Medical terms - Letter H (page 2) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Hansen bacillus

Mycobacterium leprae, the agent of leprosy (Hansen disease)
Hansen disease

Leprosy, a chronic granulomatous infection caused by a bacterium which affects various parts of the body, including in particular the skin and nerves. (Granulomatous refers to the formation of granulomas, inflammatory…
Hansen's bacillus

See: Hansen bacillus
Hansen's disease

See: Hansen disease
Hantavirus

A group of viruses that cause hemorrhagic fever and pneumonia. The Hantaviruses include the Hantaan virus that causes Korean (and Manchurian) hemorrhagic fever. The Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) struck the Four…
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

Acronym for High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, the accumulation in the lungs of extravascular fluid (fluid outside of blood vessels) at high altitude, a consequence of rapid altitude ascent, especially when that ascent is…
HAPE

Acronym for High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, the accumulation in the lungs of extravascular fluid (fluid outside of blood vessels) at high altitude, a consequence of rapid altitude ascent, especially when that ascent is…
Haploid

A set of chromosomes containing only one member of each chromosome pair. The sperm and egg are haploid and, in humans, have 23 chromosomes
Haploinsufficiency

A situation in which the total level of a gene product (a particular protein) produced by the cell is about half of the normal level and that is not sufficient to permit the cell to function normally. Another way to…
Hapten

In immunology, a molecule that is incapable, alone, of causing the production of antibodies but which can do so when fastened to a larger antigenic molecule called a carrier. The term 'hapten' was taken from the Greek…
Hard measles

An acute highly contagious viral disease with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and a spreading skin rash. The eight-day measles is the ordinary measles, also known as rubeola, a potentially disastrous disease…
Hard palate

The bony part of the roof of the mouth. The hard palate is the front of the palate and is in front of the soft palate
Hardy, James D.

Pioneering American transplant surgeon responsible for three epochal operations: the first human lung transplant in 1963, the first animal-to-human heart transplant in 1964, and a double-lung transplant that left the…
Hardy-Weinberg law

Basic concept in population genetics discovered independently in 1908 by the great English mathematician G(odfrey) H(arold) Hardy and Wilhelm Weinberg, a physician in Germany. The Hardy- Weinberg law is a cornerstone of…
Hashimoto disease

See: Hashimoto thyroiditis
Hashimoto thyroiditis

Thyroiditis: A progressive disease of the thyroid gland characterized by the presence of antibodies directed against the thyroid, and by infiltration of the thyroid gland by lymphocytes. Hashimoto thyroiditis is the…
HAV

Hepatitis A virus
HAVRIX

A vaccine against hepatitis A made of killed hepatitis A virus to stimulate the body's immune system to produce antibodies against the hepatitis A virus
HAVS

Hand-arm vibration syndrome
Hay fever

Hay fever: A seasonal allergy to airborne particles characterized by itchy eyes, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy throat, and excess mucus. Hay fever is a misnomer because it is not caused by hay and it…
Hayfever

Hay fever is, always has been, and ever shall be two separate words. See: Hay fever
Hb (hemoglobin)

Hemoglobin): Hb is the standard abbreviation for hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein pigment in the blood, specifically in the red blood cells. In the very common laboratory test for hemoglobin (Hb), it is measured…
HBIG

Hepatitis B immune globulin, which contains antibodies to hepatitis B virus and offers prompt but short lived protection
HBV

Hepatitis B virus. A virus which primarily causes inflammation of the liver. The hepatitis B virus can be transmitted in several ways including blood transfusion, needle sticks, body piercing and tattooing using…
HCFA

The Health Care Finance Administration, the part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that is responsible for administering Medicare and Medicaid. See: Medicare. Also see: Medicaid
HCG

Human chorionic gonadotropin, a human hormone made by chorionic cells in the fetal part of the placenta. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is directed at the gonads and stimulates them. Hence, the name 'gonadotropin.'…
HCM

Abbreviation for hematocrit. The hematocrit is the proportion, by volume, of the blood that consists of red blood cells. The hematocrit (hct) is expressed as a percentage. For example, an hematocrit of 25% means that…
Hct (hematocrit)

Hematocrit): Abbreviation for hematocrit. The hematocrit is the proportion, by volume, of the blood that consists of red blood cells. The hematocrit (hct) is expressed as a percentage. For example, an hematocrit of 25%…
HCV

Hepatitis C virus
HCV PCR

HCV PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is a test for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). There are three types of HCV PCR tests: > >The HCV PCR viral detection test: This qualitative test is designed to detect whether the…
HCV PCR genotype test

See: HCV PCR
HCV PCR viral detection test

See: HCV PCR
HCV PCR viral load test

See: HCV PCR
HDL

Lipoproteins, which are combinations of lipids (fats) and proteins, are the form in which lipids are transported in the blood. The high-density lipoproteins transport cholesterol from the tissues of the body to the…
HDL cholesterol

Lipoproteins, which are combinations of lipids (fats) and proteins, are the form in which lipids are transported in the blood. The high-density lipoproteins transport cholesterol from the tissues of the body to the…
HDR syndrome

The syndrome of familial Hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural Deafness, and Renal dysplasia. Inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, the syndrome is caused by haploinsufficiency of the GATA3 gene in chromosome 10p. The…
HDV

Hepatitis D virus
Head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancer: The common carcinomas of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx as well as other tumors that affect the head and neck. These include: > >Paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer >Lip and oral cavity…
Head bones

There are 29 bones in the human head. They consist of 8 cranial bones, 14 facial bones, the hyoid bone, and 6 auditory (ear) bones. > >The 8 cranial bones are the frontal, 2 parietal, occipital, 2 temporal, sphenoid…
Head lice

Head lice> Pediculus humanus capitis, parasitic insects found on the heads of people. Head lice are most often found on the scalp behind the ears and near the neckline at the back of the neck. The lice hold onto the…
Head, optic nerve

The circular area in the back of the inside of the eye where the optic nerve connects to the retina
Headache

Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the head (occipital), or in the back of the upper neck. Headache, like chest pain or back ache, has many causes. All headaches are…
Headache, alarm clock

See: Alarm clock headache
Headache, chronic daily

See: Chronic daily headache
Headache, cluster

A distinctive syndrome of headaches, also known as migrainous neuralgia. There are two main clinical patterns of cluster headache -- the episodic and the chronic: > >Episodic: This is the most common pattern of cluster…
Headache, febrile

A headache associated with fever. Because this can sometimes indicate inflammation of the brain, as in encephalitis, see your doctor immediately if you experience this type of headache
Headache, Hogwarts

See: Hogwarts headache
Headache, hypnic

See: Hypnic headache
Headache, migraine

See migraine headache.
Headache, rebound

Headaches experienced by those who have taken ergotamine or analgesic medications for migraines or other health conditions, and who have built up a tolerance for these medications. Often the headache occurs right after…