Medical terms - Letter K | MedicalVocabulary.org

K (potassium)

K is the symbol for potassium, the major positive ion (cation) found inside of cells. The chemical notation for potassium is K+. The proper level of potassium is essential for normal cell function. An abnormal increase…
K kingae

Kingella kingae
Kala-azar

A chronic and potentially fatal parasitic disease of the viscera (the internal organs, particularly the liver, spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes) due to infection by the parasite called Leishmania donovani. Leishmania…
Kalemia

The presence of potassium in the blood. The word 'kalemia' is seldom used today although it is the basis for the terms for abnormally high blood potassium (hyperkalemia) and low blood potassium (hypokalemia). See also…
Kanner syndrome

(Also called autism). A spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, and unusual and repetitive behavior. Some, but not all, people with autism are…
Kaposi sarcoma

Sarcoma: A relatively rare type of skin malignancy that tends to afflict elderly people or, especially, those with an abnormal immune system as in AIDS. Kaposi sarcoma is a highly vascular ('angioblastic') tumor of the…
Kartagener syndrome

A genetic syndrome characterized by sinusitis, bronchiectasis (widening and inflammation of the bronchi), dextrocardia (heart on the right side), and infertility. The syndrome is inherited in an autosomal recessive…
Karyocyte

Any cell that possesses a nucleus. A neuron (nerve cell) is a karyocyte; it has a nucleus. A mature erythrocyte (red blood cell) is not a karyocyte; it lacks a nucleus. The term 'karyocyte' is made up of 'kary-' from…
Karyokinesis

During cell division, the process of partition of a cell's nucleus into the daughter cells. See also: Cytokinesis; Mitosis
Karyotype

A standard arrangement of the chromosome complement done for chromosome analysis. For example, a normal human female karyotype would have 22 pairs of autosomes (non-sex chromosomes) arranged in numerical order together…
Karyotype, spectral (SKY)

Karyotype, spectral (SKY): A visualization of all of the chromosomes in the genome all together with each chromosome labeled with a different color. The SKY technique is useful for identifying chromosome abnormalities
Karyotyping

The preparation, analysis, and interpretation of a karyotype
Karyotyping, flow

Use of flow cytometry to analyze and/or separate chromosomes on the basis of their DNA content. Flow cytometry detects the light- absorbing or fluorescing properties of chromosomes passing in a narrow stream through a…
Kashin-Beck disease

A disorder of the bones and joints of the hands and fingers, elbows, knees, and ankles of children and adolescents who slowly develop stiff deformed joints, shortened limb length and short stature due to necrosis…
Kashin-Bek disease

See: Kashin-Beck disease
Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease: A disease that has nothing to do with the motor bike of the same name but is a syndrome of unknown origin that mainly affects young children, causing fever, reddening of the eyes (conjunctivitis), lips…
Kb

Abbreviation for kilobase
KB

1. The skin disease Keratodermia blennorrhagicum. 2. Kilobase of DNA. The preferred abbreviation for kilobase is kb in lower case letters
Kearns-Sayre syndrome

Exercises designed to increase muscle strength and elasticity in the female pelvis. Kegel exercises may be recommended for treatment of an incompetent cervix, vaginal looseness after pregnancy and delivery, or urinary…
Kegel exercises

Exercises designed to increase muscle strength and elasticity in the female pelvis. Kegel exercises may be recommended for treatment of an incompetent cervix, vaginal looseness after pregnancy and delivery, or urinary…
Kelman, Charles D.

See: Phacoemulsification
Keloid

Keloid: A scar that doesn't know when to stop. When the skin is injured, cells grow back to fill in the gap. Somehow, they normally 'know' when the scar tissue is level with the skin, at which point the cells stop…
Keratectomy

Removal of part of the cornea. This can be done by surgical excision or by laser. One such laser procedure is PRK (photorefractive keratectomy)
Keratectomy, photorefractive (PRK)

A kind of laser eye surgery designed to change the shape of the cornea to eliminate (or reduce) the need for glasses and contact lenses. The laser is used to remove the outer layer of the cornea and flatten the cornea…
Keratin

Protein in the upper layer of the skin, hair, nails and animal horns. The word keratin comes from the Indo-European ker meaning horn.
Keratitis

Inflammation of the cornea (the transparent structure in the front of the eye).
Keratitis, acanthamoeba

See: Acanthamoeba keratitis
Keratitis, rosacea

See: Rosacea keratitis
Keratitis, vaccinia

See Vaccinia keratitis
Keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome

>Keratitis -- gradual destruction of the cornea of the eye, sometimes leading to blindness >Ichthyosis -- localized areas of disfiguring reddish thickened skin ('fish skin') >Deafness -- at birth Another characteristic…
Kerato-

Inflammation of the eye involving both the cornea and the conjunctiva. Keratoconjunctivitis can be due to diverse causes, including infections and autoimmunity (as is the case in Sjogren syndrome).
Keratoconjunctivitis

Inflammation of the eye involving both the cornea and the conjunctiva. Keratoconjunctivitis can be due to diverse causes, including infections and autoimmunity (as is the case in Sjogren syndrome).
Keratoconus

Keratoconus: Cone-shaped cornea with the apex of the cone being forward. Also called conical cornea.
Keratoderma hereditarium mutilans

See: Vohwinkel syndrome
Keratodermia blennorrhagicum

Pertaining to keratolysis, the softening and shedding of the horny outer layer of the skin. A keratolytic agent is a peeling agent.
Keratolytic

Pertaining to keratolysis, the softening and shedding of the horny outer layer of the skin. A keratolytic agent is a peeling agent
Keratoma

An area of hardened skin, usually called a callus
Keratoplasty

Corneal transplant.
Keratosis

A localized horny overgrowth of the upper layer of skin such as a callus or wart. Among the common forms of keratosis are actinic keratosis and senile keratosis
Keratosis follicularis

A genetic skin disease characterized by slowly progressive hardening of the skin (keratoses) around the hair follicles. This disorder is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner and is due to mutation in a gene called…
Keratosis pilaris

Keratosis pilaris: Small rough bumps, generally on the face, upper arms, and thighs. Keratosis refers to a localized overgrowth of the upper layer of skin. Pilaris pertains to the hair. In keratosis pilaris, the buildup…
Keratosis, actinic

A small rough spot on skin chronically exposed to the sun, precancerous, can develop into a skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma, a process that typically takes years. Actinic keratoses occur most frequently in…
Keratosis, seborrheic

A benign skin disorder due to excessive growth of the top layer of skin cells, usually found in persons over 30 years old. They may appear as just one growth or in clusters. They are most often brown but can differ in…
Keratosis, senile

Synonymous with actinic keratosis. See: Keratosis, actinic
Keratosis, solar

Synonymous with actinic keratosis. See: Keratosis, actinic
Keratotic scabies

See crusted scabies
Keratotomy

A surgical incision (a cut) made into the cornea. A radial keratotomy is a surgical procedure designed to flatten the cornea, reduce its optical power, and correct nearsightedness (myopia). The procedure is called a…
Keratotomy, radial

An eye surgery procedure designed to flatten the cornea, reducing its optical power, to correct nearsightedness (myopia). In the procedure, incisions (cuts) are made in the cornea. The procedure is said to be radial…
Kernicterus

Kernicterus: A type of brain damage associated with athetoid cerebral palsy (uncontrollable movement of the face, body, arms, and legs) and deafness. Kernicterus is due to marked jaundice in the newborn period. The high…
Kernig sign

A clinical hallmark of meningitis, inflammation of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. The test for Kernig sign is done by having the person lie supine (flat on the back), flex the thigh so…