Medical terms - Letter E (page 7) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Endoscopic ultrasound

Ultrasound: Aviated EUS. A procedure that combines endoscopy and ultrasound to obtain images and information about the digestive tract and the surrounding tissue and organs. In EUS a small ultrasound transducer is…
Endoscopy

Endoscopy: Endoscopy is a broad term used to described examining the inside of the body using an lighted, flexible instrument called an endoscope. In general, an endoscope is introduced into the body through a natural…
Endoscopy, upper

A common type of endoscopy is upper endoscopy, also called esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). In this procedure, a thin flexible instrument is advanced through the mouth to evaluate or treat problems of the esophagus…
Endostatin

Endostatin is a piece (a fragment) of a protein, collagen 18, found in all blood vessels. This fragment is normally secreted by tumors. It appears to halt the process of developing new blood vessels (angiogenesis) which…
Endothelial

Relating to the endothelium, the layer of flat cells lining the closed spaces of the body such as the inside of blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, the heart, and body cavities. By contrast, the outside layer of cells…
Endothelial progenitor cell

A primitive cell made in the bone marrow that can enter the bloodstream and go to areas of blood vessel injury to help repair the damage. The number of endothelial progenitor cells in the blood is a risk factor for…
Endothelium

A layer of flat cells lining the closed internal spaces of the body such as the inside of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels (that convey the lymph, a milky fluid) and the heart. By contrast, the outside layer of cells…
Endotherm

An endotherm is a warm-blooded animal (such as homo sapiens). Another term for us warm-blooded creatures is homeotherm. An endotherm or homeotherm is as opposed to a poikilotherm (an organism such as a frog that is…
Endotracheal tube

A flexible plastic tube that is put in the mouth and then down into the trachea (the airway). The doctor inserts the tube under direct vision with the help of a laryngoscope. The procedure is called endotracheal…
Endourologist

An endourologist is a urologist with special expertise in navigating, using endoscopic optical instruments and other tools, inside the kidney, ureter and bladder. Endourologists are specialists in treating diseases of…
Endovaginal ultrasound

This type of imaging test is a special form of ultrasound developed to examine the pelvic organs and is the best test for diagnosing an ovarian cyst. A cyst can be diagnosed based on its appearance on the ultrasound. An…
Endovascular aneurysm repair

Abbreviated (and most often called) EVAR. See: EVAR
Enediyne

A very potent and naturally occurring antibiotic that acts by cleaving DNA. The adverse effects of enediynes on cells include mutagenicity (increase mutation), halting mitois (cell division) by arresting the cell cycle…
Enema, barium

See: Barium enema
Enervate

1. To remove part or all of a nerve, a procedure also called a neurectomy. 2. To lose nervous energy and feel sapped of energy.From the Latin enervare (e-, out of + nervare from nervus, nerve) = out of nerve
Enervation

The act of enervating or the state of being enervated. See: Enervate
Enfeeble

To make feeble or weaken. Years of chronic illness may leave someone enfeebled. The word enfeeble is not often used in medicine, perhaps because of a negative connotation of the word
Engagement

This term in obstetrics refers to the sensation that a pregnant woman feels when the baby drops. This is the time when the presenting (the lowermost) part of the fetus descends and is engaged in the mother's pelvis…
ENGERIX-B

A vaccine against hepatitis B (hep B) to stimulate the body's immune system to produce antibodies against the hep B virus.
Engram

An enduring change in the brain postulated to account for the persistence of memory. The term 'engram' was coined in 1908 to denote the permanent trace left in the brain by a remembered stimulus, the lasting latent…
Enhanced external counterpulsation

A non-invasive out-patient treatment for heart disease and, in particular, for angina (chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle). EECP is designed to relieve angina by improving perfusion in…
Enkephalinase

See: Metallomembrane endopeptidase
Enophthalmos

Sunken eyeball.
Enoxaparin

Enoxaparin: A low-molecular-weight version of heparin which acts like heparin as an anticoagulant (anti-clotting) medication. Enoxaparin is used to prevent thromboembolic complications (clots that travel from their site…
ENT

1. Abbreviation for ears, nose and throat. A field of medicine also called otolaryngology. 2. Abbreviation for electronystagmogram, a recording of the eye movements.
ENT physician

A medical specialist who is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the head and neck, including particularly the ears, nose, and throat. ENT doctors are also called otolaryngologists
Entamoeba histolytica

The agent of amebic dysentery, a disorder with inflammation of the intestine and ulceration of the colon. Entamoeba histolytica is a single-celled parasite that is transmitted to humans via contaminated water and food…
Enteral

Pertaining to the small intestine. As in enteral nutrition. Also called enteric
Enteral nutrition

Pertaining to the small intestine. Also called (less often) enteral.
Enteric

Pertaining to the small intestine. Also called (less often) enteral
Enteric-coated

Coated with a material that permits transit through the stomach to the small intestine before the medication is released. The term 'enteric' means 'of or relating to the small intestine.'
Enteritis, Crohn

Crohn disease involving only the small intestine. Crohn disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder, primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can affect other parts of the digestive system as well. It…
Enteritis, regional

Crohn's disease by another name, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine primarily in the small and large intestines but which can occur anywhere in the digestive system between the mouth and the anus. Named…
Entero-

Pinworm infection, an infection caused by a small, white intestinal worm -- the pinworm or, more formally, Enterobius vermicularis. The pinworm is about the length of a staple and lives for the most part within the…
Enterobiasis

Any hernia containing small intestine. 2. Hernia (protrusion) of the small intestine into the upper wall of the vagina. From entero- (intestine) + -cele (hernia).
Enterocele

1. Any hernia containing small intestine. 2. Hernia (protrusion) of the small intestine into the upper wall of the vagina.From entero- (intestine) + -cele (hernia)
Enterococcus

Bacteria normally found in the feces of people and many animals. Two types of enterococci -- Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium --occasionally cause human disease, most commonly urinary tract infections and…
Enterocolitis, Crohn

See: Crohn disease
Enteropathy

Any pathology (disease) of the intestine.
Enteropathy, gluten

See: Gluten enteropathy
Enteropathy, protein-losing

See: Protein-losing enteropathy
Enteroplasty

Surgery on the intestine, especially to enlarge a constricted segment or lengthen a short bowel
Enteroscopy

The use of a flexible instrument (a 'scope') to examine the small intestine, a very long hollow tube located between the stomach and colon (large intestine) and made up of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The upper…
Enterospasm

A painful, intense contraction of the intestine
Enterostomal therapist

A health care specialist trained to help patients care for and adjust to their colostomy.
Enterostomy

A surgical operation that opens the small intestine and brings it through the abdominal wall to create a new opening (a stoma) to permit intestinal draining. Like a colostomy, an enterostomy is a type of ostomy
Enterovirus

A virus that enters the body through the gastrointestinal tract and thrives there, often moving on to attack the nervous system. The polioviruses are enteroviruses. Enteroviruses are small viruses that are made of…
Entomology

The scientific study of insects. The application of entomology to medicine is termed medical entomology. See: Medical entomology
Entomology, medical

See: Medical entomology
Entomophobia

An abnormal and persistent fear of insects. Sufferers experience anxiety even though they realize that most insects pose no threat. To avoid insects, they may frequently clean rooms and carpets, sweep hallways, spray…