Dictionary of Medical Terms

A fibrous material used to make fireproof materials, electrical insulation, roofing and filters. Asbestos has been linked to a type…

Abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen that causes distention.

Vitamin C.

A chronic disorder characterized by shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and tightness of the chest.

An irregularity in the curvature of the lens of the eye, resulting in a blurry or distorted image.

Collapsed lung. May occur following surgery or after a rib fracture.

A form of arteriosclerosis caused by fatty deposits in the arteries.

A fungal infection of the skin of the feet.

A predisposition to allergy that’s inherited from parents. Included disorders are asthma, hay fever and eczema.

The upper chambers of the heart that receive blood from the veins and pass it to the lower chambers of…

A decrease in the normal size of an organ. Wasting away.

A peculiar sensation that occurs before other symptoms. An example is the sensation of flashing lights before a migraine…

A condition in which antibodies form against one’s own cells.

A transfusion using the patient’s own blood.

The armpit.

The presence of bacteria in the blood.

Single-celled microorganisms with one of three basic shapes: rod-like (bacilli), spherical (cocci) and spiral (spirilla). Bacteria are commonly thought of…

The presence of bacteria in the urine.

A swelling of the knee caused by an escape of fluid from a sac behind the knee.

Quick, jerking movements that occur in people with chorea.

A chalky substance used in x-ray studies of the digestive tract to highlight abnormalities.