Medical terms - Letter D (page 13) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Diverticulum, hypopharyngeal

See: Zenker diverticulum
Diverticulum, Meckel's

An outpouching of the small bowel. About 1 in every 50 people has a Meckel's diverticulum. It is usually located about 2 feet before the junction of the small bowel with the colon (the large intestine) in the right…
Diverticulum, pharyngoesophageal

See: Zenker diverticulum
Diverticulum, Zenker

See: Zenker diverticulum
Diving injury

An injury incurred from diving into water that is too shallow or has hidden hazards. These injuries may be to the head, neck, or spinal cord. Many diving injuries result when persons --predominantly males aged 15-25…
Dizygotic twin

A twins who have shared a common uterine environment with its twin but is due to a different fertilized ovum. Dizygotic twins are also called fraternal twins.
Dizziness

Dizziness: Painless head discomfort with many possible causes including disturbances of vision, the brain, balance (vestibular) system of the inner ear, and gastrointestinal system. Dizziness is a medically indistinct…
Dizziness, anxiety as a cause of

One cause of dizziness is overbreathing (hyperventilation) due to anxiety. The overbreathing also causes lightheadedness, a sense of unsteadiness and tingling around the mouth and fingertips. Relief can be gotten by…
Dizziness, pre-syncopal

Dizziness before fainting. Some symptoms of dizziness such as wooziness, feeling about to black out, and tunnel vision may be pre-syncopal and are due to insufficient blood flow to the brain. These symptoms are…
DKK1

A gene that inhibits the activity of osteoblasts, the cells that build bone. DKK1 acts by inhibiting Wnt signaling, which is essential for the growth and development of osteoblasts. DKK1 is overexpressed in the plasma…
DLI

Donor lymphocyte infusion
DM

Myotonic dystrophy
DM1

Type 1 myotonic dystrophy. See: Myotonic dystrophy
DM2

Myotonic dystrophy type 2. See also: Myotonic dystrophy
DMD (dystonia musculorum deformans)

Also called torsion dystonia, this is a rare, generalized dystonia (a state of abnormal -- either excessive of inadequate -- muscle tone) that can be inherited, usually begins in childhood, and becomes progressively…
DNA

In the UK, DNA is an abbreviation for "did not attend." (In the US, the term used for a patient who missed an appointment is "no-show.")
DNA (did not attend)

In the UK, DNA is an abbreviation for 'did not attend.' (In the US, the term used for a patient who missed an appointment is 'no-show.'
DNA (figurative)

The essence or master blueprint of something. Since DNA became widely known to be the genetic material of humans and many other organisms, the term DNA has moved into the popular domaine as a figurative synonym for the…
DNA amplification

The production of multiple copies of a sequence of DNA. Repeated copying of a piece of DNA. DNA amplification plays a role in cancer cells. A tumor cell amplifies, or copies, DNA segments as a result of cell signals and…
DNA assembly

The process of putting fragments of DNA that have been sequenced into their correct chromosomal positions. The pieces of DNA are assembled to reconstitute the sequence of the chromosome from which they came
DNA cloning

The use of DNA manipulation procedures to produce multiple copies of a single gene or segment of DNA
DNA forensics

The application of DNA technology and the knowledge of DNA genetics to the practice of forensic medicine and to the power of legal medicine. Crime scene investigation has been markedly changed -- some would say…
DNA molecules, recombinant

A combination of DNA molecules of different origin that are joined using recombinant DNA technology
DNA polymerase

Enzyme that catalyzes (speeds) the polymerization of DNA. DNA polymerase uses preexisting nucleic acid templates and assembles the DNA from deoxyribonucleotides
DNA repair

The body has a series of special enzymes to repair mutations (changes) in the DNA and restore the DNA to its original state. The DNA in genes is constantly mutating and being repaired. This repair process is controlled…
DNA repair gene

A gene engaged in DNA repair. When a DNA repair gene is impaired, mutations pile up throughout the DNA. The DNA in genes is constantly mutating and being repaired. This repair process is controlled by special genes. A…
DNA repair gene, Med1

A gene that codes for one of the key enzymes involved in repairing DNA. The DNA in genes is constantly mutating and being repaired. This repair process is controlled by special genes. A mutation in a DNA repair gene…
DNA repair pathway

The sequence of steps in the repair of DNA. Each step is governed by an enzyme.
DNA replication

A wondrous complex process whereby the ('parent') strands of DNA in the double helix are separated and each one is copied to produce a new ('daughter') strand. This process is said to be 'semi-conservative' since one of…
DNA sequence

The precise ordering of the bases (A,T,G,C) from which the DNA is composed. DNA sequencing involves determining the exact order of the base pairs in a segment of DNA.
DNA sequence, draft

Sequence of a DNA with less accuracy than a finished sequence. In a draft sequence, some segments are missing or are in the wrong order or are oriented incorrectly. A draft sequence is as opposed to a finished DNA…
DNA sequence, finished

A DNA sequence in which the bases are identified to an accuracy of no more than 1 error in 10,000 and are placed in the right order and orientation along a chromosome with almost no gaps. A finished sequence is as…
DNA splicing, alternative

See Alternative splicing
DNA technology, recombinant

A series of procedures used to join together (recombine) DNA segments. A recombinant DNA molecule is constructed (recombined) from segments from 2 or more different DNA molecules. Under certain conditions, a recombinant…
DNA virus

A virus in which the genetic material is DNA rather than RNA. The DNA may be either double- or single-stranded. Major groups of double-stranded DNA viruses (class I viruses) include the adenoviruses, the herpes viruses…
DNA, coding

A sequence of DNA that codes for protein. Coding DNA sequences are separated by long regions of DNA called introns that have no apparent function. Coding DNA is also known as an exon
DNA, junk

See: Junk DNA
DNA, mitochondrial

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is the DNA of the mitochondrion, a structure situated in the cytoplasm of the cell rather than in the nucleus (where all the other chromosomes are located). All mtDNA is inherited from the…
DNA, nongenetic

Through the marvelous medium of the Internet, we have discovered that DNA need not refer to deoxyribonucleic acid. Specifically, in an e-mail entitled ' A day in the life of a specialist registrar' from Glascow…
DNA, repetitive

DNA sequences that are repeated in the genome. These sequences do not code for protein. One class termed highly repetitive DNA consists of short sequences, 5-100 nucleotides, repeated thousands of times in a single…
DNA, satellite

DNA that contains many tandem (not inverted) repeats of a short basic repeating unit. Satellite DNA is located at very specific spots in the genome (on chromosomes 1, 9, 16 and the Y chromosome, the tiny short arms of…
DNR

Do not resuscitate. See also Advance medical directives
DNS

On a prescription, Do Not Substitute. If a physician orders a particular drug and writes DNS on the prescription, that tells the pharmacist not to substitute a generic version or any other drug for the prescribed drug
Do not resuscitate order

A request not to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) done if the heart stops or breathing ceases. One can use an advance directive form to make this request or one can tell the doctor to put a DNR order in the…
DOB

Abbreviation standing for the date of birth. As examples, 'DOB: 10/12/97' in the U.S. indicates the date of birth is October 12, 1997 whereas 'DOB: 10/12/97' in Great Britain indicates the date of birth is 10 December…
Dobelle

See: Dobelle, William
Dobelle, William H.

(1941-2004) Pioneer designer of an experimental system of artificial vision for the blind involving the transmission of electrical signals to electrodes implanted in the brain. The system used a tiny camera mounted in…
DOC

1. Acronym for 'daily on call.'2. Deoxycorticosterone
Doc

Short and informal for doctor. In a medical context, doc may refer to any medical professional with an MD, a PhD, or any other doctoral degree. The word 'doctor' comes from the Latin 'docere' meaning to teach. A doctor…
Docosahexaenoic acid

DHA. An essential fatty acid, thought to be important to the development of infants, particularly as regards their eyes and brain. DHA is present in breast milk and has been added to some infant formulas. Postnatal DHA…