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.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Meninges | Layers of tissue that surround the brain and spinal cord |
| Megakaryocytes | Large cells in the bone marrow that produce blood platelets |
| Meconium ileus | A condition in newborn infants characterized by no stools in the first 24 to 48 hours of life |
| Mastocytosis | Abnormal accumulation of mast cells within one or more organs. Mast cells are a type of tissue cell found throughout the body that release chemicals as part of the body's normal response to injury but sometimes as part of an allergic response. Cutaneous mastocytosis is a benign disease of the skin, usually affecting children. Systemic mastocytosis affects mostly adults, who may experience signs and symptoms related to the organs affected such as skin rashes or characteristic red, blistering lesions, peptic ulcers, chronic diarrhea, joint pain or enlargement of the liver, spleen, or lymph nodes. Systemic mastocytosis may progress slowly or may be aggressive, causing organ dysfunction and, in rare cases, causing a form of leukemia. |
| Mast cell | A type of tissue cell found throughout the body but especially in connective tissue such as the skin, lining of the intestine and air passages as well as in the bone marrow. Mast cells contain granules that store chemicals. These chemicals are released as part of the body's normal response to injury but also may be released as part of an allergic response to exposure to an allergen. The chemicals that are released can cause the allergic signs and symptoms. |
| Mammogram | Examination of the breast by X-ray |
| Malpighian Tubules | The Malpighian Tubules (MTs) are the main excretory organs in most insects. They play a key role in the production of primary urine and osmoregulation, selectively reabsorbing water, ions, and solutes. |
| Malignant | Harmful and potentially fatal |
| Macrophage | A large white blood cell (WBC) found in connective tissue, lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow and other tissues; it is an important part of the body's immune system and helps fight infections by surrounding and ingesting disease-causing microorganisms. |
| Lymphocyte | Leukocyte (white blood cell) that normally makes up about 25% of the total white blood cell count but can vary widely. Lymphocytes occur in two forms: B cells, which produce antibodies, and T cells, which recognize foreign substances and process them for removal. |
| Lymphatic system | (also Lymph, Lymph tissue, Lymph node) |
| Lipoprotein | Protein in the blood whose primary purpose is to transport cholesterol, tryglycerides, and other fats throughout the body |
| Lipids | Any of a group of fats and fat-like substances, including oils, waxes, steroids, and triglycerides. Lipids are easily stored in the body, and triglycerides serve as a fuel source. Some (such as cholesterol and phospholipids) are an important constituent of cell structures and are involved in many biological functions. Lipids can combine with other compounds to form complexes, such as lipoproteins, phospholipids, and glycolipids. |
| Lipemic | Containing high levels of lipids or fats in the blood |
| Leukopenia | Decrease in the number of white blood cells |