Medical terms - Letter F (page 12) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Forensic anthropology

The application of the science of physical anthropology to the legal process. Forensic anthropology includes the identification of skeletal, decomposed, or unidentified human remains. Forensic anthropologists may team…
Forensic genetics

The branch of genetics that deals with the application of genetic knowledge to legal problems and legal proceedings. Forensic genetics is also a branch of forensic medicine which deals more broadly with the application…
Forensic medicine

The branch of medicine that deals with the application of medical knowledge to legal problems and legal proceedings. Also called legal medicine. A physician may be engaged in forensic (or legal) medicine; a lawyer with…
Forensics, DNA

DNA:See: DNA forensics
Foreskin

The fold of skin which covers the head (the glans) of the penis. Also called the prepuce. Only about 1 in every 20 boys is born with a retractable foreskin. This reflects the fact that the histologic (tissue)…
Foreskin and glans, inflammation of the

In the uncircumcised male, balanitis (inflammation of the glans, the rounded head of the penis) and posthitis (inflammation of the foreskin) usually occur together as balanoposthitis: inflammation of both the glans and…
Foreskin, inflammation of the

Inflammation of the foreskin of the penis (the prepuce) is called posthitis. In the uncircumcised male, posthitis and balanitis (inflammation of the glans, the rounded head of the penis) usually occur together as…
Foreskin, tight

See Phimosis
Forestier disease

A form of degenerative arthritis characteristically associated with flowing calcification along the sides of the vertebrae of the spine and commonly with inflammation (tendinitis) and calcification of the tendons at…
Forget me

Street term for Rohypnol
Forgotten disease

Name sometimes given to Lemierre syndrome
Formaldehyde

A pungent gas, with the chemical formula HCHO, used as an antiseptic, disinfectant, and especially today as a fixative for histology (the study of tissues under the microscope). Formalin is a 37% aqueous (water)…
Formalin

A 37% aqueous (water) solution of formaldehyde, a pungent gas, with the chemical formula HCHO, used as an antiseptic, disinfectant, and especially today as a fixative for histology (the study of tissues under the…
Formication

The illusion or hallucination that ants or other insects are creeping on or under the skin. Formication is a feature of some psychotic states as well as drug and alcohol abuse. From the Latin formicatio, from formicare…
Formula feeding

Feeding an infant or toddler prepared formula rather than breast-feeding, or in addition to breast-feeding. Formula feeding is indicated when the mother has an illness that could be passed on to the baby through breast…
Formula, infant

A substitute for breast milk for feeding infants. Pediatricians generally advise exclusively breastfeeding (that is, breastfeeding with no formula) for all full term, healthy infants for the first 6 months of life…
Formulary

1. A collection of formulas, recipes, or prescriptions. 2. In medicine, a listing of prescription drugs approved for use
Fornication

Sexual intercourse that is 'illicit', outside of marriage. The term 'fornication' has a close medical relative by the name of 'fornix', the word for 'arch' in Latin. It seems that the Roman prostitutes used to hang out…
Fornices

Plural form of fornix
Fornix

In anatomy, a vaultlike or arched structure. For example: > >The fornix in the brain -- a fibrous arching band connecting the two lobes of the cerebrum. >The fornix of the conjunctivae -- loose arching folds connecting…
Fornix cerebri

An arching fibrous band in the brain connecting the two lobes of the cerebrum. (The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and consists of two hemispheres separated by a deep longitudinal fissure). Each fornix --…
Fornix conjunctivae

The fornix of the conjunctivae refers to loose arching folds connecting the conjunctival membrane lining the inside of the eyelid with the conjunctival membrane covering the eyeball. In anatomy, a vaultlike or arched…
Fornix uteri

The fornix of the uterus refers to the anterior (front) and posterior (back) recesses into which the upper vagina is divided. These vaultlike recesses are formed by protrusion of the cervix into the vagina. The fornix…
Fornix vaginae

See: Vaginal fornix
Founder effect

The positive effect on gene frequency when a population (a colony) has only a small number of original settlers (founders) one or more of whom had that gene. For example, the gene for Huntington disease was introduced…
Four-finger crease

See: Simian crease
Four-finger line

See: Simian crease
Fournier's gangrene

Gangrene: A horrendous infection of the genitalia that causes severe pain in the genital area (in the penis and scrotum or perineum) and progresses from erythema (redness) to necrosis (death) of tissue. Gangrene can…
Fourth cranial nerve

The fourth cranial nerve, the trochlear nerve, is the nerve supply to the superior oblique muscle of the eye, one of the muscles that moves the eye. Paralysis of the trochlear nerve results in rotation of the eyeball…
Fourth disease

A disorder characterized by a rash due to a toxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus (Staph aureus bacteria). Measles and scarlet fever were differentiated from one another in the 17th century. Rubella was accepted as…
Fourth stage of labor

The hour or two after delivery when the tone of the uterus is established and the uterus contracts down again expelling any remaining contents. These contractions are hastened by breast-feeding, which stimulates…
Fourth ventricle

>Lateral ventricles: The lateral ventricles are in the cerebral hemispheres, one in each hemisphere. Each lateral ventricle consists of a triangular central body and four horns. The lateral ventricles communicate with…
Fovea

In the eye, a tiny pit located in the macula of the retina that provides the clearest vision of all. Only in the fovea are the layers of the retina spread aside to let light fall directly on the cones, the cells that…
Fovea centralis

See: Fovea.
Fowl plague

See: Avian influenza
Fraction, ejection

The portion of blood that is pumped out of a filled ventricle as a result of a heartbeat. The heart does not eject all of the blood that is in the ventricle. Normally, about two-thirds of the blood is pumped out with…
Fracture

Fracture: A break in bone or cartilage. Although usually the result of trauma, a fracture can be caused by an acquired disease of bone such as osteoporosis or by abnormal formation of bone in a disease such as…
Fracture, basilar

A break in bone at the base of the skull. About a half of basilar fractures are caused by bicycle or motor vehicle accidents, about a quarter by falls, and a tenth by recreational activities, particularly by diving…
Fracture, clay-shoveler's

An uncommon breakage of the spine of the vertebrae from the lower neck or upper back as a result of stress. Clay-shoveler's fracture usually occurs in laborers who perform activities involving lifting weights rapidly…
Fracture, comminuted

A fracture in which bone is broken, splintered or crushed into a number of pieces. NTER> A fracture is a break in the bone or cartilage. It usually is a result of trauma but can be due to an acquired disease of bone…
Fracture, compound

A fracture in which the bone is sticking through the skin. Also called an open fracture. NTER> A fracture is a break in the bone or cartilage. It usually is a result of trauma but can be due to an acquired disease of…
Fracture, compression

A fracture caused by compression, the act of pressing together. Compression fractures of the vertebrae are especially common in the elderly. NTER> A fracture is a break in the bone or cartilage. It usually is a result…
Fracture, greenstick

A fracture in which one side of a bone is broken while the other is bent (like a green stick). NTER> A fracture is a break in the bone or cartilage. It usually is a result of trauma but can be due to an acquired disease…
Fracture, hangman's

See: Hangman's fracture
Fracture, open

A fracture in which the bone is sticking through the skin. Also called a compound fracture. NTER> A fracture is a break in the bone or cartilage. It usually is a result of trauma but can be due to an acquired disease of…
Fracture, Salter-Harris

A traumatic fracture around or through the growth plate (the epiphyseal plate) of a bone in a child
Fracture, spiral

A fracture, sometimes called a torsion fracture, in which a bone has been twisted apart. NTER> A fracture is any break in the bone or cartilage. It usually is a result of trauma but can be due to an acquired disease of…
Fracture, stress

A fracture caused by repetitive stress, as may occur in sports, strenuous exercise, or heavy physical labor. Stress fractures are especially common in the metatarsal bones of foot, particularly in runners. Osteoporosis…
Fracture, toddler's

A torsion fracture of the tibia, without bone displacement
Fracture, torsion

A fracture, also called a spiral fracture, in which a bone has been twisted apart. NTER> A fracture is any break in the bone or cartilage. It usually is a result of trauma but can be due to an acquired disease of bone…