Medical terms - Letter C | MedicalVocabulary.org

C (cytosine)

C stands for cytosine, a DNA nucleotide that which is one member of the base pair in DNA consisting of guanine and cytosine. This base pair is conventionally abbreviated G-C (or GC). The other base pair in DNA is…
C peptide

See: C-peptide
C-IBS

Constipation-predominant IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
C-IBS

Constipation-predominant IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
C-peptide

A byproduct of insulin production, usually by the pancreas. The level of C-peptide is a gauge of how much insulin is being produced in the body. C-peptide is made up of chemical compounds called amino acids. When the…
C-reactive protein

A plasma protein that rises in the blood with the inflammation from certain conditions. C-reactive protein (CRP) is one of the plasma proteins known as acute- phase proteins: proteins whose plasma concentrations…
C-section

Short for Caesarian section, a procedure in which a baby, rather than being born vaginally, is surgically extracted (removed) from the uterus. As the name 'Caesarian' suggests, this is not exactly a new procedure. It…
C. botulinum

Clostridium botulinum
C. difficile

Clostridium difficile
C. elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans, a roundworm
C. elegans genome

All of the genetic information contained in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). The genomes of particular nonhuman organisms such as C. elegans have been studied for a number of reasons including the need…
C. perfringens

See: Clostridium perfringens
C. welchii

Clostridium welchii
C1 (cervical vertebra)

C1 is the first cervical (neck) vertebra which is called the atlas. It supports the head. The atlas bone is named for the Greek god Atlas who was condemned to support the earth and its heavens on his shoulders. (Because…
C1-C7 (cervical vertebrae)

C1 through C7 are the symbols for the cervical (neck) vertebrae, the upper 7 vertebrae in the spinal column (the vertebral column). C1 is called the atlas. It supports the head and is named for the Greek god Atlas who…
C2 (cervical vertebra)

C2 is the symbol for the second cervical vertebra, which is also called the axis. It is so-named because the uppermost cervical vertebra (called the atlas) rotates about the odontoid process of the second cervical…
C3 (cervical vertebra)

The third cervical (neck) vertebra from the top
C4 (cervical vertebra)

The fourth cervical (neck) vertebra from the top
C5 (cervical vertebra)

The fifth cervical (neck) vertebra from the top
C6 (cervical vertebra)

The sixth cervical (neck) vertebra from the top. The next-to-last of the seven cervical vertebrae
C7 (cervical vertebra)

C7 is the symbol for the 7th cervical (neck) vertebral bone (C7) which is sometimes called the prominent vertebra due to the length of its spinous process (the projection off the back of the vertebral body). The spinous…
Ca

The symbol for calcium
CA

1. Short (and slang) for cancer and carcinoma.2. Abbreviation for cardiac arrest; chronological age; coronary artery
Ca

Abbreviation for circa, meaning about or approximately, as in ca. 1 mg
CA 125

CA 125: A cancer marker, a protein normally made by certain cells in the body including those of the uterine tubes, uterus, cervix, and the lining of the chest and abdominal cavities (the peritoneum and pleura). CA 125…
CA 15-3

A tumor marker most useful in following the course of treatment in women diagnosed with breast cancer, especially advanced breast cancer. CA 15-3 levels are rarely elevated in women with early stage breast cancer…
CA 19-9

A tumor marker initially found in colorectal cancer patients, but subsequently also identified in patients with pancreatic, stomach, and bile duct cancer. In those who have pancreatic cancer, higher levels of CA 19-9…
CA 27-29

A tumor marker similar to the CA 15-3 that is found in the blood of most breast cancer patients. CA 27-29 levels may be used in conjunction with other procedures (such as mammograms and measurements of other tumor…
Cabbage Soup Diet

The Cabbage Soup Diet is a weight loss program designed to be used for seven days with the goal of a rapid weight loss of up to ten pounds in a week. The Cabbage Soup Diet allows unlimited consumption of water and…
CABG

Coronary artery bypass graft; and Coronary artery bypass grafting
CABG, off-pump

See: Off-pump CABG
Cachectic

Having cachexia, physical wasting with loss of weight and muscle mass due to disease. Patients with advanced cancer, AIDS, and some other major chronic progressive diseases may appear cachectic
Cachetic

Common misspelling of cachectic
Cachexia

Physical wasting with loss of weight and muscle mass caused by disease. Patients with advanced cancer, AIDS, and some other major chronic progressive diseases may appear cachectic. Cachexia is a wasting syndrome that…
CAD

Coronary artery disease. CAD is a major cause of illness and death. It begins when hard cholesterol substances (plaques) are deposited within a coronary artery. These arteries arise from the aorta adjacent to the heart…
CADASIL

Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy. An inherited form of vascular dementia that strikes relatively young adults of both sexes and is characterized by multiple…
Cadaver

A dead human body that may be used by physicians and other scientists to study anatomy, identify disease sites, determine causes of death, and provide tissue to repair a defect in a living human being. Students in…
Cadaver wart

A warty growth on the hand due to tuberculosis, typically of someone doing postmortem examinations. A cadaver with unsuspected tuberculosis was once a major hazard for pathologists and others in the autopsy room…
Cadmium

A metallic element whose salts are toxic and cause cancer. Cadmium and cadmium compounds were upgraded in 2000 by the US government to the status of 'known human carcinogens.' These materials are used in batteries…
Caduceus

1. A rod with two snakes entwined about it topped by a pair of wings.2. An insignia of a caduceus meant, mistakenly, to symbolize a physician. The caduceus served as the symbol of Hermes and Mercury, the Greek and Roman…
Caecal

Pertaining to the caecum (also spelled cecum), the first portion of the large bowel, situated in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. The caecum receives fecal material from the small bowel (ileum) which opens into…
Caecum

The caecum (also spelled cecum), the first portion of the large bowel, situated in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. The caecum receives fecal material from the small bowel (ileum) which opens into it. The…
Caenorhabditis elegans genome

See: C. elegans genome
Caesarian section

Also referred to as a C-section. A procedure in which a baby, rather than being born vaginally, is surgically extracted (removed) from the uterus. As the name 'Caesarian' suggests, this is not exactly a new procedure…
Caesarian section, lower segment

A Caesarian section in which the surgical incision is made in the lower segment of the uterus. Abbreviated LSCS
Caesarian section, vaginal birth after

It was once the rule that after a C-section, the next delivery also had to be by C-section. Now vaginal delivery after Caesarian section (VBAC) is frequently feasible
Cafe au lait spot

A flat spot on the skin that is the color of coffee with milk (café au lait) in persons with light skin, or a darker appearance (café noir) than the surrounding skin in persons with dark skin. About 10% of the general…
Caffeine

A stimulant found naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa beans (chocolate) and kola nuts (cola) and added to soft drinks, foods, and medicines. A cup of coffee has 100-250 milligrams of caffeine. Black tea brewed…
Cage, rib

The structure formed by the thoracic vertebrae and ribs, the sternum (breastbone), and the costal cartilages (that attach the ribs to the sternum). A cage is an enclosure made of 'open work' that usually houses animals…
Cage, thoracic

The structure formed by the thoracic vertebrae and ribs, the sternum (breastbone), and the costal cartilages (that attach the ribs to the sternum). A cage is an enclosure made of 'open work' that usually houses animals…