Black's Medical Dictionary (41St Ed.)

Front 1

Acute Abdomen

Back 1

Most commonly caused by peritonitis - inflammation of the membrane tat lines the abdomen.
-causes include injury, inflammation of the fallopian tubes (salpingitis), and intestinal disorders such as appendicitis, crohn's disease, , diverticulitis, or a perforated peptic ulcer.
-symptoms of abdominal disease include: pain (visceral pain), swelling, constipation, nausea & vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice

Front 2

Ascites

Back 2

The accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, causing abdominal swelling.

Front 3

Abducent Nerve

Back 3

The sixth nerve rising from the brain and controls the external rectus muscle of the eye, which turns the eye outwards
(is particularly liable to be paralyzed in diseases of the nervous system, leading to an inward squint)

Front 4

Abduct

Back 4

(v.) To move part of the body (eg limb) away from the mid-line of the body or from another part.
(opposite: Adduct)

Front 5

Ablation

Back 5

The removal of any part of the body by a surgical operation.

Front 6

Abortifacient

Back 6

A drug which causes artificial abortion.

Front 7

Abortion

Back 7

The expulsion of a fetus before it is normally viable, usually before 24 weeks of pregnancy

Front 8

Spontaneous Abortion

Back 8

(eg. Miscarriage) may occur anytime before 28 weeks of pregnancy. Of all diagnosed pregnancies, 25% end in spontaneous abortion.
They are almost always associated with chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. Other causes: uterine shape, maternal disorders such as diabetes mellitus, diseases of the thryroid glands, and problems with immune system.
Recurrent spontaneous abortions (3+) is a particular problem in women who have an abnormal response of their immune system to pregnancy. Other factors: being older, having had a lot of previous babies, cigarette smoking, and spontaneous abortions in the past.

Front 9

Threatened Abortion

Back 9

When the woman has some vaginal bleeding, but the fetus is alive.

Front 10

Inevitable Abortion

Back 10

Where the neck of the uterus has started to open up

Front 11

Incomplete Abortion

Back 11

Where part of the fetus or placenta is lost, but some remains inside the uterus.

Front 12

Abrasion

Back 12

Rubbing off of the surface of te skin or of a mucus membrane due to some mechanical injury.
-can lead to abscesses in infected

Front 13

Abreaction

Back 13

An emotional release caused by the recall of past unpleasant experiences. This is normally the result of psychoanalytical treatment in which psychotherapy, certain drugs, or hypnosis are used to effect the abreaction . Used in the treatment of anxiety, hysteria or other neurotic states

Front 14

Abruptio Placenta

Back 14

Placental bleeding after the 24th week of pregnancy, which may result in the complete or partial detachment of the placenta from the wall of the womb. Is sometimes associated with raised blood pressure and pre-eclampsia.

Front 15

Abscess

Back 15

A localized collection of pus.
-a minute abscess is a Pustule
-a diffused production of pus is known as Cellulitis or Erysipelas.
-direct cause is various bacteria, mainly Stahylococci and Streptococci

Front 16

Adsorption

Back 16

Uptake by the body tissues of fluids or other substances

Front 17

Abstract

Back 17

(1) A dry powder produced by extracting the active principles from a crude drug. Abstracts are standardized to be twice the strength of the crude drug.

(2) summary of a scientific paper

Front 18

Acathosis Nigricans

Back 18

A darkly pigmented verrucous skin change, usually occurring around the neck and axilla. it may be inherited but is most commonly acquired. It is associated with adenocarcinoma - usually of the stomach - and certain hormonal disorders.

Front 19

Acarina

Back 19

The group of arthropod insects that include the parasitic mites and ticks.

Front 20

Acarus

Back 20

The group of animal parasites which includes Sarcoptes scabeie, the cause of the skin disease Scabies.

Front 21

Accomodation

Back 21

The process by which the refractive power of the lens of the eye is increased by constriction of the ciliary muscle, producing an increased thickness and curvature of the lens. Provides the ability to focus on near objects.

Front 22

Accouchement

Back 22

Archaic term for the delivery of a baby

Front 23

Accretion

Back 23

Addition to an object of the substance of which it is comprised. e.g. the growth of crystals in a fluid, or the overgrowth of bone after an injury.

The term also describes the addition of foreign material on the surface of a body structure, e.g. plaque on teeth.