Medical terms - Letter E | MedicalVocabulary.org

E. coli

Short for Escherichia coli, the colon bacillus, a bacterium that normally resides in the human colon. E. coli has been studied intensively in genetics and molecular and cell biology because of its availability, its…
E. coli hemorrhagic diarrhea

Bloody colitis (inflammation of the bowel) caused by E. coli, usually by the strain E. coli 0157:H7. The diarrhea is severe with painful abdominal cramps, gross blood in the stool, and lasts for 6 to 8 days. Most…
E. coli O157:H7

A dangerous form of Escherichia coli, the colon bacillus, a bacterium that normally lives in the human colon. E. coli 0157:H7 is a major health problem, causing hemorrhagic colitis, the hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and…
E2F transcription factor 3

See: E2F3
E2F3

E2F transcription factor 3. E2F3 is a gene on chromosome 6p22 that is a member of the E2F family of transcription factors. E2F3 may be a key gene in modulating the aggressivity of prostate cancer. E2F3 is present in a…
Eagle syndrome

Inflammation of the styloid process, a spike-like projection sticking off the base of the skull. The tissues in the throat rub on this structure during the act of swallowing causing pain. The diagnosis of Eagle syndrome…
Ear

The hearing organ. There are three sections of the ear, according to the anatomy textbooks. They are the outer ear (the part we see along the sides of our head behind the temples), the middle ear, and the inner ear. But…
Ear bones

The malleus, incus, and stapes
Ear canal, self-cleaning

Most of the time the ear canals are self-cleaning, that is, there is a slow and orderly migration of ear canal skin from the eardrum to the outer opening. Old earwax is constantly being transported from the deeper areas…
Ear cleaning (by a doctor)

When so much wax accumulates that it blocks the ear canal (and hearing), your physician may have to wash it out, vacuum it, or remove it with special instruments. Alternatively, your physician may prescribe ear drops…
Ear cleaning (yourself)

Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear! Wax is not formed in the deep part of the ear canal near the eardrum, but only in the outer part of the canal. So when a patient has wax pushed up against the…
Ear drum

See: Eardrum
Ear infection, middle (acute)

Acute middle ear infection, medically called acute otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear. Acute otitis media typically causes fluid in the middle ear accompanied by signs or symptoms of ear infection: a bulging…
Ear piercing

The practice of using a needle or needle gun to make holes through the ear lobe or other parts of the ear for wearing jewelry. When done under hygienic conditions, there is little danger from ear piercing other than…
Ear pit

Tiny pit in front of the ear: preauricular pit. A minor anomaly of no great consequence in itself. More common in blacks than whites and in females than males. Can recur in families. The presence of 2 or more minor…
Ear puncture

Puncture of the ear drum may be due to an accident for example when something is stuck into the ear. Or it may be due to fluid pressure in the middle ear. Today the ear drum is occasionally punctured on purpose with…
Ear ringing

Together with other abnormal ear noises, ear ringing is medically called tinnitus. Tinnitus can arise in any of the four sections of the ear: the outer ear, the middle ear, the inner ear, and the brain. It can be due to…
Ear tag

Common minor anomaly, a rudimentary tag of ear tissue, often containing a core cartilage, usually located just in front of the ear (auricle). Therefore also called preauricular tag. The presence of 2 or more minor…
Ear thermometer

A thermometer that registers body temperature via the ear canal. The ear thermometer was invented in 1964 by Dr. Theodor H. Benzinger. Dr. Benzinger worked from 1947 to 1970 at the Naval Medical Research Institute in…
Ear tubes

Ear tubes: Formally known as tympanostomy tubes, ear tubes are small plastic tubes inserted into the eardrum (the tympanum) to keep the middle ear aerated for a prolonged period of time. To put the tubes in place, a…
Ear wax

Ear wax: A natural wax-like substance secreted by special glands in the skin on the outer part of the ear canal. It repels water, and traps dust and sand particles. Usually a small amount of wax accumulates, and then…
Ear, cauliflower

An acquired deformity of the external ear to which wrestlers and boxers are particularly vulnerable. The cause is damage due to trauma. When trauma causes a blood clot under the skin of the ear, the clot disrupts the…
Ear, external

There are three sections of the ear. They are the external ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The external ear looks complicated but it is functionally the simplest part of the ear. It consists of the pinna or…
Ear, foreign object in

There are three sections of the ear. They are the external ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The inner ear is far and away the most highly complex. The essential component of the inner ear for hearing is the…
Ear, inner

There are three sections of the ear. They are the external ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The inner ear is far and away the most highly complex. The essential component of the inner ear for hearing is the…
Ear, internal

There are three sections of the ear. They are the external ear, the middle ear, and the internal ear. The internal ear is far and away the most highly complex. The essential component of the internal ear for hearing is…
Ear, low-set

A minor anomaly involving an ear situated down below its normal location. Technically, the ear is low-set when the helix (of the ear) meets the cranium at a level below that of a horizontal plane through both inner…
Ear, malrotated

See Ear, slanted
Ear, middle

There are three sections of the ear. They are the external ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The middle ear consists of the ear drum (the tympanum or tympanic membrane) and, beyond it, a cavity. This cavity is…
Ear, outer

There are three sections of the ear. They are the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The outer ear looks complicated but it is functionally the simplest part of the ear. It consists of the pinna or auricle…
Ear, slanted

An ear that is slanted more than usual. Technically, an ear is slanted when the angle of the slope of the auricle is more than 15 degrees from the perpendicular. Also called a malrotated ear Considered a minor anomaly…
Earache

Pain in the ear. This can occur because of conditions within the ear itself, the ear canal, or the visible external portion of the ear. Acute infection of the middle ear, medically called acute otitis media, is…
Eardrum

The tympanic membrane of the ear, or tympanum, the membrane that separates the middle ear from the external ear
Early-onset familial Alzheimer disease

See: Alzheimer disease, early-onset familial
Earthquake supplies kit

You and your family can cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supplies Kit. Once disaster hits, you won't have time to shop or search for supplies. But if…
Eastern equine encephalitis

Abbreviated EEE. A mosquito-born viral disease. The EEE virus normally is found in freshwater swamp birds and mosquitoes that do not bite people. However, the virus is occasionally transmitted to other types of…
Eat Right 4 Your Type Diet

The Eat Right 4 Your Type Diet is a weight loss plan based upon the concept that your blood type (referring to the ABO blood types: O, A, B, and AB) influences the foods that will be healthiest for you and which foods…
EB (epidermolysis bullosa)

See: Epidermolysis bullosa
EBA (epidermolysis bullosa acquisita)

See: Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita
EBCT (electron beam computerized tomography)

A new (and controversial) noninvasive test for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD). EBCT, or Ultrafast CT (as the technique will be termed here) is designed to measure calcium deposits in the coronary…
EBM

Evidence-based medicine
Ebola virus

A notoriously deadly virus that causes fearsome symptoms, the most prominent being high fever and massive internal bleeding. Ebola virus kills as many as 90% of the people it infects. It is one of the viruses that is…
EBS (epidermolysis bullosa simplex)

See: Epidermolysis bullosa simplex
EBV

Epstein-Barr virus, best known as the cause of infectious mononucleosis ('mono'). Infection with EBV is characterized by fatigue and general malaise. Infection with EBV is fairly common and is usually a transient and…
EC

1. Endocannabinoid.2. Extracranial.3. Embryonal carcinoma
Ecchymosis

The skin discoloration caused by the escape of blood into the tissues from ruptured blood vessels. Ecchymoses can similarly occur in mucous membranes as, for example, in the mouth
Ecchymotic

Characterized by ecchymosis.
ECG

Abbreviation for electrocardiogram or EKG. The K is from 'kardio' (in German)
Echinacea

Echinacea: An herb that has been claimed to boost the body's immune system and help fight off infections. Echinacea has been widely used to treat the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (URIs), including…
Echinococcosis

Parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus. There are three forms of Echinococcus that affect humans -- E. (Echinococcus) granulosus, E. multilocularis, and E. vogeli -- and each has a…