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

IL-4

Interleukin-4
Ile

Isoleucine. See also: Amino acid symbols
Ileal pouch

A surgically created chamber made up of a portion of the lower part of the ileum, the last (lowest) part of the small intestine. The ileal pouch generally connects to the rectum with the muscles of this area left intact…
Ileitis, Crohn

Inflammation of the ileum (the farthest segment of the small intestine) due to Crohn disease. Crohn disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder, primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can affect…
Ileitis, terminal

Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine involving only the end of the small intestine (the terminal ileum). Crohn's disease affects primarily the small and large intestines but which can occur…
Ileocolitis, Crohn

Crohn disease involving both the ileum (the furthest part of the small intestine just before the colon) and the large intestine (the colon). Crohn disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder, primarily involving the…
Ileoscopy

Use of a flexible instrument (a 'scope') to examine the ileum which is the lowest part of the small intestine. Ileoscopy is usually accomplished during colonoscopy, when the instrument tip passes first through the…
Ileostomy

An opening into the ileum, part of the small intestine, from the outside of the body. An ileostomy provides a new path for waste material to leave the body after part of the intestine has been removed. An opening into…
Ileum

The lowest part of the small intestine, located beyond the duodenum and jejunum, just before the large intestine (the colon). Pronounced 'il-eum' in the US and 'eye-leum' in the UK. The word 'ileum' is derived from the…
Ileus

Obstruction of the intestine due to it being paralyzed. The paralysis does not need to be complete to cause ileus, but the intestine must be so inactive that it prohibits the passage of food and leads to blockage of the…
Ileus, meconium

Obstruction of the intestine (ileus) due to overly thick meconium, the dark sticky stuff that is normally present in the intestine at birth and, after trypsin and other enzymes from the pancreas have acted on it, is…
Ileus, paralytic

Paralysis of the intestine. To be termed 'paralytic ileus,' the intestinal paralysis need not be complete, but it must be sufficient to prohibit the passage of food through the intestine and lead to intestinal blockage…
Iliac

Pertaining to the ilium.
Iliac horns

Symmetrical bilateral central posterior iliac processes. In other words, horn-like malformations of the crest of both iliac bones of the pelvis. A characteristic finding in the nail-patella syndrome
Iliopsoas muscle

The upper part of the bony pelvis which forms the receptacle for the head of the femur at the hip joint. The word "ilium" is the Medieval Latin term for the hip bone. The adjective is iliac. "Ilium" is not to be…
Ilium

The upper part of the bony pelvis which forms the receptacle for the head of the femur at the hip joint. The word 'ilium' is the Medieval Latin term for the hip bone. The adjective is iliac. 'Ilium' is not to be…
Illness, acute

An illness with an abrupt onset and usually a short course
Illness, altitude

>If possible, don't fly or drive to high altitude. Start below 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) and walk up. >If you do fly or drive, do not over-exert yourself or move higher for the first 24 hours. >If you go above 10,000…
Illness, chronic

An illness that has persisted for a long period of time. It is a continuing disease process
Illness, heat-related

A person with symptoms including headache, nausea, and fatigue after exposure to heat probably has some measure of a heat-related illness. It is important to recognize the difference between the very serious condition…
Illusion

A perception that occurs when a sensory stimulus is present but is incorrectly perceived and misinterpreted, such as hearing the wind as someone crying. Everyone may occasionally experience an illusion. However…
IM (intramuscular)

An IM medication is given by needle into the muscle. This is as opposed to a medication that is given by a needle, for example, into the skin (intradermal) or just below the skin (subcutaneous) or into a vein…
Imagery

Both a mental process (as in imagining) and a wide variety of procedures used in therapy to encourage changes in attitudes, behavior, or physiological reactions. As a mental process, it is often defined as 'any thought…
Imbibe

1. To drink, especially alcoholic beverages. 2. To absorb or take up fluid.From the Latin imbibere (to drink in) in the sense of consuming drink, absorbing liquids, and appropriating ideas
Imbricate

Overlapping like shingles or tiles on a roof. The scales on a snake are imbricate. From the Latin imbricatus, covered with tiles
Imitrex

Brand name for sumatriptan, a triptan drug for the treatment of migraine
Immune

Protected against infection. The Latin immunis means free, exempt.
Immune complex

A cluster of interlocking antigens and antibodies forming a large network of molecules. Also called an antigen-antibody complex
Immune response

Any reaction by the immune system.
Immune system

A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing us from everything foreign to us, and for protecting us against infections and foreign substances. The immune system works to seek and kill invaders. If a person…
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura

A blood disorder characterized by the destruction of blood platelets due to the presence of antiplatelet autoantibodies. (Autoantibodies are antibodies directed against the patient's own cells, in this disorder, the…
Immune tolerance

A state of unresponsiveness to a specific antigen or group of antigens to which a person is normally responsive. Immune tolerance is achieved under conditions that suppress the immune reaction and is not just the…
Immunity

The condition of being immune. Immunity can be innate (for example, humans are innately immune to canine distemper) or conferred by a previous infection or immunization
Immunity, acquired

See: Acquired immunity
Immunity, active

Immunity, active: The production of antibodies against a specific agent by the immune system. Active immunity can be acquired in two ways, by contracting an infectious disease such as chickenpox or by receiving a…
Immunity, innate

See: Innate immunity
Immunity, natural

See: Innate immunity
Immunity, passive

See: Passive immunity
Immunization

Vaccination. Immunizations work by stimulating the immune system, the natural disease-fighting system of the body. The healthy immune system is able to recognize invading bacteria and viruses and produce substances…
Immunization, anthrax

Anthrax: A series of six shots over six months and booster shots annually, the anthrax vaccine now in use in the USA was first developed in the 1950s and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for general use in…
Immunization, chickenpox

In the United States, it is recommended that all children receive vaccination against: Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB), Poliovirus, Measles, mumps, rubella, Varicella…
Immunization, children's

>Hepatitis B >Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis >Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB) >Poliovirus >Measles, mumps, rubella >Varicella zoster virus (chickenpox). Every child in the U.S. should have these vaccinations except…
Immunization, DPT

See: DPT immunization
Immunization, DT

DT (diphtheria and tetanus) vaccine does not protect from pertussis and is usually reserved for individuals who have had a significant adverse reaction to a DPT shot or who have a personal or family history of a seizure…
Immunization, DTaP

Like DPT, DTaP protects from diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus. DTaP is the same as DTP, except that it contains only acellular pertussis vaccine which is thought to cause fewer of the minor reactions…
Immunization, flu

The flu (influenza) vaccine is recommended for persons at high risk for serious complications from influenza infection, including everyone 65 or over; people with chronic diseases of the heart, lung or kidneys…
Immunization, German measles

Measles: See Immunization, MMR
Immunization, H. flu

This immunization is designed to prevent disease due to Haemophilus influenzae (H. flu), specifically Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB). The HIB bacteria is responsible for a range of serious 'invasive' diseases…
Immunization, Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB)

Immunization designed to prevent diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB), a bacteria responsible for a range of serious 'invasive' diseases including meningitis with potential brain damage and…
Immunization, hepatitis A

See: Hepatitis A immunization