GLOSSARY OF MEDICAL TERMSAcetaminophen: A pain reliever and fever reducer. Brand name: Tylenol. The exactmechanism of action of acetaminophen is not known. Acetaminophen relieves pain byelevating the pain threshold (that is, by requiring a greater amount of pain todevelop before it is felt by a person). Acetaminophen reduces fever through itsaction on the heat-regulating center (the "thermostat") of the brain. Generic isavailable.Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes anillness that is of short duration, rapidly progressive, and in need of urgentcare.Airway: The path air follows to get into and out of the lungs. The mouth and noseare the normal entry and exit ports. Entering air then passes through the back ofthe throat (pharynx), continues through the voice box (larynx), down the trachea,and finally out the branching tubes known as bronchi.Airway obstruction: Partial or complete blockage of the breathing tubes to thelungs. Obstruction of the airway can be due to different causes including foreignbodies, allergic reactions, infections, anatomical abnormalities and trauma.Allergy : A misguided reaction to foreign substances by the immune system , thebody system of defense against foreign invaders, particularly pathogens (theagents of infection ). The allergic reaction is misguided in that these foreignsubstances are usually harmless. The substances that trigger allergy are calledallergen. Examples include pollens , dust mite, molds , danders , and certainfoods. People prone to allergies are said to be allergic or atopic .Amoxicillin: An antibiotic of the penicillin type that is effective againstdifferent bacteria such as Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoea,Escherichia coli, Pneumococci, Streptococci, and certain strains of Staphylococci,particularly infections of the middle ear, tonsillitis, throat infections,laryngitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia . Amoxicillin is also used in treatingurinary tract infections, skin infections, and gonorrhea. The brand names areAmoxil, Polymox, and Trimox. A generic version is available.Amoxil: See: Amoxicillin .Anatomy: The study of form. Gross anatomy involves structures that can be seenwith the naked eye. It is as opposed to microscopic anatomy (or histology) whichinvolves structures seen under the microscope. Traditionally, both gross andmicroscopic anatomy have been studied in the first year of medical school in theU.S. The most celebrated textbook of anatomy in the English-speaking world isGray's Anatomy, still a useful reference book. The word "anatomy" comes from theGreek ana- meaning up or through + tome meaning a cutting. Anatomy was once a"cutting up" because the structure of the body was originally learned throughdissecting it, cutting it up. The abbreviation for anatomy is anat.Anesthesia: Loss of feeling or awareness. A general anesthetic puts the person tosleep . A local anesthetic causes loss of feeling in a part of the body such as atooth or an area of skin without affecting consciousness. Regional anesthesianumbs a larger part of the body such as a leg or arm, also without affectingconsciousness. The term "conduction anesthesia" encompasses both local andregional anesthetic techniques. Many surgical procedures can be done withconduction anesthesia without significant pain . In many situations, such as a C-section , conduction anesthesia is safer and therefore preferable to generalanesthesia. However, there are also many types of surgery in which general

anesthesia is clearly appropriate.Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and othermicroorganisms. Originally, an antibiotic was a substance produced by onemicroorganism that selectively inhibits the growth of another. Syntheticantibiotics, usually chemically related to natural antibiotics, have since beenproduced that accomplish comparable tasks.Antifungal: A drug used to treat fungal infections.Antihistamines: Drugs that combat the histamine released during an allergicreaction by blocking the action of the histamine on the tissue. Antihistamines donot stop the formation of histamine nor do they stop the conflict between the IgEand antigen. Therefore, antihistamines do not stop the allergic reaction butprotect tissues from some of its effects. Antihistamines frequently cause mouthdryness and sleepiness. Newer "non sedating" antihistamines are generally thoughtto be somewhat less effective. Antihistamine side effects that very occasionallyoccur include urine retention in males and fast heart rate.Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical symptomssuch as palpitations , sweating, and feelings of stress . Anxiety disorders areserious medical illnesses that affect approximately 19 million American adults.These disorders fill people's lives with overwhelming anxiety and fear. Unlike therelatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event such as a businesspresentation or a first date, anxiety disorders are chronic, relentless, and cangrow progressively worse if not treated.Aspirin: A good example of a trade name that entered into the language, Aspirinwas once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid .Asthma : A common disorder in which chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes(bronchi) makes them swell, narrowing the airways. Asthma involves only thebronchial tubes and does not affect the air sacs ( alveoli ) or the lung tissue(the parenchyma of the lung) itself.Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms which can exist either as independent(free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism forlife).Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria . For example, a bacterial lung infection.Blindness: Loss of useful sight. Blindness can be temporary or permanent. Damageto any portion of the eye, the optic nerve, or the area of the brain responsiblefor vision can lead to blindness. There are numerous (actually, innumerable)causes of blindness. The current politically correct terms for blindness includevisually handicapped and visually challenged.Blood: The familiar red fluid in the body that contains white and red blood cells, platelets , proteins , and other elements. The blood is transported throughoutthe body by the circulatory system . Blood functions in two directions: arterialand venous. Arterial blood is the means by which oxygen and nutrients aretransported to tissues while venous blood is the means by which carbon dioxide andmetabolic by-products are transported to the lungs and kidneys, respectively, forremoval from the body.Blood clot: Blood that has been converted from a liquid to a solid state. Alsocalled a thrombus .

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within thearteries. It is produced primarily by the contraction of the heart muscle . It'smeasurement is recorded by two numbers. The first ( systolic pressure) is measuredafter the heart contracts and is highest. The second ( diastolic pressure) ismeasured before the heart contracts and lowest. A blood pressure cuff is used tomeasure the pressure. Elevation of blood pressure is called " hypertension ".Board certified: Board certified in medicine means a physician has taken andpassed a medical specialty examination.Bone: Bone is the substance that forms the skeleton of the body. It is composedchiefly of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate . It also serves as a storagearea for calcium, playing a large role in calcium balance in the blood.Brain: That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium( skull ). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributorof information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called"hemispheres."Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungsthrough the mouth or nose due to muscle contraction, and then exhaled due tomuscle relaxation.Bridge: A set of one or more false teeth supported by a metal framework, used toreplace one or more missing teeth.Bronchitis: Inflammation and swelling of the bronchi. Bronchitis can be acute orchronic.Cardiac: Having to do with the heart.Cavities: Holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and thedentin. The enamel is the outermost white hard surface and the dentin is theyellow layer just beneath enamel. Both layers serve to protect the inner livingtooth tissue called the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves reside. Smallcavities may not cause pain, and may be unnoticed by the patient. Larger cavitiescan collect food, and the inner pulp of the affected tooth can become irritated bybacterial toxins, foods that are cold, hot, sour, or sweet - causing toothache .Also referred to as caries.Cheek: The side of the face forming the side wall of the mouth.Chronic: This important term in medicine comes from the Greek chronos, time andmeans lasting a long time.Cilia: The fine hairlike projections from certain cells such as those in therespiratory tract that sweep in unison and help to sweep away fluids andparticles. Some single-celled organisms use the rhythmical motion of cilia forlocomotion .Circulation: The movement of fluid in a regular or circuitous course. Although thenoun "circulation" does not necessarily refer to the circulation of the blood, forall practical purposes today it does. Heart failure is an example of a problemwith the circulation.Coma: A state of deep unarousable unconsciousness.