizing the geometric features of an…
Agonist

A drug that binds to a receptor of a cell and triggers a response by the cell. An agonist often mimics the action of a naturally occurring substance. An agonist produces an action. It is the opposite of an antagonist…
Agonist maintenance treatment

See: Methadone treatment program
Agonist, LHRH

A compound that is similar to LHRH (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone) in structure and is able to it performs its action(s). Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone is a naturally occurring hormone that controls sex…
Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia: An abnormal and persistent fear of public places or open areas, especially those from which escape could be difficult or help not immediately accessible. Persons with agoraphobia frequently also have panic…
Agranulocytosis

A marked decrease in the number of granulocytes. Granulocytes are a type of white blood cell filled with microscopic granules that are little sacs containing enzymes that digest microorganisms. Granulocytes are part of…
Agranulocytosis, infantile genetic

Children born with this condition lack neutrophils (a type of white blood cell that is important in fighting infection). These children suffer frequent infections from bacteria which in the past led to death in…
Agreement, arbitration

See: Arbitration agreement
Ague

A fever (such as from malaria) that is marked by paroxysms of chills, fever, and sweating recurring regular intervals. Also a fit of shivering, a chill. Hence, ague can refer to both chills and fevers. Pronounced…
AGXT

A gene that provides instructions for making a liver enzyme called alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGXT). Inside liver cells, this enzyme is found in peroxisomes, structures that contain many different enzymes used…
Agyrophobia

Abnormal and persistent fear of crossing streets, highways and other thoroughfares; fear of thoroughfares themselves. Sufferers experience anxiety even though they realize that streets, highways and other thoroughfares…
AHC

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood