Medical terms - Letter E (page 6) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Encephalitis, St. Louis

A disease caused by a virus (first observed in Illinois in 1932) transmitted from birds to the common Culex mosquito to people. St. Louis encephalitis occurs typically in the summer and early fall. In the U.S., the…
Encephalitis, viral

Inflammation of the brain as a result of virus infection. There are many viruses that cause viral encephalitis. See also: Flavivirus encephalitis.
Encephalitis, West Nile

A febrile disease caused by the West Nile virus that is transmitted from birds to the common Culex mosquito and then to people. The virus is named after the area it was first found in Uganda. West Nile fever occurs in…
Encephalomyelitis

Inflammation of both the brain and the spinal cord. Encephalomyelitis can be caused by a variety of conditions that lead to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Among the common causes of encephalomyelitis are…
Encephalopathic syndrome

A dangerous condition with symptoms similar to those of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), of which it may be a variant. It is associated with lithium toxicity
Encephalopathy, mitochondrial (MELAS)

MELAS is the acronym for Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Strokelike episodes. MELAS is a form of dementia. It is caused by mutations in the genetic material (DNA) in the mitochondria. While most of…
Enchondromatosis

A condition characterized by multiple enchondromas -- benign masses of cartilage growing within bones. The enchondromas can deform and shorten a limb and predispose to a fracture. The condition can be caused by a…
Encopresis

Encopresis: Inability to control the elimination of stool (fecal incontinence). Encopresis can have a variety of causes, including inability to control the anal sphincter muscle or gastrointestinal problems…
End stage

The last phase in the course of a progressive disease. As in end-stage liver disease, end-stage lung disease, end-stage renal disease, end-stage cancer, etc. The term 'end stage' has come to replace 'terminal' because…
End-of-life assistant

See: Doula (the second meaning)
End-of-life companion

See: Doula (the second meaning)
End-of-the-road disease

Guinea worm disease, a parasitic illness caused by infection with the guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis), the largest parasite known to plague people. Guinea worm disease is also known as Dracunculiasis. It is called…
End-stage renal disease

ESRD. Chronic irreversible renal failure
Endarterectomy

An operation to clean out an artery and restore normal blood flow through the artery. An endarterectomy is basically a 'Rotorooter' procedure. It removes diseased material from the inside of an artery, and also removes…
Endemic

Present in a community at all times but in relatively low frequency. Something that is endemic is typically restricted or peculiar to a locality or region. For example, malaria is endemic in some areas of Africa. And…
Endemic typhus

Murine typhus, an acute infectious disease with fever, headache, and rash, all quite similar to, but milder than, epidemic typhus, caused by a related microorganism, Rickettsia typhi (mooseri), transmitted to humans by…
Endep

See: Amitriptyline
Endocannabinoid

A marijuana-like substance. 'Marijuana-like substances (endocannabinoids)... act at specific receptors on the blood vessel wall to produce vasodilation....' (NIH News Advisory). Endocannabinoid is abbreviated EC
Endocardial

Pertaining to the endocardium, the inside lining of the heart
Endocardium

The lining of the interior surface of the heart chambers. The endocardium consists of a layer of endothelial cells and an underlying layer of connective tissue
Endocervical curettage

The removal of tissue from the inside of the cervix using a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette
Endochondral bone

Any bone that develops in and replaces cartilage. The cartilage is partially or entirely destroyed by the process of calcification. The cartilage is then resorbed (reabsorbed), leaving bone in its place. Many bones are…
Endocrine

Pertaining to hormones and the glands that make and secrete them into the bloodstream through which they travel to affect distant organs. The endocrine sites include the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal gland…
Endocrine gland

A gland that secretes a substance (a hormone) into the bloodstream. The endocrine glands are 'glands of internal secretion.' They include the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroid glands…
Endocrinology

The study of hormones, their receptors, the intracellular signalling pathways they invoke, and the diseases and conditions associated with them. A medical endocrinologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis…
Endocrinopathy

Literally, a disease of an endocrine gland. A medical term for a hormone problem. For example, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, etc.
Endoderm

One of the three primary germ cell layers -- the other two are the mesoderm and ectoderm -- in the very early embryo. The endoderm is the innermost of the three layers. It differentiates to give rise first to the…
Endodermal

Pertaining to the endoderm or to tissues derived from the endoderm
Endogenous

Inside. For example, endogenous cholesterol is cholesterol that is made inside the body and is not in the diet.
Endometrial ablation

Removal of the lining of the womb. Removing the uterine lining decreases menstrual flow or stops it completely. The endometrium is the inner layer of the uterus (womb), the uterine lining which is normally shed monthly…
Endometrial biopsy

Endometrial biopsy: A procedure for sampling the lining of the uterus (the endometrium). Endometrial biopsy is done to learn the cause of abnormal uterine bleeding (most often), determine the cause of infertility, test…
Endometrial cancer

Cancer of the womb (the uterus ). Endometrial cancer occurs most often in women between the ages of 55 and 70 years. It accounts for about 6% of cancer in women. Women at elevated risk for endometrial cancer include…
Endometrial hyperplasia

A condition characterized by overgrowth of the lining of the uterus. Hyperplasia means overgrowth. The endometrium is the inner layer of the uterus
Endometrioid cyst

Part of the condition known as endometriosis, this type of cyst is formed when endometrial tissue (the mucous membrane that makes up the inner layer of the uterine wall) grows in the ovaries. It affects women during the…
Endometrioma

Part of the condition known as endometriosis. Endometrioma is a type of cyst formed when endometrial tissue (the mucous membrane that makes up the inner layer of the uterine wall) grows in the ovaries. It affects women…
Endometriosis

Also known as adenomyosis (pronounced ad-den-o-mi-o-sis), this is a common benign condition of the uterus in which the endometrium (the mucous membrane lining the inside of the uterus) grows into the myometrium (the…
Endometriosis interna

Also known as adenomyosis (pronounced ad-den-o-mi-o-sis), this is a common benign condition of the uterus in which the endometrium (the mucous membrane lining the inside of the uterus) grows into the myometrium (the…
Endometriosis uterina

Also known as adenomyosis (pronounced ad-den-o-mi-o-sis), this is a common benign condition of the uterus in which the endometrium (the mucous membrane lining the inside of the uterus) grows into the myometrium (the…
Endometritis

Inflammation of the endometrium. The endometrium is the inner layer of the womb (uterus)
Endometrium

The uterine lining; the cells that line the uterus (the womb); the inner layer of the uterus. This tissue is shed monthly in response to the hormonal changes of the menstrual period. The endometrium then grows back and…
Endonuclease

An enzyme that cleaves a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) at specific internal sites in the nucleotide base sequence
Endopeptidase

An enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of peptide bonds within a polypeptide or protein. Peptidase refers to the fact that it acts on peptide bonds and endopeptidase refers to the fact that these are internal bonds. An…
Endoplasmic reticulum

A structure within cells that is an extension of the nuclear membrane and in which proteins slated to become part of the nuclear membrane are translated, folded and transported. Abbreviated ER
Endorectal MRI

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) done from inside the rectum. To do such as MRI, a surface coil within an inflated latex balloon can be positioned in the rectum. The MRI is read (interpreted) and specific areas of…
Endorphin

One of the body's own painkillers, an opioid (morphine-like) chemical produced by the body that serves to suppress pain. Endorphins are manufactured in the brain, spinal cord, and many other parts of the body. They are…
Endoscope

A surgical procedure for placing a feeding tube without having to perform an open laparotomy (operation on the abdomen). The aim of PEG is to feed those who cannot swallow. PEG may be done by a surgeon, otolaryngologist…
Endoscopic gastrostomy, percutaneous (PEG)

A surgical procedure for placing a feeding tube without having to perform an open laparotomy (operation on the abdomen). The aim of PEG is to feed those who cannot swallow. PEG may be done by a surgeon, otolaryngologist…
Endoscopic papillotomy

See: Endoscopic sphincterotomy
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Abbreviated ERCP. A procedure done to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas, including gallstones, inflammatory strictures (scars), leaks (from trauma and surgery), and cancer…
Endoscopic sphincterotomy

An operation to cut the muscle between the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct. The operation uses a catheter and a wire to remove gallstones or other blockages. Also called endoscopic papillotomy