Dictionary of Medical Terms

A scoring method from zero to 10 for describing the health of an infant at birth, based on heart rate,…

Lack of emotions.

A serum that contains antibodies. Serum from a person or animal with immunity to a certain disease can, in some…

A foreign agent capable of starting an immune response or causing the body to produce antibodies.

An agent used to counteract a poison.

A protein produced by the body to neutralize an invading foreign agent or antigen, such as a virus.

Occurring before delivery of a baby.

Congenital absence of both testes.

Abnormal stiffening of a joint.

Any substance that produces male characteristics. Testosterone and androsterone are natural androgens.

Brief, intense exercise that leads to an oxygen debt in a certain area of tissue. Weight lifting is an…

The sacs in the lungs at the ends of the smallest airways where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide in…

A potentially fatal illness caused by being at altitudes high enough to reduce the amount of oxygen available to the…

Congenital lack of an enzyme that leads to cirrhosis of the liver and obstructive lung disease.

A condition resulting when the adrenal glands produce too much of the hormone aldosterone, which regulates fluids and salt in…

A water-soluble protein found in milk, egg, muscle, blood and many vegetable tissues and fluids.

The absence of all normal body pigmentation at birth, a condition that can occur in all races.

The passage by which air enters and exits the lungs.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A disease of the immune system caused by the HIV virus.

Requiring the use of oxygen. Exercise that conditions the heart and lungs by increasing the efficiency of oxygen intake by…

Located on top of the kidneys, these glands produce hormones helpful in regulating the body’s metabolism.