Medical terms - Letter P (page 10) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Perineum

The area between the anus and the scrotum in the male and between the anus and the vulva (the labial opening to the vagina) in the female. An episiotomy is a surgical procedure to widen the outlet of the birth canal to…
Period, gestation

The period of development of the young from the time of conception until birth. For humans the full gestation period is normally 9 months. The word 'gestation' comes from the Latin 'gestare' meaning 'to carry or to…
Period, incubation

In medicine, the time from the moment of exposure to an infectious agent until signs and symptoms of the disease appear. For example, the incubation period of chickenpox is 14-16 days. In biology, the incubation period…
Periodic abstinence

Also known as fertility awareness, natural family planning, and the rhythm method, this approach entails not having sexual intercourse on the days of a woman's menstrual cycle when she could become pregnant or using a…
Periodic breathing

Clusters of breaths separated by intervals of apnea (no breathing) or near-apnea. As opposed to normal breathing which is usually regular. Periodic breathing was originally thought to arise from serious neurologic or…
Periodic fever

Recurrences of fever that last from a few days to a few weeks and are separated by symptom-free intervals of varying duration. This pattern of fever can be caused by recurrent infection, malignancy or noninfectious…
Periodontal

The word 'periodontal' literally means 'around the tooth.' Periodontal diseases are bacterial infections that destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold the teeth in the mouth. Left untreated, these…
Periodontal disease

A bacterial infection that destroys the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold the teeth in the mouth. Left untreated, these diseases can lead to tooth loss. The main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial…
Periodontics

Periodontics is the branch of dentistry concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. Periodontists are also expert in the placement and…
Periodontitis

Gum disease. The word 'periodontitis' literally means 'inflammation around the tooth.' Periodontitis and all periodontal diseases are bacterial infections that destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold…
Perionychia

An inflammation of the folds of tissue surrounding the nail due to infection. The infection may be bacterial (most commonly, staph or strep) or to fungal. 'Perionychia' is composed of 'peri-' meaning around or…
Perionychium

The tissue surrounding the nail, whether it be a fingernail or a toenail, including the tissue bordering the root and sides of the nail. The word is composed of 'peri-' meaning around or surrounding + the Greek word…
Perioperative

Literally, around (the time of) surgery. More specifically, the period of time extending from when the patient goes into the hospital, clinic, or doctor's office for surgery until the time the patient is discharged home
Periosteal

Pertaining to the periosteum, a dense membrane composed of fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps (invests) all bone, except the bone of articulating surfaces in joints which are covered by synovial membranes…
Periosteoma

A benign tumor arising from the periosteum, the dense membrane composed of fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps (invests) all bone (except the articular surfaces of bone in joints which are covered by synovial…
Periosteum

The periosteum is a dense membrane composed of fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps (invests) all bone, except that of the articulating surfaces in joints which are covered by a synovial membrane. 'Peri-' is a…
Periostitis

Inflammation of the periosteum, a dense membrane composed of fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps (invests) all bone, except the bone of articulating surfaces in joints which are covered by synovial membranes…
Periostoma

A benign tumor arising from the periosteum, the dense membrane composed of fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps (invests) all bone (except the articular surfaces of bone in joints which are covered by synovial…
Peripheral

Situated away from the center, as opposed to centrally located. For example, peripheral vision means the type of vision that allows one to see objects that are not in the center of one's visual field. The word…
Peripheral artery disease

A form of peripheral vascular disease in which there is partial or total blockage of an artery, usually one leading to a leg or arm. Leg artery disease and arm artery disease are somewhat different. Leg artery disease…
Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation: A new technique in which stem cells are obtained from a patient's blood and used in bone marrow transplantation. Stem cells are small, round cells with a squat nucleus and…
Peripheral insulin resistance

Failure of target tissues to increase glucose disposal in response to insulin. See also: Insulin resistance
Peripheral iridectomy

A surgical procedure in which a hole is made in the periphery (outer part) of the iris by removing a full-thickness piece from the iris in order to treat a specific type of glaucoma called narrow-angle glaucoma (or…
Peripheral nervous system

): That portion of the nervous system that is outside the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is one of the two major divisions of the nervous system. The other is the central nervous system (CNS)…
Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy: A problem with the functioning of the nerves outside the spinal cord. Symptoms may include numbness, weakness, burning pain (especially at night), and loss of reflexes. There are many causes of…
Peripheral pulmonary stenosis with cholestasis

Also known as arteriohepatic dysplasia or Alagille syndrome, this ia a genetic disorder characterized by jaundice in the newborn period, liver disease with cholestasis, peripheral pulmonic stenosis and unusual face…
Peripheral vascular disease

Peripheral vascular disease: A disease of blood vessels outside the heart. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) affects the peripheral circulation, as opposed to the cardiac circulation. PVD comprises diseases of both…
Peripheral vision

Side vision. The ability to see objects and movement outside of the direct line of vision. Peripheral vision is the work of the rods, nerve cells located largely outside the macula (the center) of the retina. The rods…
Periphery

1. The outside or surface of a structure; the portion outside the central region. 2. The circumference of a circle or other geometric figure.
Peristalsis

The rippling motion of muscles in the digestive tract. In the stomach, this motion mixes food with gastric juices, turning it into a thin liquid
Peritoneal

Having to do with the peritoneum
Peritoneal dialysis

Technique that uses the patient's own body tissues inside of the belly (abdominal cavity) to act as a filter. The intestines lie in the abdominal cavity, the space between the abdominal wall and the spine. A plastic…
Peritoneum

The membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most of the abdominal organs. (From the Greek peri- meaning around + tonos meaning a stretching = a stretching around)
Peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneum (The peritoneum is the tissue layer of cells lining the inner wall of the abdomen and pelvis). Peritonitis can result from infection (such as bacteria or parasites), injury and bleeding…
Peritonitis, acute

Sudden inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane lining the inner wall of the abdomen and pelvis, resulting in abrupt abdominal pain (an acute abdomen). The most serious causes of acute peritonitis include…
Peritonitis, chronic

Longstanding inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane lining the inner wall of the abdomen and pelvis. Causes include repeated attacks of infection such as from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), foreign substances…
Peritonsillar abscess

A collection of pus behind the tonsils that pushes one of the tonsils toward the uvula (the prominent soft tissue dangling from the back of the palate in the back of the mouth). A peritonsillar abscess is generally very…
Periventricular leukomalacia, cystic

Softening of the white matter near the ventricles of the brain resulting in abnormal cysts. Cystic periventricular leukomalacia is a major problem in very premature infants. Treating the mother with a cortisone-like…
Permanent makeup

A form of tattooing (also known as micropigmentation). Some choose permanent makeup as a time saver or because they have physical difficulty applying regular, temporary makeup. For others, tattooing is an adjunct to…
Pernicious anemia

Pernicious anemia: A blood disorder caused by inadequate vitamin B12 in the blood. Patients who have this disorder do not produce the substance in the stomach that allows the body to absorb vitamin B12. This substance…
Pernicious vomiting of pregnancy

Medically known as hyperemesis gravidarum, this is excessive vomiting in early pregnancy. By definition, hyperemesis gravidarum, leads to the loss of 5% or more of the body weight of the woman. Hyperemesis gravidarum…
Peromyscus leucopus

See: White-footed mouse
Peromyscus maniculatus

See: Deer mouse
Peroneal muscular atrophy

See: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor

A member of the nuclear hormone receptor subfamily of transcription factors. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor is abbreviated as PPAR. There are 3 known subtypes of PPARs -- PPAR-alpha, PPAR-delta, and…
Perrault syndrome

An extraordinary genetic syndrome that is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and affects both males and females but with a dramatic difference. Affected males and females both have moderate to severe deafness…
Perry syndrome

A familial form of Parkinson disease together with depression, weight loss and central hypoventilation in which there is failure of the normal control by the central nervous system over breathing. Perry syndrome is…
Persantine thallium scan

A type of myocardial perfusion scan done to disclose any areas of the heart muscle that may not be getting enough blood to perfuse them properly. Persantine (Dipyridamole) is a medication that dilates (widens) the…
Personality disorder

A disorder characterized by the chronic use of mechanisms of coping in an inappropriate, stereotyped, and maladaptive manner. Personality disorders are enduring and persistent styles of behavior and thought, not…
Personality disorder, borderline

A serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and the…