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The Glossary is very useful
for the explanation of medical terminology.
Click on a letter
to view the corresponding section of the glossary:
A B
C D
E F
G H
I J
K L
M N
O P
Q R
S T
U V
W X
Y Z
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Q . . .
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R . . .
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- Range of motion
(ROM)
- The ability of a joint to
go through all its normal movements.
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- Rectal Prolapse
- A condition in which the
rectum slips so that it protrudes from the anus.
- Rectum
- The lower end of the large
intestine, leading to the anus.
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- Reflux
- A condition that occurs
when gastric juices or small amounts of food from the
stomach flow back into the esophagus and mouth.
- Reflux Esophagitis
- Irritation of the esophagus
because stomach contents flow back into the esophagus.
- Regurgitation
- See Reflux.
- Retinopathy
- A disease of the small blood
vessels in the retina of the eye.
- Rhabdomyolysis
- an acute disease of skeletal
muscle
- Rheumatic fever
- An inflammatory illness
that may follow streptococcal infection and damage the
heart valves.
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- Rheumatoid
arthritis
- Inflammatory changes in
the synovium, or joint lining, that result in pain, stiffness,
swelling, and loss of function in the joints.
- Rhinitis
- inflammation of the nasal
mucosa.
- Risk factor
- Anything that raises the
chance that a person will get a disease.
- Rotavirus
- The most common cause of
infectious (viral) diarrhea in the United States, especially
in children under age 2.
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S . . .
- Saliva
-
Fluid secreted by the salivary
and mucous glands of the mouth that moistens food and
begins the process of digestion.
- Salmonella
- A bacterium that may cause
intestinal infection and diarrhea.
- Sarcoidosis
- A condition that causes
small, fleshy swellings in the liver, lungs, and spleen.
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- Secretin
- A hormone made in duodenum.
Causes the stomach to make pepsin, the liver to make bile,
and the pancreas to make a digestive juice.
.
- Segmentation
- The process by which muscles
in the intestines move food and wastes through the body.
- Serotonin
- an agent that acts to constrict
blood vessels and also inhibits gastric secretion
- Shigellosis
- Infection with the bacterium
Shigella. Usually causes a high fever, acute diarrhea,
and dehydration.
- Shwachman's Syndrome
- A digestive and respiratory
disorder of children. Certain digestive enzymes are missing
and white blood cells are few. Symptoms may include diarrhea
and short stature.
- Side effect
- See adverse reaction
- Sigmoid Colon
- The lower part of the colon
that empties into the rectum.
- Sigmoidoscopy
- Looking into the sigmoid
colon and rectum with a flexible or rigid tube.
- Sitz Bath
- A person sits in a
few inches of warm water to help relieve discomfort of
hemorrhoids or anal fissure.
- Small Bowel Enema
- X-rays of the small intestine
taken as barium liquid passes through the organ.
.
- Small Intestine
- It measures about 20 feet.
Organ where most digestion occurs.
- Splanchnic
- pertaining to the internal
organs
- Spasms
- Muscle movements that
cause pain, cramps, and diarrhea.
- Spastic Colon
- See Irritable Bowel Syndrome
(IBS).
- Sphincter
- A ring-like band of muscle
that opens and closes an opening in the body.
- Spleen
- The organ that cleans blood
and produces white blood cells.
- Splenic Flexure
Syndrome
- A condition that occurs
when air or gas collects in the upper parts of the colon.
Causes pain in the upper left abdomen. The pain often
moves to the left chest and may be confused with heart
problems.
- Steatorrhea
- A condition in which the
body cannot absorb fat. Causes a buildup of fat in the
stool and loose, greasy, and foul bowel movements.
- Stenosis
- Narrowing of a duct or canal.
.
- Stomach
- The organ between the esophagus
and the small intestine. The stomach is where digestion
of protein begins.
- Stomach Ulcer
- An open sore in the lining
of the stomach. Also called gastric ulcer.
- Stress Ulcer
- An upper GI ulcer from physical
injury such as surgery, major burns, or critical head
injury.
.
- Stricture
- The abnormal narrowing of
a body opening. Also called stenosis.
- Stroke
- Disease caused by damage
to blood vessels in the brain. Usually only one
side of the body is affected.
- Subcutaneous
Injection
- Putting a fluid into the
tissue under the skin with a needle and syringe.
- Sugar
- A class of carbohydrates
that taste sweet. Sugar is a quick and easy fuel for the
body to use. Types of sugar are lactose, glucose, fructose,
and sucrose.
- Sulfonylureas
- Pills or capsules that people
take to lower the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
See also: Oral hypoglycemic agents.
- Syndrome
- A set of signs or a series
of events occurring together that make up a disease or
health problem.
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- Synovial
- relating to the lubricating
fluid in joints
- Synovial fluid
- Fluid released into movable
joints by surrounding membranes. This fluid lubricates
the joint and reduces friction.
- Synovitis
- inflammation of the joints;
arthritis
- Systemic
- A word used to describe
conditions that affect the entire body. Diabetes is a
systemic disease because it involves many parts of the
body such as the pancreas, eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves.
- Systemic lupus
erythematosus
- Lupus is an autoimmune disease,
which causes the body to harm its own healthy cells and
tissues. This leads to inflammation and damage of various
body tissues.
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T . . .
T Cell
- white blood cell critical
to the immune response.
- Tachyarrhythmia
- a distrubance of the heart's
rhythym resulting in a heart rate of over 100 beats per
minute
- Tendons
- Tough, fibrous cords of
tissue that connect muscle to bone.
- Tenesmus
- Straining to have a bowel
movement.
- Thrombosis
- The formation of a mass
of aggregated blood factors (thrombus); coagulation of
the blood; the formation, development, or presence of
a thrombus.
- Tracheoesophageal
Fistula (TEF)
- A condition that occurs
when there is a gap between the upper and lower segments
of the esophagus. Food and saliva cannot pass through.
- Transverse Colon
- The part of the colon that
goes across the abdomen from right to left.
- Travelers' Diarrhea
- An infection caused by unclean
food or drink. Often occurs during travel outside one's
own country.
- Triglyceride
- A type of blood fat
- Tropical Sprue
- A condition of unknown cause.
Abnormalities in the lining of the small intestine prevent
the body from absorbing food normally.
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