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
Ova

Also known as: Ovuml


Egg
Osteomalacia

A bone disease that occurs in adults when a prolonged period of vitamin D deficiency results in soft, weak bones; when this condition occurs in childhood, it is called rickets.
Osteoclast

Specialized bone cell that secretes enzymes that break down bone tissue; the cell then resorbs the dissolved bone material.
Osteoblast

Specialized bone cell that produces and deposits the material (mostly collagen) that forms new bone tissue
Organ

A specific stucture in the body that performs one or more functions, such as the heart, lungs or liver
Oral

Pertaining to the mouth
Opportunistic Infection

Infection that affects people with suppressed immune systems
Oncogene

Genetic material that is able to produce a malignant change in a cell; several have been identifited in human tissue as potential causes of cancer. Certain oncogenes may play a role in normal growth and development; if they are damaged or mutated, cancer may result.
Oligoclonal bands

Discrete bands observed on an electrophoretic gel as a result of a patients sample being analyzed by protein electrophoresis
Nutrient Medium
Also known as: Media
 
Material that provides the proper nutritional environment to promote the growth of microorganisms
Nucleus

The structure in cells that contains the chromosomes, genes, DNA.
NSAIDs

Also known as: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs


Group of painkillers that includes drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin; they reduce fever as well as decrease pain and inflammation; can cause side effects such as stomach ulcers
Normal flora

Microorganisms that live harmlessly on or in the body and do not cause disease unless the normal protective barriers (skin, mucosa) are compromised
Non-palpable

Not perceivable by touch
NGS

Also known as: Next-gen sequencing

A type of laboratory test method that rapidly sequences large amounts of DNA; sequencing determines the order of DNA building blocks (nucleotides) in a person's genetic code. Changes in the building blocks (mutations) in the regions of DNA that are responsible for making proteins can lead to genetic disorders. Next-gen sequencing can look for mutations in any of the protein-producing regions of DNA, instead of looking for just a few specific mutations. In healthcare, this method may be used to help identify inherited or acquired genetic diseases (e.g., cancers), especially those caused by less common mutations.