Enter a word or phrase below to search our online dictionary of over 1,300 general medical terms, or click on a letter of the alphabet to view all terms beginning with that letter:
Search for 'I'
| Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| iatrogenic | Resulting from medical treatment. |
| ichthyosis | An inherited skin disorder that produces dry, rough, scaly skin. |
| identical twins | Twins formed from a single egg. They are of the same gender and have the same genetic makeup. Also called monozygotic twins. |
| idiopathic | Without a known cause. |
| ileitis | Inflammation of the lower part of the small intestine. |
| ileum | The lower part of the small intestine. |
| ileus | Lack of movement of digested food and juices through the gastrointestinal tract. May be due to a blockage of the intestine. |
| ilium | The flared portion of the pelvis. The hip bone. |
| IM | Intramuscular. |
| immune | Resistant to a particular disease. |
| immunity | Resistance of the body to infection. |
| immunization | The process of making an individual immune by vaccination or inoculation. |
| immunoglobulin | A serum protein involved in immunity. An antibody. |
| impetigo | Skin infection characterized by erupting sores. Caused by staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria. |
| impotence | Inability of a male to achieve erection and orgasm. |
| in situ | In its original place. Carcinoma in situ means cancer that hasn't spread to other locations. |
| incision | A cut. |
| incisor | Any of the front four teeth on either the upper or lower jaw. |
| incompetent | 1. Unable to make rational decisions. 2. Not functioning properly. |
| incontinence | Inability to hold urine or feces. |
| incubate | To provide the proper conditions for growth. |
| indigestion | Upper abdominal discomfort usually experienced after a meal due to incomplete digestion. |
| induration | The process of hardening. An abnormally hard spot. |
| infarct | An area of dead or dying tissue produced by lack of blood flow to or from that area. For example, myocardial infarction is the death of heart muscle. |
| infection | Causing disease, especially by the presence of foreign microorganisms in the body, including bacteria, viruses or parasites. |
| infectious disease | A disease that can be spread from one person to another. |
| infertility | Inability to produce children. |
| inflammation | Swelling, redness, warmth and pain. A body tissue's protective response to injury. |
| influenza | A contagious and infectious respiratory illness usually occurring in the winter. |
| ingrown nail | Edges of the nail become trapped under the skin, causing inflammation and, sometimes, infection. |
| injection | A fluid introduced into the body by a syringe and needle. |
| innate | Inborn, hereditary. |
| inoculation | The injection of a disease agent into the body to cause a mild form of the disease and build immunity. |
| inoperable | Not curable through surgery. |
| insanity | Any form or degree of mental disturbance or unsoundness of mind, permanent or temporary, that makes a person incapable of rational conduct or judgment. |
| insemination | To deposit sperm in the vagina. |
| insomnia | An inability to fall asleep or to remain asleep. |
| insulin | The hormone produced by the pancreas for regulating carbohydrate metabolism. Used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. |
| integument | Skin. |
| intercourse | The exchange of communication between individuals. Sexual intercourse is the sexual joining of two people; coitus. |
| intestine | The tube involved in digestion and extending from the stomach to the anus. Consists of the small intestine and the large intestine. |
| intoxication | Poisoning, or the state of being affected by a poisonous substance. Often used to describe drunkenness. |
| intracellular | Within a cell. |
| intradermal | Within the skin. |
| intramuscular | Within the muscle. |
| intrauterine | Within the womb. |
| intravenous | Within a vein. Intravenous infusion means to direct fluids through a needle or catheter directly into a vein. |
| intussusception | Telescoping a section of the intestine into an adjoining section. |
| iris | The colored portion of the eye. It's a muscle that controls the amount of light entering the pupil. |
| iritis | Inflammation of the iris. |
| irrigation | Washing of a body cavity or wound with a stream of water. |
| ischemia | A lack of blood supply to a body part. |
| IUD | Intrauterine device. Used for contraception. |
| IV | Intravenous. |
| IVP | Intravenous pyelography. |
