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 |
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Articulation | Also known as: Joint
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Digital Rectal Exam | Also known as: DRE Part of a physical examination performed in order to examine nearby structures (e.g., the prostate in men) |
ECG, EKG | Also known as: ElectrocarDiogram Graphic recording of the electrical activity of the heart |
Granulocyte | Also known as: Neutrophil
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Microbe | Also known as: Microorganism |
24-Hour Urine Sample | A collection of all urine voided over a 24-hour period of time. |
Abnormal Fibrinolysis | Overactivity of the process normally responsible for clearing blood clots from blood vessels |
ABO Incompatibility | ABO incompatibility is a common and generally mild type of haemolytic disease in babies. The term haemolytic disease means that red blood cells are broken down more quickly than usual which can cause jaundice anaemia and in very severe cases can cause death. During pregnancy this breakdown of red blood cells in the baby may occur if the mother and baby’s blood types are incompatible and if these different blood types come into direct contact with each other and antibodies are formed.
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Abscess | |
Acanthosis nigricans | Darkening and thickening of the skin around the neck, underarms, and skin folds; can be caused by elevated levels of insulin in the blood and is often associated with obesity |
Acid | |
Acid-Base Balance | The body's maintenance of a healthy pH range for blood and tissues that is slightly basic (pH between 7.35 - 7.45). This balance is achieved through the use of systems in the blood (which help to minimize pH changes) and by the lungs and kidneys, which eliminate excess amounts of acids or bases from the body. |
Acidosis | A condition in which there is a shift in the acid-base balance of the body to have more acid than normal, often causing the pH of the blood and body tissues to fall below the healthy range (7.35-7.45). It may be caused by decreased CO2 eliimination in respiratory disorders such as emphysema, by metabolic problems such as kidney disease and diabetes, or as the result of ingesting poisons (ethlylene glycol, methanol) or overdosing on certain medication (salicylates); it can also be caused by losing HCO3, as in diarrhea. |
Acromegaly | A condition in adults resulting from excess growth hormone characterized by enlargement of the hands and feet, change in shoe size, gradual changes in facial features, including protrusion of the lower jaw and brow, and enlargement of the nasal bone |
Acute coronary syndrome | Also known as: ACS
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