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
Next-gen sequencing

Also known as: Next-gen sequencing; NGS

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.
Next Generation Sequencing

Also known as: Next-gen sequencing; NGS

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.
Neutrophil

Also known as: Granulocyte


Normally the most abundant type of white blood cell in healthy adults
Neutropenia

Decreased number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell
Neurologic

Pertaining to nerves and the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord
Neurofibrillary tangles

A collection of twisted protein filaments found within nerve cells in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease
Neuroendocrine

1. Pertaining to the interaction between the nervous system and glands that produce hormones
2. Relating to or involving cells that produce hormones in response to the stimulation of nerves or the nervous system
Nephrotic Syndrome

Damage to the glomeruli capillaries in the kidneys' filtering units, the nephrons; it leads to the loss of albumin and other proteins into the urine.
Neoplasm

Also known as: Tumor


Growth of tissue characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation; benign or malignant, localized or invasive
Neonate

Newborn in its first month of life
Nasopharynx

The area at the back of the nasal passages and above and behind the soft palate
Narcolepsy

A chronic condition characterized by sudden uncontrolled sleep spells during the day
Myelin sheath

Also known as: Myelin

The fatty covering that insulates nerve fibers
Myelin

Also known as: Myelin sheath

The fatty covering that insulates nerve fibers
Mycobacteria

A diverse group of rod-shaped bacteria that include Mycobacterium tuberculosis (which causes tuberculosis) and Mycobacterium leprae (which causes leprosy) and more than 100 different species found in the environment; the environmental mycobacteria may be referred to as nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT), and/or atypical mycobacteria.