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
Half-life

The amount of time it takes for the body to inactivate or metabolize half of a substance; a second half-life would decrease the remainder by half again, and so on.

Heinz Bodies

Precipitated hemoglobin that can be seen inside red blood cells under the microscope

Hemodialysis

A disorder similar to diabetes mellitus in that it causes symptoms such as increased thirst and increased urine production, but differing in cause, frequency, treatment, and associated complications; diabetes insipidus results from a lack of production of arginine vasopressin (also called antidiuretic hormone or ADH) by the pituitary or a lack of response of the kidneys to ADH, causing an inability of the kidneys to conserve water. It can lead to severe dehydration and high serum sodium if inadequately treated. Diabetes inspididus is a much more rare condition than diabetes mellitus.Also known as: Dialysis
A procedure that removes waste substances from the circulating blood; often performed on patients with kidney disease

Hemodialysis

Also known as: Dialysis
A procedure that removes waste substances from the circulating blood; often performed on patients with kidney disease

Hemoglobinopathy

A group of single gene disorders including structural hemoglobin variants (e.g., sickle cell hemoglobin) and the thalassemias

Hemolysis

Process by which red blood cells disintegrate, releasing their contents

Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn

A condition in which antibodies in a pregnant woman's blood cross the placenta and destroy her baby's red blood cells; develops when the mother and baby have differences in one or more blood group antigens

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Also known as: HUS

A life-threatening condition that may result from the breakdown (hemolysis) of a large number of red blood cells (RBCs) and damage to the kidneys (uremia). Most often it presents as a complication of an infection of the digestive tract caused by certain bacteria that produce a toxin that enters the bloodstream and destroys RBCs. This syndrome is most commonly associated with infections caused by shiga toxin-producing Eschericha coli (STEC), but may also result from infections caused by Salmonella and Shigella, other types of infections, and sometimes from non-infectious causes.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Also known as: HUS

A life-threatening condition that may result from the breakdown (hemolysis) of a large number of red blood cells (RBCs) and damage to the kidneys (uremia). Most often it presents as a complication of an infection of the digestive tract caused by certain bacteria that produce a toxin that enters the bloodstream and destroys RBCs. This syndrome is most commonly associated with infections caused by shiga toxin-producing Eschericha coli (STEC), but may also result from infections caused by Salmonella and Shigella, other types of infections, and sometimes from non-infectious causes.

Hemorrhage

1. bleeding; escape of blood, usually from injured blood vessels
2. excessive bleeding over a short period of time, either internally or externally; if uncontrolled, can lead to shock and death.

Hemorrhoid

Swelling of vein(s) in the lower part of the rectum or anus

Hemosiderosis

Abnormal deposition of an iron-containing compound (hemosiderin) in tissues, often associated with diseases in which there is extensive destruction of red blood cells (e.g., thalassemia)

Hemostasis

The stopping of bleeding or the flow of blood

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Also known as: HCC

Cancer that originates in the cells of the liver; this type of cancer may develop in those who have certain forms of cirrhosis or who have had a hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection; may develop years after initial infection.

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Also known as: HCC

Cancer that originates in the cells of the liver; this type of cancer may develop in those who have certain forms of cirrhosis or who have had a hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection; may develop years after initial infection.