Medical terms - Letter S (page 14) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Small saphenous vein

The smaller of the two saphenous veins, the principal veins that run up the leg superficially (near the surface). The small saphenous vein, runs behind the outer malleolus (the protuberance on the outside of the ankle…
Smallpox

The misuse of smallpox as an agent of bioterrorism. Smallpox was eradicated in 1977. Routine vaccinations stopped in the US in 1972. More than 40% of Americans and many others around the world have not been vaccinated…
Smallpox bioterrorism

The misuse of smallpox as an agent of bioterrorism. Smallpox was eradicated in 1977. Routine vaccinations stopped in the US in 1972. More than 40% of Americans and many others around the world have not been vaccinated…
Smallpox vaccination adverse reaction

An adverse event occurring after smallpox vaccination (vaccinia). Smallpox vaccination is a relatively safe, effective preventative against smallpox. However, in a number of individuals, smallpox vaccination can result…
Smallpox vaccination antidote

See Vaccinia immune globulin
Smallpox vaccination in eczema

See Eczema vaccinatum
Smallpox vaccination of eye

See Vaccinia keratitis
Smallpox vaccination of fetus

See Congenital vaccinia
Smallpox vaccine

A vaccine containing a live virus called vaccinia used to prevent smallpox. The vaccine does not contain the variola virus that causes smallpox. Through the use of the vaccine, smallpox was eliminated from the world in…
Smell

See Olfaction
Smell disorder

See: Olfactory disorder
Smell, inability to

No sense of smell is called anosmia. It can be due to loss of the sense of smell or failure for it to develop. Loss of the sense of smell can be due to a number of things including swelling within the nose that prevents…
Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome

A multiple congenital malformation syndrome caused by an abnormality in cholesterol metabolism, deficiency of the enzyme 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7), due to mutation of the DHCR7 gene on chromosome 11. The…
Smith-Magenis syndrome

A syndrome of abnormal physical, developmental and behavioral features due to microdeletion of chromosome 17 (loss of a very small segment from chromosome 17). The face is characterized by a short flat head, prominent…
Smoke, environmental tobacco

Abbreviated ETS. See: ETS.
Smoke, second-hand

Environmental tobacco smoke that is inhaled involuntarily or passively by someone who is not smoking. Environmental tobacco smoke is generated from the sidestream (the burning end) of a cigarette, pipe or cigar or from…
Smokeless tobacco

Tobacco that is not smoked but used in another form such as chewing tobacco or snuff. Cancers of the oral cavity (mouth, lip, tongue) have been associated with the use of chewing tobacco as well as snuff. The tumors…
Smoking, involuntary

The involuntary inhaling of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) by someone who is not smoking. See: ETS
Smoking, passive

The inhaling of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) by someone who is not smoking. See: ETS
Smoldering leukemia

A condition in which the bone marrow does not function normally. It does not produce enough blood cells. This condition may progress and become acute leukemia. Smoldering leukemia also is called myelodysplastic syndrome…
Smooth muscle

One of the three types of muscle tissue in the body (skeletal, smooth, cardiac). Generally forms the supporting tissue of blood vessels and hollow internal organs such as the stomach, intestine, and bladder. So named…
Snake

1. A long limbless scaly reptile, some being poisonous. 2. The symbol of rejuvenation and healing in many ancient Mediterranean cultures. The Greek god Asclepius, who specialized in healing, had a single snake entwined…
Snake antivenin

Antibodies created in the blood of a horse or sheep when the animal is injected with snake venom. Antivenin works by neutralizing snake venom that has entered the body. Also called snake antivenom
Snake antivenom

See: Snake antivenin. Other spellings: Snake antivenin
Snake bite

Snake bites: A bite of a venomous snake, such as a rattlesnake, copperhead, cottonmouth water moccasin, or coral snake. A bite from one of these snakes should be considered a medical emergency. See also: Rattlesnake…
Snake stick

A stick or rod with a snake curled around it is the staff (the rod) of Aesculapius (also called Asklepios), the ancient mythical god of medicine. His Greek name was Asklepios and his Roman name Aesculapius. In reality…
SNCA

The gene for alpha-synuclein
Sneeze

1. As a verb, to suddenly expel air through the nose and mouth by an involuntary contraction of the muscles of expiration. 2. As a noun, the act of sneezing. Sneezing is commonly caused by irritation of the nasal…
Snellen's chart

The familiar eye chart used to measure how well you see at various distances. Snellen's chart is imprinted with block letters that line-by-line decrease in size, corresponding to the distance at which that line of…
Snellen's test type

The letters on the familiar eye chart used to measure how well you see at various distances. The eye chart, known as Snellen's chart, is imprinted with block letters that line-by-line decrease in size, corresponding to…
Snip

A single base change, a change in which a single base in the DNA differs from the usual base at that position. 'Snips' are also termed SNPs. Millions of SNP's have been cataloged in the human genome. Some SNPs such that…
Snoreplasty, injection

An injection of a chemical called sodium tetradecyl sulfate that promotes stiffening of the soft palate by creating scar tissue in order to relieve snoring. The soft palate is the area above your throat in the back of…
Snoring

Snoring: A rough rattling noise made on inspiration during sleep by vibration of the soft palate (the back of the roof of the mouth) and the uvula (the prominent structure dangling down at the back of the mouth). On…
Snort

Take in a drug by inhalation. For example, snorting cocaine is inhaling cocaine powder through the nose where it is absorbed through the nasal tissues into the bloodstream
Snot

A popular, perjorative, and somewhat offensive term for nasal mucus (mucus produced in the nose)
Snowblindness

A burn of the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye) by ultraviolet B rays (UVB). Also called radiation keratitis or photokeratitis. The condition typically occurs at high altitudes on highly reflective snow fields…
Snowmobile safety

Snowmobiles pose a significant risk to children, adolescents and young adults. Head injuries are the leading cause of mortality (death) and serious morbidity (disease). They are due mainly to snowmobilers colliding…
SNP

A change in which a single base in the DNA differs from the usual base at that position. These single base changes are called SNPs or 'snips.' Millions of SNP's have been cataloged in the human genome. Some SNPs such…
Snuff

Tobacco in the form of a powder that is inhaled into the nose, not smoked. Snuff and chewing tobacco are the two main forms of smokeless tobacco in use in the United States. Cancers of the oral cavity (i.e., the mouth…
Snuffbox, anatomical

A hollow seen on the radial aspect (the thumbside) of the dorsum (the back) of the wrist when the thumb is extended fully. The reason that it is called the anatomical snuffbox is that snuff (powdered tobacco) could be…
Social anxiety disorder

Excessive fear of embarrassment in social situations that is extremely intrusive and can have debilitating effects on personal and professional relationships. Also called social phobia. Phobias are persistent…
Social phobia

Excessive fear of embarrassment in social situations that is extremely intrusive and can have debilitating effects on personal and professional relationships. The symptoms and signs of social phobia include blushing…
Social psychology

The study of the mind and mental processes, particularly as regards social interactions, focusing on the ways our actions influence others, and vice versa. Social psychology is a hybrid discipline, a fusion product of…
Social worker, clinical

See: Licensed clinical social worker
Socialized medicine

A system of health care in which all health personnel and health facilities, including doctors and hospitals, work for the government and draw salaries from the government. Doctors in the US Veterans Administration and…
Sociogenomics

The identification of the genes that influence social behavior, the understanding of the influence of these genes on underlying neural and endocrine mechanisms, and the exploration of the effects of the environment --…
Sociopath

A term once used for someone with what is now called antisocial personality disorder
Sociopathic personality

See: Antisocial personality disorder
Sociopathic personality disorder

See: Antisocial personality disorder
Sociophobia

Fear of social gatherings, fear of socializing, fear of embarrassment in social situations that is extremely intrusive and can have markedly debilitating effects on personal and professional relationships. Phobias are…