Medical terms - Letter P (page 4) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Para

Any woman who has given birth once or more is termed a 'para.' Note that, for a pregnancy to count as a 'birth', it must go to at least 20 weeks' gestation (the mid-point of a full-term pregnancy) or yield an infant…
Para- (prefix)

A prefix with many meanings, including: alongside of, beside, near, resembling, beyond, apart from, and abnormal. For example, the parathyroid glands are called 'para-thyroid' because they are adjacent to the thyroid…
Para-esophageal hiatal hernia

Hiatal hernias are categorized as being either para-esophageal or sliding. Para-esophageal hernias are hernias in which the gastro- esophageal junction stays where it belongs (attached at the level of the diaphragm)…
Paracentesis

The removal of fluid from a body cavity using a needle, trocar, cannula, or other hollow instrument. A paracentesis may be diagnostic or therapeutic as, for example, in ascites where there is free fluid in the abdominal…
Paracentric chromosome inversion

A basic type of chromosome rearrangement. A segment that does not include the centromere (and so is paracentric) has been snipped out of a chromosome, turned through 180 degrees (inverted), and inserted right back into…
Paradoxical embolism

Passage of a clot (thrombus) from a vein to an artery. When clots in veins break off (embolize) , they travel first to the right side of the heart and, normally, then to the lungs where they lodge. The lungs act as a…
Paraesthesia

See: Paresthesia
Paraffin dip

A treatment for the symptoms of joint and muscle conditions, such as arthritis, that consists of melted mineral wax derived from petroleum applied to a body area. Paraffin dips can be especially helpful in relieving the…
Paragonimiasis

Infection with the trematode (parasitic worm) Paragonimus. More than 10 species of trematodes (flukes) of the genus Paragonimus infect humans, the most common being Paragonimus westermani, the oriental lung fluke. While…
Paragonimus infection

See: Paragonimiasis
Parainfectious

Occurring at the time of and in association with an acute infection or an episode of infection. For example, transverse myelitis (a disorder of the spinal cord) can occur parainfectiously in association with a number of…
Parainfluenza

A disease due to an acute respiratory infection caused by a parainfluenza virus. Parinfluenza occurs usually in children. The clinical picture can range from a relatively mild influenza-like one to bronchitis, croup…
Paralysis

Loss of voluntary movement (motor function). Paralysis that affects only one muscle or limb is partial paralysis, also known as palsy; paralysis of all muscles is total paralysis, as may occur in cases of botulism
Paralysis, facial nerve

Loss of voluntary movement of the muscles on one side of the face due to abnormal function of the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve) which supplies those muscles. Facial nerve paralysis is also called Bell's palsy…
Paralysis, infantile (polio)

Infantile paralysis is an old synonym for poliomyelitis, an acute and sometimes devastating viral disease. Man is the only natural host for poliovirus. The virus enters the mouth and multiplies in lymphoid tissues in…
Paralysis, laryngeal nerve

Paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve (a long and important nerve that originates in the brainstem and runs down to the colon). After the recurrent laryngeal nerve leaves the vagus…
Paralysis, sleep

Sleep: A frightening form of paralysis that occurs when a person suddenly finds himself or herself unable to move for a few minutes, most often upon falling asleep or waking up. Sleep paralysis is due to an ill-timed…
Paralysis, stomach

Formally called gastroparesis, this is a medical condition in which the muscle of the stomach is paralyzed by a disease of either the stomach muscle itself or the nerves controlling the muscle. As a consequence, food…
Paralysis, vocal cord

Paralysis, vocal cord: Inability of one or both vocal folds (vocal cords) to move. The paralysis is usually due to damage to the nerves going to the vocal cords or due to damage to the brain itself. In more technical…
Paralytic ileus

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…
Paramyxovirus

One of a group of RNA viruses that are responsible predominantly for acute respiratory diseases and are usually transmitted in an airborne manner. The paramyxoviruses include the agents of mumps, measles (rubeola), RSV…
Paraneoplastic syndrome

The collective signs and symptoms caused by a substance emanating from a tumor or in reaction to a tumor. Paraneoplastic syndromes can be due to a number of causes including hormones or other biologically active…
Paranychia

A frequent misspelling of Paronychia
Paraoxonase

An enzyme associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) that is believed to protect against the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and hence to affect the risk of coronary artery disease. There are 3…
Paraparesis

Weakness of the lower extremities
Paraphilia

Paraphilia: One of several complex psychiatric disorders that are manifested as deviant sexual behavior. For example, in men the most common forms are pedophilia (sexual behavior or attraction toward children) and…
Paraphimosis

A condition in which the foreskin of the penis, once retracted, cannot return to its original location. The foreskin remains trapped behind the groove of the coronal sulcus between the shaft and the glans. This causes…
Paraplegia

Paralysis of the lower part of the body including the legs. As in flaccid or spastic paraplegia. The suffix plegia means paralysis
Paraplegic

Pertaining to paraplegia (paralysis of the lower part of the body including the legs)
Paraquat

A toxic chemical widely used as an herbicide (plant killer), primarily for weed and grass control. Paraquat is highly poisonous. It was first produced for commercial purposes in 1961. The most likely route of exposure…
Paraquat lung

Lung disease caused by the contact herbicide paraquat which selectively accumulates in the lungs and is highly toxic. Once X-ray changes from paraquat are evident in the lungs, death is virtually certain. Paraquat lung…
Parasite

>Protozoa -- Malaria is caused by plasmodium, a protozoa, a single-cell organism that can only divide within its host organism. >Helminths -- Schistosomiasis, another set of very important parasitic diseases, is caused…
Parasitemia

The presence of a parasite in the blood. For example, malarial parasitemia. Parasitemia is analogous to bacteremia (the presence of bacteria in the blood) and viremia (the presence of a virus in the blood). Parasitemia…
Parasitic

Having to do with a parasite, as in a parasitic infection; or acting like a parasite by taking nourishment from another
Parasitic worm

A worm classified as a parasite. (A parasite is a disease-causing organism that lives on or in a human or another animal and derives its nourishment from its host.) Lice are examples of parasites that live on humans…
Parasitosis

Infestation or infection with parasites. See also: Delusional parasitosis
Paraskevidekatriaphobia

Fear of Friday the 13th. The word 'paraskevidekatriaphobia' was devised by Dr. Donald Dossey who told his patients that 'when you learn to pronounce it, you're cured!'
Parasomnia

A sleep disorder in which odd or dangerous events occur that intrude on sleep. The parasomnias include sleep talking, sleepwalking (somnambulism), sleep terrors, REM behavior disorder, and nocturnal dissociative…
Parasplenic

Located near or alongside of the spleen. The spleen is an organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen near the stomach. The spleen produces lymphocytes, filters blood, serves as a major reservoir for blood and…
Parasuicide

An apparent attempt at suicide, commonly called a suicidal gesture, in which the aim is not death. For example, a sublethal drug overdose or wrist slash. Previous parasuicide is a predictor of suicide. The increased…
Parasympathetic nervous system

A part of nervous system that serves to slow the heart rate, increase the intestinal and gland activity, and relax the sphincter muscles. The parasympathetic nervous system, together with the sympathetic nervous system…
Parathormone

A hormone that is made by the parathyroid gland and that is critical to calcium and phosphorus balance. Deficiency of parathormone results in abnormally low calcium levels in the blood (hypocalcemia). Excessive…
Parathyrin

A small tumor of the parathyroid gland and the most common disorder of the gland. Parathyroid adenomas are benign (NOT malignant). The gland increases in size and produces PTH in excess. This is called primary…
Parathyroid adenoma

A small tumor of the parathyroid gland and the most common disorder of the gland. Parathyroid adenomas are benign (NOT malignant). The gland increases in size and produces PTH in excess. This is called primary…
Parathyroid gland

A gland that regulates calcium, located behind the thyroid gland in the neck. The parathyroid gland secretes a hormone called parathormone (or parathyrin) that is critical to calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Although…
Parathyroid hormone

See Parathormone
Parathyroid insufficiency

See: Hypoparathyroidism
Parathyroidectomy

Parathyroidectomy: Surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands. Parathyroidectomy is usually done to treat hyperparathyroidism. Primary hyperparathyroidism is the most common disorder of the parathyroid…
Parathyroids, hypoplasia of the thymus and

See: DiGeorge syndrome
Parenchyma

The key elements of an organ essential to its functioning, as distinct from the capsule that encompasses it and other supporting structures. The parenchyma is thus opposed to the connective tissue framework, or stroma…