Medical terms - Letter M (page 15) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Mitochondrial myopathy

A group of neuromuscular diseases caused by damage to the mitochondria, energy-producing structures in cells that serve as power plants. Nerve and muscle cells require a great deal of energy and are particularly…
Mitochondrion

Singular of mitochondria. The mitochondria are normal structures called organelles in cells. They are located in the cell's cytoplasm outside the nucleus. The mitochondria are responsible for energy production. They…
Mitosis

Ordinary division of a body cell (a somatic cell) to form two daughter cells, each with the same chromosome complement as the parent cell.
Mitotic

Pertaining to mitosis.
Mitotic nondisjunction

The failure in mitosis for the two members of a chromosome pair to separate (to disjoin) normally so that both chromosomes go to one daughter cell while none go to the other daughter cell
Mitral insufficiency

Incomplete closure of the mitral valve resulting in the backflow of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium of the heart.
Mitral prolapse

Drooping down or abnormal bulging of the mitral valve cusps during the contraction of the heart.
Mitral regurgitation

Backflow of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium of the heart due to mitral insufficiency from incomplete closure of the mitral valve
Mitral valve

A valve in the heart situated between the left atrium and the left ventricle that permits blood to flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle but not in the reverse direction. The mitral valve has two flaps…
Mitral valve prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse: Drooping down or abnormal bulging of the mitral valve's cusps backward into the atrium during the contraction of the heart. Mitral valve prolapse is often an asymptomatic condition but it may be…
Mittelschmerz

The occurrence of symptoms of mania and depression together. A person may feel sad and hopeless while at the same time feeling extremely energized. Also called dysphoric mania, mixed mania, or agitated depression.
Mixed bipolar state

The occurrence of symptoms of mania and depression together. A person may feel sad and hopeless while at the same time feeling extremely energized. Also called dysphoric mania, mixed mania, or agitated depression
Mixed connective tissue disease

Mixed connective tissue disease: A mixture of three diseases of connective tissue (the framework of the cells of the body) -- systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and polymyositis. Patients with mixed connective…
Mixed mania

A state of mind characterized by symptoms of both mania and depression seen sometimes in bipolar disorders. It is more common in bipolar children and women. A person experiencing mixed mania may feel agitated, angry…
Mixed-lineage leukemia

A type of childhood leukemia in which a piece of chromosome 11 has been translocated (broken off and attached itself to another chromosome). Children with this type of leukemia have a particularly poor prognosis…
MLVT

Malattia leventinese
Mm

Abbreviation for millimeters. For example, mm Hg means millimeters of mercury, the height of a column of mercury, as in a blood pressure reading. (In upper-case letters, MM stands for meningomyelocele, malignant…
MM

In medicine, the abbreviation for meningomyelocele (spina bifida), malignant melanoma, and multiple myeloma. (In lower case letters, mm stands for millimeter.)
MME

Metallomembrane endopeptidase, also known as membrane metalloendopeptidase
MMR

Stands for the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine. The MMR vaccine is now given in two dosages. The first should be given at 12-15 months of age. The second vaccination should be given at 4-6 years. Most children should…
MMWR

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a weekly scientific publication prepared and published by the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). MMWR contains data and reports on specific health and safety…
MND

Motor neuron disease
Modafinil

Modafinil: An oral drug first approved by the FDA in 1998 for the treatment of narcolepsy, a condition in which there is an uncontrollable desire to sleep. Modafinil promotes wakefulness. In 2004 the FDA also approved…
Model end stage liver disease

See: MELD
Modeling, chromatin

See: Chromatin remodeling
Modelling, chromatin

See: Chromatin remodeling
Modifiers, biological response (BRMs)

Substances that stimulate the body's response to infection and disease. The body naturally produces small amounts of these substances. Scientists can produce some of them in the laboratory in large amounts for use in…
MODY

Maturity onset diabetes of the young
Mohs surgery

Mohs surgery: A special type of surgery used for the treatment of skin cancer, especially basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. The purpose of Mohs surgery is to remove all of the cancerous tissue and as…
Moisturize

To dampen; to replenish lost liquid; to add vapor; to humidify. 'Moisturize' usually suggests that the thing receiving liquid is made slightly wet, but is not saturated. Over-the-counter (OTC) skin lotions contain…
Molar

In dentistry, a molar is one of the posterior teeth well adapted to grinding, in keeping with its origin from the Latin mola meaning millstone.
Molars

Molars are the large teeth at the back of the mouth.
Mold

A very large group of microscopic fungi that live on plant or animal matter. Most are filamentous organisms and produce spores that can be air-, water-, or insect-borne. A common trigger for allergies. For people who…
Mole

1. In dermatology, a pigmented spot on the skin, Also called a nevus. 2. In gynecology, a mass within the uterus formed of partly developed products of conception.3. In biochemistry, the molecular weight of a substance…
Molecular biology

The study of biology on a molecular level including the structure, function, and makeup of biologically important molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. The field of molecular biology involves many other areas of…
Molecular phylogenetics

The determination of the rates and patterns of change occurring in DNA and proteins in order to reconstruct the evolutionary history of genes and organisms. Two general approaches may be taken to obtain this…
Molecule

The smallest unit of a substance that can exist alone and retain the character of that substance.
Molecules, recombinant DNA

A combination of DNA molecules of different origin that are joined using recombinant DNA technology
Mollaret meningitis

Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis. The cause of Mollaret meningitis is not known. Mollaret meningitis is distinguished from viral meningitis by its recurrent character with symptom-free intervals between episodes…
Molluscacide

An agent capable of killing snails and other mollusks or of controlling their growth
Molluscicide

Synonymous with molluscacide and at least equally hard to say. See: Molluscacide
Molluscum contagiosum

A contagious disease of the skin marked by the occurrence of rounded soft tumors of the skin caused by the growth of a virus (one that belongs to the virus family called the Poxviridae). The disease is characterized by…
Momism

1. Excessive attachment to mom. 2. Conversely, overprotective mothering. The term momism was coined by the American writer Philip Wylie (1902 - 1971) in his 1942 book A Generation of Vipers.
Monaural

Relating to one ear. Hearing aids may be monaural (for one ear) or binaural (for both ears). From monos, single or alone + the Latin auris, ear = a single ear
Mongolism

Obsolete name for Down syndrome. Down syndrome refers to the 19th century English physician J. Langdon Down who described the condition in 1866. In great error, Langdon Down attributed the condition to a 'reversion' to…
Monilia

A yeast-like fungus now called Candida.
Moniliasis, oral

Yeast infection of the mouth and throat caused by a fungus formerly called Monilia, now known as Candida albicans. This infection is also known as thrush. Yeast organisms are part of the germs normally found in various…
Monitor, Holter

See: Holter monitor
Monkeypox

Monkeypox: A rare zoonotic (animal-borne) viral disease similar to smallpox. The virus responsible for monkeypox is, in fact, related to that responsible for smallpox. Both belong to the orthopox family of viruses…
Mono

Popular name for infectious mononucleosis