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

Biology, molecular

See: Molecular biology
Biomagnetic therapy

See: Magnet therapy
Biomarker

A biochemical feature or facet that can be used to measure the progress of disease or the effects of treatment
Biopsy

The removal of a sample of tissue for purposes of diagnosis. (Many definitions of 'biopsy' stipulate that the sample of tissue is removed for examination under a microscope. This may or may not be the case. The…
Biopsy, bone marrow

See: Bone marrow biopsy
Biopsy, brain

See: Brain biopsy
Biopsy, breast

See: Breast biopsy
Biopsy, endometrial

See: Endometrial biopsy
Biopsy, excisional

See: Excisional biopsy
Biopsy, incisional

See: Incisional biopsy
Biopsy, liver

See: Liver biopsy
Biopsy, muscle

See: Muscle biopsy
Biopsy, punch

See: Punch biopsy
Biopsy, sentinel-lymph-node

See: Sentinel lymph node biopsy
Biopsy, skin

See: Skin biopsy
Biopsy, stereotactic needle

See: Stereotactic needle biopsy
Biosafety

The application of knowledge, techniques and equipment to prevent personal, laboratory and environmental exposure to potentially infectious agents or biohazards. Biosafety defines the containment conditions under which…
Biosafety level

A specific combination of work practices, safety equipment, and facilities which are designed to minimize the exposure of workers and the environment to infectious agents. The biosafety levels are: > >Level 1 -- This…
Biotechnology

The fusion of biology and technology. Biotechnology is the application of biological techniques to product research and development. In particular, biotechnology involves the use by industry of recombinant DNA, cell…
Bioterrorism

Bioterrorism: Terrorism using biologic agents. Biological diseases and the agents that might be used for terrorism have been listed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC). The list includes a…
Biotherapy

Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune (defense) system to fight infection and disease. Biological therapy is thus any form of treatment that uses the body's natural abilities that constitute the…
Biotin

A water-soluble B-complex vitamin involved in carbon dioxide transfer and therefore essential to the metabolism of carbohydrate and fat. A balanced diet usually contains enough biotin. Foods with high biotin levels…
Bipolar disease

Manic-depressive disease. See: Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder

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Bipolar I disorder

Bipolar disorder in someone who has experienced depression and at least one episode of severe mania. Severe mania characteristically causes significant distress or greatly impairs one's work, family, or social life…
Bipolar II disorder

Bipolar disorder in someone who has experienced depression and at least one episode of hypomania but not severe mania. Hypomanic episodes characteristically do not cause significant distress or greatly impair one's…
Bird flu

Bird flu: See: Avian influenza.
Birt Hogg Dube syndrome

See: Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome
Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome

See: Doula (the first meaning).
Birth assistant

See: Doula (the first meaning)
Birth cohort

A group of people born during a particular period or year
Birth companion

See: Doula (the first meaning)
Birth control

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

See: Emergency contraception
Birth defect

Any defect present in a baby at birth, irrespective of whether the defect is caused by a genetic factor or by prenatal events that are not genetic. Birth defects may involve many different organs including the brain…
Birth defects, study of

Birth defects, study of: The study of birth defects is now usually called dysmorphology. Dysmorphology is a term coined by Dr. David W. Smith in the 1960's to describe the study of human congenital malformations (birth…
Birth rate

The birth rate is usually given as the number of live births divided by the average population (or the population at midyear). This is termed the crude birth rate. In 1995, for example, the crude birth rate per 1,000…
Birthmark

A persistent visible mark on the skin that is evident at birth or shortly thereafter. A birthmark is often due to a nevus (a mole) or an hemangioma (a localized collection of small blood vessels). Birthmarks that are…
Bis in die (on prescription)

Seen on a prescription, bid means twice (two times) a day. It is an abbreviation for 'bis in die' which in Latin means twice a day. The abbreviation bid is sometimes written without a period either in lower-case letters…
Bisexual

An individual who engages in both heterosexual and homosexual sexual relations. Bisexual can also refer to the corresponding lifestyle. In physical biology, the term 'bisexual' refers to an individual who was born with…
Bisexual suicide risk

High rates of suicide have consistently been reported among homosexuals, particularly among adolescents and young adults. A 1989 report concluded that 'gay youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide than…
Bisphosphonate

A class of drugs used to strengthen bone. Bone is in a constant state of remodeling, whereby new bone is laid down by cells called osteoblasts while old bone is removed by cells called osteoclasts. Bisphosphonates…
Biventricular assist device

A ventricular assist device that helps both ventricles of the heart. It helps the right ventricle of the heart to pump blood to the lungs and the left ventricle to pump blood to the body. The Berlin Heart is an example…
BKA

Acronym standing for 'below knee amputation.' A nurse scrubbing for a BKA is preparing to assist in a below-knee amputation. BKA is as opposed to AKA (above knee amputation).
Black American

See: African American
Black Death

The Medieval black plague that ravaged Europe and killed a third of its population. It was due to the plague which is caused by a bacterium (Yersinia pestis) transmitted to humans from infected rats by the oriental rat…
Black eye

Bruising of the eyelid and/or under- eye area as a result of trauma to the eye. Colloquially called a shiner
Black henna

A tattoo ink and paste consisting of henna with other ingredients added, sometimes including para-phenylenediamine (PPD). Allergic reactions to PPD include a red rash, contact dermatitis, itching, blisters, open sores…
Black lung disease

A chronic occupational lung disease contracted by the prolonged breathing of coal mine dust. The silica and carbon in the coal dust cause black lung disease. About one of every 20 miners studied in the US has X-ray…
Black plague

In 14th-century Europe, the victims of the 'black plague' had bleeding below the skin (subcutaneous hemorrhage) which made darkened ('blackened') their bodies. Black plague can lead to 'black death' characterized by…