Medical terms - Letter M (page 13) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Microscope, compound

A microscope that consists of two microscopes in series, the first serving as the ocular lens (close to the eye) and the second serving as the objective lens (close to the object to be viewed). Credit for creating the…
Microscope, electron

See: Fluorescent microscope.
Microscope, fluorescent

See: Fluorescent microscope
Microscope, simple

A microscope that has a single converging lens (or a combination of lenses that function optically as a single converging lens). Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) made good use of the simple microscope to look at the…
Microscopic

So small it cannot be seen without the aid of microscope. As opposed to macroscopic (large enough to be seen with naked eye). A tiny tumor is microscopic while a big tumor is macroscopic
Microscopic anatomy

The study of the form of structures seen under the microscope, as opposed to gross anatomy which involves structures that can be observed with the naked eye . Traditionally, both gross and microscopic anatomy have been…
Microscopic gallstones

Gallstones: A mixture of microscopic particulate matter in bile, also called biliary sludge, that occurs when particles of material precipitate from bile. (Bile is the fluid that is made by the liver. It is stored in…
Microscopy

The examination of minute objects by means of a microscope, an instrument which provides an enlarged image of an object not visible with the naked eye. Aside from the usual microscopy, there are various special types of…
Microscopy, cryo-electron

See: Cryo-electron microscopy
Microscopy, electron

Too small a body. A child with microsomia has significant undergrowth. The prefix "micro-" is derived from the Greek "mikros" meaning small. It diminishes whatever it precedes. "Soma" is also from the Greek and means…
Microsomia

Too small a body. A child with microsomia has significant undergrowth. The prefix 'micro-' is derived from the Greek 'mikros' meaning small. It diminishes whatever it precedes. 'Soma' is also from the Greek and means…
Microsurgery

Surgery through a microscope. Microsurgery is used to operate on very small structures, often requires miniaturized instruments, and has myriad uses. Microsurgery is used to reattach a severed hand or another amputated…
Microtia

An abnormally small ear. The term 'microtia' usually refers to a congenitally small external ear. The visible part of the ear is abnormally small but it is not entirely absent. Absence of the ear is called 'anotia.
Microtubule motor

See: Microtubule motor protein
Microtubule motor protein

A protein that plays a role in spindle assembly and function or in chromosome movement during meiosis or mitosis. See: Dynein; and Kinesin
Microvascular

Pertaining to the microvasculature, the portion of the vasculature of the body consisting of the smaller vessels, those with an internal diameter of at most 100 microns. In contrast to macrovascular
Microvascular disease

Disease of the finer blood vessels in the body, including the capillaries. In contrast to macrovascular disease. The microvascular complications of diabetes such as neuropathy can lead to loss of sensation and the…
Microvascular surgery

Surgery on very small blood vessels such as those only 3 to 5 millimeters in diameter. Microvascular surgery is done through an operating-room microscope using specialized instruments and tiny needles with ultrafine…
Micturate

To urinate. The verb 'micturate' (like the noun 'micturation') comes from the Latin 'micturire' meaning 'to want to urinate.
Micturition

Urination, the act of urinating. The word 'micturition' comes from the Latin 'micturire' which has a slightly different meaning, namely 'to want to urinate.' [A contribution entitled 'Fetal Micturition' to The New…
Micturition syncope

The temporary loss of consciousness upon urinating. (Syncope is the temporary loss of consciousness or, in plain English, fainting). The situations that trigger this reaction are diverse and include having blood drawn…
Midbrain aqueduct

A canal that communicates between the third and fourth ventricles in a system of four communicating cavities within the brain that are continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord. The four ventricles consist of…
Middle ear

There are three sections of the ear. They are the external ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The middle ear consists of the ear drum (the tympanum or tympanic membrane) and, beyond it, a cavity. This cavity is…
Middle ear infection, acute

Acute middle ear infection, medically called acute otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear. Acute otitis media typically causes fluid in the middle ear accompanied by signs or symptoms of ear infection: a bulging…
Midget

A very small person (or thing). Midget is a picturesque but somewhat disparaging term. It is the diminutive of midge (the insect), and who wants to be a mini-midge? A more correct term today for a very small person is…
Midgut volvulus

See: Volvulus
Midlife crisis

A period of personal emotional turmoil and coping challenges that some people encounter when they reach middle age, accompanied by a desire for change in their lives, brought on by fears and anxieties about growing…
Midnight children

Term applied sometimes to children with xeroderma pigmentosum, a genetic disease with such extraordinary sensitivity to sunlight that ordinary sun exposure results in the development of skin cancer at a very early age…
Midnight disease

See: Hypergraphia
Midwife

A person trained to assist a woman during childbirth. Many midwives also provide prenatal care for pregnant women, birth education for women and their partners, and care for mothers and newborn babies after the birth. A…
Midwife assistant

A person who assists a midwife with prenatal care, childbirth education, delivery, and post-natal care. Also known as a doula or labor assistant
Midwife, certified

See: Certified midwife
Midwife, certified nurse

See: Certified nurse-midwife
Midwife, certified professional

See: Certified professional midwife
Midwife, direct-entry

See: Direct-entry midwife
Midwife, empirical

See: Empirical midwife.
Midwife, lay

See: Lay midwife
Midwife, traditional

See: Traditional midwife
Mifepristone

The French abortion pill, also known as RU-486. RU-486 has been used in combination with another drug called misoprostol, to terminate pregnancy at an early stage. It is used with women who are no more than 7 weeks…
Migraine

Migraine: Usually, periodic attacks of headaches on one or both sides of the head. These may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity of the eyes to light (photophobia), increased sensitivity to sound…
Migraine aura

Sensory phenomena that may occur before a migraine. Visual auras may include flashing lights, geometric patterns, or distorted vision. Some people may have aural auras involving hearing sounds (usually buzzing)…
Migraine headache

Migraine headache: The most common type of vascular headache involving abnormal sensitivity of arteries in the brain to various triggers resulting in rapid changes in the artery size due to spasm (constriction). Other…
Migraine without aura

See: Common migraine
Migraine, abdominal

An attack of abdominal pain that may be preceded by a migraine aura and accompanied nausea, vomiting, and cognitive disturbance
Migraine, classic

Migraine with aura. Accounts for no more than most 20% of migraines. See Migraine
Migraine, common

See: Common migraine
Migraine, menstrual

See: Menstrual migraine
Migraine, menstrually associated

See: Menstrual migraine
Migraine, ocular

Migraine involving the eyes, with or without headache. Ocular migraines usually affect only one eye at a time. Image distortion generally begins in the center of the image and then moves to one side. Images 'grey out'…
Migraine, ophthalmic

Migraine involving the eyes but without headache. Migraine, due to a spasm of blood vessels in the brain, usually causes a headache. Flashes of light may appear as jagged lines or 'heat waves' in one or both eyes and…