Dictionary of Medical Terms

A drug that is made from coca leaves. It can be used by a doctor as a topical anesthetic. It’s…

The tailbone.

The portion of the inner ear that senses sound.

Sexual intercourse.

An upper respiratory infection.

Herpes simplex infection of the lip.

1. A sudden, spasmodic abdominal pain. 2. In infants, a pattern of excessive crying, apparent abdominal pain and irritability.

A protein formed in the connective tissue of the body.

The large intestine.

A viral illness spread by ticks. Characterized by headache, backache and fever that begins to break and then returns midway…

Surgery that makes an opening to the intestine through the surface of the abdomen. The opening empties the bowels.

An antibody-rich fluid released by the breasts for a short time after the birth of a baby, before the true…

A dark-topped plug of fatty material in the opening of a hair follicle. The color is the result of exposure…

A disease spread through direct contact with an infected person or substance.

A dressing used to apply pressure or medicine to an area. Useful in applying heat or cold.

An overwhelming urge to perform an act. Often used to describe ritual or repetitive behaviors.

Fertilization. The union of sperm and egg.

A loss of consciousness because of a head injury.

A sheath worn over the penis or inside the vagina (female condom) during intercourse to protect against pregnancy and…

The light-sensing structure on the retina of the eye capable of detecting color.

Present at birth.