Dictionary of Medical Terms

A chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine characterized by bloody diarrhea.

A localized sore in the skin or mucosal surfaces.

An infectious disease spread to people by the bite of ticks, mites, fleas and lice. Typhus is characterized by high…

A bacterial infection with Salmonella typhi transmitted by contaminated water, milk or other foods. Proper sanitation and hygiene prevent the…

The eardrum.

Cough.

Overgrowth of tissue.

An infectious disease caused by bacteria and characterized by the formation of tubercles in various tissues of the body, especially…

A protein injected into the skin to test for tuberculosis infection.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone. A pituitary hormone that stimulates thyroid hormone production.

A device to keep a hernia in its proper place.

The presence of an extra chromosome in addition to the usual pair. Down syndrome is an example of a condition…

The heart valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle.

Infection with Trichomonas protozoa. Frequently causes vaginal itching and discharge in women. It’s usually acquired by sexual contact with an…

Infection with a roundworm caused by consumption of larvae in undercooked pork or other infected meat.

A muscle of the arm used to extend the forearm.

A system of assigning priorities of medical treatment based on urgency, severity of injury and chance for survival.

An acute, severe bacterial infection of the gums and lining of the mouth.

Injury produced by an external force.

The transfer of living organs or tissue from a donor to another person or from one area in the body…

Introduction of blood or blood products through a vein into the body’s circulation.