Dictionary of Medical Terms

A fertilized ovum (egg).

A viral infection of certain sensory nerves that causes pain and an eruption of blisters on the skin along the…

A disease that can be spread to people by animals.

An acute viral illness spread by mosquito bites. Characterized by fever and jaundice.

A single-celled fungus that reproduces by budding and may lead to infections of the skin or other moist areas.

Dryness of the skin.

Transplantation of tissue or organs from an individual of one species to another unrelated species, such as a pig’s heart…

A tumor-like deposit of fatty substances in the skin.

Fatty deposits that appear as yellowish patches, or plaques, under the skin, often appearing in or near the eyelids.

The joint or part of the arm between the hand and the forearm.

The act or process of giving up the use of a drug to which one has become addicted or…

A rare, inherited disorder that occurs when copper pools in the red blood cells. May cause tremors, muscle rigidity, speech…

A rapidly growing tumor of the kidney found in children.

A serious infectious respiratory disease of children. Named for the distinctive whooping sound made by the patient after a coughing…

An injury of the neck or spine due to a sudden, severe bending of the neck.

A whistling or squeaky breathing sound caused by the narrowing (constriction) or blocking of the airway.

A pimple or small itchy elevation of the skin caused by an allergen.

A small, hard, abnormal growth of the skin or mucous membranes caused by a virus.

The external parts of the female reproductive tract surrounding the opening to the vagina.

Ejecting the contents of the stomach through the mouth.

The jelly-like material that fills the eyeball between the lens and retina.