| Kaposi's
sarcoma |
a
skin cancer that is characterized by purple-red tumors that
start at the feet and spread upward on the body; commonly
occurs in people who have AIDS |
| Kawasaki
disease |
a
childhood disease causing fever, rash, skin peeling, swollen
lymph nodes, and possibly complications of the heart and brain |
| Keloid |
a
raised, firm, thick scar that forms as a result of a defect
in the natural healing process |
| Keratin |
a
tough protein found in skin, nails, and hair |
| Keratitis |
inflammation
of the cornea |
| Keratolytic |
drugs
that remove the keratin-containing outer layer of skin; used
to treat skin disorders such as warts and dandruff |
| Keratoplasty |
surgical
replacement or reshaping of the cornea |
| Keratosis |
a
growth on the skin that is the result of overproduction of
the protein keratin |
| Ketoacidosis |
the
dangerous accumulation of chemicals called ketones in the
blood, sometimes occurring as a complication of diabetes mellitus;
also called ketosis |
| Kidney |
one
of two organs that are part of the urinary tract; responsible
for filtering the blood and removing waste products and excess
water as urine |
| Kidney
stone |
a
hard mass composed of substances from the urine that form
in the kidneys |
| Killer
T cells |
white
blood cells that are part of the immune system and destroy
microorganisms and cancer cells |
| Kilocalorie |
a
unit of energy; equal to a nutritional calorie |
| Kimmelstiel-Wilson
syndrome |
a
kidney disorder that can occur as a complication of diabetes
mellitus; can cause swelling, high blood pressure, and kidney
failure |
| Klinefelter's
syndrome |
a
genetic disorder in which a man has at least 1 extra X chromosome
in his cells, causing infertility and female characteristics |
| Knee-jerk
reflex |
a
test for a reflexive extension of the leg to check the functioning
of the nervous system; tapping the knee just below the kneecap
should cause the lower part of the leg to jerk upward |
| Kyphosis |
excessive
curvature of the spine, which usually affects the top part
of the spine and causes a hump |
