Medical terms - Letter E (page 10) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Erb's palsy

See: Erb palsy
ErbB

See: EGFR
ErbB1

See: EGFR
ERCP

ERCP: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
Erectile dysfunction

A common men's health problem characterized by the consistent inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse or the inability to achieve ejaculation, or both. Impotence can vary. It can involve a…
Erection, penile

When the penis fills with blood and is rigid. The penis contains two chambers, called the corpora cavernosa, which run the length of the organ, are filled with spongy tissue, and surrounded by a membrane, called the…
ERG

Electroretinography
Ergonomics

The science of making things fit people instead of asking people to fit things. Ergonomics uses knowledge from anatomy, mechanics, physiology and psychology to utilize human energy most effectively. Something that is…
Ergophobia

An abnormal and persistent fear of work. Sufferers of ergophobia experience undue anxiety about the workplace environment even though they realize their fear is irrational. Their fear may actually be a combination of…
Ergot

Ergot could be called a 'cereal killer' for it comes from cereals such as rye and wheat and is quite capable of killing someone. A fungus (Claviceps purpurea) that contaminates rye and wheat produces substances…
Ergotism

Ergotism could be called a 'cereal killer' for its cause, ergot, comes from cereals such as rye and wheat and is quite capable of killing someone. A fungus (Claviceps purpurea) that contaminates rye and wheat produces…
ERISA

Employment Retirement Income Security Act. A US law enacted in 1974 which set up the ground rules for pension and retirement plans and, in so doing, prohibited states from regulating these plans. Most health plans in…
Erosion

An erosion is an eating away of a surface. ('Erodere' in Latin means to eat out.) For example, a skin erosion is a loss of part or all of the epidermis (the outer layer) leaving a denuded surface. For another example…
Erotic jealousy syndrome

See: Othello syndrome
Erotomania

The false but persistent belief that one is loved by a person (often a famous or prominent person), or the pathologically obsessive pursuit of a disinterested object of love. Erotomania can be a symptom of schizophrenia…
Error of the first kind

See: Error, alpha
Error of the second kind

See: Error, beta
Error, alpha

The statistical error (said to be 'of the first kind' or type I) made in testing an hypothesis when it is concluded that a treatment or intervention is effective when it really is not. Sometimes referred to as a false…
Error, beta

The statistical error (said to be 'of the second kind' or type II) made in testing an hypothesis when it is concluded that a treatment or intervention is not effective when it really is. Sometimes referred to as a false…
Error, type I

: Error, alpha
Error, type II

See: Error, beta
Errors of metabolism, inborn

Heritable (genetic) disorders of biochemistry. Examples of inborn errors of metabolism include albinism, cystinuria (a cause of kidney stones), phenylketonuria (PKU), and some forms of gout, sun sensitivity, and thyroid…
ERT (estrogen replacement therapy)

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is used to treat menopause. It reduces or stops the short-term changes of menopause such as hot flashes, disturbed sleep, and vaginal dryness. ERT can prevent osteoporosis, a…
Eructation

Better known as burping or belching. Casting up wind (expelling air) from the stomach through the mouth
Eruption, bather's

An intensely itchy rash due to contact with the tiny thimble jellyfish (Linuche unguiculata). These jellyfish are common between March and August in the waters off of Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean…
Eruptive xanthoma

The sudden eruption on the skin of crops of pink papules (firm pea-sized bumps) with a creamy center. They may appear on the hands, feet, arms, legs and buttocks. The papules may be pruritic (itchy). Eruptive xanthoma…
Erythema

A redness of the skin resulting from inflammation, for example, as caused by sunburn
Erythema chronicum migrans

The classic initial rash of Lyme disease. In the early phase of the illness, within hours to weeks of the tick bite, the local skin develops an expanding ring of unraised redness. There may be an outer ring of brighter…
Erythema dose

The amount of radiation which, applied to the skin, makes it turn temporarily red (erythematous)
Erythema infectiosum

A sometimes-used Latin name for fifth disease. See Fifth disease
Erythema multiforme

See: Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Erythema nodosum

Erythema nodosum: An inflammatory reaction deep in the skin characterized by the presence of tender red lumps or nodules ranging in size from 1 to 5 centimeters most commonly located over the shins but occasionally…
Erythrasma

A chronic superficial slowly spreading skin infection, especially in the folds of the body and webs between the toes, caused by a bacterium called Corynebacterium minutissimum. Erythrasma most often affects adults…
Erythrocyanosis

Reddish discoloration and swelling of the limbs in response to cold. Erythrocyanosis is particularly common in children and more common in women than men
Erythrocyte

A cell that contains hemoglobin and can carry oxygen to the body. Also called a red blood cell (RBC). The reddish color is due to the hemoglobin. Erythrocytes are biconcave in shape, which increases the cell's surface…
Erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1 (EPB41)

See Elliptocytosis
Erythrodermic psoriasis

A particularly inflammatory form of psoriasis that often affects most of the body surface. It is the least common form of psoriasis and most commonly appears on people who have unstable plaque psoriasis, where lesions…
Erythroleukemia

A form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) involving the cells that give rise to the erythrocytes (the red blood cells). In this type of leukemia, the body produces large numbers of abnormal, immature red blood cells…
Erythromycin

Erythromycin: Erythromycin is a common antibiotic for treating bacterial infection. Sold under many brand names, including EES, Erycin and Erythromia.
Erythrophobia

An abnormal and persistent fear of blushing. Sufferers of erythrophobia experience undue anxiety even though they realize their fear is irrational. Their anxiety results from worry about being the focus of attention and…
Erythroplakia

A reddened patch with a velvety surface found in the mouth
Erythropoietin (EPO)

A hormone produced by the kidney that promotes the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. EPO is a glycoprotein (a protein with a sugar attached to it). Human EPO has a molecular weight of 34,000. The kidney…
Erythropoietin test

Erythropoietin test: A test of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) in blood. An abnormal level of EPO may mean bone marrow or kidney disease or EPO abuse. Testing EPO blood levels is thus of value if: > >Too little EPO…
Erythroprosopalgia

A distinctive syndrome of headaches, also known as cluster headache or migrainous neuralgia. The common pattern of cluster headache is termed 'episodic' and is characterized by 1-3 short attacks of pain each day around…
Eschar

The scab formed when a wound or skin is sealed by the heat of cautery or burning. Also the dark crusted ulcer (tache noire) at the site of the chigger (mite larva) bite in scrub typhus.
Escherichia coli

Full term for E. coli, the colon bacillus.
Eskalith

See: Lithium
Esophageal

Pertaining to the esophagus
Esophageal acid infusion test

See: Bernstein test
Esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer: A malignant tumor of the esophagus. The risk of cancer of the esophagus is increased by long-term irritation of the esophagus, such as from smoking, heavy alcohol intake, and Barrett esophagitis. The…