Glossary

BioScience.com.pk try the best to avoid the use of medical terms that could make it more difficult to understand the information on this website. Still, there are a number of terms that can’t be avoided and that are useful to know because they are so often used by the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals with whom you might speak. The list below includes the terms used on BioScience.com.pk for which we have provided definitions.

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Term Definition
Leukocytosis

 Increase in the number of white blood cells (WBC)

 
Latent

Condition or infectious agent that is present in the body but not causing symptoms and/or actively multiplying; the condition may progress from a latent to active form if the immune system of the patient is no longer able to hold the condition or infection in check.
Klinefelter syndrome

Also known as: XXY disease

A rare genetic condition in boys and men caused by an extra X chromosome. (Males normally have one X and one Y chromosome.) The presence of the extra X chromosome may or may not produce obvious signs and symptoms (usually in teens and adults), such as low testosterone, small penis and testicles, enlarged breasts, tall stature and/or behavioral, learning, speech or language disabilities. Most of these individuals are infertile.
Ketones

Also known as: Ketone bodies


Byproducts of fat metabolism; may be found in urine or blood if a person does not eat enough carbohydrates or if the persons body cannot use them properly, such as with diabetes mellitus
Ketone bodies

Also known as: Ketones


Byproducts of fat metabolism; may be found in urine or blood if a person does not eat enough carbohydrates or if the persons body cannot use them properly, such as with diabetes mellitus
Ketoacidosis

Abnormal increase of acid in the blood due to accumulation of substances derived from metabolism of fat (ketone bodies); usually due to severe insulin deficiency in diabetes or to prolonged lack of carbohydrate intake
Keratin

A fibrous protein found in the hair, nails, and outer layer of the skin
Joint

Also known as: Articulation


Point where two or more bones meet in the body; they allow the body to be flexible and are classified by their range of movement: immovable (fibrous) do not move, such as in the skull, slightly movable (cartilaginous) as in the vertebrae in the spine, or freely movable (synovial) as in the knees and elbows, which move in many directions and are further classified as hinge, pivot or ball-and-socket joints.
Islet cells

Specialized cells in the pancreas that produce and secrete one of several hormones that affect certain body functions; some examples include alpha cells that produce glucagon and beta cells that produce insulin.
Ischemia

Decreased supply of blood and therefore oxygen to tissue, organ (heart, brain) or body part often caused by a blockage or constriction of blood vessels
Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Anemia occurs when you have a level of red blood cells (RBCs) in your blood that is lower than normal. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia and it occurs when your body doesn't have enough of the mineral iron. Your body needs iron to make a protein called hemoglobin.
Intravenous

Into or within a vein
Intramuscular

Within a muscle, as an injection
Insulinoma

A tumor of the insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas, causing low blood glucose levels
Inhibitor

1) A substance that stops, blocks, or slows down the action of an enzyme
2) A substance that stops or impedes a process from taking place in the body