| Calcification |
the
depositing of calcium salts in the body, which occurs normally
in teeth and bones but abnormally in injured muscles and narrowed
arteries |
| Calcitonin |
a
hormone made in the thyroid gland that controls calcium levels
in the blood by slowing the loss of calcium from bones; used
to treat hypercalcemia (excess calcium in the blood) |
| Calcium |
a
plentiful mineral in the body and the basic component of teeth
and bones; essential for cell function, muscle contraction,
transmission of nerve impulses, and blood clotting |
| Calcium
channel blocker |
a
drug used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, and irregular
heartbeat by preventing the movement of calcium into the muscle |
| Callus |
a
thickened area of skin due to consistent pressure or friction,
or the area around a bone break where new bone is formed |
| Calorie |
a
unit that is used to measure the energy content in food |
| Canal |
a
tunnel-like passage |
| Cancer |
a
group of diseases in which cells grow unrestrained in an organ
or tissue in the body; can spread to tissues around it and
destroy them or be transported through blood or lymph pathways
to other parts of the body |
| Cancer
staging |
a
method to determine how much a cancer has developed |
| Candidiasis |
a
yeast infection caused by the fungus Candida albicans; occurs
most often in the vagina, but also in the mouth, on moist
skin, or on the penis |
| Canker
sore |
small,
painful sore that usually occurs on the inside of the lip
or cheek, or sometimes under the tongue; caused by bacteria,
irritation of the area, stress, or allergies |
| Capillary |
a
tiny blood vessel that connects the smallest arteries to the
smallest veins and allows exchange of oxygen and other materials
between blood cells and body tissue cells |
| Carbohydrate |
a
substance, mainly sugar and starch, that is a main source
of energy for the body and is found in sources such as cereals,
breads, pastas, grains, and vegetables |
| Carbon
dioxide |
a
colorless, odorless gas present in small amounts in the atmosphere
and formed during respiration |
| Carcinogen |
anything
that can cause cancer |
| Carcinoma |
a
cancer that occurs on the surface or lining of an organ |
| Cardiac
arrest |
the
sudden cessation of the heart's pumping action, possibly due
to a heart attack, respiratory arrest, electrical shock, extreme
cold, blood loss, drug overdose, or a severe allergic reaction |
| Cardiogenic
shock |
a
severely dangerous condition involving decreased blood output
from the heart, usually as a result of a heart attack |
| Cardiomegaly |
a
condition marked by enlargement of the heart, either because
of a thickened heart muscle or an enlarged heart chamber;
usually a result of the heart having to work harder than normal,
as occurs with high blood pressure |
| Cardiomyopathy |
a
disease of the heart muscle that results in decreased output
and reduced blood flow |
Cardiopulmonary
resuscitation |
the
administration of heart compression and artificial respiration
to restore circulation and breathing |
Cardiovascular
system |
the
heart and blood vessels that are responsible for circulating
blood throughout the body |
| Carditis |
inflammation
of the heart |
| Carotene |
an
orange pigment present in colored plants such as carrots that
is converted by the body to the essential nutrient vitamin
A |
| Carotid
arteries |
four
main arteries that carry blood to the head and neck |
| Carpal
bones |
eight
bones that together make the wrist |
| Carpal
tunnel syndrome |
a
condition in which pressure on the median nerve in the wrist
causes soreness, tingling, and numbness in the thumb and index
and middle fingers |
| Cartilage |
a
connective tissue (softer than bone) that is part of the skeletal
system, including the joints |
| Cast |
a
hard plaster or fiberglass shell that molds to a body part
such as an arm and holds it in place for proper healing |
| Cataract |
a
disorder in which the lens of the eye becomes less transparent
and in some cases a milky white, making vision less clear
|
| Catheter |
a
hollow, flexible tube inserted into the body to put in or
take out fluid, or to open up or close blood vessels |
| Catheterization |
a
technique in which a hollow, flexible tube is used to drain
body fluids (such as urine), to introduce fluids into the
body, or to examine or widen a narrowed vein or artery |
| CAT
scanning |
see
Computed tomography scanning |
| Cat-scratch
fever |
an
illness transmitted to humans through a cat's bite or scratch,
which is thought to be caused by an unidentified bacteria;
characterized by a swollen lymph node or blister near the
bite or scratch, fever, rash, and headache; most commonly
occurring in children |
| Cauliflower
ear |
a
deformed ear caused by repeated injury |
| Cauterization |
the
use of heat, an electric current, or a chemical to destroy
tissue or stop bleeding |
| Cecum |
the
beginning of the large intestine, which is connected to the
appendix at its lower end |
| Cell |
the
tiny structures that make up all the tissues of the body and
carry out all of its functions |
| Cellulitis |
a
skin infection caused by bacteria (usually streptococci);
can lead to tissue damage and blood poisoning if untreated;
characterized by fever, chills, heat, tenderness, and redness |
Central
nervous
system |
the
brain and spinal cord |
| Cerebellum |
a
region of the brain located at the back; responsible for coordination
of movement and maintaining balance |
| Cerebral
palsy |
a
group of disorders of movement and posture resulting from
damage to the brain early in a child's development; causes
muscle weakness, difficulty coordinating voluntary movements,
and sometimes complete loss of motion |
Cerebrospinal
fluid |
a
clear, watery fluid circulating in and around the brain and
spinal column, which contains glucose, proteins, and salts
for nutrition |
Cerebrovascular
disease |
a
disease affecting any artery supplying blood to the brain;
may cause blockage or rupture of a blood vessel, leading to
a stroke |
| Cerebrum |
the
largest part of the brain and the site of most of its activity,
including sensory and motor functions |
| Cervical
cap |
a
small rubber cup that is placed tightly over the cervix to
prevent pregnancy |
Cervical
dysplasia |
changes
that occur in the cells on the surface of the cervix that
usually precede the stages of cancer |
Cervical
incompetence |
a
weakness of the neck of the uterus, which can lead to spontaneous
abortion due to an inability to support the weight of the
fetus |
| Cervical
smear |
a
procedure in which cells are scraped off of the cervix and
examined to detect changes that might precede the stages of
cancer; also called a Pap smear |
| Cervicitis |
inflammation
of the cervix |
| Cervix |
a
small, round organ making up the neck of the uterus and separating
it from the vagina |
| Cesarean
section |
an
operation performed to remove a fetus by cutting into the
uterus, usually through the abdominal wall |
| Chancre |
a
painless sore that has a thick, rubbery base and a defined
edge; usually occurs on the genitals after the contraction
of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis |
| Chemotherapy |
the
treatment of infections or cancer with drugs that act on disease-producing
organisms or cancerous tissue; may also affect normal cells
|
| Chickenpox |
a
contagious disease that causes a rash and a fever; most commonly
occurs during childhood |
| Chlamydia |
microorganisms
that cause several human infections and can be transmitted
sexually |
| Cholecystectomy |
the
surgical removal of the gallbladder |
| Cholera |
a
bacterial infection of the small intestine that causes severe
watery diarrhea, dehydration, and possibly death |
| Cholesterol |
a
substance in body cells that plays a role in the production
of hormones and bile salts and in the transport of fats in
the bloodstream |
| Chondritis |
inflammation
of cartilage |
| Chondroma |
a
noncancerous tumor that occurs in cartilage |
Chondromalacia
patellae |
painful
damage to the cartilage behind the kneecap |
| Chondrosarcoma |
a
cancerous cartilage tumor that develops inside of bone or
on its surface |
Chorionic
villus
sampling |
a
method of diagnosing fetal defects in which a small amount
of tissue is taken from the placenta and analyzed for abnormalities |
| Choroiditis |
inflammation
of the blood vessels behind the retina that line the back
of the eye |
Chromosome
analysis |
examination
of a person's chromosomes either to determine if that person
has an abnormality or to investigate one |
| Chronic |
describes
a disorder that continues for a long period of time |
Chronic
obstructive
lung disease |
a
combination of the lung diseases emphysema and bronchitis,
characterized by blockage of airflow in and out of the lungs |
| Cilia |
tiny,
hairlike structures on the outside of some cells, providing
mobility |
| Circumcision |
the
surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis |
Cirrhosis
of the
liver |
gradual
loss of liver function due to cell damage and internal scarring |
| Claudication |
a
cramping pain in one or both legs while walking, which can
cause limping |
| Claustrophobia |
fear
of being confined in an enclosed or crowded space |
| Clavicle |
the
medical term for the collarbone |
| Cleft
lip |
a
birth defect in which the upper lip is split vertically, extending
into one or both nostrils |
| Cleft
palate |
a
birth defect in which the roof of the mouth is split, extending
from behind the teeth to the nasal cavity; often occurs with
other birth defects such as cleft lip and partial deafness |
| Clinical
trial |
carefully
monitored and planned testing of a new drug or treatment |
| Clitoris |
a
small female organ located near the opening of the vagina
that swells when sexually aroused |
| Clone |
an
exact copy of a gene, cell, or organism |
| Closed
fracture |
a
bone break that does not break the skin |
| Clotting
factor |
a
substance in the blood that is needed for blood to harden
and stop a wound from bleeding |
| Clubfoot |
a
genetic disorder in which the foot is twisted and misshapen |
Cluster
headache |
severe
pain that occurs suddenly and affects one side of the head,
including the face and neck |
| CNS |
see
Central nervous system |
| Coagulation |
a
process that plays a large role in the hardening and thickening
of blood to form a clot |
| Cocarcinogen |
a
substance that does not cause cancer by itself, but increases
the effect of a substance that does cause cancer |
| Coccyx |
four
fused bones that form a triangular shape at the base of the
spine (also known as the tailbone) |
| Cochlea |
a
coiled organ in the inner ear that plays a large role in hearing
by picking up sound vibrations and transmitting them as electrical
signals |
| Coitus |
sexual
intercourse |
| Cold
sore |
a
small blister anywhere around the mouth that is caused by
the herpes simplex virus |
| Colectomy |
the
complete or partial surgical removal of the large intestine
(the colon), usually as treatment of a cancerous tumor or
a narrowing and blockage of the intestine |
| Colic |
waves
of pain in the abdomen that increase in strength, disappear,
and return; usually caused by a stone blocking a bile or urine
passageway or an intestinal infection |
| Colitis |
inflammation
of the large intestine (the colon), which usually leads to
abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea with blood and mucus |
| Collapsed
lung |
a
condition in which all or part of a lung cannot expand and
fill with air |
| Colon |
the
main part of the large intestine, between the cecum and the
rectum |
| Colonoscopy |
investigation
of the inside of the colon using a long, flexible fiberoptic
tube |
| Color
blindness |
any
vision disorder in which the person sees colors abnormally,
has trouble distinguishing between them, or cannot see them
at all |
| Colostomy |
a
surgical procedure in which some part of the colon is cut
and moved to the surface of the abdomen so that feces can
be passed into a bag worn outside of the body |
| Coma |
a
condition in which the area of the brain involved in maintaining
consciousness is somehow affected, resulting in a state of
unconsciousness in which the patient does not respond to stimulation
|
Comminuted
fracture |
a
crushed or shattered bone |
| Common
cold |
an
infection caused by a virus, which results in an inflamed
lining of the nose and throat; characterized by a stuffy and
runny nose and, sometimes, a sore throat |
Communicable
disease |
a
disease that can be passed from one individual to another |
Compound
fracture |
a
bone break that breaks the skin |
Compression
fracture |
a
break in a short bone in which its soft tissue is crushed |
Computed
tomography
scanning |
a
technique for producing cross-sectional images of the body
in which X-rays are passed through the body at different angles
and analyzed by a computer; also called CT scanning or CAT
scanning |
| Concussion |
disturbance
of electrical activity in the brain due to a blow to the head
or neck, causing temporary loss of consciousness |
| Congenital |
present
or existing at the time of birth |
Congestive
heart
failure |
inability
of the heart to efficiently pump blood through the body, causing
buildup of blood in the veins and of other body fluids in
tissue |
| Conjunctiva |
the
clear membrane covering the white of the eye and the inside
of the eyelid that produces a fluid that lubricates the cornea
and eyelid |
| Conjunctivitis |
inflammation
of the conjunctiva; commonly called pinkeye |
| Connective
tissue |
strong
tissue that connects and supports body structures |
| Constipation |
difficult
or infrequent bowel movements of hard, dry feces |
| Contraindication |
an
aspect of a patient's condition that makes the use of a certain
drug or therapy an unwise or dangerous decision |
| Contusion |
damage
to the skin and underlying tissue as a result of a blunt injury;
a bruise |
| Corn |
a
thickened callus on the foot that is caused by an improperly
fitting shoe |
| Cornea |
the
clear, dome-shaped front portion of the eye's outer covering |
| Coronary |
describes
structures that encircle another structure (such as the coronary
arteries, which circle the heart); commonly used to refer
to a coronary thrombosis or a heart attack |
| Coronary
arteries |
the
arteries that branch off from the aorta and supply oxygen-rich
blood to the heart muscle |
Coronary
artery
bypass surgery |
an
operation in which a piece of vein or artery is used to bypass
a blockage in a coronary artery; performed to prevent myocardial
infarction and relieve angina pectoris |
Coronary
heart
disease |
disorders
that restrict the blood supply to the heart, including atherosclerosis |
Coronary
thrombosis |
the
blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot |
| Corpuscle |
a
tiny, rounded structure in the body, such as a red or white
blood cell |
| Corticosteroids |
synthetic
drugs that are used to replace natural hormones or to suppress
the immune system and help prevent inflammation |
| CPR |
see
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| Creatinine |
a
waste product that is filtered from the blood by the kidneys
and expelled in urine |
| Croup |
a
usually mild and temporary condition common in children under
the age of 4 in which the walls of the airways become inflamed
and narrow, resulting in wheezing and coughing |
Cruciate
ligaments |
two
ligaments in the knee that cross each other and help stabilize
the knee joint |
| CT
scanning |
a
procedure that uses X-rays and computers to create cross-sectional
images of the body to diagnose and monitor disease |
| Culture |
the
artificial growth of cells, tissue, or microorganisms such
as bacteria in a laboratory |
| Curettage |
the
use of a sharp, spoonlike instrument (a curet) to scrape away
tissue that is abnormal or to obtain a sample that can be
analyzed |
| CVS |
see
Chorionic villus sampling |
| Cyanosis |
a
bluish discoloration of the skin, caused by low levels of
oxygen in the blood |
| Cyst |
a
lump filled with either fluid or soft material, occurring
in any organ or tissue; may occur for a number of reasons
but is usually harmless unless its presence disrupts organ
or tissue function |
| Cystectomy |
surgical
removal of the bladder; the bladder is often replaced with
a short length of small intestine |
| Cystic
fibrosis |
an
inherited disorder in which the lungs are prone to infection,
and fats and other nutrients cannot be absorbed into the body |
| Cystoscopy |
examination
of the urethra and bladder using a long, thin, fiberoptic
tube |
| Cystostomy |
the
surgical placement of a drainage opening in the bladder |
