Medical terms - Letter F (page 9) | MedicalVocabulary.org

First cranial nerve

The olfactory nerve, the nerve that permits the sense of smell. See: Olfactory nerve
First degree burn

See: Burn, first degree
First do no harm

Slogan used in medicine often in the Latin wording 'primum non nocere,' a fundamental medical precept of Hippocrates (ca. 460-ca. 377 B.C)
First stage of labor

The part of labor when the cervix dilates fully (to 10 centimeters). The first stage of labor is also called the stage of dilatation
FISH

Abbreviation for fluorescence in situ hybridization, a molecular technique used in chromosome studies. FISH employs fluorescent (fluorescein tags) that glow under ultraviolet light to detect the hybridization (the…
Fish bowl granuloma

Localized nodular skin inflammation (small reddish raised areas of skin) caused by a bacterium called mycobacterium marinum. Fish bowl granuloma is typically acquired by occupational or recreational exposure to salt or…
Fish oil, omega-3

A class of fatty acids found in fish oils, especially from salmon and other cold-water fish, that acts to lower the levels of cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoproteins) in the blood. (LDL cholesterol is the 'bad'…
Fish-odor syndrome

An inborn error of metabolism associated with an offensive body odor, the smell of rotting fish, due to the excessive excretion of trimethylaminuria (TMA) in urine, sweat, and breath. Persons with TMA may experience…
Fisher's exact test

A statistical test of independence much used in medical research. It tests the independence of rows and columns in a 2 X 2 contingency table (with 2 horizontal rows crossing 2 vertical columns creating 4 places for…
Fissure

A cleft or groove. A fissure can be normal or abnormal. A fissure in the cerebral cortex is a normal feature. It is a deep fold that involves the entire thickness of the brain wall. A fissure in the anus is distinctly…
Fissure, palpebral

The opening for the eye between the eyelids.
Fistula

An abnormal passageway in the body. The fistula may go from the body surface into a blindpouch or into an internal organ or go between two internal organs. For a common example, an anal fistula has an opening in the…
Fistula, anal

See: Anal fistula
Fistulize

To form or make a fistula, an abnormal passageway. As, for example, fistulizing Crohn's disease
Five-day fever

Fever: Also called trench fever, this is a disease borne by body lice that was first recognized in the trenches of World War I, when it is estimated to have affected more than a million people in Russia and on the…
Five-lipoxygenase activating protein

See: FLAP
Five-lipoxygenase-activating protein

See: FLAP
Fixation, external

A procedure that stabilizes and joins the ends of fractured (broken) bones by a splint or cast. External fixation is as opposed to internal fixation in which the ends of the fractured bone are joined by mechanical…
Fixation, internal

A surgical procedure that stabilizes and joins the ends of fractured (broken) bones by mechanical devices such as metal plates, pins, rods, wires or screws. Internal fixation is as opposed to external fixation of a…
Fixative

A medium such as a solution or spray that preserves specimens of tissues or cells. Most biopsies and specimens removed at surgery are fixed in a solution such as formalin (dilute formaldehyde) before further processing…
Flail chest

When enough ribs are broken (usually from a crush injury) to compromise the rigidity of the chest wall. On inspiration, the chest wall moves inward instead of outward and the opposite on expiration
FLAP

A gene that helps make a leukotriene, a signal that activates the white blood cells involved in inflammation. FLAP stands for 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein. FLAP has been implicated in a number of inflammatory…
Flashing

'Flashing,' or exhibitionism is characterized by intense, sexually arousing fantasies, urges or behaviors involving exposure of the individual's genitals to an unsuspecting stranger. The individual with this problem…
Flat affect

A severe reduction in emotional expressiveness. People with depression and schizophrenia often show flat affect. A person with schizophrenia may not show the signs of normal emotion, perhaps may speak in a monotonous…
Flat condyloma

A manifestation of the secondary stage of syphilis that takes the form of broad flat wartlike growths in moist creased areas, as around the anus and external genitalia. Also called condyloma latum
Flat feet

A condition of the feet in which the arch of the instep is flattened and the entire sole touches the ground. All babies have flat feet because their arches are not yet built up (and their feet tend to be plump). This…
Flatfeet

A condition of the feet in which the arch of the instep is flattened and the entire sole touches the ground. All babies have flat feet because their arches are not yet built up (and their feet tend to be plump). This…
Flatfoot

1. A foot in which the arch of the instep is flattened and the entire sole touches the ground. See: Flatfeet.2. Slang in the past for a foot soldier or sailor, and today for a policeman or detective
Flatulence

Excess gas in the intestinal tract. But excess flatulence is difficult to define without a yardstick to measure the 'normal' frequency of gas passages. Symptom-free individuals have recorded approximately 14 passages of…
Flatulent

Pertaining to flatulence, the generation of excess gas in the intestinal tract. From the Latin flastus, meaning blowing, as a breeze or snort
Flatus

Gas in the intestinal tract or passed through the anus. The intestinal gases are hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane, all of which are odorless. The unpleasant smell of flatus is the result of trace gases…
Flavin-containing monooxygenase-3 (FMO3)

See Fish-odor syndrome
Flaviviridae

A family of viruses transmitted by mosquitos and ticks that cause some important diseases, including dengue, yellow fever, tick-borne encephalitis virus, and West Nile fever. The flaviviruses are positive-strand RNA…
Flavivirus

A family of viruses transmitted by mosquitos and ticks that cause some important diseases, including dengue, yellow fever, tick-borne encephalitis virus, and West Nile fever. The flaviviruses are positive-strand RNA…
Flavivirus encephalitis

Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) due to a flavivirus, a virus transmitted by a mosquito or tick. Flavivirus encephalitis includes West Nile fever, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and Murray Valley…
Flavoproteins

Flavoproteins are yellow proteins that serve as enzymes critical to the ability of cells in the body to respire, to breath. (The 'flavo-' is borrowed from the Latin 'flavus', yellow). Flavoproteins are, in other words…
Flax seed

The seed of the common flax plant (also known as linseed and, botanically, Linum usitatissimum). Flax seed and flax seed oil are a rich souce of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), the only one of the omega-3 fatty acids that…
Flesh-eating bacteria

A popular media term for a type of strep bacteria (group A streptococcus) which rapidly destroys tissue and left untreated causes death. Surgical excision of dead and infected tissue is usually necessary to help control…
Flexion

The process of bending or the state of being bent. Flexion of the fingers results in a clenched fist.
Flexner Report

'Medical Education in the United States and Canada', quite possibly the most important written document in the history of American and Canadian medical education. The report is named for Abraham Flexner (1866-1959) who…
Flexural psoriasis

A form of psoriasis found in the armpits, groin, under the breasts and in other flexion creases (skin folds) such as those around the genitals and buttocks. This form of psoriasis appears as smooth, dry areas of skin…
Floater

A blurry spot that seems to drift in front of the eyes but does not block vision. The blur is the result of debris from the vitreous of the eye casting a shadow on the retina. The spot is the image formed by a deposit…
Floating rib

One of the last two ribs. A rib is said to be 'floating' if it does not attach to the sternum (the breast bone) or to another rib. There are usually 12 pairs of ribs in all. Each pair of ribs is attached to the building…
Floating-Harbor syndrome

A genetic condition characterized by the triad of short stature apparent at birth with significantly delayed bone age; expressive language delay, usually in the presence of normal motor development; and a triangular…
Flood

See: 1. Flood readiness; 2. Flood supplies kit; 3. Flood warning; 4. Flood aftermath
Flood aftermath

>Power and Gas -- Electrical power and natural gas or propane tanks should be shut off to avoid fire, electrocution, or explosions. Try to return to your home during the daytime so that you do not have to use any…
Flood readiness

Getting ready for a possible flood. Here are some basic steps to take to prepare well in advance for a possible flood: > >Risk to the House -- Contact the local county geologist or county planning department to find out…
Flood supplies kit

A flood watch or warning. The steps to take in case a flood watch or warning has been issued include the following: Gather Supplies -- Gather the emergency supplies you previously stocked in your home. See: Flood…
Flood warning

A flood watch or warning. The steps to take in case a flood watch or warning has been issued include the following: > >Gather Supplies -- Gather the emergency supplies you previously stocked in your home. See: Flood…
Floppy baby syndrome

A general medical reference to an abnormal condition of newborns and infants manifested by inadequate tone of the muscles. It can be due to a multitude of different neurologic and muscle problems. See also Hypotonia.