Medical terms - Letter P (page 7) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Pathy

A suffix derived from the Greek 'pathos' meaning 'suffering or disease' that serves as a suffix in many terms including myopathy (muscle disease), neuropathy (nerve disease), retinopathopathy (disease of the retina)…
Patient

A person under health care. The person may be waiting for this care or may be receiving it or may have already received it. There is considerable lack of agreement about the precise meaning of the term 'patient.' It is…
Patient autonomy

The right of patients to make decisions about their medical care without their health care provider trying to influence the decision. Patient autonomy does allow for health care providers to educate the patient but does…
Patient controlled analgesia

See: PCA
Patient-activated cardiac event recorder

A device that is implanted directly under the skin and is programmable with looping memory that records electrocardiogram (ECG) tracings. The recorder is programmed by a physician to retrieve data, and display and print…
Patient-activated event recorder

See: Patient-activated cardiac event recorder
Patient-controlled analgesia

See: PCA
Paul C. Lauterbur

See: Lauterbur, Paul C.
Paul Ehrlich

1. Paul Ehrlich (1854-1915), renowned German scientist and physician. See: Ehlich, Paul. 2. Paul R. Ehrlich (1932-), American evolutionary and population biologist.
Paul M. Zoll

See: Zoll, Paul M.
Pauling

See: Pauling, Linus
Pauling, Linus

The alpha helix, the structure of most proteins, discovered by Linus Pauling and Robert Corey. See: Alpha helix.
Pauling-Corey helix

The alpha helix, the structure of most proteins, discovered by Linus Pauling and Robert Corey. See: Alpha helix
Pavlov conditioning

The Russian physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1848-1936) conditioned dogs to respond in what proved to be a predictable manner, for example, by first ringing a bell before feeding them and then simply ringing the bell…
Pavlov pouch

At different points along the dogs' digestive tracts, the Russian physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1848-1936) surgically created pockets ('Pavlov pouches') from which he could obtain secretions, the aim being to…
Pavlov stomach

A Pavlov pouch fashioned surgically from part of the stomach (which is isolated from the rest of the stomach). The pouch opens through a fistula (canal) on to the abdominal wall and permits sampling of the gastric…
Pavlovian conditioning

The Russian physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1848-1936) conditioned dogs to respond in what proved to be a predictable manner, for example, by first ringing a bell before feeding them and then simply ringing the bell…
Pax3

One in a family of Pax genes involved in regulating embryonic development at the level of transcription. The Pax3 gene is on chromosome 2 in band q35. It encodes a DNA-binding transcription factor that is expressed in…
PC

Although PC is usually taken to mean personal computer, in the biomedical arena PC also stands for protein C, phosphocreatine, et al
PCA

Commonly used abbreviation for patient-controlled analgesia. Analgesia simply means relief of pain. PCA is a method by which the patient controls the amount of pain medicine (analgesia) they receive. There are a number…
PCB

See: PCBs
PCBs

PolyChlorinated Biphenyls, a mixture of up to 209 chlorinated chemicals. Although PCBs are no longer produced in the US where they were once known under the trade name Aroclor, PCBs are still found in the environment. A…
PCL (posterior cruciate ligament)

The knee joint is surrounded by a joint capsule with ligaments strapping the inside and outside of the joint (collateral ligaments) as well as crossing within the joint (cruciate ligaments). These ligaments provide…
PCO

1. Abbreviation in medical records for 'Patient complains of.' 2. Abbreviation for polycystic ovary. See also: Polycystic ovarian syndrome
PCO disease

>Irregular or no periods >Acne >Obesity, and >Excess hair growth. All women with PCO have irregular or no menses. Women with PCO do not ovulate (do not release an egg every month). Women with PCO are at a higher risk…
PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome
PCP

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. A parasitic infection of the lungs that is particularly common and life-threatening in immunosuppressed persons. Prophylaxis is available to prevent PCP
PCR (polymerase chain reaction)

PCR (polymerase chain reaction): A key technique in molecular genetics that permits the analysis of any short sequence of DNA (or RNA) without having to clone it. PCR is used to reproduce (amplify) selected sections of…
PCT

The abbreviation 'PCT' stands for a number of things including porphyria cutanea tarda, literally, the late skin form of porphyria, a genetic photosensitive (light-sensitive) skin disease with onset in adult life with…
PDA

Patent ductus arteriosus
PDR

Physicians' Desk Reference (please see entry to Physicians' Desk Reference). PDR less frequently stands for 'postdelivery room'.
Pea, jequirity

See: Abrin
Peak expiratory flow

Abbreviated PEF. The maximum airflow during a forced expiration beginning with the lungs fully inflated. The PEF is reduced in proportion to the severity of the airway obstruction, as in asthma and COPD (chronic…
Peak-flow meter

This hand-held device measures air flow (how fast air is blown out of the lungs). Patients can use peak-flow meters to measure their own air flow regularly. The use of a peak-flow meter allows patients to obtain a much…
Peanut allergy

An allergic reaction to peanuts, the leading cause of anaphylaxis, the most severe and potentially life threatening allergic reaction, and the leading cause of death from food allergy in the US and other Western…
Peccant

Unhealthy. Causing illness or disease. Peccant is one of those rarely used but apt words. The behaviors -- overeating, underexercising, an unhealthy diet -- that underlie so much disease today are peccant behaviors…
Pecs

Slang for the pectoral muscles, muscles of the 'anterior chest' (the front of the chest). The Latin 'pectus' means 'chest.'
Pectoral muscles

Muscles of the 'anterior chest' (the front of the chest). Familiarly called the pecs. The Latin 'pectus' means 'chest.'
Pectoralis muscle absence with syndactyly

A unique pattern of one-sided malformations characterized by a defect of the chest (pectoralis) muscle on one side of the body and webbing of the fingers (cutaneous syndactyly) of the ipsilateral hand (the hand on the…
Pectus carinatum

Pigeon-breasted. In Latin 'pectus' means 'chest' and 'carina' keel = a chest shaped like the keel of a boat (looking at the keel from outside the boat)
Pectus excavatum

Caved-in or funnel chest. The Latin 'pectus' means 'chest.' The chest is excavated. It looks as if it has been dug out, hollowed out
Pediatric

Pertaining to children
Pediatric arthritis

See: Arthritis, systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid
Pediatric bladder infection

See: Urinary tract infection in children
Pediatric cystitis

Bladder infection in a child. See: Urinary tract infection in children
Pediatric end stage liver disease

See: PELD
Pediatric kidney infection

See: Urinary tract infection in children
Pediatric pyelonephritis

Pediatric kidney infection. See: Urinary tract infection in children
Pediatric renal infection

See: Urinary tract infection in children
Pediatric rheumatologist

See: Urinary tract infection in children.