| Labia |
the
two pairs of skinfolds that protect the opening of the vagina |
| Labor |
the
interval from onset of contractions to birth of a baby |
| Labyrinthitis |
inflammation
of the fluid-containing chamber of the inner ear (called the
labyrinth) that maintains balance; can cause a feeling that
one's surroundings are spinning around (known as vertigo) |
| Laceration |
a
torn or ragged wound |
| Lactase
deficiency |
an
inherited disorder in which a person does not have the enzyme
lactase, which breaks down lactose (the sugar found in dairy
products); lactase deficiency leads to lactose intolerance,
which means the inability to digest lactose |
| Lactation |
the
production of breast milk after giving birth |
| Lactation
suppression |
a
decrease in milk production during pregnancy as a result of
high levels of estrogen in the blood |
| Lactic
acid |
an
acid produced by glucose-burning cells when these cells have
an insufficient supply of oxygen |
| Lactose |
the
sugar found in dairy products |
| Lactose
intolerance |
inability
to break down and absorb the sugar lactose |
| Lamaze
method |
a
method of preparing for childbirth that stresses physical
conditioning, relaxation, and breathing exercises |
| Laminectomy |
a
surgical procedure that removes part of a vertebra to relieve
pressure on the spinal cord or a nerve branching from the
spinal cord |
| Laparoscope |
a
viewing instrument used to examine and treat disorders in
the abdominal cavity; consists of a long tube with an eyepiece,
a lens, and often a camera, which allows the image to be viewed
on a monitor |
| Laparoscopic
cholecystectomy |
surgical
removal of the gallbladder using a laparoscope |
| Laparoscopy |
a
procedure done to examine the abdominal cavity using a laparoscope,
usually to investigate pelvic pain or gynecologic conditions
such as infertility |
| Large-cell
carcinoma |
one
of the 4 major types of lung cancer |
| Large
intestine |
the
part of the digestive tract that is located between the small
intestine and the anus |
| Laryngectomy |
surgical
removal of all or part of the voice box (larynx) as a treatment
for cancer |
| Laryngitis |
inflammation
of the voice box, usually caused by a viral infection; characterized
by a hoarse voice |
| Larynx |
the
medical term for the voice box, the organ in the throat that
produces voice and also prevents food from entering the airway |
| Laser
treatment |
the
use of a laser (a concentrated beam of light) to perform medical
procedures, such as the destruction of tumors |
| Latent
infection |
an
infection that lies dormant in the body for months or years
but can reappear |
| Lateral |
on
one side |
| Laxatives |
drugs
used to clear feces from the intestines; commonly used to
treat constipation |
| Lazy
eye |
the
common name for the visual defect resulting from untreated
strabismus, in which the eyes are not correctly aligned |
| LDL |
see
Low-density lipoprotein |
| Lead
poisoning |
damage
to the brain, nerves, red blood cells, or digestive system
because of ingestion of lead |
| Learning
disability |
any
of a variety of disorders, including hyperactivity, dyslexia,
and hearing problems, that can interfere with a person's ability
to learn |
| Legionnaires'
disease |
a
form of pneumonia that is mainly spread through air-conditioning
systems and water |
| Leiomyoma |
a
noncancerous tumor of smooth muscle |
| Leishmaniasis |
a
group of parasitic diseases affecting the skin, mucous membranes,
and internal organs; transmitted by the bite of a sandfly |
| Leptospirosis |
infection
by a spiral-shaped bacterium that affects the skin, eyes,
muscles, kidneys, and liver; leptospirosis is carried by rodents |
| Lesch-Nyhan
syndrome |
a
genetic disorder affecting only men that causes mental handicap,
self-mutilation, and aggressive behavior |
| Lesion |
an
abnormality of structure or function in the body |
| Leukemia |
a
group of bone marrow cancers in which white blood cells divide
uncontrollably, affecting the production of normal white blood
cells, red blood cells, and platelets |
| Leukocyte |
another
name for a white blood cells |
| Leukocyte
count |
the
number of white blood cells in the blood, which is used as
a measure of health and possible infection |
| Leukodystrophy |
a
group of childhood genetic disorders in which the protective
coverings of the nerves are destroyed |
| Leukoplakia |
white
patches that can develop in the mouth or on the penis or the
opening of the vagina and are potentially cancerous |
| LH |
see
Luteinizing hormone |
| Lichen
planus |
a
common skin disease in which itchy, small, pink or purple
spots appear on the arms or legs |
| Ligament |
a
tough, elastic band of tissue that connects bones and suupports
organs |
| Ligation |
the
process of closing a blood vessel or duct by tying it off
|
| Lipid-lowering
drugs |
drugs
taken to lower the levels of specific fats called lipids in
the blood in order to reduce the risk of narrowing of the
arteries |
| Lipidosis |
any
disorder in which fats cannot be properly broken down by the
digestive system |
| Lipids |
a
group of fats stored in the body and used for energy |
| Lipoma |
a
noncancerous tumor of fatty tissue |
| Lipoproteins |
substances
containing lipids and proteins, comprising most fats in the
blood |
| Liposarcoma |
a
cancerous tumor of fatty tissue |
| Liposuction |
a
surgical procedure in which fat is removed from areas of the
body using a suction pump |
| Listeriosis |
a
rare bacterial infection acquired by eating undercooked infected
meat or from infected live animals; can be dangerous to newborns
and the elderly |
| Lithotripsy |
a
procedure done to break up stones in the urinary tract using
ultrasonic shock waves, so that the fragments can be easily
passed from the body |
| Liver |
the
largest organ in the body, producing many essential chemicals
and regulating the levels of most vital substances in the
blood |
| Liver
failure |
the
final stage of liver disease, in which liver function becomes
so impaired that other areas of the body are affected, most
commonly the brain |
| Lobe |
a
well-defined, separate part of an organ |
| Lobectomy |
surgical
removal of a lobe |
| Local
anesthesia |
a
method of preventing pain by inducing the loss of sensation
in a certain area of the body while the patient remains awake |
| Locked
joint |
a
joint that cannot be moved because of a disease or a lodged
piece of bone or cartilage |
| Lockjaw |
a
spasm of the jaw muscles that prevents the mouth from opening,
such as that caused by tetanus |
| Locomotor
system |
the
structures of the body that are responsible for its movement |
| Lordosis |
the
inward curvature of the spine at the lower back, which is
normal to a certain degree; abnormal as a result of certain
medical conditions, being overweight, or having muscle problems
|
| Lou
Gehrig's disease |
see
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis |
| Low-density
lipoprotein |
a
type of lipoprotein that is the major carrier of cholesterol
in the blood, with high levels associated with narrowing of
the arteries and heart disease |
| Lumbago |
dull,
aching pain in the lower back |
| Lumbar
puncture |
a
procedure in which a needle is inserted into the lower region
of the spinal canal to take out a sample of spinal fluid or
to inject a drug |
| Lumbar
spine |
the
lower part of the spine between the lowest pair of ribs and
the pelvis; made up of five vertebrae |
| Lumpectomy |
surgical
removal of a section of breast containing cancer |
| Lung
collapse |
a
condition in which all or part of a lung cannot expand and
fill with air |
| Lungs |
two
organs in the chest that take in oxygen from the air and release
carbon dioxide |
| Lupus
erythematosus |
a
disorder of the immune system that causes inflammation of
connective tissue |
| Luteinizing
hormone |
a
hormone produced by the pituitary gland that causes the ovaries
and testicles to release sex hormones and plays a role in
the development of eggs and sperm |
| Lyme
disease |
a
disease caused by bacteria transmitted through the bite of
a tick; characterized by fever, rash, and inflammation of
the heart and joints |
| Lymph |
a
milky fluid containing white blood cells, proteins, and fats;
plays an important role in absorbing fats from the intestine
and in the functioning of the immune system |
| Lymphadenopathy |
swollen
lymph nodes |
| Lymphangiography |
an
X-ray procedure that creates images of the lymphatic system |
| Lymphatic
system |
a
network of vessels that drain lymph back into the blood |
| Lymph
node |
a
small gland that is part of the immune system; contains white
blood cells and antibodies and helps fight against the spread
of infection |
| Lymphocyte |
a
white blood cell that is an important part of the body's immune
system, helping to destroy invading microorganisms |
| Lymphocytic
leukemia |
a
disease in which white blood cells called lymphocytes divide
uncontrollably |
| Lymphogranuloma
venereum |
a
sexually transmitted chlamydial infection; common in countries
with a tropical climate |
| Lymphomas |
a
group of cancer of the lymph nodes and spleen that can spread
to other parts of the body |
| Lymphosarcoma |
another
name for a non-Hodgkin's sarcoma; a cancerous tumor in lymphoid
tissue |
