| Iatrogenic |
a
term used to describe a disease, disorder, or medical condition
that is a direct result of medical treatment |
| Ichthyosis |
a
variety of diseases in which the skin is dry and scaly |
| Idiopathic |
a
term used to describe something that occurs of an unknown
cause |
| Ileostomy |
a
surgical procedure in which the lower part of the small intestine
(the ileum) is cut and brought to an opening in the abdominal
wall, where feces can be passed out of the body |
| Ileum |
the
lowest section of the small intestine, which attaches to the
large intestine |
| Ilium |
one
of the two bones that form the hip on either side of the body |
| Imaging |
the
technique of creating pictures of structures inside of the
body using X-rays, ultrasound waves, or magnetic fields |
| Immune
deficiency |
impairment
of the immune system, which reduces protection against infection
and illness |
| Immune
system |
the
cells, substances, and structures in the body that protect
against infection and illness |
| Immunity |
resistance
to a specific disease because of the responses of the immune
system |
| Immunization |
the
process of causing immunity by injecting antibodies or provoking
the body to make its own antibodies against a certain microorganism |
| Immunocompromised |
weakening
of the body's immune system |
| Immunodeficiency |
failure
of the body's immune system to fight disease |
| Immunoglobin |
proteins
in blood and tissue fluids that help destroy microorganisms
such as bacteria and viruses |
| Immunology |
the
study of the immune system, including how it functions and
disorders that affect it |
| Immunostimulant |
a
drug that increases the ability of the body's immune system
to fight disease |
| Immunosuppressant |
a
drug that inhibits the activity of the immune system; used
to prevent rejection of a transplant organ and in disorders
where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues |
| Impacted
fracture |
a
bone break in which the two broken ends have been forced into
each other |
| Imperforate
anus |
a
birth defect in which the opening of the anus is not formed
normally |
| Impetigo |
a
highly contagious skin infection caused by bacteria, usually
occurring around the nose and mouth; commonly occurring in
children |
| Implant |
an
organ, tissue, or device surgically inserted and left in the
body |
| Impotence |
the
inability to acquire or maintain an erection of the penis |
| Incompetent
cervix |
an
abnormally weak cervix, which widens prematurely during pregnancy
as a result of the weight of a developing fetus; may result
in a miscarriage |
| Incontinence |
inability
to hold urine or feces inside of the body |
| Incubation
period |
the
time period between when an infectious organism enters the
body and when symptoms occur |
| Indigestion |
uncomfortable
symptoms brought on by overeating or eating spicy, rich, or
fatty foods; characterized by heartburn, pain in the abdomen,
nausea, and gas, and can be more serious if recurrent |
| Induction
of labor |
the
use of artificial means to start the process of childbirth |
| Infarction |
tissue
death due to lack of blood supply |
| Infection |
disease-causing
microorganisms that enter the body, multiply, and damage cells
or release toxins |
| Infective
arthritis |
arthritis
caused by bacteria from a wound or the bloodstream entering
a joint |
| Infertility |
the
inability to have children as a result of sexual intercourse |
| Inflammation |
redness,
pain, and swelling in an injured or infected tissue produced
as a result of the body's healing response |
| Inflammatory
bowel disease |
the
general term for two inflammatory disorders affecting the
intestines; also known as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis |
| Inflammatory
joint disease |
any
type of arthritis that causes a joint to become inflamed |
| Influenza |
a
viral infection characterized by headaches, muscle aches,
fever, weakness, and cough; commonly called the "flu" |
| Informed
consent |
agreement
to undergo a medical procedure after the technique, its risks,
and its possible complications have been explained |
| Infusion |
the
introduction of a substance, such as a drug or nutrient, into
the bloodstream or a body cavity |
| Ingestion |
taking
something into the body through the mouth |
| Ingrown
toenail |
a
painful condition of the big toe in which the nail grows into
the skin on either side, causing inflammation and/or infection |
| Inguinal
hernia |
the
bulging of a portion of the intestines or abdominal tissue
into the muscles of the groin (the area just below the abdomen) |
| Inhaler |
a
device used to introduce a powdered or misted drug into the
lungs through the mouth, usually to treat respiratory disorders
such as asthma |
| Inheritance |
the
passing of traits from parent to child through genes |
| Injection |
the
use of a syringe and needle to insert a drug into a vein,
muscle, or joint or under the skin |
| Insemination |
the
placement of semen into a woman's uterus, cervix, or vagina |
| In
situ |
"in
place"; often describes a cancer that has not spread |
| Insomnia |
difficulty
falling or remaining asleep |
| Insulin |
a
hormone made in the pancreas that plays an important role
in the absorption of glucose (the body's main source of energy)
into muscle cells |
| Insulinoma |
a
noncancerous tumor of the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas;
the tumor releases excess insulin into the blood, causing
glucose levels to drop dangerously low |
| Intensive
care |
close
monitoring of a patient who is seriously ill |
| Interferon |
a
protein produced by body cells that fights viral infections
and certain cancers |
| Internal
fixation |
a
method of holding a broken bone in place using surgically
inserted screws, rods, or plates |
| Interstitial |
lying
between body structures or in the interspaces of tissues |
| Interstitial
cystitis |
persistent
inflammation of the lining and muscle of the bladder |
| Interstitial
lung disease |
a
disease of the connective tissue surrounding the air sacs
of the lungs that causes a dry cough, scarring of lung tissue,
and shortness of breath |
| Interstitial
pulmonary fibrosis |
scarring
of connective tissue in the lungs that leads to shortness
of breath |
| Interstitial
radiation therapy |
a
treatment for cancer in which a radioactive material is inserted
into or near a tumor to provide direct radiation |
| Intervertebral
disks |
broad,
flat cartilage structures containing a gel-like fluid that
cushion and separate vertebrae |
| Intestinal
bypass |
a
surgical procedure in which the beginning of the large intestine
is joined to its end so that less food is absorbed; because
of serious side effects, usually performed only on seriously
obese people |
| Intestine |
a
long, tube-shaped organ that extends from the stomach to the
anus; absorbs food and water and passes the waste products
of digestion as feces |
| Intra-aortic
balloon pump |
a
small balloon inserted into the aorta that helps to circulate
blood by inflating between heartbeats |
| Intractable |
describes
a condition that does not respond to treatment |
| Intramedullary
rod |
a
strong metal rod that is placed inside of a broken bone to
help it heal correctly |
| Intraocular
pressure |
the
pressure of the fluids within the eye |
| Intrauterine
device |
a
device inserted into the uterus that helps to prevent pregnancy |
| Intravenous |
inside
of or into a vein |
| Intrinsic |
a
term used to describe something originating from or located
in a tissue or organ |
| Intubation |
the
passage of a tube into an organ or body structure; commonly
used to refer to the passage of a tube down the windpipe for
artificial respiration |
| Invasive |
describes
something that spreads throughout body tissues, such as a
tumor or microorganism; also describes a medical procedure
in which body tissues are penetrated |
| In
vitro |
"in
glass"; a biological test or process that is carried out in
a laboratory |
| In
vitro fertilization |
a
treatment for infertility in which an egg and a sperm are
joined outside the woman's body, and the fertilized egg is
then inserted into the uterus or fallopian tube |
| In
vivo |
"in
the living body"; a biological process that occurs inside
of the body |
| Involuntary |
occurring
without a person's control or participation |
| Iodine |
an
element for the formation of thyroid hormones |
| Ionizing
radiation |
radiation
that damages cells or genes; can be used to treat cancer |
| IQ |
intelligence
quotient; a measure of a person's intelligence as determined
by specific tests |
| Iris |
the
colored part of the eye |
| Iron |
a
mineral necessary for the formation of important biological
substances such as hemoglobin, myoglobin, and certain enzymes
|
| Iron-deficiency
anemia |
a
type of anemia caused by a greater-than-normal loss of iron
due to bleeding, problems absorbing iron, or a lack of iron
in the diet |
| Irrigation |
the
cleansing of a wound by flushing it with water, a medicated
solution, or some other fluid |
| Irritable
bladder |
involuntary
contractions of muscles in the bladder, which can cause lack
of control of urination |
| Irritable
bowel syndrome |
abnormal
muscle movement in the intestines, which causes abdominal
pain and irregular bowel movements (diarrhea, constipation,
or both) |
| Ischemia |
a
condition in which a tissue or organ does not receive a sufficient
supply of blood |
| IUD |
see
Intrauterine device |
| IVF |
see
In vitro fertilization |
