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

Gland, exocrine

See: Exocrine gland
Gland, lacrimal

See: Lacrimal gland
Gland, mammary

One of the glands within the breast that secrete milk when prompted to do so by special hormones. Mammary glands are slightly tender to the touch, and may become more so during menstruation or pregnancy. They become…
Gland, Meibomian

See: Meibomian gland
Gland, palpebral

See: Meibomian gland
Gland, pituitary

The main endocrine gland. It is a small structure in the head and is called the master gland because it produces hormones that control other glands and many body functions including growth. The pituitary consists of the…
Gland, prostate

A gland within the male reproductive system that is located just below the bladder. Chestnut shaped, the prostate surrounds the beginning of the urethra, the canal that empties the bladder. The prostate is actually not…
Gland, salivary

One of the glands in the mouth that produce saliva. There are 3 major salivary glands. They are the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. Each of these glands is paired; there is one parotid gland on each side…
Gland, sublingual

See: Sublingual gland
Gland, sudoriferous

The sudoriferous (sweat) glands are small tubular structures situated within and under the skin (in the subcutaneous tissue). They discharge sweat by tiny openings in the surface of the skin. The sweat is a transparent…
Gland, sweat

The sweat (sudoriferous) glands are small tubular structures situated within and under the skin (in the subcutaneous tissue). They discharge sweat by tiny openings in the surface of the skin. The sweat is a transparent…
Gland, tarsal

See: Meibomian gland
Gland, thymus

See: Thymus
Gland, thyroid

See: Thyroid gland
Glanders

A bacterial infection that causes a chronic debilitating disease of equids (horses, mules, and donkeys) as well as some members of the cat family and is transmissible to people. The bacterium responsible for glanders is…
Glandular fever

Glandular fever is infectious mononucleosis. 'Mono' and 'kissing disease' are popular terms for this very common illness caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). By the time most people reach adulthood, an antibody…
Glans

1) The glans penis, the rounded head of the penis. 2) The rounded head of the clitoris
Glans and foreskin, 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…
Glans penis, inflammation of the

Inflammation of the rounded head (the glans) of the penis is called balanitis. In the uncircumcised male, balanitis and posthitis (inflammation of the foreskin) usually occur together as balanoposthitis: inflammation of…
Glass eye

1. A globe of glass that looks like and is intended to replace the eyeball.2. By extension, a real eye that looks glassy and as lifeless as a poorly crafted glass eye, The first glass eye was made in 1832 by the…
Glaucoma

Glaucoma: A common eye condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eyes rises because of slowed fluid drainage from the eye. If untreated, it may damage the optic nerve and other parts of the eye, causing the loss…
Glaucoma detection

You may know of the 'air puff' test or other tests used to measure eye pressure in an eye examination. But, this test alone cannot detect glaucoma. Glaucoma is found most often during an eye examination through dilated…
Glaucoma treatment (laser)

A laser beam of light is focused on the part of the anterior chamber where the fluid leaves the eye. This results in a series of small changes, which makes it easier for fluid to exit the eye. Over time, the effect of…
Glaucoma treatment (medical)

Although glaucoma cannot be cured, it can usually be controlled. Medical treatment can be in the form of eyedrops or pills. Some drugs are designed to reduce pressure by slowing the flow of fluid into the eye, while…
Glaucoma treatment (surgery)

Surgery can also help fluid escape from the eye and thereby reduce the pressure. However, surgery is now usually reserved for patients whose pressure cannot be controlled with eyedrops, pills, or laser surgery.
Glaucoma, acute angle-closure

Glaucoma, acute angle-closure: Increased pressure in the front chamber (anterior chamber) of the eye due to sudden (acute) blockage of the normal circulation of fluid within the eye. The block takes place at the angle…
Glaucoma, angle-closure

Glaucoma, angle-closure: Increased pressure in the front chamber (anterior chamber) of the eye due to sudden (acute) or slowly progressive (chronic) blockage of the normal circulation of fluid within the eye. The block…
Glaucoma, low tension

See: Glaucoma, normal tension
Glaucoma, normal pressure

See: Glaucoma, normal tension
Glaucoma, normal tension

Glaucoma in which the intraocular pressure is normal but there is progressive optic nerve damage and visual field loss. Risk factors include a family history of normal tension glaucoma, Japanese ancestry, and a history…
Glaucoma, risk factors

If you belong to a high-risk group for glaucoma, have your eyes examined through dilated pupils every 2 years by an eye care professional. High-risk groups include everyone with a family history of glaucoma, everyone…
Glaucoma, symptoms of

At first, there are no symptoms. Vision stays normal, and there is no pain. However, as the disease progress, a person with glaucoma may notice the side vision gradually failing. That is, objects in front may still be…
Gleason score

A grading system for prostate carcinoma devised by Dr. Donald Gleason in 1977 as a method for predicting the behavior of prostate cancer. Tumors with a low Gleason score are less likely to show aggressive behavior and…
Glenn shunt

A surgical operation for children born with cyanotic heart disease ('blue babies'), in which a large vein (the superior vena cava) is anastomosed (connected) to the right pulmonary artery so that blood bypasses the…
Glenohumeral dislocation

See: Shoulder dislocation
Glenoid labrum

A ring of fibrocartilage that runs around the cavity of the scapula (wingbone) in which the head of the humerus (the bone in the upper arm) fits. The labrum deepens this cavity (the glenoid cavity) and effectively…
Gliadin

A glycoprotein (a carbohydrate plus a protein) within gluten. Gliadin is found in wheat and some other grains, including oats, rye, barley, and millet. People with celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and other conditions…
Glial cell

A supportive cell in the central nervous system -- the brain and spinal cord. Glial cells do not conduct electrical impulses (as opposed to neurons, which do). The glial cells surround neurons and provide support for…
Glial fibrillary acidic protein

See: GFAP.
Glioblastoma multiforme

A type of tumor that forms from glial (supportive) tissue in the brain. It is highly malignant, grows very quickly, and has cells that look quite different from normal glial cells. Early symptoms may include sleepiness…
Glioma

A brain tumor that begin in a glial, or supportive, cell, in the brain or spinal cord. Malignant gliomas are the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). They are often…
Glioma, optic

See Optic glioma
Glioma, visual pathway

See Visual pathway glioma
Gliosis

A process leading to scars in the central nervous system that involves the production of a dense fibrous network of neuroglia (supporting cells) in areas of damage. Gliosis is a prominent feature of many diseases of the…
Glisson's capsule

The capsule of the liver. A layer of connective tissue surrounding the liver and ensheathing the hepatic artery, portal vein, and bile ducts within the liver. Named for the British physician, anatomist, physiologist…
Gln

Glutamine. See also: Amino acid symbols
Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Dis

See: GOLD
Global warming

The sustained increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere. Human activity contributes to this change through the buildup of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. Over time, this increase may be sufficient to…
Globe, pale

Also called the globus pallidus, this is a pale-appearing spherical area in the brain. Globus is a Latin word meaning a globe or sphere. Pallidus refers to its pallor relative to the surrounding brain substance. The…
Globus

A word straight from the Latin, meaning (not unexpectedly) a globe or sphere. The word 'globus' is used in a number of different contexts in medicine. Globus hystericus, sometimes just called globus, is the sensation of…