Medical terms - Letter R (page 8) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Resorb

Literally, to absorb again. To lose substance. Some of a tooth may be resorbed
Resorption

The process of losing substance. Bone, when it is remodeled (reshaped), undergoes both new formation and resorption. The cell responsible for the resorption of bone is called an osteoclast
Respiration

1. The act of inhaling and exhaling air in order to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide. Synonymous with breathing and ventilation. 2. The cellular metabolic process by which oxygen is taken in, substances are oxidized…
Respiratory

Having to do with respiration, the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. From the Latin re- (again) + spirare (to breathe) = to breathe again
Respiratory disease, acute

A sudden condition in which breathing is difficult and the oxygen levels in the blood abruptly drop lower than normal
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)

Formerly known as hyaline membrane disease, a syndrome of respiratory difficulty in newborn infants caused by a deficiency of a molecule called surfactant. RDS almost always occurs in newborns born before 37 weeks of…
Respiratory distress syndrome, acute

Better known as ARDS. See: ARDS
Respiratory failure

Inability of the lungs to perform their basic task of gas exchange, the transfer of oxygen from inhaled air into the blood and the transfer of carbon dioxide from the blood into exhaled air. The basis of respiratory…
Respiratory insufficiency

The condition in which the lungs cannot take in sufficient oxygen or expell sufficient carbon dioxide to meet the needs of the cells of the body. Also called pulmonary insufficiency
Respiratory papillomatosis, recurrent

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis involves the growth of numerous warty growths in the larynx on the vocal cords in children and young adults. A baby can contract recurrent respiratory papillomatosis by being…
Respiratory rate

The number of breaths per minute or, more formally, the number of movements indicative of inspiration and expiration per unit time. In practice, the respiratory rate is usually determined by counting the number of times…
Respiratory syncytial virus

Respiratory syncytial virus: A virus that causes mild respiratory infections, colds, and coughs in adults, but can produce severe respiratory problems, including bronchitis and pneumonia in young children. Persons with…
Respiratory system

The organs that are involved in breathing. These include the nose, throat, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs
Respiratory therapist

A person who has graduated from an approved respiratory therapist program and is qualified to provide respiratory care under the supervision of a physician. In the US, respiratory therapists may be is registered by the…
Respiratory therapy

Exercises and treatments designed to help patients maintain and recover lung function, such as with cystic fibrosis and after surgery
Response, Babinski

A neurologic reflex that constitutes an important medical examination based, believe it or not, upon what the big toe does when the sole of the foot is stroked. If the big toe goes up, that may mean trouble. The…
Response, hyperglycemic

A response resulting in a high blood sugar and specifically elevating the level of the sugar glucose in the blood. Hyperglycemia is often found in diabetes mellitus. It occurs when the body does not have enough insulin…
Response, plantar

The plantar response, also known as the Babinski response, is an important neurologic examination based upon what the toes do when the sole (the plantar surface) of the foot is stroked. If the big toe goes up, that may…
Rest

1. Repose. Relaxation.2. A fragment of embryonic tissue that has been retained after the period of embryonic development. Also called an embryonic rest
Restenosis

Renarrowing, as in restenosis of a coronary artery after angioplasty. From the Greek 'stenos' meaning narrow
Resting phase

More appropriately called interphase. The interval in the cell cycle between two cell divisions when the individual chromosomes cannot be distinguished, interphase was once thought to be the resting phase but it is far…
Restitution

In cytogenetics, the spontaneous rejoining of broken chromosomes to reconstitute the original chromosome configuration
Restless leg syndrome

Restless leg syndrome: An uncomfortable creeping, crawling, tingling, pulling, twitching, tearing, aching, throbbing, prickling or grabbing sensation in the calves that occurs while sitting or while lying down. Whatever…
Restless legs

See: Restless leg syndrome
Restriction endonuclease

An enzyme from bacteria that can recognize specific base sequences in DNA and cut (restrict) the DNA at that site (the restriction site). Also called a restriction enzyme
Restriction enzyme

An enzyme from bacteria that can recognize specific base sequences in DNA and cut the DNA at that site (the restriction site). A restriction enzyme acts as a biochemical scissors. Also called a restriction endonuclease…
Restriction fragment length polymorphism

A difference in DNA between people that can be recognized by the use of a restriction enzyme. Referred to as an RFLP
Restriction map

An array of sites in DNA susceptible to cleavage by diverse restriction enzymes
Restriction site

A sequence in DNA that can be recognized and cut by a specific restriction enzyme.
Resuscitate

To restore to life. Derived from the Latin resuscitare, to reawaken
Resuscitation

The procedure of restoring to life, as in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Resveratrol

An antioxidant present in many plants. Resveratrol is a type of polyphenol called a phytoalexin, a class of compounds produced as part of a plant's defense system against disease. It is produced in the plant in response…
Retardation, reading

Reading retardation means impaired ability to read. Reading retardation is an impairment that may, for example, reflect mental retardation or cultural deprivation. Reading retardation is different from dyslexia, a…
Retic

Short for reticulocyte
Retic count

Short for reticulocyte count
Reticulocyte

A young red blood cell that usually remains in the bone marrow with only a few venturing out into the circulating blood. The number of reticulocytes in blood rises when red cell production is unusually vigorous, as…
Reticulocyte count

The number of reticulocytes (young red blood cells) circulating in blood, usually less than 1% of the total number of the red blood cells. Elevation of the reticulocyte count above 1% (reticulocytosis) is a sign of…
Reticulocytosis

An elevation in the number of reticulocytes (young red blood cells) in blood, a sign of unusually rapid red blood cell production. The number of reticulocytes is normally less than 1% of the total number of the red…
Reticuloendotheliosis, leukemic

See: Hairy cell leukemia
Retina

The retina is the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light, and creates impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain. There is a small area, called the macula, in the retina that contains…
Retina, detached

A retina that separates from its connection at the back of the eye. The process of retinal detachment is usually due to a tear (a rip) in the retina, often when the vitreous gel pulls loose or separates from its…
Retinal

Pertaining to the retina, the extraordinary layer of neurons (nerve cells) that line the back of the eye, which can sense light and create impulses capable of voyaging through the optic nerve to the brain where the…
Retinal artery, central

The blood vessel that carries blood into the eye and supplies nutrition to the retina. The counterpart to the central retinal artery is the central retinal vein, the vessel that carries blood away from the retina.
Retinal detachment

Retinal detachment: A separation of the retina from its connection at the back of the eye. The separation usually results from a tear (that is, a rent or rip, not a tear drop) in the retina. The tear often occurs when…
Retinal disease

In medicine, called retinopathy. See: Retinopathy
Retinal electrophysiologic testing

See: Electrophysiologic retinal testing
Retinal fundus

The interior lining of the eyeball, including the retina (the light-sensitive screen), optic disc (the head of the nerve to the eye), and the macula (the small spot in the retina where vision is keenest). The fundus is…
Retinal pigment epithelium

The pigment cell layer that nourishes the retinal cells. The retinal pigment epithelium is located just outside the retina and is attached to what is called the choroid, a layer filled with blood vessels that nourish…
Retinal vasculitis

Vasculitis: The retina is the portion of the eye that contains the nerves of sensation that perceive light. It is also filled with tiny blood vessels. Vasculitis of the eye is typically the result of inflammation of the…
Retinal vein, central

The blood vessel that carries blood away from the retina of the eye. The counterpart to the central retinal vein is the central retinal artery, the blood vessel that carries blood into the eye and supplies nutrition to…