Medical terms - Letter C (page 27) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Cow milk allergy

Allergy: Casein and whey are the two major proteins of human milk and most milk-based formulas. Some (less than 8% of) infants have a true allergy to the cow proteins that are in milk-based formulas. Infants with true…
Cowper's gland

A tiny gland in the male, also known as the bulbourethral gland. Named after the English anatomist William Cowper (1666-1709). See: Bulbourethral gland
Cowper's gland

Painful muscle spasms in the abdomen, arms, or legs following strenuous activity. The skin is usually moist and cool and the pulse is normal or slightly raised. Body temperature is mostly normal. Heat cramps often are…
Cowpox

A mild skin disease of milk cows, principally confined to the udder and teats, that may be contracted by people from milking an infected cow. People develop vesicles (blebs) which break and form ulcers on the fingers…
Cox-1 inhibitor

An agent that inhibits the action of the enzyme cox-1 (cyclooxygenase-1). The common anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen block the action of both cox-1 and cox-2. Cox-1 inhibitors can reduce…
Cox-2

Cyclooxygenase-2, a protein acts as an enzyme and specifically catalyzes (speeds) the production of certain chemical messengers called prostaglandins. Some of these messengers are responsible for promoting inflammation…
Cox-2 inhibitor

A type of drug that selectively blocks the enzyme cox-2 (cyclooxygenase-2). Blocking this enzyme impedes the production of the chemical messengers called prostaglandins that cause the pain and swelling of arthritis…
Coxa valga

Inward curvature of the hip. Malformation of the hip at birth, such as coxa valga, can increase one's risk for development of osteoarthritis of the hip in later life
Coxa vara

Inward curvature of the hip. Malformation of the hip at birth, such as coxa vara, can increase one's risk for development of osteoarthritis of the hip in later life
Coxsackie virus

Coxsackie virus: See: Coxsackievirus.
Coxsackievirus

A family of enteroviruses first found in the town Coxsackie south of Albany, New York. The Coxsackieviruses are separable into two groups: A and B. Type A viruses cause herpangina (sores in the throat) and hand, foot…
CPAP

Continuous positive airway pressure. CPAP is an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP patients during sleep wear a face mask connected to a pump that forces air into the nasal passages at pressures high…
CPEO

Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia. Slowly progressive paralysis of certain eye muscles. See also: Kearns-Sayre syndrome
CPEO with myopathy

See: Kearns-Sayre syndrome
CPEO with ragged-red fibers

See: Kearns-Sayre syndrome
CpG

In genetics, a site where cytosine (C) lies next to guanine (G) in the DNA sequence. (The p indicates that C and G are connected by a phosphodiester bond.) Methylation of DNA occurs at any CpG site
CpG island

In molecular genetics, a short region of DNA rich in CpG sites, often located near the promoters of genes. Methylation of the CpG sites influences the activity of nearby genes and is critical to the regulation of gene…
CPM machine

A machine used to help rehabilitate a limb (an arm or leg). The continuous passive motion (CPM) machine is attached to, for example, a knee that has had surgery. The CPM machine then constantly moves the knee through a…
CPP32

See: Caspase 3
CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Also cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and computer-based patient records
Crabs

Slang for pubic lice. See: Public lice
CRAC1

Colorectal adenoma and carcinoma 1. Also called hereditary mixed polyposis syndrome. See: Hereditary mixed polyposis syndrome
Crack (drug)

The street name given to cocaine that has been processed from cocaine hydrochloride to a ready-to-use free base for smoking. Rather than requiring the more volatile method of processing cocaine using ether, crack…
Cracked tooth syndrome

A toothache caused by a broken tooth (tooth fracture) without associated cavity or advanced gum disease. Biting on the area of tooth fracture can cause severe sharp pains. These fractures are usually due to chewing or…
Cradle cam

See: Kiddie cam
Cradle cap

A form of seborrheic dermatitis. of the scalp in infants. It is characterized by flaking or scaling of the skin, The skin may also be reddened. Although cradle cap is on the scalp, the same process can involve the skin…
Cradle-cam

See: Kiddie cam
Cradlecam

See: Kiddie cam
Cradlecam

See: Kiddie cam
Cramp, writer's

A dystonia that affects the muscles of the hand and sometimes the forearm and only occurs during handwriting. Similar focal dystonias have also been called typist's cramp, pianist's cramp, musician's cramp, and golfer's…
Cramping leg pain

A serious disease characterized by inflammation of the walls of the blood vessels (vasculitis). The vessels affected by inflammation are the arteries (hence the name "arteritis"). The age of affected patients is usually…
Cramps, heat

Painful muscle spasms in the abdomen, arms, or legs following strenuous activity. The skin is usually moist and cool and the pulse is normal or slightly raised. Body temperature is mostly normal. Heat cramps often are…
Cramps, menstrual

See: Menstrual cramps
Cranial

A genetic (inherited) disorder of bone development characterized by: 1. Typical cranial and facial abnormalities with square skull, late closure of the sutures of the skull, late closure of the fontanels (the soft…
Cranial arteritis

A serious disease characterized by inflammation of the walls of the blood vessels (vasculitis). The vessels affected by inflammation are the arteries (hence the name 'arteritis'). The age of affected patients is usually…
Cranial bone

Part of the top portion of the skull which protects the brain. The bones of the cranium include the frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones
Cranial dystonia

A term used to describe dystonia that affects the muscles of the head, face, and neck. Oromandibular dystonia affects the muscles of the jaw, lips, and tongue. The jaw may be pulled either open or shut, and speech and…
Cranial nerve I

The first nerve to emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium). (There are twelve cranial nerves.) The first cranial nerve is the olfactory nerve which permits the sense of smell. See: Olfactory nerve
Cranial nerve II

The second cranial is the optic nerve, the nerve that connects the eye to the brain and carries the impulses formed by the retina -- the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light and creates the impulses…
Cranial nerve III

The third cranial nerve is the oculomotor nerve. The cranial nerves emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. There are twelve cranial nerves…
Cranial nerve IV

The fourth cranial nerve, the trochlear nerve, is the nerve supply to the superior oblique muscle of the eye, one of the muscles that moves the eye. Paralysis of the trochlear nerve results in rotation of the eyeball…
Cranial nerve IX

The ninth cranial nerve is the glossopharyngeal nerve. The 12 cranial nerves, the glossopharyngeal nerve included, emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the…
Cranial nerve V

The fifth cranial nerve is the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve is quite complex. It functions both as the chief nerve of sensation for the face and the motor nerve controlling the muscles of mastication…
Cranial nerve VI

The sixth cranial nerve is the abducent nerve. It is a small motor nerve that has one task: to supply a muscle called the lateral rectus muscle that moves the eye outward. Paralysis of the abducent nerve causes inward…
Cranial nerve VII

The cranial nerves emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral column. There are twelve cranial nerves. The facial nerve is the seventh cranial nerve…
Cranial nerve VIII

The eighth cranial nerve is the vestibulocochlear nerve. The vestibulocochlear nerve is responsible for the sense of hearing and it is also pertinent to balance, to the body position sense. Problems with the…
Cranial nerve X

The tenth cranial nerve, and one of the most important, is the vagus nerve. All twelve of the cranial nerves, the vagus nerve included, emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which…
Cranial nerve XI

The eleventh cranial nerve is the accessory nerve. The twelve cranial nerves, the accessory nerve included, emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium) as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the vertebral…
Cranial nerve XII

The twelfth cranial nerve is the hypoglossal nerve. The twelve cranial nerves, the hypoglossal nerve included, emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves which emerge from the…
Cranial nerve, eighth

The eighth cranial nerve is the vestibulocochlear nerve. The vestibulocochlear nerve is responsible for the sense of hearing and it is also pertinent to balance, to the body position sense. Problems with the…