Medterms P

Front 1

Pancreas

Back 1

Gland that produces digestive juices (exocrine function) and the hormone INSULIN (endocrine function).

Front 2

Pancreatectomy

Back 2

Removal of the pancreas.

Front 3

Pancreatitis

Back 3

Inflammation of the pancreas.

Front 4

Paralysis

Back 4

Loss or impairment of movement in a part of the body.

Front 5

Paraplegia

Back 5

Impairment or loss of movement in the lower part of the body, primarily the legs and in some cases bowel and bladder function.

Front 6

Parathyroid glands

Back 6

Four endocrine glands behind the thyroid gland. These glands are concerned with maintaining the proper levels of calcium in the blood and bones.

Front 7

Parathyroid hormone

Back 7

Hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands to maintain a constant concentration of calcium in the blood and bones. Also called PTH.

Front 8

Patella

Back 8

Knee cap.

Front 9

Pathogen

Back 9

Disease-producing organism (such as bacteria or viruses).

Front 10

Pathologist

Back 10

Specialist in the study of disease using microscopic examination of tissues and cells and autopsy examination.

Front 11

Pathology

Back 11

Study of disease.

Front 12

Pediatric

Back 12

Pertaining to treatment of a child.

Front 13

Pedodontist

Back 13

Dentist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of children’s dental problems.

Front 14

Pelvic

Back 14

Pertaining to the bones of the hip area.

Front 15

Pelvic cavity

Back 15

Space contained within the hip bones (front and sides) and the lower part of the backbone (sacrum and coccyx).

Front 16

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Back 16

Inflammation in the pelvis region; usually inflammation of the fallopian tubes.

Front 17

Pelvis

Back 17

Lower part of the trunk of the body including the hip bone, tailbone, and sacrum (lower backbone).

Front 18

Penicillin

Back 18

Substance derived from certain molds that can destroy bacteria; an ANTIBIOTIC.

Front 19

Penis

Back 19

External male organ containing the urethra, through which both urine and semen (sperm cells and fluid) leave the body.

Front 20

Peptic ulcer

Back 20

Sore (lesion) of the mucous membrane lining the first part of the small intestine (duodenum) or lining the stomach.

Front 21

Percutaneous

Back 21

Pertaining to through the skin.

Front 22

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography

Back 22

Bile vessels are imaged after injection of contrast material through the skin into the liver.

Front 23

Perianal

Back 23

Pertaining to surrounding the anus.

Front 24

Periodontist

Back 24

Dentist specializing in the treatment of gum disease (surrounding a tooth).

Front 25

Periosteum

Back 25

Membrane that surrounds bone.

Front 26

Peritoneal

Back 26

Pertaining to the PERITONEUM.

Front 27

Peritoneal dialysis

Back 27

Process of removing wastes from the blood by introducing a special fluid into the abdomen. The wastes pass into the fluid from the bloodstream and then the fluid is drained from the body.

Front 28

Peritoneal fluid

Back 28

Fluid produced in the abdominal cavity.

Front 29

Peritoneoscopy

Back 29

Visual examination of the peritoneal cavity with an endoscope. See LAPAROSCOPY.

Front 30

Peritoneum

Back 30

Membrane that surrounds the abdomen and holds the abdominal organs in place.

Front 31

Peritonitis

Back 31

Inflammation of the peritoneum.

Front 32

Phalanges

Back 32

Finger and toe bones.

Front 33

Pharyngeal

Back 33

Pertaining to the pharynx (throat).

Front 34

Pharyngitis

Back 34

Inflammation of the pharynx (throat).

Front 35

Pharynx

Back 35

Organ behind the mouth that receives swallowed food and delivers it into the esophagus. The pharynx (throat) also receives air from the nose and passes it to the trachea (windpipe).

Front 36

Phenothiazine

Back 36

Substance whose derivatives are used as tranquilizers and antipsychotic agents to treat mental illness.

Front 37

Phlebitis

Back 37

Inflammation of a vein.

Front 38

Phlebography

Back 38

X-ray examination of veins after injection of contrast material.

Front 39

Phlebotomy

Back 39

Incision of a vein.

Front 40

Photoselective vaporization of the prostate

Back 40

Use of a Green Light laser to vaporize and remove prostatic tissue to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Front 41

Phrenic

Back 41

Pertaining to the DIAPHRAGM.

Front 42

Physical medicine and rehabilitation

Back 42

Field of medicine that specializes in restoring the function of the body after illness.

Front 43

Pilosebaceous

Back 43

Pertaining to hair and its associated sebaceous gland.

Front 44

Pineal gland

Back 44

Small endocrine gland within the brain that secretes the hormone melatonin, whose exact function is unclear. In lower animals, the pineal gland is a receptor for light.

Front 45

Pituitary gland

Back 45

Organ at the base of the brain that secretes hormones. These hormones enter the blood to regulate other organs and other endocrine glands.

Front 46

Platelet

Back 46

Cell in the blood that aids clotting; a thrombocyte.

Front 47

Pleura

Back 47

Double membrane that surrounds the lungs. Pleural means pertaining to the pleura.

Front 48

Pleural cavity

Back 48

Space between the pleurae surrounding each lung.

Front 49

Pleural effusion

Back 49

Collection of fluid between the double membranes surrounding the lungs.

Front 50

Pleurisy

Back 50

Inflammation of the PLEURA

Front 51

Pleuritis

Back 51

Inflammation of the PLEURA.

Front 52

Pneumoconiosis

Back 52

Group of lung diseases resulting from inhalation of particles of dust such as coal, with permanent deposition of such particles in the lung.

Front 53

Pneumonectomy

Back 53

Removal of a lung.

Front 54

Pneumonia

Back 54

Abnormal condition of the lungs marked by inflammation and collection of a material within the air sacs of the lungs.

Front 55

Pneumonitis

Back 55

Inflammation of a lung or lungs.

Front 56

Pneumothorax

Back 56

Abnormal accumulation of air in the space between the pleurae.

Front 57

Polycythemia

Back 57

Increase in red blood cells. One form of polycythemia is polycythemia vera, in which the bone marrow produces an excess of erythrocytes and hemoglobin level is elevated.

Front 58

Polydipsia

Back 58

Excessive thirst.

Front 59

Polyneuropathy

Back 59

Disease of many nerves.

Front 60

Polyp

Back 60

A growth or mass (benign) protruding from a mucous membrane.

Front 61

Polyuria

Back 61

Excessive urination.

Front 62

Posteroanterior

Back 62

Pertaining to direction from back to front.

Front 63

Postmortem

Back 63

After death.

Front 64

Postpartum

Back 64

After birth.

Front 65

Posterior

Back 65

Located in the back portion of a structure or of the body.

Front 66

Precancerous

Back 66

Pertaining to a condition that may come before a cancer; a condition that tends to become malignant.

Front 67

Prenatal

Back 67

Pertaining to before birth.

Front 68

Proctologist

Back 68

Physician who specializes in the study of the anus and rectum.

Front 69

Proctoscopy

Back 69

Inspection of the anus and rectum with a proctoscope (ENDOSCOPE). Proctoscopy is often performed before rectal surgery.

Front 70

Proctosigmoidoscopy

Back 70

Visual examination of the anus, rectum, and sigmoid colon with an endoscope.

Front 71

Progesterone

Back 71

Hormone secreted by the ovaries to prepare to maintain the uterine lining during pregnancy.

Front 72

Prognosis

Back 72

Prediction as to the outcome of an illness or treatment. Prognosis literally means before (-PRO) knowledge (-GNOSIS).

Front 73

Prolapse

Back 73

To move out of place; especially for an internal organ to protrude beyond its normal position. Prolapse literally means sliding (-LAPSE) forward (-PRO).

Front 74

Prostate gland

Back 74

Male gland that surrounds the base of the urinary bladder. It produces fluid (semen) that leaves the body with sperm cells.

Front 75

Prostatectomy

Back 75

Removal of the prostate gland.

Front 76

Prostatic

Back 76

Pertaining to the prostate gland.

Front 77

Prostatic carcinoma

Back 77

Malignant tumor arising from the PROSTATE GLAND. Also called prostate cancer.

Front 78

Prostatic hyperplasia

Back 78

Abnormal increase in growth (benign) of the prostate gland.

Front 79

Prosthesis

Back 79

Artificial substitutes for a missing part of the body. Prosthesis literally means to place (-THESIS) before (PROS-)

Front 80

Prosthodontist

Back 80

Dentist specializing in artificial appliances to replace missing teeth.

Front 81

Proteinuria

Back 81

Abnormal condition of protein in the urine (albuminuria).

Front 82

Psychiatrist

Back 82

Specialist in the treatment of the mind and mental disorders.

Front 83

Psychiatry

Back 83

Treatment (IATR/O-) of disorders of the mind, especially in relation to human behavior.

Front 84

Psychosis

Back 84

Abnormal condition of the mind; a serious mental disorder that involves loss of normal perception of reality (plural: psychoses).

Front 85

Pulmonary

Back 85

Pertaining to the lungs.

Front 86

Pulmonary artery

Back 86

Artery carrying blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Front 87

Pulmonary circulation

Back 87

Passage of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart.

Front 88

Pulmonary edema

Back 88

Abnormal collection of fluid in the lung (within the air sacs of the lung). Fluid backs up into lung tissue commonly due to congestive heart failure as the heart weakens and is unable to pump blood effectively.

Front 89

Pulmonary embolism

Back 89

Blockage of blood vessels by foreign matter (clot, tumor, fat, or air). The EMBOLUS frequently arises from the deep veins of the leg.

Front 90

Pulmonary specialist

Back 90

Physician trained to treat lung disorders.

Front 91

Pupil

Back 91

Black center of the eye through which light enters.

Front 92

Pyelitis

Back 92

Inflammation of the renal pelvis (central section of the kidney).

Front 93

Pyelogram

Back 93

Record of the renal pelvis after injection of contrast.