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

Rheumatoid nodules

Rheumatoid nodules are firm lumps in the skin of patients with rheumatoid arthritis that usually occur in pressure points of the body, most commonly the elbows
Rheumatoid spondylitis

See: Ankylosing spondylitis
Rheumatologist

A specialist in the non-surgical treatment of rheumatic illnesses, especially arthritis. Rheumatologists have special interests in unexplained rash, fever, arthritis, anemia, weakness, weight loss, fatigue, joint or…
Rheumatologist, pediatric

A physician who specializes in providing comprehensive care to children (as well as their families) with rheumatic diseases, especially arthritis. Pediatric rheumatologists are pediatricians who have completed an…
Rheumatology

A subspecialty of internal medicine that involves the non-surgical evaluation and treatment of the rheumatic diseases and conditions. Rheumatic diseases and conditions are characterized by symptoms involving the…
Rhinitis

Irritation of the nose. Derived from the Greek word rhinos meaning of the nose
Rhinitis Acute

Inflammation of the nose that occurs for only a few days. Typically this is caused by a virus ('a cold'); if it goes on beyond a week then it is probably bacterial
Rhinitis Chronic

Inflammation of the nose that goes on for weeks to months which is different from 'a cold', and may be caused by allergy, nasal irritants, structural, or physiological problems
Rhinitis, allergic

The medical term for hayfever. (Hay fever is a misnomer since hay is not a usual cause of this problem and there is no fever. Many substances cause the allergic symptoms in hay fever. Allergic rhinitis is the correct…
Rhinitis, allergic, perennial

Allergic rhinitis (hayfever) that occurs throughout the year
Rhinitis, allergic, seasonal

Allergic rhinitis (hayfever) which occurs during a specific season
Rhinitis, vasomotor

Inflammation of the nose (rhinitis) due to abnormal neuronal (nerve) control of the blood vessels in the nose. Vasomotor rhinitis is not allergic rhinitis
Rhinophyma

Pronounced (ryno-fee-ma), a bulbous enlarged red nose and puffy cheeks (like those of the old comedian W.C. Fields). There may also be thick bumps on the lower half of the nose and the nearby cheek areas. Rhinophyma…
Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty: Plastic surgery on the nose, known familiarly as a nose job. Rhinoplasty is a facial cosmetic procedure, usually performed to enhance the appearance of the nose. During rhinoplasty, the nasal cartilages and…
Rhinorrhea

Medical term for a runny nose. From the Greek words 'rhinos' meaning 'of the nose' and 'rhoia' meaning 'a flowing.
Rhinotillexomania

Compulsive nose picking. Among the more obscure and exotic terms in medicine, rhinotillexomania has drawn attention because of the habit to which it refers. Rhinotillexomania is 'a recent term coined to describe…
Rhogam

Rh0 immunoglobulin, also called anti-Rh or anti-D immunoglobulin. An injectable blood product used to protect an Rh-positive fetus from antibodies by its Rh-negative mother. The idea underlying Rhogam is if anti-Rh…
Rhythm method

Also known as fertility awareness, natural family planning, and periodic abstinence, this approach to contraception entails not having sexual intercourse on the days of a woman's menstrual cycle when she could become…
Rhythm, sinus

The normal regular rhythm of the heart set by the natural pacemaker of the heart called the sinoatrial (or sinus) node. It is located in the wall of the right atrium (the right upper chamber of the heart). Normal…
Rib

>True ribs: The first seven ribs attach to the sternum (the breast bone) in the front and are known as true ribs (or sternal ribs). >False ribs: The lower five ribs do not directly connect to the sternum and are known…
Rib cage

The structure formed by the thoracic vertebrae and ribs, the sternum (breastbone), and the costal cartilages (that attach the ribs to the sternum). A cage is an enclosure made of 'open work' that usually houses animals…
Rib, cervical

A extra rib which arises from the seventh cervical vertebra. It is located above the normal first rib. A cervical rib is present in only about 1 in 200 (0.5%) of people. It may cause nerve and artery problems. There are…
Rib, false

One of the last 5 pairs of ribs. A rib is said to be 'false' if it does not attach to the sternum (the breast bone). All 12 pairs of ribs attach to the building blocks of the spine (vertebrae) in the back. The 12 pairs…
Rib, floating

One of the last two ribs. A rib is said to be 'floating' if it does not attach to the sternum (the breast bone) or to another rib. There are usually 12 pairs of ribs in all. Each pair of ribs is attached to the building…
Rib, fluctuating

One of the last two ribs. A rib is said to be 'fluctuating' if it does not attach to the sternum (the breast bone) or to another rib. There are usually 12 pairs of ribs in all. Each pair of ribs is attached to the…
Rib, sternal

One of the first 7 pairs of ribs. A rib is said to be a 'sternal' rib or a 'true' rib if it attaches to the sternum (the breast bone). All 12 pairs of ribs attach to the building blocks of the spine (vertebrae) in the…
Rib, true

One of the first 7 pairs of ribs. A rib is said to be 'true' if it attaches to the sternum (the breast bone). All 12 pairs of ribs attach to the building blocks of the spine (vertebrae) in the back. The 12 pairs of ribs…
Rib, vertebral

One of the last two ribs. A rib is said to be 'vertebral' if it does not attach to the sternum (the breast bone) or to another rib. There are usually 12 pairs of ribs in all. Each pair of ribs is attached to the…
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

A combination of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein. In autoimmune diseases, antibodies can form against ribonucleoprotein. They are called anti-RNP antibodies.
Ribonucleoprotein (RNP)

A combination of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein. In autoimmune diseases, antibodies can form against ribonucleoprotein. They are called anti-RNP antibodies.
Ribosomal RNA

A molecular component of a ribosome, the cell's essential protein factory. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) fabricates polypeptides (assemblies of amino acids that make up proteins). A tiny particulate structure located in the…
Ribosome

An RNA molecule that can catalyze its own chemical reactions.
Ribozyme

An RNA molecule that can catalyze its own chemical reactions
Rice genome

The first commercially important plant to have its genome sequenced. This feat, completed early in 2001, is particularly important because rice is a staple food for a large portion of the population of the world. With…
Rice rat

A rodent capable of carrying the types of hantavirus that cause HPS (hantavirus pulmonary syndrome) in the US. The rice rat measures 5 to 6 inches for the head and body, plus a very long 4 to 7 inch tail. Rice rats…
Richard L. Varco

See: Varco, Richard L.
Ricin

Ricin: A potent protein toxin made from the waste left over from processing castor beans. The castor plant, which is called Ricinus communis, is found throughout the world. Ricin is fairly easy to extract. Worldwide a…
Ricker syndrome

A disease of infants and children that disturbs normal bone formation (ossification). Rickets is a failure to mineralize bone. This softens bone (producing osteomalacia) and permits marked bending and distortion of…
Rickets

A disease of infants and children that disturbs normal bone formation (ossification). Rickets is a failure to mineralize bone. This softens bone (producing osteomalacia) and permits marked bending and distortion of…
Rickets, celiac

Rickets caused by failure of the intestines to absorb calcium and fat from foods
Rickets, hypophosphatemic

A familial form of rickets characterized by hypophosphatemia (low blood phosphate level), defective intestinal absorption of phosphate, and rickets unresponsive to vitamin D. The basic problem is decreased resorption of…
Rickets, renal

Rickets-like bone malformations caused by prolonged inflammation of the kidneys
Rickets, vitamin D resistant

A rickets-like condition caused by an inborn defect of metabolism, usually in males. Vitamin D cannot be absorbed, and so does not work to treat the illness
Ricketts, Howard T.

American pathologist and pioneering infectious disease expert (1871-1910) who was the first to establish the identity of the infectious organism that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever. He and others characterized the…
Rickettsia

A member of a group of microorganisms that (like viruses) require other living cells for growth but (like bacteria) use oxygen, have metabolic enzymes and cell walls, and are susceptible to antibiotics. Rickettsiae…
Rickettsial diseases

The infectious diseases caused by the rickettsiae fall into 4 groups:(1) typhus: epidemic typhus, Brill-Zinsser disease, murine (endemic) typhus, and scrub typhus; (2) spotted fever-Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Eastern…
Rickettsialpox

A mild infectious disease first observed in New York City caused by Rickettsia akari, transmitted from its mouse host by chigger or adult mite bites. There is fever, a dark spot that becomes a small ulcer at the site of…
Rickettsioses

The infectious diseases caused by the rickettsiae. See Rickettsial diseases
Rickettsioses of the eastern hemisphere, tick-born

There are 3 known diseases caused by infection with rickettsial agents. They are North Asian tick-borne rickettsiosis, Queensland tick typhus, and African tick typhus (fievre boutonneuse)
Rickettsiosis, North Asian tick-borne

One of the tick-borne rickettsial diseases of the eastern hemisphere, similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but less severe, with fever, a small ulcer (eschar) at the site of the tick bite, swollen glands nearby…