Medical terms - Letter P (page 5) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Parenchymal

Pertaining to the parenchyma of an organ. See: Parenchyma
Parentalism

A parent's attitude of dominance over one or more children. For example, a parent stating 'I'm the boss around this house' is a demonstration of parentalism
Parentectomy

A slang term meaning removal of a parent (or both parents) from the child. It is of relevance to the hospitalization of children. Dr. M. Murray Peshkin (1892-1990), the medical director of the Children's Asthma Research…
Parenteral

Entering the body not by the alimentary tract but rather by another means (such as the subcutaneous, the intramuscular, or often the intravenous route). From para- (Greek for 'apart from') + enteral (from the Greek…
Parenteral nutrition

Intravenous feeding. Also called parenteral alimentation
Paresis

1 Incomplete paralysis. 2 A form of neurosyphilis (syphilis affecting the central nervous system -- the brain and spinal cord). Also known as general paresis, neurolues, acute syphilitic meningitis, meningovascular…
Paresis, general

A part of late ('tertiary') syphilis a decade or more after the initial infection, due to chronic inflammation of the covering and substance of the brain (meningoencephalitis) which results in progressive dementia and…
Paresthesia

An abnormal sensation of the skin, such as numbness, tingling, pricking, burning, or creeping on the skin that has no objective cause. Paresthesia is the usual American spelling and paraesthesia the preferred English…
Paricalcitol

A vitamin D analogue. Brand name: Zemplar. In 1998 paricalcitol was approved by the FDA for the treatment of hyperparathyroidism due to chronic renal failure. It causes less elevation of calcium than calcitriol, another…
Parietal

Adjective from the Latin 'parietalis' meaning 'belonging to the wall' that the ancient anatomists used to designate the wall, as of a body cavity. For examples, there are the: > >Parietal bone -- the main side bone of…
Parietal bone

The main side bone of the skull. Although the parietal bone is curved, it is considered a flat bone, as opposed to a tubular bone. It is shaped like an irregular quadrangle. It articulates (joins) with the other…
Parietal lobe

Part of the brain, specifically the section of the cerebral hemisphere that lies beneath the parietal bone, the main side bone of the skull. The word 'parietal' comes from the Latin 'parietalis' meaning 'belonging to…
Parietal pericardium

The outer layer of the pericardium which is a conical sac of fibrous tissue that surrounds the heart and the roots of the great blood vessels. The pericardium has outer and inner coats. The outer coat is tough and…
PARK1

Familial Parkinson disease type 3
PARK10

Familial Parkinson disease type 10
PARK11

Familial Parkinson disease type 11
PARK2

Familial Parkinson disease type 2
PARK3

Familial Parkinson disease type 3
PARK4

Familial Parkinson disease type 4
PARK5

Familial Parkinson disease type 5
PARK6

Familial Parkinson disease type 6
PARK7

Familial Parkinson disease type 7
PARK8

Familial Parkinson disease type 8
PARK9

Familial Parkinson disease type 9
Parkinson disease

Parkinson disease: A slowly progressive neurologic disease characterized by a fixed inexpressive face, a tremor at rest, slowing of voluntary movements, a gait with short accelerating steps, peculiar posture and muscle…
Parkinson disease gene

A gene involved in the causation of Parkinson disease. There are a number of different autosomal dominant and recessive forms of Parkinson disease. They are called PARK1, PARK2, and so on: > >PARK1 is an autosomal…
Parkinson disease genetics

See: Parkinson disease gene
Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease: See: Parkinson disease.
Parkinson, James

(1755-1824) English physician and paleontologist who gave a classic account in 1817 of a chronic, slowly progressive disease of the nervous system characterized by a combination of tremor, rigidity, and stooped posture…
Parkinsonism

1. Parkinson disease. 2. A syndrome similar to Parkinson disease, for example, as a side effect of an antipsychotic drug
Paronychia

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. The term 'paronychia' is compounded from 'para-', next to + the…
Parotid gland

The largest of the three major salivary glands, it is located in front and below the ear and behind the jaw bone. The other two glands are the submandibular (submaxillary) and sublingual.
Parotids

Salivary glands situated in front of the ears.
Parotitis

Inflammation of the parotid glands. A classic feature of mumps.
Paroxysm

In medicine, a paroxysm is a violent attack. It may be due to the sudden occurrence of symptoms or the acute exacerbation (the abrupt worsening) of preexisting symptoms. You may have 'a paroxysm of coughing' as opposed…
Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia

See: Crocodile tears syndrome.
Paroxysmal lacrimation

See: Crocodile tears syndrome
Paroxysmal sleep

Sleep: A neurological disorder marked by a sudden recurrent uncontrollable compulsion to sleep. Also known as narcolepsy. The disorder is often associated with cataplexy (a sudden loss of muscle tone and paralysis of…
Parrot fever (psittacosis)

An infectious disease due to a bacteria (Chlamydia psittaci) contracted from psittacine birds, especially caged birds like parrots, parakeets, and lovebirds and also in turkey processing plants. The bacteria enter the…
Parry's disease

Toxic multinodular goiter. Named for the English physician Caleb Hillier Parry (1755-1822). also called Plummer's disease
Parthenogenesis

Development of a germ cell without fertilization. This is what happens in the formation of ovarian teratomas (dermoid cysts). All of the chromosomes in these benign tumors of the ovary come from the mother. The…
Partial hysterectomy

Hysterectomy: In a partial hysterectomy, the uterus is surgically removed but the cervix is left in place. Also called a subtotal hysterectomy
Partial laryngectomy

A surgical procedure on the voice box designed to preserve the voice. The surgeon removes part of the voice box -- one vocal cord, part of a cord, or the epiglottis -- and leaves the rest, The stoma opening into the…
Partial seizure

A seizure that affects only one part of the brain. Symptoms depend on which part is affected. One part of the body, or multiple body parts confined to one side of the body, may start to twitch uncontrollably. Partial…
Partial syndactyly

A condition in which fingers or toes are partially joined together. Syndactyly can involve the bones or just the skin. With partial syndactyly, the connection extends from the base only part way up the involved digits…
Participant

1. In a clinical trial, someone who takes part in it. A participant may or may not have a disease. The term participant in this regard is synonymous with the term subject. 2. In health care benefits, a person who is…
Particle, alpha

A tiny mass of material composed of two protons and two neutrons. Alpha particles do not travel very far from their radioactive source. They cannot pass through a piece of paper, clothes or even the layer of dead cells…
Parturition

Childbirth, the process of delivering the baby and placenta from the uterus to the vagina to the outside world. Also called labor and delivery. Parturition comes from the Latin parturire, 'to be ready to bear young' and…
Parumbilical

Near the umbilicus (the 'belly button'). The parumbilical veins are small veins in the front wall of the abdomen near the umbilicus.
Parvovirus B19

See: Fifth disease