Medical terms Flashcards
What does BPPV stand for?
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
What is a sulcus?
|ˈsəlˌsī; -ˌsē| a groove or furrow, esp. one on the surface of the brain. (Plural: sulci.)
What is a coronal section?
Vertical, side-to-side.
What is a sagittal section?
One that is parallel to the plane dividing the body into left-right halves.
What direction is “dorsal”?
Towards an animal’s back or upper side.
What direction is “ventral”?
Towards an animal’s underside or abdomen.
trophic
adjective
From ecology: of or relating to feeding and nutrition.
From physiology (of a hormone or its effect) stimulating the activity of another endocrine gland.
prednisone
A synthetic corticosteroid drug that is particularly effective as an immunosuppressant, and affects virtually all of the immune system. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases and (at higher doses) cancers, but has significant adverse effects. It is usually taken orally but can be delivered by intramuscular injection or intravenous injection.
multiple sclerosis
A disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms. The name multiple sclerosis refers to scars (scleroses—better known as plaques or lesions) in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord, which is mainly composed of myelin. Almost any neurological symptom can appear with the disease, and often progresses to physical and cognitive disability. Life expectancy is not greatly affected.
posterior
1) (chiefly) Anatomy, technical. Further back in position; of or nearer the rear or hind end, esp. of the body or a part of it : “the posterior part of the gut”. This would mean it’s located behind, either caudally or dorsally (of human body or its parts).
2) coming after in time or order; later; subsequent.
caudal
(adjective) of or like a tail; at or near the tail or the posterior part of the body.
caudally (adverb)
Malassezia globosa
Fungus that appears to be responsible for some (most?) dandruff.
This is not the same as Malassezia furfur, which apparently in older literature was thought to be the agent.
dandruff
The majority of cases are caused by the presence of a scalp-specific fungus, Malassezi globosa. This fungus metabolizes triglycerides present in sebum, and the product is oleic acid, which then penetrates the cells of the scalp and (for people who are more susceptible than others) results in inflammation and erratic cleavage of cells. No convincing evidence that food (such as sugar or yeast), excessive perspiration, or climate have any role in the pathogenesis of dandruff.
zoonosis
a disease that can be transmitted to humans from animals.
adj: zoonotic
ulna
The inner and longer of the two bones of the human forearm
How long do vitamins stay in the body?
Water soluble vitmans (B, C) need to be replaced daily.
Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) stay in the body longer.
Anaphylaxis
A significant allergic reaction following exposure to antigen in a subject previously sensitized to that specific antigen. This generally occurs very rapidly after exposure and often is accompanied by swelling, breathing difficulties, hypotension.
Occurs because tissues in different parts of the body release histamine and other substances.
How should you remove a bee stinger if an alergic person is stung?
If the allergic reaction is from a bee sting, scrape the stinger off the skin with something firm (such as a fingernail or plastic credit card). Do not use tweezers – squeezing the stinger will release more venom.
heterochromia iridis
difference in color in the two irides or in different areas of the same iris
norovirus
Norovirus is a contagious virus that causes sudden onset of nausea, vomiting, headache, body ache and feeling very very sick. It strikes 12-48 hours after exposure, either by ingesting contaminated food or water or close contact with someone who has the virus. When you hear of a cruise ship being struck by illness or nursing homes or child care facilities…the culprit is usually Norovirus. Like any gastroenteritis the biggest health danger is dehydration.
Anoxia
Deprivation of oxygen
What type of medicine is Tylenol?
Acetaminophen is the general (generic) name for Tylenol, which is a brand name.
What does tylenol do?
Tylenol is a very effective pain-killing (analgesic) and fever-reducing (anti-pyretic) agent.
What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anal canal. Can be internal or external. Veins can swell inside the anal canal to form internal hemorrhoids . Or they can swell near the opening of the anus to form external hemorrhoids. You can have both types at the same time.
What causes hemorrhoids?
Too much pressure on the veins in the pelvic and rectal area causes hemorrhoids. Normally, tissue inside the anus fills with blood to help control bowel movements. If you strain to move stool, the increased pressure causes the veins in this tissue to swell and stretch. This can cause hemorrhoids.
Diarrhea or constipation also may lead to straining and can increase pressure on veins in the anal canal.
What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids?
With internal hemorrhoids, you may see bright red streaks of blood on toilet paper or bright red blood in the toilet bowl after you have a normal bowel movement. You may see blood on the surface of the stool. External hemorrhoids can get irritated and clot under the skin , causing a hard painful lump. This is called a thrombosed, or clotted, hemorrhoid.
