Medical terms - Letter D (page 16) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Drugs during pregnancy, dangerous

A teratogen is an agent that can disturb the development of the embryo or fetus. Teratogens halt the pregnancy or produce a congenital malformation (a birth defect). Classes of teratogens include radiation, maternal…
Drugs, anti-angiogenesis

These drugs, which include angiostatin and Endostatin, halt the process of developing new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Angiostatin is a piece of a larger and very common protein, plasminogen, that the body uses in…
Drugs, statin

A class of drugs that lower cholesterol. There are currently at least 5 statin drugs on the market in the U.S., including: > >Lovastatin (brand name: MEVACOR), >Simvastatin (brand name: ZOCOR), >Pravastatin (brand name…
Drugs, teratogenic

A teratogen is an agent that can disturb the development of the embryo or fetus. Teratogens halt the pregnancy or produce a congenital malformation (a birth defect). Classes of teratogens include radiation, maternal…
Drunkorexia

A term coined to refer to condition of binge drinking combined with the typical self-imposed starvation seen with anorexia nervosa. It has also been used to refer to individuals who use purging (as seen with bulimia…
Drusen

Tiny yellow or white deposits in the retina of the eye or on the optic nerve head. The presence of drusen is one of the most common early signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD. The eye care specialist can see…
DRVs (Daily Reference Values)

A deficiency of tears. The main symptom is usually a scratchy or sandy feeling as if something is in the eye. Other symptoms may include stinging or burning of the eye; episodes of excess tearing that follow periods of…
Dry eye

A deficiency of tears. The main symptom is usually a scratchy or sandy feeling as if something is in the eye. Other symptoms may include stinging or burning of the eye; episodes of excess tearing that follow periods of…
Dry mouth

Dry mouth: The condition of not having enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. This is due to inadequate function of the salivary glands. Everyone has dry mouth once in a while when they are nervous, upset or under stress…
Dry skin

Abnormally dry skin. Can be caused by a dry climate, winter weather, deficiency of vitamin A, systemic illness, overexposure to sunlight, or medication. The skin loses moisture. It may crack and peel. Or it may become…
DSCR

See: Down syndrome critical region
DSM

Abbreviation for the 'Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,' a comprehensive classification of officially recognized psychiatric disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association , for use by…
DSM-IV

The 4th edition of 'Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' (DSM) a comprehensive classification of officially recognized psychiatric disorders. DSM-IV was issued in 1993
DSS1

Or Dss1. A small protein important to the process of error-free DNA repair by recombination
DT

Diphtheria-Tetanus vaccine.
DT immunization

DT (diphtheria and tetanus) vaccine does not protect from pertussis and is usually reserved for individuals who have had a significant adverse reaction to a DPT shot or who have a personal or family history of a seizure…
DTaP

Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis vaccine
DTaP immunization

Like DPT, DTaP protects from diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus. DTaP is the same as DTP, except that it contains only acellular pertussis vaccine which is thought to cause fewer of the minor reactions…
DTC

Direct-to-consumer, as in DTC advertising of prescription drugs
DTP

Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis vaccine
Dual energy X-ray absorptometry

Abbreviated DEXA. See: DXA
Dual X-ray absorptometry

See: DXA
Duane and radial ray anomaly with deafness

See: Okihiro syndrome
Duane retraction syndrome

See: Duane syndrome
Duane syndrome

See: Okihiro syndrome.
Duane-radial ray syndrome

See: Okihiro syndrome
Duchenne muscular dystrophy

The best-known form of muscular dystrophy, due to mutation in a gene on the X chromosome that prevents the production of dystrophin, a normal protein in muscle. DMD affects boys and, very rarely, girls. DMD typically…
Duchenne-Erb palsy

See: Erb palsy
Duchenne-Erb paralysis

See: Erb palsy
Duct

A passage or a tube with well-defined walls suitable for the conveyance of air or liquids, as the bile duct and the pancreatic duct. Duct is a contraction of the New Latin word ductus. The Romans, however, used the word…
Duct of Bellini

See: Ejaculatory duct.
Duct, ejaculatory

See: Ejaculatory duct
Duct, hepatic

See: Hepatic duct
Ductal carcinoma in situ

See: DCIS
Ductal carcinoma of the breast, infiltrating

Breast, infiltrating: Infiltrating ductal carcinoma is one of several recognized specific patterns of cancer of the breast. It is so named because it begins in the cells forming the ducts of the breast. It is the most…
Ductular hypoplasia, syndromatic hepatic

Also called Alagille syndrome or arteriohepatic dysplasia, this is a genetic disorder characterized by jaundice in the newborn period, liver disease with cholestasis, peripheral pulmonic stenosis and unusual face…
Ductus

A duct or walled passageway suitable for the conveyance of air or, more often in the body, liquids. The term 'ductus' also refers a key arterial shunt (ductus) in fetal life. Before birth, blood pumped from the heart…
Ductus arteriosus

A key arterial shunt (ductus) in fetal life. Before birth, blood pumped from the heart through the pulmonary artery toward the lungs is shunted into the aorta. This arterial shunt is a short vessel called the ductus…
Ductus, patent

Failure for the ductus arteriosus, an arterial shunt in fetal life, to close on schedule. Before birth, blood pumped from the heart through the pulmonary artery toward the lungs is shunted into the aorta. This arterial…
Due date

The estimated calendar date when a baby will be born, the date the baby is due to be born. It is also called the estimated date of confinement (EDC)
Duloxetine

Duloxetine: See: Cymbalta.
Dumdum fever

Also called kala-azar, a chronic, potentially fatal parasitic disease of the viscera (the internal organs) due to infection by an agent called Leishmania donovani. Leishmania donovani is transmitted by sandfly bites in…
Dummy

In science experiments, a substance without any active ingredient, a placebo. In the UK, a pacifier: an artificial nipple, usually made of plastic, upon which an infant can suck to gain some solace and quiet down…
Dumping syndrome

A group of symptoms that occur when food or liquid enters the small intestine too rapidly. These symptoms include cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness
Duodenal

Pertaining to the duodenum, part of the small intestine. As in duodenal ulcer or duodenal biliary drainage
Duodenal biliary drainage

Duodenal biliary drainage: A procedure used to diagnose gallstones when suspicion is high but other tests are negative. A thin tube is passed through a nostril down the throat, through the esophagus and stomach, into…
Duodenal ulcer

An ulcer (a hole in the lining) of the duodenum (the first portion of the small intestine). Ulcers can affect the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus. Their formation is related to H. pyloridus bacteria in the stomach…
Duodenitis

Inflammation of the duodenum. (The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine.
Duodenum

The first part of the small intestine. The duodenum extends from the pylorus at the bottom of the stomach to the jejunum, the second part of the small intestine. The duodenum is a common site for the formation of peptic…
Duplication

Part of a chromosome in duplicate, a particular kind of mutation (change) involving the production of one or more copies of any piece of DNA, including a gene or even an entire chromosome. Duplications typically arise…