| Pacemaker |
a
small electronic device that is surgically implanted to stimulate
the heart muscle to provide a normal heartbeat |
| Paget's
disease |
a
disorder occurring in the middle-aged and elderly in which
bone does not form properly, causing bone weakening, thickening,
and deformity |
| Palate |
the
roof of the mouth |
| Palliative
treatment |
treatment
that relieves the symptoms of a disorder without curing it
|
| Pallor |
abnormally
pale skin; usually refers to the skin of the face |
| Palpation |
the
use of the hands to feel parts of the body to check for any
abnormalities |
| Palpitation |
an
abnormally rapid and strong heartbeat |
| Palsy |
loss
of sensation or ability to move |
| Pancreas |
a
long gland located behind the stomach that produces enzymes
that help to break down food and hormones (insulin and glucagon)
that help to regulate glucose levels in the blood |
| Pancreatitis |
inflammation
of the pancreas, which is often caused by alcohol abuse |
| Pandemic |
a
widespread epidemic |
| Panic
disorder |
an
emotional disorder characterized by attacks of anxiety that
have no normal causes; usually made worse by stress |
| Papilloma |
a
tumor occurring on the skin or mucous membranes; usually not
cancerous |
| Pap
smear |
a
test in which cells are scraped off the cervix and examined
for abnormalities; used to detect changes that might precede
cervical cancer and to diagnose viral infections such as herpes
simplex |
| Paracentesis |
the
insertion of a needle into a body cavity to relieve pressure,
inject a drug, or remove a sample for analysis |
| Paralysis |
the
inability to use a muscle because of injury to or disease
of the nerves leading to the muscle |
| Paramedic |
a
person trained to give first aid and other emergency medical
care |
| Paranoia |
a
disorder in which a person becomes overly suspicious and emotionally
sensitive |
| Paraphimosis |
strangulation
of the head of the penis by a tight or inflamed foreskin that
has been pulled back |
| Paraplegia |
complete
or partial loss of sensation and movement of the legs |
| Parasite |
an
organisms that lives on or in other organisms, from which
it obtains nutrients |
| Parasympathetic
nervous system |
the
part of the autonomic nervous system that is stimulated during
times of relaxation |
| Parathyroidectomy |
the
surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands |
| Parathyroid
glands |
small
glands located in the neck that produce a hormone that regulates
the levels of calcium in the blood |
| Parathyroid
hormone |
a
hormone released by the parathyroid glands that plays a role
in controlling calcium levels in the blood |
| Parenteral |
the
introduction of a substance into the body by any route other
than the digestive tract, such as through a vein or muscle |
| Paresis |
partial
paralysis |
| Paresthesia |
numbness
or tingling in the skin; commonly referred to as "pins and
needles" |
| Parkinson's
disease |
a
brain disorder in which there is a lack of the chemical messenger
dopamine, which helps control muscle movement; leads to muscle
stiffness, weakness, and trembling |
| Paronychia |
a
bacterial or yeast infection of the skin around the nail |
| Parotid
glands |
salivary
glands located in the mouth near the ears |
| Paroxysm |
a
sudden attack or worsening of a disease's symptoms |
| Partial
mastectomy |
a
treatment for breast cancer in which a tumor is removed, along
with the skin covering it and some of the surrounding tissues
and muscles |
| Partial
seizure |
an
abnormal electrical discharge in a certain area of the brain,
affecting only certain functions |
| Passive
exercise |
exercise
of an injured part of the body involving no effort from that
injured part |
| Passive
smoking |
a
nonsmoker inhaling the cigar, cigarette, or pipe smoke of
others (called second-hand smoke) in the same area, which
increases the nonsmoker's risk of cancer and respiratory disorders |
| Patella |
the
medical term for the kneecap |
| Patent |
not
obstructed; open |
| Patent
ductus arteriosus |
a
genetic disorder of the heart in which a channel connecting
the pulmonary artery and the aorta fails to close and the
heart must work harder to supply the body with blood |
| Paternity
testing |
use
of blood tests to match up DNA or specific blood proteins
to determine whether a man is the father of a child |
| Pathogen |
any
substance capable of causing a disease; usually refers to
a disease-causing microorganism |
| Pathogenesis |
the
production and development of a disease or disorder |
| Pathology |
the
study of disease |
| Patient-controlled
analgesia |
a
system for administering pain-killing drugs in which the amount
of drug delivered is controlled by the patient |
| Peak
flow measurement |
the
maximum speed that air is exhaled from the lungs; used to
diagnose asthma or to determine the effectiveness of asthma
medications |
| Pectoral
muscles |
the
muscles of the upper part of the chest that move the arm across
the body, raise some of the ribs, and move the shoulders |
| Pellagra |
a
deficiency of the vitamin niacin; causes dermatitis, diarrhea,
and mental disorders |
| Pelvic
examination |
an
examination of a woman's reproductive organs |
| Pelvic
inflammatory disease |
inflammation
of a woman's internal reproductive organs, usually as a result
of a bacterial infection; one of the most common causes of
pelvic pain and infertility in women |
| Pelvis |
the
group of bones in the lower part of the trunk that support
the upper body and protect the abdominal organs |
| Penile
function tests |
tests
used to determine the cause of impotence, including blood
tests and nerve function tests |
| Penile
implant |
an
inflatable device surgically inserted into the penis that
allows a man with impotence to have sexual intercourse |
| Penis |
the
external male reproductive organ, which passes urine and semen
out of the body |
| Pepsin |
the
enzyme found in gastric juice that helps digest protein |
| Peptic
ulcer |
an
erosion in the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or small
intestine, usually caused in part by the corrosive action
of gastric acid |
| Percutaneous |
a
procedure that is performed through the skin, such as an injection |
| Perforation |
a
hole in an organ or body structure caused by disease or injury
|
| Periarteritis
nodosa |
inflammation
and weakening of small and medium arteries |
| Pericardial
effusion |
fluid
buildup inside of the pericardium, affecting the performance
of the heart |
| Pericarditis |
inflammation
of the membranous sac that covers the heart, causing chest
pain and fever |
| Pericardium |
the
membranous sac that covers the heart and the base of the blood
vessels that are attached to the heart |
| Perinatal |
occurring
just before or just after birth |
| Periosteum |
the
tissue covering bones, except the surfaces in joints |
| Periostitis |
inflammation
of the periosteum |
| Peripheral
nervous system |
the
nerves that branch out from the brain and spinal cord to the
rest of the body |
| Peripheral
vascular disease |
the
narrowing of blood vessels in the legs or arms, causing pain
and possibly tissue death (gangrene) as a result of a reduced
flow of blood to areas supplied by the narrowed vessels |
| Peristalsis |
wavelike
movement of smooth muscle-containing tubes, such as the digestive
tract |
| Peritoneum |
the
membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers the abdominal
organs |
| Peritonitis |
inflammation
of the peritoneum |
| Pernicious
anemia |
an
anemia caused by a failure to absorb vitamin B12; which is
essential in the production of normal red blood cells |
| Perthes'
disease |
inflammation
of the growing head of a femur; a type of osteochondritis
juvenilis |
| Pertussis |
a
bacterial infection of the respiratory tract characterized
by short, convulsive coughs that end in a whoop sound when
breath is inhaled (commonly called whooping cough); mainly
affects children |
| Petit
mal |
a
seizure characterized by loss of awareness for brief periods |
| PET
scanning |
see
Positron emission tomography scanning |
| Peutz-Jeghers
syndrome |
a
genetic disorder in which there are polyps in the small intestine
and brown melanin spots on the lips, mouth, fingers, and toes |
| pH |
a
measure of the acidic or basic character of a substance |
| Phagocyte |
an
immune system cell that can surround and digest foreign bodies,
unwanted cellular material, and microorganisms |
| Phantom
limb |
the
sensation of a limb after it has been amputated |
| Pharmacology |
the
study of medications, including drug development |
| Pharyngitis |
inflammation
of the throat (the pharynx), causing sore throat, fever, earache,
and swollen glands |
| Pharynx |
the
throat; the tube connecting the back of the mouth and nose
to the esophagus and windpipe |
| Phenothiazines |
a
group of drugs used as antipsychotics, antihistamines, and
antiemetics |
| Phenylketonuria |
a
hereditary disorder in which the enzyme that converts the
amino acid phenylalanine into another amino acid is defective,
meaning phenylalanine must be kept out of the diet |
| Pheochromocytoma |
a
noncancerous tumor of cells that produce epinephrine and norepinephrine,
causing higher levels of these hormones in the blood and an
increase in blood pressure |
| Phimosis |
tightness
of the foreskin, which prevents it from being moved back over
the head of the penis |
| Phlebitis |
inflammation
of a vein |
| Phlebothrombosis |
formation
of a blood clot in a vein |
| Phlegm |
mucus
and other material produced by the lining of the respiratory
tract; also called sputum |
| Phobia |
a
persisting fear of and desire to avoid something |
| Phosphates |
salts
containing phosphorus; essential to some body functions such
as the bones and teeth |
| Phospholipids |
fatty
substances that make up the membranes surrounding cells |
| Phosphorus |
a
mineral that is an important part of structures such as bones,
teeth, and membranes in the body; also involved in numerous
other chemical reactions |
| Photocoagulation |
tissue
destruction using a focused beam of light |
| Photophobia |
an
abnormal sensitivity of the eyes to light |
| Photosensitivity |
an
abnormal reaction to sunlight, which usually occurs as a rash |
| Phototherapy |
treatment
with some form of light |
| Physical
therapy |
the
treatment of injuries or disorders using physical methods,
such as exercise, massage, or the application of heat |
| Physiology |
the
study of the body's functions |
| Phytochemicals |
chemicals
in plants that might help protect against disorders such as
cancer |
| Pica |
a
desire to eat materials that are not food |
| Pickwickian
syndrome |
extreme
obesity along with shallow breathing, sleep apnea, excessive
sleepiness, and heart failure |
| PID |
see
Pelvic inflammatory disease |
| Pigmentation |
the
coloration of the skin, hair, and eyes by the pigment melanin |
| Pinkeye |
inflammation
of the membrane that covers the white of the eyes and lines
the eyelids, causing redness, discomfort, and a discharge;
can be caused by infection or allergies |
| Pinworm |
a
small parasite worm that can live in the intestines; commonly
affects children |
| Pituitary
adenoma |
a
noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland |
| Pituitary
gland |
a
small, round gland located at the base of the brain that releases
hormones that control other glands and body processes |
| Pityriasis
alba |
a
common childhood or adolescent disorder in which there are
pale, scaly patches on the skin of the face |
| Pityriasis
rosea |
a
mild skin condition in which flat, scaly spots occur on the
trunk and upper arms |
| Pivot
joint |
a
joint designed for rotational movement |
| PKU |
see
Phenylketonuria |
| Placebo |
a
chemically inactive substance given in place of a drug to
test how much of a drug's effectiveness can be attributed
to a patient's expectations that the drug will have a positive
effect |
| Placebo
effect |
the
positive or negative response to a drug that is caused by
a person's expectations of a drug rather than the drug itself |
| Placenta |
an
organ formed in the uterus during pregnancy that links the
blood of the mother to the blood of the fetus; provides the
fetus with nutrients and removes waste |
| Placental
abruption |
the
separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus before
childbirth, which causes severe bleeding that threatens the
life of the mother and the fetus |
| Placental
insufficiency |
a
disorder occurring during pregnancy in which the placenta
does not function properly, causing the fetus to be deprived
of nutrients |
| Placenta
previa |
a
disorder in which the placenta develops at the lower section
of the uterus (close to or covering the cervix); varies in
severity, from no effect on a pregnancy to vaginal bleeding
and danger to the mother and the fetus |
| Plague |
a
serious infectious disease transmitted to humans through bites
of rodent fleas |
| Plantar
reflex |
the
normal curling of the toes downward when the sole of the foot
is stroked |
| Plantar
wart |
a
rough-surfaced, hard spot on the sole of the foot that is
caused by a virus |
| Plaque |
an
area of buildup of fat deposits in an artery, causing narrowing
of the artery and possibly heart disease; dental plaque refers
to a coating on the teeth, consisting of saliva, bacteria,
and food debris, which causes tooth decay |
| Plasma |
the
liquid part of the blood, containing substances such as nutrients,
salts, and proteins |
| Plasma
cell |
a
white blood cell that makes antibodies |
| Plasmapheresis |
a
procedure for removing unwanted substances from the blood
in which blood is drawn, its plasma is separated and replaced,
and the cleansed blood is returned to the body |
| Platelet |
the
smallest particle found in the blood, which plays a major
role in forming blood clots |
| Pleura |
the
double-layered membrane that lines the lungs and chest cavity
and allows for lung movement during breathing |
| Pleural
effusion |
a
buildup of fluid between the membranes that line the lungs
and chest cavity (the pleura); causes compression of the lungs,
which leads to breathing difficulty |
| Pleural
membranes |
the
pleura |
| Pleural
rub |
a
rubbing sound produced by inflamed pleural membranes that
can be heard when breathing |
| Pleural
space |
the
space between the two layers of the pleura |
| Pleurisy |
inflammation
of the lining of the lungs and chest cavity, usually caused
by a lung infection; characterized by sharp chest pain |
| Pleurodynia |
pain
in the chest caused by a virus |
| Plummer-Vinson
syndrome |
difficulty
swallowing due to an abnormal web of tissue across the upper
part of the esophagus |
| PMS |
see
Premenstrual syndrome |
| Pneumoconiosis |
a
respiratory disease caused by dust inhalation |
| Pneumocystis
pneumonia |
an
opportunistic infection of the lungs caused by a single-celled
parasite |
| Pneumonectomy |
surgical
removal of a lung |
| Pneumonia |
inflammation
of the lungs due to a bacterial or viral infection, which
causes fever, shortness of breath, and the coughing up of
phlegm |
| Pneumothorax |
a
condition in which air enters the space between the chest
wall and the lungs, causing chest pain and shortness of breath;
may occur spontaneously or be the result of a disease or an
accident |
| Poliomyelitis |
an
infectious disease caused by a virus; usually causes only
mild symptoms but in rare cases can attack the brain and spinal
cord and cause paralysis or death |
| Polyarthritis |
arthritis
occurring in more than one joint |
| Polycystic
kidney disease |
a
condition in which there are multiple, slow-growing cysts
on both kidneys |
| Polycystic
ovary syndrome |
a
hereditary disease characterized by multiple cysts on the
ovaries, obesity, excessive hairiness, infertility, and irregular
menstruation |
| Polycythemia |
an
increased amount of red blood cells in the blood |
| Polydactyly |
the
presence of an excessive number of fingers or toes |
| Polydipsia |
excessive
thirst |
| Polymyalgia
rheumatica |
a
rare disease of the elderly, characterized by muscle stiffness
and pain in the hips, thighs, shoulders, and neck |
| Polymyositis |
an
autoimmune disease of connective tissue in which muscles weaken
and become inflamed |
| Polyp |
a
growth that occurs on mucous membranes such as those in the
nose and intestine; bleeds easily and can become cancerous |
| Polysaccharide |
a
complex carbohydrate composed of three or more simple carbohydrate
molecules joined together |
| Polyunsaturated
fat |
a
fat or oil that contains well below the maximum number of
hydrogen atoms possible; thought to reduce the risk of coronary
heart disease |
| Polyuria |
the
excessive production of urine; can be a symptom of various
diseases, most notably diabetes mellitus |
| Porphyria |
a
group of genetic disorders in which substances called porphyrins
build up in the blood, often causing rashes brought on by
exposure to sunlight and reactions to certain drugs |
| Portal
hypertension |
increased
blood pressure in the portal vein |
| Portal
vein |
the
vein connecting the stomach, intestines, and spleen to the
liver |
| Positron
emission tomography scanning |
an
imaging method in which substances emitting positrons (positively
charged particles) are introduced into the body, and detectors
connected to a computer are used to form images of the tissues |
| Postcoital
contraception |
the
prevention of pregnancy after sexual intercourse has occurred |
| Posterior |
describes
something that is located in or relates to the back of the
body |
| Postmenopausal
bleeding |
bleeding
from the vagina that occurs after menopause |
| Postmortem
examination |
examination
of a body after death to determine the cause of death; commonly
called an autopsy |
| Postmyocardial
infarction syndrome |
a
condition that occurs following a heart attack or heart surgery;
characterized by fever, chest pain, pericarditis, and pleurisy |
| Postnatal |
describes
something that occurs after birth, usually to the baby |
| Postpartum |
a
term that describes something that occurs after childbirth,
usually to the mother |
| Post-traumatic
stress disorder |
feelings
of anxiety experienced after a particularly frightening or
stressful event, which include recurring dreams, difficulty
sleeping, and a feeling of isolation |
| Postural
drainage |
drainage
of mucus from specific areas of the lungs by placing the body
in a specific position |
| Postural
hypotension |
unusually
low blood pressure that occurs after suddenly standing or
sitting up |
| Potassium |
a
mineral that plays an important role in the body, helping
to maintain water balance, normal heart rhythm, conduction
of nerve impulses, and muscle contraction |
| Precancerous |
describes
a condition from which cancer is likely to develop |
| Precordial
movement |
movement
of the heart that is seen and felt through the chest wall |
| Preeclampsia |
a
serious disorder that occurs in the second half of pregnancy,
in which a woman experiences high blood pressure, fluid retention,
nausea, and headaches; if not treated it can lead to eclampsia |
| Premature
labor |
labor
that begins before the full term of pregnancy (about 37 weeks) |
| Premature
rupture of membranes |
the
rupture of the sac that holds the fluid surrounding the fetus
before the full term of pregnancy (about 37 weeks) |
| Premedication |
drugs,
usually painkillers, taken 1 to 2 hours before surgery |
| Premenopausal |
a
term that describes the period of a few years in a woman's
life just before menopause |
| Premenstrual
syndrome |
physical
and emotional changes that occur in a woman 1 or 2 weeks before
menstruation, at or after ovulation; characterized by irritability,
tension, depression, and fatigue |
| Prenatal
care |
medical
care of a pregnant woman and the fetus |
| Prenatal
diagnosis |
techniques
used to diagnose abnormalities in a fetus |
| Prenatal
testing |
tests
performed on a pregnant woman or her fetus to prevent or diagnose
abnormalities |
| Prepared
childbirth |
a
technique in which a pregnant woman tries to minimize use
of pain-relief medications during childbirth by learning relaxation
techniques |
| Prepuce |
the
foreskin |
| Presbycusis |
the
loss of hearing that occurs naturally with age |
| Presbyopia |
the
loss of the ability to focus the eyes on near objects that
occurs naturally with age, as a result of loss of elasticity
of the lens of the eyes |
| Pressure
point |
specific
points on the body where external pressure can be applied
to prevent excessive arterial bleeding |
| Pressure
sore |
an
ulcer (erosion) on the skin that is a result of being bedridden;
commonly called a bedsore |
| Priapism |
a
painful, persistent erection without sexual arousal, requiring
emergency treatment |
| Prickly
heat |
a
rash involving small, red, itchy spots and a prickly sensation
that usually appears where sweat builds up |
| Primary |
a
disease that began in the affected location |
| Prion |
an
agent that is believed to cause several degenerative brain
diseases |
| Procidentia |
severe
prolapse of an organ |
| Proctalgia |
pain
in the rectum |
| Proctitis |
inflammation
of the rectum, which causes soreness and sometimes mucus and/or
pus in the stool |
| Proctoscopy |
examination
of the rectum using a viewing instrument |
| Productive
cough |
a
cough that brings up phlegm, which is the body's natural way
of clearing blocked airways |
| Progeria |
an
extremely rare condition in which the body ages prematurely |
| Progesterone |
a
female sex hormone that plays many important roles in reproduction,
including the thickening of the lining of the uterus during
the menstrual cycle; and during pregnancy, the functioning
of the placenta, and the initiation of labor |
| Prognosis |
a
doctor's probable forecast of the effects and outcome of a
disease |
| Progressive
muscular atrophy |
gradual
degeneration and weakening of muscles due to a degenerative
spinal cord |
| Prolactin |
a
hormone released by the pituitary gland that is responsible
for the development of breasts and milk production in females |
| Prolapse |
the
displacement of an organ from its normal position to a new
one |
| Prolapsed
disk |
see
Disk prolapse |
| Prophylactic |
anything
used to prevent disease |
| Proprioception |
the
body's system for determining its position relative to the
outside world |
| Prostatectomy |
the
partial or complete surgical removal of the prostate gland |
| Prostate
gland |
an
organ located under the bladder that produces a large part
of the semen |
| Prostatism |
symptoms
caused by an enlarged prostate gland, including difficulty
with urination |
| Prostatitis |
inflammation
of the prostate gland, usually due to a bacterial infection
spread from the urethra |
| Prosthesis |
an
artificial replacement for a missing part of the body |
| Proteins |
large
molecules made up of amino acids that play many major roles
in the body, including forming the basis of body structures
such as skin and hair, and important chemicals such as enzymes
and hormones |
| Prothrombin
time |
the
time it takes for a sample of blood to clot after substances
that speed clotting time have been added; used to measure
the effect of anticoagulants |
| Proton
pump inhibitor |
a
drug used to treat peptic ulcers that reduces the amount of
gastric acid produced |
| Proto-oncogene |
a
gene that is normally inactive but can become a cancer-causing
oncogene if made active |
| Protozoan |
a
simple, single-celled organism |
| Proximal |
located
nearer to a central point of reference on the body, such as
the trunk |
| Pruritus |
the
medical term for itching |
| Pseudogout |
a
form of arthritis with symptoms similar to gout that results
from the depositing of calcium salts in a joint |
| Pseudomembranous
enterocolitis |
severe
inflammation of the colon as a result of antibiotic use by
an immunocompromised individual |
| Psittacosis |
a
chlamydial infection resembling influenza that is spread to
humans by the droppings of infected birds |
| Psoralens |
drugs
that contain chemicals derived from plants; used to treat
the skin disorders psoriasis and vitiligo |
| Psoriasis |
a
skin disorder characterized by patches of thick, red skin
often covered by silvery scales |
| Psoriatic
arthritis |
a
form of arthritis that develops as a complication of the skin
disorder psoriasis |
| Psychogenic |
resulting
from psychological or emotional disorders |
| Psychological |
relating
to the mind and the processes of the mind |
| Psychosis |
a
mental disorder in which a serious inability to think, perceive,
and judge clearly causes loss of touch with reality |
| Psychosomatic |
describes
a physical condition that is influenced by psychological or
emotional factors |
| Psychotherapy |
the
treatment of mental and emotional disorders using psychological
methods, such as counseling, instead of physical means |
| Psychotic |
relating
to psychosis |
| Psychotropic
drug |
a
drug that has a psychological effect |
| Ptosis |
the
drooping of the upper eyelid |
| Puberty |
the
period of time (usually between the ages of 10 and 15) during
which sexual development occurs, allowing reproduction to
become possible |
| Pubic
louse |
a
small insect that lives in pubic hair, feeds on blood, and
is usually spread by sexual contact; pubic lice are popularly
called "crabs" |
| Pudendal
block |
a
local anesthesia procedure used during childbirth, causing
the lower part of the vagina to be insensitive to pain |
| Pudendum |
the
external genitals, usually referring to the female |
| Puerperal
sepsis |
infection
of the female genital tract following childbirth, abortion,
or miscarriage |
| Puerperium |
the
time period after childbirth (about 6 weeks) during which
a woman's body returns to its normal physical state |
| Pulmonary
artery |
the
artery that supplies the lungs with blood from the heart |
| Pulmonary
edema |
the
buildup of fluid in lung tissue, which is usually caused by
heart failure |
| Pulmonary
embolism |
blockage
of the pulmonary artery by a floating mass in the blood |
| Pulmonary
fibrosis |
a
condition in which the tissue of the lungs has become thick
and scarred, usually because of inflammation caused by lung
conditions such as pneumonia or tuberculosis |
| Pulmonary
heart valve |
the
heart valve that stops blood pumped to the lungs from leaking
back into the heart |
| Pulmonary
hypertension |
increased
blood pressure in the arteries supplying blood to the lungs;
caused by increased resistance to blood flow in the lungs,
usually a result of a lung disease |
| Pulmonary
insufficiency |
a
rare defect in the pulmonary heart valve in which it fails
to close properly after each muscle contraction, allowing
blood to leak back into the heart; weakens the heart's pumping
ability |
| Pulmonary
stenosis |
obstruction
of the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs |
| Pulp |
the
soft tissue inside of a tooth that contains blood vessels
and nerves |
| Pulse |
the
expansion and contraction of a blood vessel due to the blood
pumped through it; determined as the number of expansions
per minute |
| Pupil |
the
opening at the center of the iris in the eye that constricts
(contracts) and dilates (widens) in response to light |
| Purpuric
rash |
areas
of purple or reddish-brown spots on the skin, which are caused
by bleeding from underlying tissues |
| Pus |
a
thick, yellowish or greenish fluid that contains dead white
blood cells, tissues, and bacteria; occurs at the site of
a bacterial infection |
| Pustule |
a
small blister containing pus |
| PUVA |
a
form of phototherapy that combines the use of psoralens and
ultraviolet light to treat skin disorders |
| Pyelolithotomy |
surgical
removal of a kidney stone |
| Pyelonephritis |
inflammation
of the kidney, usually due to a bacterial infection |
| Pyloric
sphincter |
a
circular muscle located at the junction of the stomach and
small intestine that controls the passage of food into the
small intestine |
| Pyloric
stenosis |
narrowing
of the outlet located at the junction of the stomach and small
intestine |
| Pyloroplasty |
surgical
widening of the outlet between the stomach and small intestine |
| Pyrexia |
a
body temperature of above 98.6¡F in the mouth or 99.8¡F in
the rectum |
| Pyrogen |
any
substance that causes a fever |
| Pyuria |
the
presence of white blood cells in the urine; usually an indication
of kidney or urinary tract infection |
