Abnormal: Not normal.

Deviating from the usual structure, position,

condition, or behavior. In referring to a growth, abnormal may mean
that it is cancerous or premalignant (likely to become cancer ).
See the entire definition of Abnormal

Absorption: Uptake. In the biomedical sciences, absorption has

diverse specific meanings.
See the entire definition of Absorption

Acquired: Anything that is not present at birth but develops some

time later. In medicine, the word "acquired" implies "new" or "added."
An acquired condition is "new" in the sense that it is not genetic
(inherited) and "added" in the sense that was not present at birth.
See the entire definition of Acquired

ADHD: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder .

See the entire definition of ADHD

Aggressive: In oncology, quickly growing, tending to spread rapidly.

As, for example, an aggressive tumor.
See the entire definition of Aggressive

American Psychiatric Association: A medical specialty society with

over 35,000 US and international member physicians who "work
together to ensure humane care and effective treatment for all persons
with mental disorder, including mental retardation and substance-
related disorders. It is the voice and conscience of modern psychiatry.
Its vision is a society that has available, accessible quality psychiatric
diagnosis and treatment." The American Psychiatric Association (APA)
is the oldest national medical specialty society in the US.
See the entire definition of American Psychiatric Association

Amitriptyline: An antidepressant medication. In some patients with

depression , abnormal levels of brain chemicals called
neurotransmitters may relate to the depression. Amitriptyline elevates
mood by raising the level of neurotransmitters in brain tissue.
Amitriptyline is also a sedative that is useful for depressed patients
with insomnia, restlessness, and nervousness. It is sometimes used to
treat fibromyalgia and symptoms related to chronic pain . Brand
names are Elavil and Endep. A generic version is available.
See the entire definition of Amitriptyline

Analysis: A psychology term for processes used to gain understanding

of complex emotional or behavioral issues.
See the entire definition of Analysis
Angry: Pertaining to anger, an emotional state that may range in
intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage. Anger has
physical effects; it raises the heart rate and blood pressure and the
levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline, and so on.
See the entire definition of Angry

Antipsychotic: A medication (or another measure) that is believed to

be effective in the treatment of psychosis . For example, aripiprazole
(Abilify) is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia .
See the entire definition of Antipsychotic

Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical

symptoms such as palpitations , sweating, and feelings of stress .
Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect
approximately 19 million American adults. These disorders fill people's
lives with overwhelming anxiety and fear. Unlike the relatively mild,
brief anxiety caused by a stressful event such as a business
presentation or a first date, anxiety disorders are chronic, relentless,
and can grow progressively worse if not treated.
See the entire definition of Anxiety

Asperger syndrome: An autistic disorder most notable for the often

great discrepancy between the intellectual and social abilities of those
who have it.
See the entire definition of Asperger syndrome

Atypical: Not typical, not usual, not normal, abnormal. Atypical is

often used to refer to the appearance of precancerous or cancerous
cells.
See the entire definition of Atypical

Audiology: The study of hearing.

See the entire definition of Audiology

Autism : A spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by

deficits in social interaction and communication, and unusual and
repetitive behavior. Some, but not all, people with autism are non-
verbal.
See the entire definition of Autism

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria . For example, a bacterial lung

infection .
See the entire definition of Bacterial
Brain: That part of the central nervous system that is located within
the cranium ( skull ). The brain functions as the primary receiver,
organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right
and left) halves called "hemispheres."
See the entire definition of Brain

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The US agency

charged with tracking and investigating public health trends. The
stated mission of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
commonly called the CDC, is "To promote health and quality of life by
preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability."
See the entire definition of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Cerebral: Pertaining to the brain, the cerebrum or the intellect.

See the entire definition of Cerebral

Child health: Child health is the purview of pediatrics.

See the entire definition of Child health

Childhood: (1) The time for a boy or girl from birth until he or she is
an adult. (2) The more circumscribed period of time from infancy to the
onset of puberty .
See the entire definition of Childhood

Cod liver oil: An oil extracted from the liver of the cod. Cod liver oil
was once given religiously to children every day as a rich source of
vitamins A and D. It was also used to treat children with rickets, a bone
disease due to vitamin D deficiency.
See the entire definition of Cod liver oil

Cognitive: Pertaining to cognition , the process of knowing and, more

precisely, the process of being aware, knowing, thinking, learning and
judging. The study of cognition touches on the fields of psychology ,
linguistics, computer science, neuroscience , mathematics, ethology
and philosophy.
See the entire definition of Cognitive

Concordance: 1. The presence of any given condition such as HIV in

both members of a couple.
2. In genetics, the presence of a phenotype such as asthma in both
members of a twin pair.
3. In clinical care, agreement between physician and patient.
In all sense, concordance is as opposed to discordance. From the Latin
concordare, to agree.
See the entire definition of Concordance
Condition: The term "condition" has a number of biomedical
meanings including the following:

1. An unhealthy state, such as in "this is a progressive condition."

2. A state of fitness, such as "getting into condition."
3. Something that is essential to the occurrence of something else;
essentially a "precondition."
4. As a verb: to cause a change in something so that a response
that was previously associated with a certain stimulus becomes
associated with another stimulus; to condition a person, as in
behavioral conditioning.

See the entire definition of Condition

Congenital: Present at birth. A condition that is congenital is one that

is present at birth. There are numerous uses of "congenital" in
medicine. There are, for example, congenital abnormalities. (For more
examples, see below.)
See the entire definition of Congenital

Congenital rubella syndrome: The constellation of abnormalities

caused by infection with the rubella (German measles) virus before
birth. The syndrome is characterized by multiple congenital
malformations (birth defects) and mental retardation.
See the entire definition of Congenital rubella syndrome

Crown: 1. In dentistry, the portion of the tooth that is covered by

enamel. 2. Also in dentistry, a type of restoration that covers all or
most of the natural tooth. 3. In anatomy , the top of the head, as in the
crown-rump length of a fetus . 4. In obstetrics , when a generous
portion of the fetal scalp (the crown) become visible at the vaginal
opening during labor . Soon after the baby crowns, delivery usually
occurs.
See the entire definition of Crown

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. Cures are

easy to claim and, all too often, difficult to confirm.
2. A time without recurrence of a disease so that the risk of recurrence
is small, as in the 5-year cure rate for malignant melanoma .
3. Particularly in the past, a course of treatment. For example, take a
cure at a spa.
See the entire definition of Cure

Deafness: Deafness is defined by partial or complete hearing loss.

Levels of hearing impairment vary from a mild but important loss of
sensitivity to a total loss of hearing. Older adults suffer most often from
hearing loss. Age-related hearing loss affects 30 to 35 percent of the
population between the ages of 65 and 75 years, and 40 percent of the
population over the age of 75. The most common cause of hearing loss
in children is otitis media, a disorder that affects predominantly infants
and young children. A substantial number of hearing impairments are
caused by environmental factors such as noise, drugs, and toxins.
Many sensorineural hearing losses result from a genetic predisposition.

See the entire definition of Deafness

Depression : An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts,

that affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about
oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is
not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal
weakness or a condition that can be wished away. People with a
depressive disease cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get
better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or
years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people with
depression.
See the entire definition of Depression

Developmental delay: Behind schedule in reaching milestones of

early childhood development.
See the entire definition of Developmental delay

Developmental disorder: One of several disorders that interrupt

normal development in childhood. They may affect a single area of
development (specific developmental disorders) or several (pervasive
developmental disorders). With early intervention, most specific
developmental disorders can be accommodated and overcome. Early
intervention is absolutely essential for pervasive developmental
disorders, many of which will respond to an aggressive approach that
may combine speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy,
behavior modification techniques, play therapy, and in some cases
medication.
See the entire definition of Developmental disorder

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease ; the identification of an illness.

2 A conclusion or decision reached by diagnosis. The diagnosis is
rabies . 3 The identification of any problem. The diagnosis was a
plugged IV.
See the entire definition of Diagnosis
Echolalia: The involuntary parrotlike repetition (echoing) of a word or
phrase just spoken by another person. Echolalia is a feature of
schizophrenia (especially the catatonic form), Tourette syndrome , and
some other disorders. From echo + the Greek lalia, a form of speech.
See the entire definition of Echolalia

EEG: Electroencephalogram, e technique for studying the electrical

current within the brain. Electrodes are attached to the scalp. Wires
attach these electrodes to a machine which records the electrical
impulses. The results are either printed out or displayed on a computer
screen. Electroencephalogram is abbreviated EEG.
See the entire definition of EEG

Elavil: See: Amitriptyline .

See the entire definition of Elavil

Environment: The sum of the total of the elements, factors and

conditions in the surroundings which may have an impact on the
development , action or survival of an organism or group of organisms.

See the entire definition of Environment

Essential: 1. Something that cannot be done without.

2. Required in the diet, because the body cannot make it. As in an
essential amino acid or an essential fatty acid.
3. Idiopathic. As in essential hypertension. "Essential" is a hallowed
term meaning "We don't know the cause."
See the entire definition of Essential

Event: A set of outcomes. Cardiovascular events might include a heart

attack and gastrointestinal events a GI bleed. The use of the term
"event" in medicine comes from probability theory.
See the entire definition of Event

Family history: The family structure and relationships within the

family, including information about diseases in family members.
See the entire definition of Family history

Fragile X syndrome: One of the most common causes of inherited

mental retardation and neuropsychiatric disease in human beings,
affects as many as one in 2000 males and one in 4000 females. The
syndrome is also known as FRAXA (the fragile X chromosome itself)
and as the Martin-Bell syndrome. However, the preferred name is
fragile X syndrome.
See the entire definition of Fragile X syndrome
Gene: The basic biological unit of heredity . A segment of
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) needed to contribute to a function.
See the entire definition of Gene

Genes: The basic biological units of heredity . Segments of

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) needed to contribute to a function.
See the entire definition of Genes

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic information.

See the entire definition of Genetic

Genetics: The scientific study of heredity . Genetics pertains to

humans and all other organisms. So, for example, there is human
genetics, mouse genetics, fruitfly genetics, etc.
See the entire definition of Genetics

Gluten: A protein found in wheat or related grains and many foods

that we eat. Gluten can be found in a large variety of foods including
soups, salad dressings, processed foods and natural flavorings.
Unidentified starch, binders and fillers in medications or vitamins can
be unsuspected sources of gluten.
See the entire definition of Gluten

Hyperactivity: A higher than normal level of activity. An organ can be

described as hyperactive if it is more active than usual. Behavior can
also be hyperactive.
See the entire definition of Hyperactivity

Impulsivity: Inclined to act on impulse rather than thought. People

who are overly impulsive, seem unable to curb their immediate
reactions or think before they act. As a result, they may blurt out
answers to questions or inappropriate comments, or run into the street
without looking. Their impulsivity may make it hard for a child to wait
for things they want or to take their turn in games. They may grab a
toy from another child or hit when they are upset.
See the entire definition of Impulsivity

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable

because of a particular condition or circumstance. For example, certain
medications are indicated for the treatment of hypertension during
pregnancy while others are contraindicated .
See the entire definition of Indicate
Infant: A child up to 2 years (24 months) of age.
See the entire definition of Infant

Informatics: The application of computers and statistics to the

management of information. For example, in the Human Genome
Project, informatics has permitted the development and use of
methods to search databases quickly, analyze DNA sequence
information, and predict protein sequence and structure from DNA
sequence data.
See the entire definition of Informatics

Intervention: The act of intervening, interfering or interceding with

the intent of modifying the outcome. In medicine, an intervention is
usually undertaken to help treat or cure a condition. For example, early
intervention may help children with autism to speak. "Acupuncture as
a therapeutic intervention is widely practiced in the United States,"
according to the National Institutes of Health. From the Latin
intervenire, to come between.
See the entire definition of Intervention

Lab test: A test that is done in the laboratory where the appropriate
equipment, supplies, and certified expertise are available.
See the entire definition of Lab test

Labile : Unstable, unsteady, not fixed.

See the entire definition of Labile

Liver: An organ in the upper abdomen that aids in digestion and

removes waste products and worn-out cells from the blood. The liver is
the largest solid organ in the body. The liver weighs about three and a
half pounds (1.6 kilograms). It measures about 8 inches (20 cm)
horizontally (across) and 6.5 inches (17 cm) vertically (down) and is 4.5
inches (12 cm) thick.

See the entire definition of Liver

Macrocephaly: An abnormally large head. The opposite of

macrocephaly is microcephaly (an abnormally small head).
See the entire definition of Macrocephaly

Magnesium: A mineral involved in many processes in the body

including nerve signaling, the building of healthy bones, and normal
muscle contraction . About 350 enzymes are known to depend on
magnesium.
See the entire definition of Magnesium
Medication: 1. A drug or medicine. 2. The administration of a drug or
medicine. (Note that "medication" does not have the dangerous double
meaning of "drug.")
See the entire definition of Medication

Meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges, usually due to a bacterial

infection but sometimes from viral, protozoan, or other causes (in
some cases the cause cannot be determined).
See the entire definition of Meningitis

Mental retardation: A term used when a person has certain

limitations in mental functioning and in skills such as communicating,
taking care of him or herself, and social skills. These limitations will
cause a child to learn and develop more slowly than a typical child.
Children with mental retardation may take longer to learn to speak,
walk, and take care of their personal needs such as dressing or eating.
They are likely to have trouble learning in school. They will learn, but it
will take them longer. There may be some things they cannot learn. As
many as 3 out of every 100 people have mental retardation. In fact, 1
out of every 10 children who need special education has some form of
mental retardation.
See the entire definition of Mental retardation

Metabolic: Relating to metabolism, the whole range of biochemical

processes that occur within us (or any living organism). Metabolism
consists of anabolism (the buildup of substances) and catabolism (the
breakdown of substances).
See the entire definition of Metabolic

Microcephaly: An abnormally small head due to failure of brain

growth. In precise terms, microcephaly is a head circumference that is
more than 2 standard deviations below the normal mean for age, sex,
race, and gestation . (Some authorities define microcephaly as more
than 3 standard deviations below the mean.)
See the entire definition of Microcephaly

Motor: In medicine, having to do with the movement of a part of the

body. Something that produces motion or refers to motion. For
example, a motor neuron is a nerve cell that conveys an impulse to a
muscle causing it to contract. The term "motor" today is also applied to
a nerve that signals a gland to secrete. Motor is as opposed to sensory.

See the entire definition of Motor

MRI: Abbreviation and nickname for magnetic resonance imaging . For
more information, see: Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Paul C.
Lauterbur ; Peter Mansfield .
See the entire definition of MRI

Music therapy: The use of music in therapy; the therapeutic use of

music. There are many different definitions of music therapy ranging
from the trivial (a form of distraction that uses music as an aid to
relaxation) to the lofty (the prescribed use of music to restore,
maintain, and improve emotional, physical, physiological, and spiritual
health and well-being).
See the entire definition of Music therapy

Neurologist: A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment

of disorders of the nervous system.
See the entire definition of Neurologist

Neurotoxic: Poisonous to nerves or nerve tissue. Mercury and lead

are neurotoxic.
See the entire definition of Neurotoxic

NICHD: The National Institute of Child Health and Human

Development, one of the US National Institutes of Health . NICHD is in
a sense the NIH for kids in that it is concerned with child health .
See the entire definition of NICHD

Nutrition : 1) The science or practice of taking in and utilizing foods.

2) A nourishing substance, such as nutritional solutions delivered to
hospitalized patients via an IV or IG tube.
See the entire definition of Nutrition

Obsessive-compulsive disorder: A psychiatric disorder

characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, such as
cleaning, checking, counting, or hoarding. Obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD), one of the anxiety disorders, is a potentially disabling
condition that can persist throughout a person's life. The individual
who suffers from OCD becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive
thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but
extremely difficult to overcome. OCD occurs in a spectrum from mild to
severe, but if severe and left untreated, can destroy a person's
capacity to function at work, at school, or even in the home.
See the entire definition of Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Onset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of

an illness as, for example, the onset of rheumatoid arthritis . There is
always an onset to a disease but never to the return to good health.
The default setting is good health.
See the entire definition of Onset

PA-C: Physician Assistant - Certified.

See the entire definition of PA-C

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized

discomfort to agony. Pain has both physical and emotional
components. The physical part of pain results from nerve stimulation.
Pain may be contained to a discrete area, as in an injury, or it can be
more diffuse, as in disorders like fibromyalgia . Pain is mediated by
specific nerve fibers that carry the pain impulses to the brain where
their conscious appreciation may be modified by many factors.
See the entire definition of Pain

Pediatrics: "Pediatrics is concerned with the health of infants, children

and adolescents, their growth and development, and their opportunity
to achieve full potential as adults." (Richard E.Behrman in Nelson's
Textbook of Pediatrics)
See the entire definition of Pediatrics

Pharmacy: A location where prescription drugs are sold. A pharmacy

is, by law, constantly supervised by a licensed pharmacist.
See the entire definition of Pharmacy

Phenylketonuria : The inherited inability to metabolize (process) the

essential amino acid phenylalanine due to complete or near-complete
deficiency of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase.
See the entire definition of Phenylketonuria

PKU: Short for phenylketonuria. See: Phenylketonuria .

See the entire definition of PKU

Posture: The carriage of the body as a whole, the attitude of the body,
or the position of the limbs (the arms and legs).
See the entire definition of Posture

Primary: First or foremost in time or development. The primary teeth

(the baby teeth) are those that come first. Primary may also refer to
symptoms or a disease to which others are secondary.
See the entire definition of Primary

Proteins: Large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino

acids in a specific order determined by the base sequence of
nucleotides in the DNA coding for the protein.
See the entire definition of Proteins

Psychiatric: Pertaining to or within the purview of psychiatry , the

medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis , and
treatment of mental illness.
See the entire definition of Psychiatric

Psychiatrist: A physician (an M.D.) who specializes in the prevention ,

diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness . Psychiatrists must receive
additional training and serve a supervised residency in their specialty.
They may also have additional training in a psychiatric specialty, such
as child psychiatry or neuropsychiatry. They can prescribe medication,
which psychologists cannot do.
See the entire definition of Psychiatrist

Psychiatry: The medical specialty concerned with the prevention,

diagnosis , and treatment of mental illness.
See the entire definition of Psychiatry

Quality of life: An important consideration in medical care, quality of

life refers to the patient's ability to enjoy normal life activities. Some
medical treatments can seriously impair quality of life without
providing appreciable benefit, while others greatly enhance quality of
life.
See the entire definition of Quality of life

Quotient: The result of mathematical division. The I.Q. (Intelligence

Quotient) is arrived at by dividing the person's mental age (as
determined on the Binet test) by the person's chronologic age and
multiplying by 100. So if a child scores at the 8-year old level but is
only 6, the I.Q. is 8/6 X 100=125.
See the entire definition of Quotient

Referral: The recommendation of a medical or paramedical

professional. If you get a referral to ophthalmology, for example, you
are being sent to the eye doctor. In HMOs and other managed care
schemes, a referral is usually necessary to see any practitioner or
specialist other than your primary care physician (PCP), if you want the
service to be covered. The referral is obtained from your PCP, who may
require a telephone or office consultation first.
See the entire definition of Referral

Rehabilitation: The process of restoration of skills by a person who

has had an illness or injury so as to regain maximum self-sufficiency
and function in a normal or as near normal manner as possible. For
example, rehabilitation after a stroke may help the patient walk again
and speak clearly again.
See the entire definition of Rehabilitation

Rett syndrome: An X-linked dominant neurological disorder that

affects girls only and is one of the most common causes of mental
retardation in females. Girls with the syndrome show normal
development during the first 6-18 months of life followed first by a
period of stagnation and then by rapid regression in motor and
language skills. The hallmark of Rett syndrome is the loss of purposeful
hand use and its replacement with stereotyped hand-wringing.
Screaming fits and inconsolable crying are common.
See the entire definition of Rett syndrome

Reuptake: The reabsorption of a secreted substance by the cell that

originally produced and secreted it. The process of reuptake, for
example, affects serotonin.
See the entire definition of Reuptake

Rubella syndrome: The constellation of abnormalities caused by

infection with the rubella (German measles) virus before birth. The
syndrome is characterized by multiple congenital malformations (birth
defects) and mental retardation.
See the entire definition of Rubella syndrome

Rule out: A term much used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or

exclude something from consideration. The ACB (albumin cobalt
binding) test helps rule out a heart attack in the differential diagnosis
of severe chest pain.
See the entire definition of Rule out

Sclerosis: Localized hardening of skin.

See the entire definition of Sclerosis

Sense: In biology and medicine, the faculty of sensory reception. The

ability to convey specific types of external or internal stimuli to the
brain and perceive them. Sensory reception occurs through a process
known as transduction in which stimuli are converted into nerve
impulses which are relayed to the brain.
See the entire definition of Sense

Sensory: Relating to sensation , to the perception of a stimulus and

the voyage made by incoming ( afferent ) nerve impulses from the
sense organs to the nerve centers.
See the entire definition of Sensory

Sensory integration: A form of occupational therapy in which special

exercises are used to strengthen the patient's sense of touch (tactile),
sense of balance (vestibular), and sense of where the body and its
parts are in space (proprioceptive). It appears to be effective for
helping patients with movement disorders or severe under- or over-
sensitivity to sensory input.
See the entire definition of Sensory integration

Serotonin: A hormone , also called 5-hydroxytryptamine , in the

pineal gland , blood platelets, the digestive tract, and the brain.
Serotonin acts both as a chemical messenger that transmits nerve
signals between nerve cells and that causes blood vessels to narrow.
See the entire definition of Serotonin

Stress: Forces from the outside world impinging on the individual.

Stress is a normal part of life that can help us learn and grow.
Conversely, stress can cause us significant problems.
See the entire definition of Stress

Syndrome: A set of signs and symptoms that tend to occur together

and which reflect the presence of a particular disease or an increased
chance of developing a particular disease.
See the entire definition of Syndrome

Therapy: The treatment of disease .

See the entire definition of Therapy

Tired: A feeling of a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency

of accomplishment, usually accompanied by a sense of weariness and
fatigue.
See the entire definition of Tired

Toddler: A young child who is learning to walk with short unsteady

steps. The word toddle is of unknown origin.
See the entire definition of Toddler

Trauma: Any injury , whether physically or emotionally inflicted.

"Trauma" has both a medical and a psychiatric definition. Medically,
"trauma" refers to a serious or critical bodily injury, wound, or shock .
This definition is often associated with trauma medicine practiced in
emergency rooms and represents a popular view of the term. In
psychiatry , "trauma" has assumed a different meaning and refers to
an experience that is emotionally painful, distressful, or shocking,
which often results in lasting mental and physical effects.
See the entire definition of Trauma

Tuberous sclerosis: A genetic disorder characterized by

abnormalities of the skin, brain, kidney, and heart. The skin
abnormalities are present in all cases and may include tiny benign
tumors (angiofibroma) on the face and depigmented areas anywhere
on the body. The brain abnormalities are mainly benign cortical tumors
( tubers ) which cause seizures, developmental delay , and mental
retardation . The kidneys often contain multiple cysts and benign
tumors (angiomyolipomas). The heart problems include arrhythmias
and benign heart muscle tumors (rhabdomyomas).
See the entire definition of Tuberous sclerosis

Vaccines: Microbial preparations of killed or modified microorganisms

that can stimulate an immune response in the body to prevent future
infection with similar microorganisms. These preparations are usually
delivered by injection.
See the entire definition of Vaccines

Vitamin C: An essential nutrient found mainly in fruits and vegetables.

The body requires vitamin C to form and maintain bones, blood
vessels, and skin.
See the entire definition of Vitamin C

Vitamins: The word "vitamin" was coined in 1911 by the Warsaw-born

biochemist Casimir Funk (1884-1967). At the Lister Institute in London,
Funk isolated a substance that prevented nerve inflammation (neuritis)
in chickens raised on a diet deficient in that substance. He named the
substance "vitamine" because he believed it was necessary to life and
it was a chemical amine. The "e" at the end was later removed when it
was recognized that vitamins need not be amines.
See the entire definition of Vitamins

X-ray: 1. High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of

visible light. X-rays possess the properties of penetrating most
substances (to varying extents), of acting on a photographic film or
plate (permitting radiography), and of causing a fluorescent screen to
give off light (permitting fluoroscopy). In low doses X-rays are used for
making images that help to diagnose disease, and in high doses to
treat cancer . Formerly called a Roentgen ray. 2. An image obtained by
means of X-rays.
See the entire definition of X-ray
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