Medical terms - Letter C (page 14) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Chloroform

A clear volatile liquid with a strong smell like ether, chloroform was once administered by inhalation to produce anesthesia and given as an analgesic (to relieve pain) and a remedy for cough. It is quite toxic to the…
Chloropicrin

A riot control agent or 'tear gas.' See: Riot control agent poisoning
Chloroprene

A possible carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) primarily used in the production of the elastomer polychloroprene (neoprene). The US government in 2000 classified chloroprene as 'reasonably anticipated to be a human…
Chlorpyrifos

An insecticide that has adverse neurological effects. Also known as Dursban. Chlorpyrifos causes weakness, vomiting, diarrhea and other ill effects in children. It can also cause blurred vision and memory loss. Anyone…
Chlortetracycline

The first drug of the tetracycline family, to be introduced (in 1948). For more information, see: Tetracycline
Choana

(Plural: choanae) The passageway from the back of one side of the nose to the throat. There are two choanae, one on either side of the nose. The choanae must be open to permit breathing through the nose. The noun choana…
Choanae

The plural of choana
Choanal

Pertaining to the choana, the passageway from the back of one side of the nose to the throat. The choana is shaped like an inverted funnel which opens into the upper throat. The choanae must be open to permit breathing…
Choanal atresia

Blockage of the choana, the passageway from the back of one side of the nose to the throat. The choana is shaped like an inverted funnel which opens into the upper throat. There are two choanae. The choanae must be open…
Choanal stenosis

Abnormal narrowing of the choana, the passageway from the back of one side of the nose to the throat. The choana is shaped like an inverted funnel which opens into the upper throat. There are two choanae. The choanae…
Chocolate

A food or flavoring made from the seeds of the cacao or chocolate tree. Chocolate is rich in flavinoids, compounds that act as antioxidants. Flavinoids may also lower blood pressure and improve blood flow, by regulating…
Choking (object in airway)

Partial or complete obstruction of the airway can be due to a foreign body (e.g., food, a bead, toy, etc.) The onset of respiratory distress may be sudden with cough. There is often agitation in the early stage of…
Choking in children

The compromise of a child's normal breathing by obstructing or compressing the trachea, a major health hazard for children. Putting things in their mouths is one of the ways that babies and small children explore the…
Cholangi-

Relating to a bile duct. From the Greek chole meaning bile + a(n)geion meaning a vessel = a bile vessel
Cholangiogram

A radiologic procedure used to look at the gallbladder and bile ducts. See also: Intravenous cholangiogram.
Cholangiogram, intravenous

See: Intravenous cholangiogram
Cholangiogram, IV

See: Intravenous cholangiogram
Cholangiography

Radiographic examination of the bile ducts with contrast medium. The contrast medium may be administered orally or injected intravenously or percutaneously (through the skin)
Cholangiography, percutaneous transhepatic

See Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
Cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic retrograde

See Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Cholangitis

Inflammation of the bile duct. From cholangi-, pertaining to a bile duct + -itis, inflammation. See also: Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Cholangitis, primary sclerosing

See: Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Cholangitis, sclerosing

See: Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Cholecalciferol

Vitamin D3
Cholecyst

The gallbladder. The word cholecyst is not much used today but it figures into a number of other terms to do with the gallbladder Cholecystectomy is removal of the gallbladder. Cholecystitis is inflammation of the…
Cholecystectomy

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Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder, a complication of gallstones which are formed by cholesterol and pigment (bilirubin) in bile. (Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder). Cholecystitis is frequently…
Cholecystogram, oral

See: Oral cholecystogram
Cholecystokinin

Abbreviated CCK. A polypeptide hormone that stimulates the contraction of the gallbladder with release of bile and the secretion of pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine. CCK is secreted by cells lining the upper…
Cholelithiasis

1. The presence of stones in the gallbladder or common bile duct. 2. The process of formation of such stones. From the Greek roots chole, bile + lithos, stone
Cholera

=4 cel ODYvAlign=top bgColor=#cccccc colSpan=2> vAlign=top width='100%' bgColor=#ffffff>Our Cholera Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Cholera Cholera: A devastating and…
Cholera genome

The genome of the bacterium called Vibrio cholerae that causes cholera. This genome contains over 4 million bases in its DNA including the sequences for nearly 4,000 genes. The V. cholerae genome is remarkable in that…
Cholescintigraphy

Cholescintigraphy: A diagnostic test in which a two-dimensional picture of a radiation source in the biliary system is obtained by the use of radioisotopes. Cholescintigraphy is done by nuclear medicine physicians to…
Cholestasis with peripheral pulmonary stenosis

Also known as arteriohepatic dysplasia or Alagille syndrome, this ia a genetic disorder characterized by yellowing of the skin (jaundice) in the newborn period, liver disease with cholestasis, peripheral pulmonic…
Cholesterol

Cholesterol: The most common type of steroid in the body, cholesterol has gotten something of a bad name. However, cholesterol is a critically important molecule. It is essential to the formation of: > >Bile acids…
Cholesterol ester transfer protein

A protein that helps regulate the size of cholesterol particles and influence the process of atherogenesis (the formation of plaques in arteries). Abbreviated CETP. The CETP gene is in chromosome band 16q21. A number of…
Cholesterol guidelines

The guidelines on cholesterol for adults. A 2004 update to the National Cholesterol Education Program's clinical practice guidelines on cholesterol management advised physicians to consider new, more intensive treatment…
Cholesterol lowering with fibrate

The fibrates are cholesterol-lowering drugs that are primarily effective in lowering triglycerides and, to a lesser extent, in increasing HDL-cholesterol levels. Gemfibrozil (brand name: LOPID), the fibrate most widely…
Cholesterol lowering with niacin

Niacin or nicotinic acid, one of the water-soluble B vitamins, improves all lipoproteins when given in doses well above the vitamin requirement. Nicotinic acid lowers the total cholesterol, 'bad' LDL-cholesterol, and…
Cholesterol,

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
Cholesterol, 'good'

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
Cholesterol, HDL

See HDL cholesterol
Cholesterol, LDL

Cholesterol, LDL: Lipoproteins which are combinations of lipids (fats) and proteins are the form in which lipids are transported in the blood. The low-density lipoproteins transport cholesterol from the liver to the…
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein

See: Cholesterol ester transfer protein
Cholestin

One of the three major preparations of red yeast rice, a tradition Chinese medicine now used to lower cholesterol. Cholestin is also known as Hypocol
Chondrocalcinosis

Calcium in cartilage, usually in a joint, as in osteoarthritis
Chondrodysplasia, metaphyseal (McKusick type)

See: Cartilage hair hypoplasia syndrome
Chondrodystrophic myotonia

See: Schwartz-Jampel syndrome
Chondrogenesis imperfecta

See: Achondrogenesis type II
Chondroitin sulfate

A glycosaminoglycan (formerly called a mucopolysaccharide) found in cartilage, bone, blood vessels and connective tissues. There are two forms: chondroitin sulfate A and chondroitin sulfate C. One or both types…