Med term

• Abdominal cavity:

  • Part of the body between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the thighs
  • Contains most of the digestive and urinary systems along with some reproductive organs
• ABO blood groups:

  • Classification system for human blood based on proteins on red blood cells
  • Includes the groups A, AB, B, and O
• Abortion:

  • Termination of a pregnancy
  • Can occur due to natural causes (miscarriage) or medical intervention
• Abscess:

  • Accumulation of pus in body tissue
  • Usually caused by a bacterial infection
• ACE inhibitor:

  • Drug used to treat high blood pressure
  • Stands for Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme inhibitor
• Achilles tendon:

  • Tendon at the back of the lower leg
  • Connects the calf muscle to the heel bone
• Acid-base balance:

  • Mechanisms the body uses to keep its fluids close to neutral
  • Allows the body to function properly
• Acidosis:

  • Condition with abnormally high acid levels in the blood
  • Associated with some forms of diabetes, lung disease, and severe kidney disease
• Acid reflux:

  • Disorder where stomach acid comes up into the esophagus
  • Due to a malfunctioning valve between the stomach and esophagus
• Acne:

  • Skin condition with inflamed, pus-filled areas on the skin's surface
  • Most common during adolescence
• Acquired:

  • Describes any condition not present at birth but developing during life
• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS):

  • Infection by HIV causing a weakening of the immune system
• Acute:

  • Describes a condition or illness that begins suddenly and is short-lasting
• Acute respiratory disease:

  • Urgent condition with lower than normal oxygen levels in the blood and difficulty breathing
• Addiction:

  • Dependence on a substance or activity
  • Stopping is difficult and causes severe physical and mental reactions
• Adenitis:

  • Infection and inflammation of a gland, especially a lymph node
• Adipose tissue:

  • Another term for fatty tissue
  • Stores energy, insulates, and cushions the body
• Adjuvant therapy:

  • Use of drugs or radiation therapy in cancer treatment along with surgery
• Adrenal failure:

  • Condition where adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones controlling vital functions like blood pressure
• Adrenal glands:

  • Small glands on top of the kidneys
  • Secrete important hormones into the blood
• Adverse reaction:

  • Unintended and unwanted side effect of treatment, usually drug therapy
• Aerobic exercise:

  • Physical activity requiring the heart and lungs to work harder to meet increased oxygen demand
• Affective disorder:

  • Mental disorder involving abnormal moods and emotions
  • Includes manic-depressive disorder
• Afterbirth:

  • Placenta and membranes eliminated from the uterus after childbirth
• Afterpains:

  • Normal contractions of the uterus after childbirth
  • Usually occur for the first few days after delivery
• AIDS-related complex:

  • Symptoms like weight loss, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes in HIV-infected individuals not yet with AIDS
• Air embolism:

  • Blockage of an artery by air bubbles, possibly entering during surgery or after an injury
• Airway obstruction:

  • Blockage of the passage of air through the windpipe to the lungs
• Airways:

  • Passageways air moves through during breathing in and out of the lungs
• Albinism:

  • Condition where people are born with insufficient melanin pigment
  • Affects hair, skin, and eye color
• Alcoholic cardiomyopathy:

  • Heart damage and failure due to excessive alcohol intake
• Alimentary canal:

  • Another term for the digestive tract
• Alkalosis:

  • Dangerously decreased acidity of the blood
  • Can be caused by high altitudes, hyperventilation, and excessive vomiting
• Alkylating agents:

  • Substances used in cancer treatment that interfere with cell division
• Allergen:

  • Substance causing an allergic reaction
• Allergic rhinitis:

  • Irritation of nasal passages and eyes causing sneezing, runny nose, and sore eyes
• Allergy:

  • Negative reaction to a substance causing no reaction in most people
• Alopecia:

  • Baldness or hair loss, mainly on the head
  • Cause is unknown
• ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis):

  • Disorder where nerves controlling muscle movement degenerate
  • Commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease
• Altitude sickness:

  • Headaches, dizziness, and nausea at heights above 8,000 ft due to reduced oxygen