ferric 144
by enzymes from yeast and produce alcohol. fetalfetal position position / fi t(ə)l pə zʃ(ə)n/ noun a
position where a person lies curled up on his or
Also called zymosis her side, like a fetus in the uterus
ferricferric / ferk/ adjective containing iron with a fetishismfetishism / fetʃz(ə)m/, fetichism noun a
psychological disorder in which someone gets
valency of three sexual satisfaction from touching objects
ferritinferritin / fertn/ noun a protein found in the fetishistfetishist / fetʃst/, fetichist noun a person
who has fetishism
liver that binds reversibly to iron and stores it
feto-feto- /fi təυ/ prefix fetus
for later use in making haemoglobin in red
fetoproteinfetoprotein / fi təυ prəυti n/ noun alpha-
blood cells fetoprotein
ferrousferrous / ferəs/ adjective containing iron with fetorfetor / fi tə/ noun a bad smell
a valency of two fetoscopefetoscope / fi təskəυp/ noun a stethoscope
used in fetoscopy
ferrousferrous sulphate sulphate / ferəs s lfet/ noun a
fetoscopyfetoscopy /f tɒskəpi/ noun an examination
white or pale green iron salt that is used in the of a fetus inside the uterus, taking blood sam-
ples to diagnose blood disorders
treatment of iron-deficient anaemia
fetusfetus / fi təs/ noun an unborn baby from two
ferruleferrule / feru l/ noun a metal or rubber cap or months after conception until birth, before
which it is called an embryo
ring that strengthens and protects the lower
FEVFEV abbr forced expiratory volume
end of a crutch or walking stick í verb to fit a
feverfever / fi və/ noun 1. a rise in body tempera-
ferrule onto a crutch or walking stick ture ć She is running a slight fever. ć You must
stay in bed until the fever has gone down. 2. a
fertile ffertile/ tal/ adjective able to produce chil- condition when the temperature of the body is
higher than usual ̈ also called pyrexia
dren. Opposite sterile
COMMENT: Average oral body temperature is
fertilisation ffertilisation / tla zeʃ(ə)n/, fertilization about 98.6°F or 37°C and rectal temperature
is about 99°F or 37.2°C. A fever often makes
noun the joining of an ovum and a sperm to the patient feel cold, and is accompanied by
pains in the joints. Most fevers are caused by
form a zygote and so start the development of infections. Infections which result in fever in-
clude cat-scratch fever, dengue, malaria,
an embryo meningitis, psittacosis, Q fever, rheumatic fe-
ver, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, scarlet fe-
fertilise ffertilise/ təlaz/, fertilize verb (of a sperm) ver, septicaemia, typhoid fever, typhus and
yellow fever.
to join with an ovum
feverfever blister blister / fi və blstə/ noun same as fe-
fertility ffertility/ tlti/ noun the fact of being fer- ver sore
tile. Opposite sterility feverfewfeverfew / fi vəfju / noun a herb, formerly
used to reduce fevers, but now used to relieve
fertility drug ffertility drug / tlti dr / noun a drug migraine
that stimulates ovulation, given to women un- feverishfeverish / fi vərʃ/ adjective with a fever ć
He felt feverish and took an aspirin. ć She is
dergoing in vitro fertilisation in bed with a feverish chill.
fertility rate ffertility rate/ tlti ret/ noun the number feverfever sore sore / fi və sɔ / noun a cold sore or
burning sore, usually on the lips
of births per year calculated per 1000 females
fiberfiber / fabə/ noun US same as fibre
aged between 15 and 44
fibr-fibr- /fabr/ prefix referring to fibres, fibrous
FESSFESS abbr functional endoscopic sinus sur- (used before vowels)
gery -fibrate-fibrate /fabret/ suffix used in names of lip-
id-lowering drugs
festerfester / festə/ verb (of an infected wound) to
fibrefibre / fabə/ noun 1. a structure in the body
become inflamed and produce pus ć His legs shaped like a thread 2. same as dietary fibre
were covered with festering sores. fibrefibre optics optics / fabər ɒptks/, fibreoptics
noun the use of thin fibres which conduct light
festinationfestination / fest neʃ(ə)n/ noun a way of and images to examine internal organs
walking in which a person takes short steps, fibrescopefibrescope / fabəskəυp/ noun a device
made of bundles of optical fibres which is
seen in people who have Parkinson’s disease passed into the body, used for examining inter-
nal organs
fetalfetal / fi t(ə)l/ adjective referring to a fetus
fibrilfibril / fabrl/ noun a very small fibre
fetal alcoholfetal alcohol syndrome syndrome / fi t(ə)l lkəhɒl
sndrəυm/ noun damage caused to the fetus
by alcohol in the blood of the mother, which
affects the growth of the embryo, including its
facial and brain development. Abbr FAS
fetalfetal distress distress / fi t(ə)l d stres/ noun a con-
dition, e.g. a heart or respiratory problem, in
which a fetus may not survive if the condition
is not monitored and corrected
fetalfetal dystocia dystocia / fi t(ə)l ds təυsiə/ noun a
difficult childbirth caused by a malformation
or malpresentation of the fetus
fetalfetal heart heart / fi t(ə)l hɑ t/ noun the heart of
the fetus
fetalisfetalis /fi tɑ ls/ erythroblastosis fetalis
fetalfetal monitor monitor / fi t(ə)l mɒntə/ noun an
electronic device which monitors the fetus in
the uterus
145 filament
fibrillatefibrillate / fabrlet/ verb to undergo rapid fibroidfibroid degeneration degeneration / fabrɔd d d enə
irregular uncontrolled contractions, or make
the heart or muscles undergo this type of con- reʃ(ə)n/ noun the change of healthy tissue to
traction
fibrous tissue, e.g. as in cirrhosis of the liver
fibrillatingfibrillating / fabrletŋ/ adjective with flut-
tering of a muscle ć They applied a defibrilla- fibroidfibroid tumour tumour / fabrɔd tju mə/ noun a
tor to correct a fibrillating heartbeat.
benign tumour in the muscle fibres of the uter-
fibrillationfibrillation / fabr leʃ(ə)n/ noun the flutter-
ing of a muscle us. Also called uterine fibroid, fibromyoma
‘Cardiovascular effects may include atrial arrhyth- fibromafibroma /fa brəυmə/ noun a small benign
mias but at 30°C there is the possibility of spontane-
ous ventricular fibrillation’ [British Journal of tumour formed in connective tissue
Nursing]
fibromuscularfibromuscular / fabrəυ m skjυlə/ adjec-
fibrinfibrin / fbrn/ noun a protein produced by fi-
brinogen, which helps make blood coagulate tive referring to fibrous tissue and muscular tis-
COMMENT: Removal of fibrin from a blood sue
sample is called defibrination.
fibromyomafibromyoma / fabrəυma əυmə/ noun
fibrinfibrin foam foam / fbrn fəυm/ noun a white ma-
terial made artificially from fibrinogen, used same as fibroid tumour
to prevent bleeding
fibroplasiafibroplasia / fabrəυ pleziə/ noun retro-
fibrinogenfibrinogen /f brnəd ən/ noun a substance
in blood plasma which produces fibrin when lental fibroplasia
activated by thrombin
fibrosafibrosa /fa brəυsə/ osteitis fibrosa cysti-
fibrinolysinfibrinolysin / fbr nɒləsn/ noun an enzyme
which digests fibrin. Also called plasmin ca
fibrinolysisfibrinolysis / fbr nɒləss/ noun the remov- fibrosarcomafibrosarcoma / fabrəυsɑ kəυmə/ noun a
al of blood clots from the system by the action
of fibrinolysin on fibrin. Also called thrombol- malignant tumour of the connective tissue,
ysis most common in the legs
fibrinolyticfibrinolytic / fbrnə ltk/ adjective refer- fibrosisfibrosis /fa brəυss/ noun the process of re-
ring to fibrinolysis ć fibrinolytic drugs Also
called thrombolytic placing damaged tissue by scar tissue
fibro-fibro- /fabrəυ/ prefix referring to fibres fibrositisfibrositis / fabrə sats/ noun a painful in-
fibroadenomafibroadenoma / fabrəυ d nəυmə/ noun
a benign tumour formed of fibrous and glandu- flammation of the fibrous tissue which sur-
lar tissue
rounds muscles and joints, especially the mus-
fibroblastfibroblast / fabrəυbl st/ noun a long flat
cell found in connective tissue, which devel- cles of the back
ops into collagen
fibrousfibrous / fabrəs/ adjective made of fibres, or
fibrocartilagefibrocartilage / fabrəυ kɑ təld / noun
cartilage and fibrous tissue combined like fibre
COMMENT: Fibrocartilage is found in the discs fibrousfibrous capsule capsule / fabrəs k psju l/ noun
of the spine. It is elastic like cartilage and pli-
able like fibre. fibrous tissue surrounding a kidney. Also
fibrochondritisfibrochondritis / fabrəυkɒn drats/ noun called renal capsule
inflammation of the fibrocartilage
fibrousfibrous joint joint / fabrəs d ɔnt/ noun a joint
fibrocystfibrocyst / fabrəυsst/ noun a benign tu-
mour of fibrous tissue where fibrous tissue holds two bones together
fibrocysticfibrocystic / fabrəυ sstk/ adjective refer- so that they cannot move, as in the bones of the
ring to a fibrocyst
skull
fibrocysticfibrocystic disease disease / fabrəυ sstk d
zi z/, fibrocystic disease of the pancreas / fibrousfibrous pericardium pericardium / fabrəs per
fabrəυ sstk d zi z əv ðə p ŋkriəs/
noun same as cystic fibrosis kɑ diəm/ noun the outer part of the pericar-
fibrocytefibrocyte / fabrəυsat/ noun a cell which dium which surrounds the heart, and is at-
derives from a fibroblast and is found in con-
nective tissue tached to the main blood vessels
fibroelastosisfibroelastosis / fabrəυ i l stəυss/ noun fibrousfibrous tissue tissue / fabrəs tʃu / noun strong
a deformed growth of the elastic fibres, espe-
cially in the ventricles of the heart white tissue which makes tendons and liga-
fibroidfibroid / fabrɔd/ adjective like fibre í noun ments and also scar tissue
same as fibroid tumour
fibulafibula / fbjυlə/ noun the thinner of the two
bones in the lower leg between the knee and
the ankle. Compare tibia (NOTE: The plural is
fibulae.)
fibularfibular / fbjυlə/ adjective referring to the fib-
ula
fieldfield /fi ld/ noun an area of interest ć He spe-
cialises in the field of community medicine. ć
Don’t see that specialist with your breathing
problems – his field is obstetrics.
field offield of vision vision / fi ld əv v (ə)n/ noun same
as visual field
fight or flight reaction fat ɔfight or flight reaction/ flat ri
kʃən/ noun the theory that an organism
which is faced with a threat reacts either by
preparing to fight or to escape
fil-fil- /fl/ prefix referring to a thread
filamentfilament / fləmənt/ noun a long thin struc-
ture like a thread
filamentous 146
filamentousfilamentous / flə mentəs/ adjective like a tle finger, third finger or ring finger, middle
thread
finger, forefinger or index finger.)
FilariaFilaria /f leəriə/ noun a thin parasitic worm
which is found especially in the lymph system, COMMENT: Each finger is formed of three fin-
and is passed to humans by mosquitoes (NOTE: ger bones (the phalanges), but the thumb
has only two.
The plural is Filariae.)
fingernailfingernail / fŋ ənel/ noun a hard thin
COMMENT: Infestation with Filariae in the
lymph system causes elephantiasis. growth covering the end of a finger ć ridged
filariasisfilariasis / flə raəss/ noun a tropical dis- and damaged fingernails
ease caused by parasitic threadworms in the
lymph system, transmitted by mosquito bites finger-nose test fŋfinger-nose test/ ə nəυz test/ noun a
filiformfiliform / flfɔ m/ adjective shaped like a test of coordination, where the person is asked
thread
to close their eyes, stretch out their arm and
filiformfiliform papillae papillae / flfɔ m pə pli / plural
noun papillae on the tongue which are shaped then touch their nose with their index finger
like threads, and have no taste buds
fingerprintfingerprint / fŋ əprnt/ noun a mark left by
filipuncturefilipuncture / flp ŋktʃə/ noun the proce-
dure of putting a wire into an aneurysm to a finger when something is touched. ı genetic
cause blood clotting
fingerstallfingerstall / fŋ əstɔ l/ noun a cover for an
fillfill /fl/ verb ˽ to fill a tooth to put metal into
infected finger, attached to the hand with
a hole in a tooth after it has been drilled
strings
fillingfilling / flŋ/ noun 1. a surgical operation car-
ried out by a dentist to fill a hole in a tooth with fireman’sfireman’s lift lift / faəmənz lft/ noun a way of
amalgam 2. amalgam, metallic mixture put
into a hole in a tooth by a dentist carrying an injured person by putting their
filmfilm /flm/ noun a very thin layer of a sub- body over one shoulder
stance covering a surface
firmfirm /f m/ noun a group of doctors and con-
filterfilter / fltə/ noun a piece of paper or cloth
through which a liquid is passed to remove any sultants in a hospital, especially one to which
solid substances in it í verb to pass a liquid
through a membrane, piece of paper or cloth to a trainee doctor is attached during clinical
remove solid substances ć Impurities are fil-
tered from the blood by the kidneys. studies (informal)
filtratefiltrate / fltret/ noun a substance which has first aid ffirst aid/ st ed/ noun help given by a
passed through a filter
non-medical person to someone who is sud-
filtrationfiltration /fl treʃ(ə)n/ noun the action of
passing a liquid through a filter denly ill or injured before full-scale medical
filumfilum / faləm/ noun a structure which is treatment can be given ć She gave him first aid
shaped like a thread
in the street until the ambulance arrived.
filumfilum terminale terminale / faləm t m neli/ noun
the thin end section of the pia mater in the spi- first-aider ffirst-aider/ st edə/ noun a person who
nal cord
gives first aid to someone who is suddenly ill
FIMFIM abbr functional independence measure
or injured
fimbriafimbria / fmbriə/ noun a fringe, especially
the fringe of hair-like processes at the end of a first-aid kit ffirst-aid kit/ st ed kt/ noun a box with
Fallopian tube near the ovaries (NOTE: The plu-
bandages and dressings kept ready to be used
ral is fimbriae.)
in an emergency
final commonfinal common pathway pathway / fan(ə)l kɒmən
pɑ θwe/ noun linked neurones which take all first-aid post ffirst-aid post/ st ed pəυst/, first-aid
impulses from the central nervous system to a
muscle station / f st ed steʃ(ə)n/ noun a place
finefine /fan/ adjective 1. healthy ć He was ill where injured people can be taken for immedi-
last week, but he’s feeling fine now. 2. referring
to something such as hair or thread which is ate care
very thin ć There is a growth of fine hair on
the back of her neck. ć Fine sutures are used first-degree burn ffirst-degree burn / st d ri b n/ noun
for delicate operations.
a former classification of the severity of a
fingerfinger / fŋ ə/ noun one of the five parts at the
end of the hand, but usually not including the burn, where the skin turns red
thumb (NOTE: The names of the fingers are: lit-
first-degree haemorrhoids ffirst-degree haemorrhoids / st d ri
hemərɔdz/ plural noun haemorrhoids which
remain in the rectum
first-degreefirst-degree relative relative / f st d ri
relətv/ noun a relative with whom an indi-
vidual shares 50% of their genes, e.g. a father,
mother, sibling or child
first-ever stroke ffirst-ever stroke / st evə strəυk/ noun
a stroke which someone has for the first time
in his or her life
first intention ffirst intention / st n tenʃən/ noun the
healing of a clean wound where the tissue
forms again rapidly and no prominent scar is
left
first-level nurse ffirst-level nurse/ st lev(ə)l n s/, first-
level Registered Nurse / f st lev(ə)l red
stəd n s/ noun a nurse who has passed qual-
ifying examinations, is registered as such with
the Nursing and Midwifery Council and can
147 flecainide
act in an independent decision-making role. flagellate flflagellate/ d ələt/ noun a type of parasit-
Compare second-level nurse ic protozoan which uses whip-like hairs to
fissilefissile / fsal/ adjective able to split or be swim, e.g. Leishmania
split flagellumflagellum /flə d eləm/ noun a tiny growth on
fissionfission / fʃ(ə)n/ noun the act of dividing into a microorganism, shaped like a whip (NOTE:
two or more parts The plural is flagella.)
fissurefissure / fʃə/ noun a crack or groove in the FlagylFlagyl / fl d al/ a trade name for metroni-
skin, tissue or an organ ˽ horizontal and ob- dazole
lique fissures grooves between the lobes of flailflail /flel/ verb to thrash around with uncon-
the lungs. See illustration at LUNGS in Supple- trollable or violent movements, particularly of
ment the arms
fistfist /fst/ noun a hand which is tightly closed flailflail chest chest / flel tʃest/ noun a condition in
fistulafistula / fstjυlə/ noun a passage or opening which the chest is not stable, because several
which has been made unusually between two ribs have been broken
organs, often near the rectum or anus flakeflake /flek/ noun a thin piece of tissue ć Dan-
fistulafistula in ano in ano / fstjυlə n nəυ/ noun druff is formed of flakes of dead skin on the
same as anal fistula scalp.
fitfit /ft/ adjective strong and physically healthy flakeflake fracture fracture / flek fr ktʃə/ noun a frac-
ć She exercises every day to keep fit. ć The ture where thin pieces of bone come off
doctors decided the patient was not fit for sur- flakeflake off off / flek ɒf/ verb to fall off as flakes
gery. (NOTE: fitter – fittest) ˽ he isn’t fit flapflap /fl p/ noun a flat piece attached to some-
enough to work he is still too ill to work í thing, especially a piece of skin or tissue still
noun a sudden attack of a disorder, especially attached to the body at one side and used in
convulsions and epilepsy ć She had a fit of grafts
coughing. ć He had an epileptic fit. ć The flareflare /fleə/ noun red colouring of the skin at an
baby had a series of fits. í verb 1. to attach an infected spot or in urticaria
appliance correctly ć The surgeons fitted the flashbackflashback / fl ʃb k/ noun a repeated and
artificial hand to the patient’s arm or fitted the very vivid memory of a traumatic event
patient with an artificial hand. 2. to provide a flashflash burn burn / fl ʃ b n/ noun a burn caused
piece of equipment for someone to wear ć She when a body part is briefly exposed to a source
was fitted with temporary support. 3. to have of intense heat
convulsions ć The patient has fitted twice. flatflat foot foot / fl t fυt/, flat feet / fl t fi t/ noun
(NOTE: fitting – fitted. Note also: you fit some- a condition in which the soles of the feet lie flat
one with an appliance.) on the ground instead of being arched as usual.
fitnessfitness / ftnəs/ noun the fact of being strong Also called pes planus
and healthy ć Being in the football team de- flatlineflatline / fl tlan/ verb to fail to show on a
mands a high level of physical fitness. ć He monitor any of the electrical currents associat-
had to pass a fitness test to join the police ed with heart or brain activity í noun a moni-
force. tor readout on an EEG or ECG indicating total
fixatedfixated /fk setd/ adjective referring to a cessation of brain or cardiac activity, respec-
person who has too close an attachment to an- tively
other person, often to a parent flatulenceflatulence / fl tjυləns/ noun gas or air
fixationfixation /fk seʃ(ə)n/ noun a psychological which collects in the stomach or intestines
disorder where a person does not develop be- causing discomfort
yond a particular stage COMMENT: Flatulence is generally caused by
fixativefixative / fksətv/ noun a chemical used in indigestion, but can be made worse if the per-
the preparation of samples on slides son swallows air (aerophagy).
fixatorfixator /fk setə/ noun a metal rod placed flatulentflatulent / fl tjυlənt/ adjective having flatu-
through a bone to keep a part of the body rigid lence, or caused by flatulence
fixedfixed oil oil / fkst ɔl/ noun 1. an oil which is flatusflatus / fletəs/ noun air and gas which col-
liquid at 20°C 2. liquid fats, especially those lects in the intestines and is painful
used as food flatwormflatworm / fl tw m/ noun any of several
flabflab /fl b/ noun soft fat flesh (informal) ć types of parasitic worm with a flat body, e.g. a
He’s doing exercises to try to fight the flab. tapeworm. Compare roundworm
flabbyflabby / fl bi/ adjective with soft flesh ć She fleaflea /fli / noun a tiny insect which sucks blood
has got flabby from sitting at her desk all day. and is a parasite on animals and humans
flaccidflaccid / fl ksd, fl sd/ adjective soft or COMMENT: Fleas can transmit disease, most
especially bubonic plague which is transmit-
flabby
ted by infected rat fleas.
flaccidity flflaccidity/ k sdti, fl sdti/ noun the flecainideflecainide /fle kenad/ noun a drug that
state of being flaccid helps to correct an irregular heartbeat
flesh 148
fleshflesh /fleʃ/ noun tissue containing blood, fluconazolefluconazole /flu kɒnəzəυl/ noun a drug
forming the part of the body which is not skin, used to treat fungal infections such as candi-
bone or organs diasis
fleshflesh wound wound / fleʃ wu nd/ noun a wound fluctuation flfluctuation/ ktʃu eʃ(ə)n/ noun the feel-
which only affects the fleshy part of the body ing of movement of liquid inside part of the
ć She had a flesh wound in her leg. body or inside a cyst when pressed by the fin-
fleshyfleshy / fleʃi/ adjective 1. made of flesh 2. fat gers
flexflex /fleks/ verb to bend something ˽ to flex a fluidfluid / flu d/ noun 1. a liquid 2. any gas, liq-
joint to use a muscle to make a joint bend uid or powder which flows
flexibilitasflexibilitas cerea cerea /fleks bltəs səriə/ fluidfluid balance balance / flu d b ləns/ noun the
noun a condition in which, if someone’s arms maintenance of the balance of fluids in the
or legs are moved, they remain in that set posi- body during dialysis or other treatment
tion for some time flukefluke /flu k/ noun a parasitic flatworm which
flexionflexion / flekʃən/ noun the act of bending a settles inside the liver, in the bloodstream and
joint in other parts of the body
Flexner’sFlexner’s bacillus bacillus / fleksnəz bə sləs/ flunitrazepamflunitrazepam / flu na tr zp m/ noun a
noun a bacterium which causes bacillary dys- tranquilliser that, because of its association
entery with ‘date rape’ cases, is a controlled drug in
flexorflexor / fleksə/, flexor muscle / fleksə the UK
m s(ə)l/ noun a muscle which makes a joint
fluorescencefluorescence /flυə res(ə)ns/ noun the send-
bend. Compare extensor ing out of light from a substance which is re-
ceiving radiation
flexureflexure / flekʃə/ noun 1. a bend in an organ 2. fluorescentfluorescent /flυə res(ə)nt/ adjective refer-
a fold in the skin ring to a substance which sends out light
floatersfloaters / fləυtəz/ plural noun same as mus- fluoridatefluoridate / flɔ rdet/ verb to add fluoride to
cae volitantes a substance, usually to drinking water, in order
floatingfloating kidney kidney / fləυtŋ kdni/ noun same to help prevent tooth decay
as nephroptosis fluoridefluoride / flυərad/ noun a chemical com-
floatingfloating rib rib / fləυtŋ rb/ noun one of the pound of fluorine and sodium, potassium or tin
two lowest ribs on each side, which are not at- ć fluoride toothpaste
tached to the breastbone COMMENT: Fluoride will reduce decay in teeth
floccillationfloccillation / flɒks leʃ(ə)n/ noun the ac- and is often added to drinking water or to
toothpaste. Some people object to fluoridation
tion of constantly touching the bedclothes, a and it is thought that too high a concentration,
sign that someone is approaching death such as that achieved by highly fluoridated
floccitationfloccitation / flɒks teʃ(ə)n/ noun same as water and the use of a highly fluoridated tooth-
carphology paste, may discolour the teeth of children.
floodingflooding / fl dŋ/ noun same as menorrhagia fluorinefluorine / flυəri n/ noun a chemical element
found in bones and teeth (NOTE: The chemical
floppyfloppy baby syndrome baby syndrome / flɒpi bebi sn symbol is F.)
drəυm/ noun same as amyotonia congenita
fluoroscopefluoroscope / flυərəskəυp/ noun an appara-
floraflora / flɔ rə/ noun bacteria which exist in a tus which projects an X-ray image of a part of
particular part of the body the body onto a screen, so that the part of the
floridflorid / flɒrd/ adjective with an unhealthily body can be examined as it moves
glowing pink or red complexion fluoroscopyfluoroscopy /flυə rɒskəpi/ noun an exami-
flossfloss /flɒs/ noun same as dental floss í verb nation of the body using X-rays projected onto
to clean the teeth with dental floss a screen
flowflow /fləυ/ noun 1. a movement of liquid or fluorosisfluorosis /flɔ rəυss/ noun a condition
gas ć They used a tourniquet to try to stop the caused by excessive fluoride in drinking water
flow of blood. 2. the amount of liquid or gas COMMENT: At a low level, fluorosis causes dis-
which is moving ć The meter measures the coloration of the teeth, and as the level of flu-
flow of water through the pipe. oride rises, ligaments can become calcified.
flowmeterflowmeter / fləυmi tə/ noun a meter at- fluoxetinefluoxetine /flu ɒksəti n/ noun a drug that
tached to a pipe, e.g. as in anaesthetic equip- increases serotonin in the brain and is used to
ment, to measure the speed at which a liquid or treat anxiety and depression
gas moves in the pipe flushflush /fl ʃ/ noun a red colour in the skin í
verb 1. to wash a wound with liquid 2. (of per-
fluflu /flu / noun 1. same as influenza 2. a very son) to turn red
bad cold (informal ) (NOTE: Sometimes written flushedflushed /fl ʃt/ adjective with red skin, e.g.
’flu to show it is a short form of influenza.) due to heat, emotion or overeating ć Her face
flucloxacillin fluflucloxacillin/ klɒksəsln/ noun a drug was flushed and she was breathing heavily.
related to penicillin and effective against strep- flutterflutter / fl tə/, fluttering / fl tərŋ/ noun a
tococcal infections and pneumonia rapid movement, especially of the atria of the
149 footpump
heart, which is not controlled by impulses follicle-stimulatingfollicle-stimulating hormone hormone / fɒlk(ə)l
from the sinoatrial node
stmjυletŋ hɔ məυn/ noun a hormone
fluxflux /fl ks/ noun an excessive production of
liquid from the body produced by the pituitary gland which stimu-
focalfocal / fəυk(ə)l/ adjective referring to a focus lates ova in the ovaries and sperm in the testes.
focalfocal distance distance / fəυk(ə)l dstəns/, focal Abbr FSH
length / fəυk(ə)l leŋθ/ noun the distance be-
tween the lens of the eye and the point behind follicularfollicular /fə lkjυlə/, folliculate /fə
the lens where light is focused
lkjυlət/ adjective referring to follicles
focalfocal epilepsy epilepsy / fəυk(ə)l eplepsi/ noun ep-
ilepsy arising from a localised area of the brain follicularfollicular tumour tumour /fə lkjυlə tju mə/ noun
focalfocal myopathy myopathy / fəυk(ə)l ma ɒpəθi/ noun a tumour in a follicle
destruction of muscle tissue caused by a sub-
stance injected in an intramuscular injection folliculinfolliculin /fə lkjυln/ noun an oestrone, a
focusfocus / fəυkəs/ noun 1. the point where light type of oestrogen ć She is undergoing follicu-
rays converge through a lens 2. the centre of an
infection (NOTE: The plural is foci.) í verb 1. to lin treatment.
adjust a lens until an image is clear and sharp
2. to see clearly ć He has difficulty in focusing folliculitisfolliculitis /fə lkjυ lats/ noun inflamma-
on the object.
tion of the hair follicles, especially where hair
focusfocus group group / fəυkəs ru p/ noun a discus-
sion group of lay people brought together un- has been shaved
der professional guidance to discuss issues
such as care followfollow / fɒləυ/, follow up / fɒləυ p/ verb to
foetalfoetal / fi t(ə)l/ adjective another spelling of check on someone who has been examined be-
fetal (NOTE: The spelling foetal is common in
fore in order to assess the progress of a disease
general use in British English, but the spelling
or the results of treatment
fetal is the accepted international spelling for
follow-upfollow-up / fɒləυ p/ noun a check on some-
technical use.)
one who has been examined before
foetorfoetor / fi tə/ noun another spelling of fetor
‘…length of follow-ups varied from three to 108
foetoscopefoetoscope / fi təskəυp/ noun another
spelling of fetoscope months. Thirteen patients were followed for less
foetoscopyfoetoscopy /f tɒskəpi/ noun another spell- than one year, but the remainder were seen regularly
ing of fetoscopy
for periods from one to nine years’ [New
foetusfoetus / fi təs/ noun another spelling of fetus
(NOTE: The spelling foetus is common in general Zealand Medical Journal]
use in British English, but the spelling fetus is fomentationfomentation / fəυmen teʃ(ə)n/ noun same
the accepted international spelling for technical as poultice
use.) fomitesfomites / fəυmti z/ plural noun objects
folacinfolacin / fəυləsn/ noun same as folic acid touched by someone with a communicable
foldfold /fəυld/ noun a part of the body which is disease which can then be the means of pass-
bent so that it lies on top of another part
ing on the disease to others
folicfolic acid acid / fəυlk sd/ noun a vitamin in
the Vitamin B complex found in milk, liver, fontanellefontanelle / fɒntə nel/, fontanel noun the
yeast and green vegetables such as spinach,
which is essential for creating new blood cells soft cartilage between the bony sections of a
COMMENT: Lack of folic acid can cause anae- baby’s skull
mia and neural tube disorders in the develop-
ing fetus. It can also be caused by alcoholism. COMMENT: The fontanelles gradually harden
over a period of months and by the age of 18
foliefolie à deux à deux / fɒli d / noun a rare condi-
tion where a psychological disorder is commu- months the bones of the baby’s skull are usu-
nicated between two people who live together ally solid.
folliclefollicle / fɒlk(ə)l/ noun a tiny hole or sac in foodfood allergen allergen / fu d ləd en/ noun a sub-
the body
stance in food which produces an allergy
COMMENT: An ovarian follicle goes through
several stages in its development. The first foodfood allergy allergy /fu d ləd i/ noun an allergy
stage is called a primordial follicle, which then
develops into a primary follicle and becomes to a specific food such as nuts, which causes a
a mature follicle by the sixth day of the period.
This follicle secretes oestrogen until the ovum severe reaction that may lead to life-threaten-
has developed to the point when it can break
out, leaving the corpus luteum behind. ing anaphylactic shock
foodfood canal canal / fu d kə n l/ noun the passage
from the mouth to the rectum through which
food passes and is digested
food intolerance fufood intolerance/ d n tɒlərəns/ noun an
adverse reaction to some foods such as orang-
es, eggs, tomatoes and strawberries
foodfood poisoning poisoning / fu d pɔz(ə)nŋ/ noun an
illness caused by eating food which is contam-
inated with bacteria
footfoot /fυt/ noun the end part of the leg on which
a person stands
COMMENT: The foot is formed of 26 bones: 14
phalanges in the toes, five metatarsals in the
main part of the foot and seven tarsals in the
heel.
footpumpfootpump / fυtp mp/ noun a device to re-
duce the risk of post-operative deep-vein
thrombosis by mechanical use of leg muscles
foramen 150
foramenforamen /fə remən/ noun a natural opening forensicforensic /fə rensk/ adjective relating to the
inside the body, e.g. the opening in a bone use of science in solving criminal investiga-
through which veins or nerves pass (NOTE: The tions or settling legal cases
plural is foramina.) forensicforensic medicine medicine /fə rensk med(ə)sn/
foramenforamen magnum magnum /fə remən m nəm/ noun the branch of medical science concerned
noun the hole at the bottom of the skull where with finding solutions to crimes against people
the brain is joined to the spinal cord and which involves procedures such as con-
foramenforamen ovale ovale /fə remən əυ vɑ le/ noun ducting autopsies on murdered people or tak-
an opening between the two parts of the heart ing blood samples from clothes
in a fetus foreskinforeskin / fɔ skn/ noun the skin covering the
COMMENT: The foramen ovale usually closes top of the penis, which can be removed by cir-
at birth, but if it stays open the blood from the
cumcision. Also called prepuce
veins can mix with the blood going to the ar-
teries, causing cyanosis. forewatersforewaters / fɔ wɔ təz/ plural noun fluid
foraminaforamina /fə remnə/ plural of foramen which comes out of the vagina at the beginning
forced expiratoryforced expiratory volume volume / fɔ st ek of childbirth when the amnion bursts
sprət(ə)ri vɒlju m/ noun the maximum forgetfulforgetful /fə etf(ə)l/ adjective referring to
amount of air that can be expelled in a given someone who often forgets things ć She be-
time. Abbr FEV came very forgetful, and had to be looked after
force-feed fɔforce-feed/ s fi d/ verb to make someone by her sister.
swallow food against their will, e.g. by using a forgetfulness fəforgetfulness/ etf(ə)lnəs/ noun a condi-
tube to put it directly down their throat tion in which someone often forgets things ć
forcepsforceps / fɔ seps/ noun a surgical instrument Increasing forgetfulness is a sign of old age.
with handles like a pair of scissors, made in formform /fɔ m/ noun 1. shape 2. a piece of paper
different sizes and with differently shaped with blank spaces which you have to write in
ends, used for holding and pulling ć You have to fill in a form when you are ad-
forcepsforceps delivery delivery / fɔ seps d lv(ə)ri/ noun mitted to hospital. 3. a state or condition ć in
childbirth where the doctor uses forceps to good form ˽ he’s in good form today he is
help the baby out of the mother’s uterus very amusing, he is doing things well í verb to
fore-fore- /fɔ / prefix in front make or to be the main part of something ć
Calcium is one the elements which form bones
forearmforearm / fɔ rɑ m/ noun the lower part of the or bones are mainly formed of calcium. ć An
arm from the elbow to the wrist ulcer formed in his duodenum. ć In diphtheria
forearmforearm bones bones / fɔ rɑ m bəυnz/ plural noun a membrane forms across the larynx.
the ulna and the radius formaldehyde fɔformaldehyde/ m ldhad/ noun a gas
forebrainforebrain / fɔ bren/ noun the front part of with an unpleasant smell that is a strong disin-
the brain in an embryo fectant. When dissolved in water to make for-
forefingerforefinger / fɔ fŋ ə/ noun the first finger on malin, it is also used to preserve medical spec-
the hand, next to the thumb imens.
foregutforegut / fɔ t/ noun the front part of the gut formalinformalin / fɔ məln/ noun a solution of for-
in an embryo maldehyde in water, used to preserve medical
foreheadforehead / fɔ hed/ noun the part of the face specimens
above the eyes formationformation /fɔ meʃ(ə)n/ noun the action of
foreignforeign / fɒrn/ adjective 1. not belonging to forming something ć Drinking milk helps the
your own country ć foreign visitors ć a for- formation of bones.
eign language 2. referring to something that is formicationformication / fɔ m keʃ(ə)n/ noun an itch-
found where it does not naturally belong, espe- ing feeling where the skin feels as if it were
cially something found in the human body that covered with insects
comes from a source outside the body ć a for- formulaformula / fɔ mjυlə/ noun 1. a way of indicat-
eign object ć foreign matter ing a chemical compound using letters and
foreignforeign body body / fɒrn bɒdi/ noun a piece of numbers, e.g. H2SO4 2. instructions on how to
prepare a drug 3. US powdered milk for babies
material which is not part of the surrounding
(NOTE: The plural is formulas or formulae.)
tissue and should not be there, e.g. sand in a
formularyformulary / fɔ mjυləri/ noun a book that lists
cut, dust in the eye or a pin which has been
medicines together with their formulae
swallowed ć The X-ray showed the presence
fornixfornix / fɔ nks/ noun an arch (NOTE: The plu-
of a foreign body. ˽ swallowed foreign bodies
ral is fornices.) ˽ fornix of the vagina space
something which should not have been swal-
lowed, e.g. a pin, coin or button between the cervix of the uterus and the vagina
foremilkforemilk / fɔ mlk/ noun the relatively low- fornixfornix cerebri cerebri / fɔ nks serbra/ noun a
fat milk with a high sugar content that is pro- section of white matter in the brain between
duced by a woman at the beginning of a breast the hippocampus and the hypothalamus. See
feed illustration at BRAIN in Supplement
151 fresh frozen plasma
fortificationfortification figures figures / fɔ tf keʃ(ə)n frameframe /frem/ noun 1. the particular size and
f əz/ plural noun patterns of coloured light,
shape of someone’s body 2. a solid support for
seen as part of the aura before a migraine at- something. ı walking frame, Zimmer frame
tack occurs frameworkframework / fremw k/ noun the main
foscarnetfoscarnet /fɒs kɑ nət/ noun an antiviral bones which make up the structure of part of
drug administered by intravenous injection the body
that is effective against herpesviruses that are framycetin frframycetin/ masətn/ noun an antibiot-
resistant to acyclovir. It is especially used for ic
people with AIDS. fraternalfraternal twins twins /frə t n(ə)l twnz/ plural
fossafossa / fɒsə/ noun a shallow hollow in a bone noun same as dizygotic twins
or the skin frecklefreckle / frek(ə)l/ noun a harmless small
fosterfoster children children / fɒstə tʃldrən/ plural noun brownish patch on the skin that becomes more
children brought up by people who are not noticeable after exposure to the sun. Freckles
their own parents are often found in people with fair hair. Also
fosterfoster parent parent / fɒstə peərənt/ noun a wom- called lentigo í verb to mark something, or
an or man who brings up a child born to other become marked with freckles
parents freckledfreckled / frek(ə)ld/ adjective with brown
Fothergill’sFothergill’s operation operation / fɒðə lz ɒpə re spots on the skin
ʃ(ə)n/ noun a surgical operation to correct
freezefreeze /fri z/ verb to anaesthetise part of the
prolapse of the uterus [After W. E. Fothergill body (informal) ć They froze my big toe to re-
(1865–1926), British gynaecologist.] move the nail.
foundationfoundation hospital hospital /faυn deʃ(ə)n hɒs freezefreeze dry dry / fri z dra/ verb to freeze some-
pt(ə)l/ noun in the UK, a proposed type of
thing rapidly then dry it in a vacuum
hospital that would be independent of its Local freezefreeze drying drying / fri z draŋ/ noun a method
Health Authority in financial matters of preserving food or tissue specimens by
fourchettefourchette /fυə ʃet/ noun a fold of skin at the freezing rapidly and drying in a vacuum
back of the vulva Freiberg’sFreiberg’s disease disease / frab z d zi z/
foveafovea / fəυviə/, fovea centralis / fəυviə sen noun osteochondritis of the head of the second
trɑ ls/ noun a depression in the retina which
metatarsus [Described 1914. After Albert Henry
is the point where the eye sees most clearly. Freiberg (1869–1940), US surgeon.]
See illustration at EYE in Supplement FreiFrei test test / fra test/ noun a test for the vene-
FP10FP10 / ef pi ten/ noun in the UK, an NHS real disease lymphogranuloma inguinale [De-
prescription from a GP scribed 1925. After Wilhelm Siegmund Frei
fracturefracture / fr ktʃə/ verb 1. (of bone) to break (1885–1943), Professor of Dermatology at Ber-
ć The tibia fractured in two places. 2. to break lin, Germany. He settled in New York, USA.]
a bone ć He fractured his wrist. í noun a fremitusfremitus / fremtəs/ noun vibrations or trem-
break in a bone ć rib fracture or fracture of a bling in part of someone’s body, felt by the
rib doctor’s hand or heard through a stethoscope
fracturedfractured / fr ktʃəd/ adjective broken ć He FrenchFrench letter letter / frentʃ letə/ noun condom
had a fractured skull. ć She went to hospital to (informal )
have her fractured leg reset. frenectomyfrenectomy /frə nektəmi/ noun an operation
fragilefragile / fr d al/ adjective easily broken ć to remove a frenum
Elderly people’s bones are more fragile than Frenkel’sFrenkel’s exercises exercises / frenkəlz eksəsazz/
those of adolescents. plural noun exercises for people who have lo-
fragile-X syndrome frfragile-X syndrome/ d al eks sn comotor ataxia, to teach coordination of the
drəυm/ noun a hereditary condition in which muscles and limbs
part of an X chromosome is constricted, caus- frenotomyfrenotomy /frə nɒtəmi/ noun an operation to
ing mental impairment split a frenum
fragilitasfragilitas /frə d ltəs/ noun fragility or brit- frenumfrenum / fri nəm/, frenulum / frenjυləm/
tleness noun a fold of mucous membrane under the
fragilitasfragilitas ossium ossium /frə d ltəs ɒsiəm/ tongue or by the clitoris
noun a hereditary condition where the bones frequencyfrequency / fri kwənsi/ noun 1. the number
are brittle and break easily, similar to osteo- of times something takes place in a given time
genesis imperfecta ć the frequency of micturition 2. the rate of vi-
frailfrail /frel/ adjective weak, easily broken ć bration in oscillations
Grandfather is getting frail, and we have to freshfresh air air / freʃ eə/ noun open air ć They
look after him all the time. ć The baby’s bones came out of the hospital into the fresh air.
are still very frail. fresh frozen plasma freʃfresh frozen plasma/ frəυz(ə)n
framboesiaframboesia /fr m bi ziə/ noun same as pl zmə/ noun plasma made from freshly do-
yaws nated blood, and kept frozen
fretful 152
fretfulfretful / fretf(ə)l/ adjective referring to a baby frontal bone frfrontal bone / nt(ə)l bəυn/ noun a bone
that cries, cannot sleep or seems unhappy forming the front of the upper part of the skull
FreudianFreudian / frɔdiən/ adjective understanda- behind the forehead
ble in terms of Freud’s theories, especially frontal lobe frfrontal lobe/ nt(ə)l ləυb/ noun the front
with regard to human sexuality í noun some- lobe of each cerebral hemisphere
one who is influenced by or follows Freud’s frontalfrontal lobotomy lobotomy / fr nt(ə)l ləυ bɒtəmi/
theories or methods of psychoanalysis noun formerly, a surgical operation on the
friablefriable / fraəb(ə)l/ adjective easily broken up brain to treat mental illness by removing part
into small pieces of the frontal lobe
friar’sfriar’s balsam balsam / fraəz bɔ lsəm/ noun a frontal sinus frfrontal sinus / nt(ə)l sanəs/ noun one
mixture of various plant oils, including ben- of two sinuses in the front of the face above the
zoin and balsam, which can be inhaled as a va- eyes and near the nose
pour to relieve bronchitis or congestion front passage frfront passage / nt p sd / (informal) 1.
frictionfriction / frkʃən/ noun the rubbing together same as urethra 2. same as vagina
of two surfaces frostbitefrostbite / frɒstbat/ noun an injury caused
frictionfriction fremitus fremitus / frkʃən fremtəs/ noun by very severe cold which freezes tissue
a scratching sensation felt when the hand is frostbittenfrostbitten / frɒstbt(ə)n/ adjective having
placed on the chest of someone who has peri- frostbite
carditis COMMENT: In very cold conditions, the outside
tissue of the fingers, toes, ears and nose can
frictionfriction murmur murmur / frkʃən m mə/ noun
freeze, becoming white and numb. Thawing of
the sound of two serous membranes rubbing
frostbitten tissue can be very painful and must
together, heard with a stethoscope in someone be done very slowly. Severe cases of frostbite
who has pericarditis or pleurisy may require amputation because the tissue
Friedländer’sFriedländer’s bacillus bacillus / fri dlendəz bə has died and gangrene has set in.
sləs/ noun the bacterium Klebsiella pneumo-
frozenfrozen shoulder shoulder / frəυz(ə)n ʃəυldə/ noun
niae which can cause pneumonia [Described stiffness and pain in the shoulder, caused by
1882. After Carl Friedländer (1847–87), patholo- inflammation of the membranes of the shoul-
gist at the Friedrichshain Hospital, Berlin, Ger- der joint after injury or a period of immobility,
many.] when deposits may form in the tendons
Friedman’sFriedman’s test test / fri dmənz test/ noun a frozenfrozen watchfulness watchfulness / frəυz(ə)n
test for pregnancy [After Maurice H. Friedman wɒtʃfəlnəs/ noun an expression of petrified
(b. 1903), US physician.] fear on a child’s face, especially in children
Friedreich’sFriedreich’s ataxia ataxia / fri draks ə t ksiə/ who have been abused
noun an inherited nervous disease which af- fructosefructose / fr ktəυs/ noun fruit sugar found
fects the spinal cord and is associated with in honey and some fruit, which together with
club foot, an unsteady walk and speech diffi- glucose forms sucrose
culties. Also called dystrophia adiposogeni- fructosuriafructosuria / fr ktəυ sjυəriə/ noun the
talis [Described 1863. After Nicholaus Friedre- presence of fructose in the urine
ich (1825–82), Professor of Pathological Anato- frusemidefrusemide / fru səmad/ noun same as furo-
my at Würzburg, later Professor of Pathology semide
and Therapy at Heidelberg, Germany.] FSHFSH abbr follicle-stimulating hormone
frigidityfrigidity /fr d dti/ noun the fact of being fugaxfugax / fju ks/ amaurosis fugax
unable to experience orgasm, sexual pleasure -fuge-fuge /fju d / suffix driving away
or sexual desire fuguefugue /fju / noun a condition in which
fringefringe medicine medicine / frn med(ə)sn/ noun someone loses his or her memory and leaves
types of medical practice which are not usually home
taught in medical schools, e.g. homeopathy or fulgurationfulguration / f l ə reʃ(ə)n/ noun the re-
acupuncture (informal) moval of a growth such as a wart by burning
frogfrog plaster plaster / frɒ plɑ stə/ noun a plaster with an electric needle. Also called electro-
cast made to keep the legs in an open position desiccation
after an operation to correct a dislocated hip fullfull term term / fυl t m/ noun a complete preg-
Fröhlich’s syndrome frFröhlich’s syndrome/ lks sndrəυm/ nancy of forty weeks ć She has had several
noun a condition in which someone becomes pregnancies but none has reached full term.
obese and the genital system does not develop, full thickness burn fυlfull thickness burn/ θknəs b n/ noun
caused by an adenoma of the pituitary gland same as deep dermal burn
[Described 1901. After Alfred Fröhlich (1871– fulminantfulminant / fυlmnənt/, fulminating / fυlm
netŋ/ adjective referring to a dangerous dis-
1953), Professor of Pharmacology at the Univer-
ease which develops very rapidly
sity of Vienna, Austria.]
‘…the major manifestations of pneumococcal infec-
frontalfrontal / fr nt(ə)l/ adjective referring to the
tion in sickle-cell disease are septicaemia, meningitis
forehead or to the front of the head. Opposite
and pneumonia. The illness is frequently fulminant’
occipital
[The Lancet]
153 Fybogel
fumesfumes /fju mz/ plural noun gas or smoke Other fungi, such as yeast, react with sugar to
form alcohol. Some antibiotics, such as peni-
fumigatefumigate / fju m et/ verb to kill insects in cillin, are derived from fungi.
an area by using gas or smoke fungusfungus disease disease / f ŋ əs d zi z/ noun a
fumigationfumigation / fju m eʃ(ə)n/ noun the disease caused by a fungus
process of killing insects in an area with gas or fungusfungus poisoning poisoning / f ŋ əs pɔz(ə)nŋ/
smoke noun poisoning by eating a poisonous fungus
function ffunction/ ŋkʃən/ noun the particular work funiculitisfuniculitis /fju nkjυ lats/ noun inflam-
done by an organ ć What is the function of the mation of the spermatic cord
pancreas? ć The function of an ovary is to funiculusfuniculus /fju nkjυləs/ noun one of the
form ova. í verb to work in a particular way ć three parts of the white matter in the spinal
The heart and lungs were functioning normal- cord ć The three parts are called the lateral,
ly. ć His kidneys suddenly stopped function- anterior and posterior funiculus.
ing. funisfunis / fju ns/ noun an umbilical cord
‘…insulin’s primary metabolic function is to trans- funnel chest ffunnel chest/ n(ə)l tʃest/ noun same as
port glucose into muscle and fat cells, so that it can
be used for energy’ [Nursing ’87] pectus excavatum
‘…the AIDS virus attacks a person’s immune system funny bone ffunny bone/ ni bəυn/ noun same as ole-
and damages the ability to fight other disease. With-
out a functioning immune system to ward off other cranon (informal)
germs, the patient becomes vulnerable to becoming
infected’ funnyfunny turn turn / f ni t n/ noun a dizzy spell
[Journal of American Medical Association]
(informal )
functional ffunctional/ ŋkʃən(ə)l/ adjective referring furfuraceous ffurfuraceous/ fjə reʃəs/ adjective re-
to a disorder or illness which does not have a ferring to skin which is scaly
physical cause and may have a psychological Furley stretcher fFurley stretcher/ li stretʃə/ noun a
cause, as opposed to an organic disorder stretcher made of a folding frame with a can-
functional endoscopic sinus surgeryfunctional endoscopic sinus surgery / vas bed, with carrying poles at each side and
f ŋkʃən(ə)l endəskɒpk sanəs s d əri/ small feet underneath
noun the removal of soft tissue in the sinuses furorfuror / fjυərɔ / noun an attack of wild vio-
using an endoscope. Abbr FESS lence, especially in someone who is mentally
functionalfunctional enuresis enuresis / f ŋkʃən(ə)l enjυ unwell
ri ss/ noun bedwetting which has a psycho-
furosemidefurosemide a drug which causes an increase
logical cause in urine production, used to relieve water re-
functional independence measurefunctional independence measure / tention in the body. Also called frusemide
f ŋkʃən(ə)l nd pendəns me ə/ noun a furred tongue ffurred tongue/ d t ŋ/ noun a condition
measure of disability. Abbr FIM when the papillae of the tongue are covered
fundus ffundus/ ndəs/ noun 1. the bottom of a hol- with a whitish coating. Also called coated
low organ such as the uterus 2. the top section tongue
of the stomach, above the body of the stomach furunclefuruncle / fjυər ŋkəl/ noun same as boil
fungalfungal / f ŋ əl/ adjective relating to, or furunculosisfurunculosis /fjυə r ŋkjυ ləυss/ noun a
caused by, fungi ć a fungal skin infection condition in which several boils appear at the
fungatefungate / f ŋ et/ verb (of some skin can- same time
cers) to increase rapidly at a late stage of tu- fusefuse /fju z/ verb to join together to form a sin-
mour formation gle structure, or to join two or more things to-
fungicidefungicide / f ŋ sad/ noun a substance gether ć The bones of the joint fused.
used to kill fungi fusidicfusidic acid acid /fju sdk sd/ noun an anti-
fungiformfungiform papillae papillae / f ŋ fɔ m pə pli / biotic used to prevent protein synthesis
noun rounded papillae on the tip and sides of fusiformfusiform / fju zfɔ m/ adjective referring to
the tongue, which have taste buds muscles which are shaped like a spindle, with
fungoid ffungoid/ ŋ ɔd/ adjective like a fungus a wider middle section which becomes nar-
fungus ffungus/ ŋ əs/ noun an organism such as rower at each end
yeast or mould, some of which cause disease fusionfusion / fju (ə)n/ noun the act of joining, es-
(NOTE: The plural is fungi. For other terms refer- pecially a surgical operation to relieve pain in
ring to fungi, see words beginning with myc-, the joint by joining the bones at the joint per-
myco-.) manently so that they cannot move
COMMENT: Some fungi can become parasites FybogelFybogel / fabəυd el/ a trade name for ispa-
of man, and cause diseases such as thrush.
ghula
G
gg abbr gram ach. Since the liver also secretes bile directly
GABA /GABA bə/ abbr gamma aminobutyric into the duodenum, the gall bladder is not an
essential organ and can be removed by sur-
acid
gery.
gag /gag / noun an instrument placed between
Gallie’s operationGallie’s operation / liz ɒpə reʃ(ə)n/
the teeth to stop the mouth from closing í verb
noun a surgical operation where tissues from
to experience a reaction similar to that of vom-
the thigh are used to hold a hernia in place [De-
iting ć Every time the doctor tries to examine
scribed 1921. After William Edward Gallie
her throat, she gags. ć He started gagging on
(1882–1959), Professor of Surgery at the Uni-
the endotracheal tube.
versity of Toronto, Canada.]
gain /gain en/ noun an act of adding or increas-
gallipotgallipot / lipɒt/ noun a little container for
ing something ć The baby showed a gain in
ointment
weight of 25g or showed a weight gain of 25g.
galliumgallium / liəm/ noun a metallic element a
í verb to obtain something, or to increase ć to
radioisotope of which is used to detect tu-
gain in weight or to gain weight
mours or other tissue disorders (NOTE: The
gait /gait et/ noun a way of walking
chemical symbol is Ga.)
galact-galact- əl kt/ prefix same as galacto- (used
/ gallop rhythmgallop rhythm / ləp rð(ə)m/ noun the
before vowels) rhythm of heart sounds, three to each cycle,
galactagogue ə lgalactagogue / ktə ɒ / noun a sub- when someone is experiencing tachycardia
stance which stimulates the production of milk gallstonegallstone / ɔ lstəυn/ noun a small stone
galacto-galacto- / əl ktəυ/ prefix referring to milk formed from insoluble deposits from bile in
galactocele ə lgalactocele/ ktəsi l/ noun a breast tu- the gall bladder. ı calculus
mour which contains milk COMMENT: Gallstones can be harmless, but
some cause pain and inflammation and a se-
galactorrhoea ə lgalactorrhoea/ ktə rə/ noun the ex-
rious condition can develop if a gallstone
cessive production of milk
blocks the bile duct. Sudden pain going from
galactosaemiagalactosaemia / ə l ktə si miə/ noun a the right side of the stomach towards the back
congenital condition where the liver is incapa- indicates that a gallstone is passing through
ble of converting galactose into glucose, with the bile duct.
the result that a baby’s development may be af- galvanismgalvanism / lvənz(ə)m/ noun a treat-
fected (NOTE: The treatment is to remove galac- ment using low voltage electricity
tose from the diet.) galvanocauterygalvanocautery / lvənəυ kɔ təri/ noun
galactosegalactose / əl ktəυs/ noun a sugar which the removal of diseased tissue using an electri-
forms part of milk, and is converted into glu- cally heated needle or loop of wire. Also called
cose by the liver electrocautery
galeagalea / eliə/ noun 1. any part of the body gametegamete / mi t/ noun a sex cell, either a
shaped like a helmet, especially the loose band spermatozoon or an ovum
of tissue in the scalp (NOTE: The plural is gale- gamete intrafallopian transfergamete intrafallopian transfer / mi t
ae.) 2. a type of bandage wrapped round the ntrəfə ləυpiən tr nsf / noun a technique
head to combine eggs and sperm outside the body
gall /gall ɔ l/ noun same as bile and then insert them into the Fallopian tubes.
gall bladdergall bladder / ɔ l bl də/ noun a sac situat- Abbr GIFT
ed underneath the liver, in which bile produced gametocidegametocide / ə mi təυsad/ noun a drug
by the liver is stored. See illustration at DIGES- which kills gametocytes
TIVE SYSTEM in Supplement gametocytegametocyte / ə mi təυsat/ noun a cell
COMMENT: Bile is stored in the gall bladder un- which is developing into a gamete
til required by the stomach. If fatty food is
gametogenesisgametogenesis / ə mi təυ d enəss/ noun
present in the stomach, bile moves from the
the process by which a gamete is formed
gall bladder along the bile duct to the stom-
155 gastric juice
gamgee tissuegamgee tissue / md i tʃu / noun a gas.) 2. gas which accumulates in the stomach
surgical dressing, formed of a layer of cotton or alimentary canal and causes pain
wool between two pieces of gauze gas and air analgesiagas and air analgesia / s ənd eə
gammagamma / mə/ noun the third letter of the n(ə)l d i ziə/ noun a form of analgesia used
Greek alphabet when giving birth, in which a mixture of air
gamma aminobutyric acidgamma aminobutyric acid / mə ə and gas is given
mi nəυbju trk sd/ noun an amino acid gas chromatographygas chromatography / s krəυmə tɒ
neurotransmitter. Abbr GABA rəfi/ noun a method of separating chemicals
gamma cameragamma camera / mə k m(ə)rə/ noun a by passing them through a gas, used in analys-
camera for taking photographs of parts of the ing compounds and mixtures
body into which radioactive isotopes have gas exchangegas exchange / s ks tʃend / noun the
been introduced process by which oxygen in the air is ex-
gamma globulingamma globulin / mə lɒbjυln/ noun a changed in the lungs for waste carbon dioxide
protein found in plasma, forming antibodies as carried by the blood
protection against infection gas gangrene sgas gangrene / ŋ ri n/ noun a com-
COMMENT: Gamma globulin injections are plication of severe wounds in which the bacte-
sometimes useful as a rapid source of protec-
tion against a wide range of diseases. rium Clostridium welchii breeds in the wound
and then spreads to healthy tissue which is rap-
gamma raygamma ray / mə re/ noun a ray which is idly decomposed with the formation of gas
shorter than an X-ray and is given off by radi- gash /gash ʃ/ noun a long deep cut made acci-
oactive substances dentally by something sharp ć She had to have
gangli-gangli- / ŋ li/ prefix referring to ganglia three stitches in the gash in her thigh. í verb
ganglionganglion / ŋ liən/ noun 1. a mass of nerve to make a long deep cut in something acciden-
cell bodies and synapses usually covered in tally ć She gashed her hand on the broken
connective tissue, found along the peripheral glass.
nerves with the exception of the basal ganglia gasp /gasp ɑ sp/ noun a short breath taken with
2. a cyst of a tendon sheath or joint capsule, difficulty ć His breath came in short gasps. í
usually at the wrist, which results in a painless verb to breathe with difficulty taking quick
swelling containing fluid (NOTE: [all senses] breaths ć She was gasping for breath.
The plural is ganglia.) gas paingas pain / s pen/ noun a pain caused by
ganglionectomyganglionectomy / ŋ liə nektəmi/ noun excessive formation of gas in the stomach or
the surgical removal of a ganglion intestine. ı flatus
ganglionicganglionic / ŋ li ɒnk/ adjective refer- gas poisoninggas poisoning / s pɔz(ə)nŋ/ noun poi-
ring to a ganglion. ı postganglionic soning by breathing in carbon monoxide or
gangrenegangrene / ŋ ri n/ noun a condition in other toxic gas
which tissues die and decay, as a result of bac- Gasserian ganglionGasserian ganglion / ə səriən ŋ liən/
terial action, because the blood supply has noun same as trigeminal ganglion [After Jo-
been lost through injury or disease of the ar- hann Laurentius Gasser (1723–65), Professor of
tery ć After she had frostbite, gangrene set in Anatomy in Vienna, Austria. He left no writings,
and her toes had to be amputated. and the ganglion was given his name by Anton
gangrenousgangrenous / ŋ rnəs/ adjective refer- Hirsch, one of his students, in his thesis of
ring to, or affected by, gangrene 1765.]
Ganser stateGanser state / nsə stet/ noun same as gastr-gastr- / str/ prefix same as gastro- (used
pseudodementia [After Sigbert Joseph Maria before vowels)
Ganser (1853–1931), psychiatrist at Dresden gastralgiagastralgia / str ld ə/ noun pain in the
and Munich, Germany] stomach
garglegargle / ɑ (ə)l/ noun a mildly antiseptic so- gastrectomygastrectomy / strektəmi/ noun the sur-
lution used to clean the mouth í verb to put gical removal of the stomach
some antiseptic liquid solution into the back of gastricgastric / strk/ adjective referring to the
the mouth and then breathe out air through it stomach
gargoylismgargoylism / ɑ ɔlz(ə)m/ noun a congen- gastric acidgastric acid / strk sd/ noun hydro-
ital condition of the metabolism which causes chloric acid secreted into the stomach by acid-
polysaccharides and fat cells to accumulate in forming cells
the body, resulting in mental impairment, gastric arterygastric artery / strk ɑ təri/ noun an ar-
swollen liver and coarse features. Also called tery leading from the coeliac trunk to the stom-
Hurler’s syndrome ach
gas /gas s/ noun 1. a substance such as nitro- gastric flugastric flu / strk flu / noun any mild
gen, carbon dioxide or air, which is neither sol- stomach disorder (informal)
id nor fluid at ordinary temperatures and can gastric juicegastric juice / strk d u s/ noun the mix-
expand infinitely (NOTE: The plural gases is ture of hydrochloric acid, pepsin, intrinsic fac-
used only when referring to different types of tor and mucus secreted by the cells of the lin-
gastric lavage 156
ing membrane of the stomach to help the di- gastroenterologygastroenterology / strəυentə rɒləd i/
gestion of food (NOTE: Often used in the plural.) noun the study of the digestive system and its
gastric lavagegastric lavage / strk l vd / noun a disorders
lavage of the stomach, usually to remove a poi- gastroenterostomygastroenterostomy / strəυentə rɒstəmi/
sonous substance which has been absorbed. noun a surgical operation to join the small in-
Also called stomach washout testine directly to the stomach so as to bypass
gastric pitgastric pit / strk pt/ noun a deep hol- a peptic ulcer
low in the mucous membrane forming the gastroepiploicgastroepiploic / strəυep plɔk/ adjec-
walls of the stomach tive referring to the stomach and greater omen-
gastric ulcergastric ulcer / strk lsə/ noun an ulcer tum
in the stomach. Abbr GU gastroepiploic arterygastroepiploic artery / strəυep plɔk
gastric veingastric vein / strk ven/ noun a vein ɑ təri/ noun an artery linking the gastroduo-
which follows the gastric artery denal artery to the splenic artery
gastringastrin / strn/ noun a hormone which is GastrografinGastrografin / strəυ r fn/ a trade
released into the bloodstream from cells in the name for an enema used in bowel X-rays
lower end of the stomach, stimulated by the gastroileac reflexgastroileac reflex / strəυ li k ri fleks/
presence of protein, and which in turn stimu- noun automatic relaxation of the ileocaecal
lates the flow of acid from the upper part of the valve when food is present in the stomach
stomach gastrointestinalgastrointestinal / strəυn testn(ə)l/
gastrinomagastrinoma / str nəυmə/ noun a tumour adjective referring to the stomach and intestine
of the islet cells, leading to excessive gastric ć gastrointestinal bleeding. Abbr GI
acid gastrojejunostomygastrojejunostomy / strəυd d u
gastritisgastritis / strats/ noun inflammation of nɒstəmi/ noun a surgical operation to join the
the stomach jejunum to the stomach
gastro-gastro- / strəυ/ prefix referring to the gastrolithgastrolith / strəυlθ/ noun a calculus in
stomach the stomach
gastrocelegastrocele / strəυsi l/ noun a condition gastrologygastrology / strɒləd i/ noun the study of
in which part of the stomach wall becomes the stomach and diseases of the stomach
weak and bulges out. Also called stomach gastro-oesophageal refluxgastro-oesophageal reflux / strəυ
hernia sɒfəd iəl ri fl ks/, gastro-oesophageal re-
gastrocnemiusgastrocnemius / strɒk ni miəs/ noun a flux disease / strəυ sɒfəd iəl ri fl ks
d zi z/ noun the return of bitter-tasting, partly
large calf muscle
digested food from the stomach to the
gastrocolicgastrocolic strəυ kɒlk/ adjective refer-
/ oesophagus
ring to the stomach and colon gastropexygastropexy / strəυpeksi/ noun a surgical
gastrocolic reflexgastrocolic reflex / strəυkɒlk ri fleks/ operation to attach the stomach to the wall of
noun a sudden peristalsis of the colon pro- the abdomen
duced when food is taken into an empty stom- gastroplastygastroplasty / strəυpl sti/ noun surgery
ach to correct a deformed stomach
gastroduodenalgastroduodenal / strəυ dju əυ di n(ə)l/ gastroptosisgastroptosis / strəυ təυss/ noun a con-
adjective referring to the stomach and duode- dition in which the stomach hangs down
num gastrorrhoeagastrorrhoea / strə rə/ noun an exces-
gastroduodenalgastroduodenal artery artery / strəυd sive flow of gastric juices
ju əυdi n(ə)l ɑ təri/ noun an artery leading gastroschisisgastroschisis / strəυ sass/ noun a split
from the gastric artery towards the pancreas in the wall of the abdomen, with viscera pass-
gastroduodenoscopygastroduodenoscopy / strəυ dju əυ ing through it
d nɒskəpi/ noun an examination of the stom- gastroscopegastroscope / strəskəυp/ noun an in-
ach and duodenum strument formed of a tube or bundle of glass fi-
gastroduodenostomygastroduodenostomy / strəυ dju əυ bres with a lens attached, which a doctor can
d nɒstəmi/ noun a surgical operation to join pass down into the stomach through the mouth
the duodenum to the stomach so as to bypass a to examine the inside of the stomach
blockage in the pylorus gastroscopygastroscopy / strɒskəpi/ noun an exam-
gastroenteritisgastroenteritis / strəυentə rats/ noun ination of the stomach using a gastroscope
inflammation of the membrane lining the in- gastrostomygastrostomy / strɒstəmi/ noun a surgi-
testines and the stomach, caused by a viral in- cal operation to create an opening into the
fection and resulting in diarrhoea and vomit- stomach from the wall of the abdomen, so that
ing food can be introduced without passing
gastroenterologistgastroenterologist / strəυentə rɒlə through the mouth and throat
d st/ noun a doctor who specialises in the di-
gastrotomygastrotomy / strɒtəmi/ noun a surgical
gestive system and its disorders operation to open up the stomach
157 generic
gastrulagastrula / stru lə/ noun the second stage generalgeneral amnesia amnesia / d en(ə)rəl m ni ziə/
of the development of an embryo noun a sudden and complete loss of memory,
gatheringgathering / ðərŋ/ noun a swelling that is to the extent that a person does not even re-
filled with pus member who he or she is
Gaucher’s diseaseGaucher’s disease / əυʃez d zi z/ noun generalgeneral anaesthesia anaesthesia / d en(ə)rəl nəs
θi ziə/ noun loss of feeling and loss of sensa-
an enzyme disease where fatty substances ac-
tion throughout the body, after being given an
cumulate in the lymph glands, spleen and liver,
anaesthetic
causing anaemia, a swollen spleen and darken-
ing of the skin. The disease can be fatal in chil- generalgeneral anaesthetic anaesthetic / d en(ə)rəl nəs
dren. [Described 1882. After Philippe Charles θetk/ noun a substance given to make some-
Ernest Gaucher (1854–1918), French physician one lose consciousness so that a major surgical
and dermatologist.] operation can be carried out
gauzegauze / ɔ z/ noun a thin light material used to GeneralGeneral Dental Council Dental Council / d en(ə)rəl
make dressings dent(ə)l kaυnsəl/ noun in the UK, the offi-
gauze dressinggauze dressing / ɔz dresŋ/ noun a dress- cial body that registers and supervises dentists.
ing of thin light material Abbr GDC
gavagegavage / vɑ / noun the forced feeding of generalgeneral hospital hospital / d en(ə)rəl hɒspt(ə)l/
someone who cannot eat or who refuses to eat noun a hospital which does not specialise in
gaygay / e/ adjective relating to sexual activity particular types of illness or particular age
among people of the same sex groups
GDCGDC abbr General Dental Council generalise dgeneralise/ en(ə)rəlaz/, generalize verb
Gehrig’s diseaseGehrig’s disease / er z d zi z/ noun to spread to other parts of the body
same as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis generalisedgeneralised / d en(ə)rəlazd/, generalized
Geiger counterGeiger counter / a ə kaυntə/ noun an adjective 1. spreading throughout the body.
instrument for the detection and measurement Opposite localised 2. not having a specific
of radiation [Described 1908. After Hans Geiger cause
(1882–1945), German physicist who worked generalisedgeneralised anxiety disorder anxiety disorder /
with Rutherford at Manchester University, UK.] d en(ə)rəlazd ŋ zaəti ds ɔ də/ noun a
gelgel /d el/ noun a suspension that sets into a state of continual anxiety for which there is no
jelly-like solid specific cause
gelatingelatin / d elətn/ noun a protein found in GeneralGeneral Medical Council Medical Council / d en(ə)rəl
medk(ə)l kaυnsəl/ noun in the UK, the of-
collagen which is soluble in water, used to
ficial body that licenses qualified doctors to
make capsules for medicines
practise medicine. Abbr GMC
gelatinous dgelatinous / əl tnəs/ adjective referring
GeneralGeneral Optical Council Optical Council / d enrəl ɒp
to gelatin or something with a texture like jelly
tk(ə)l kaυnsəl/ noun in the UK, the official
gemellus dgemellus / meləs/ noun either of the two
body that registers and supervises opticians
muscles arising from the ischium. Also called
generalgeneral practice practice / d en(ə)rəl pr kts/
gemellus superior muscle, gemellus inferior
noun a medical practice where doctors offer
muscle
first-line medical care for all types of illness to
gendergender / d endə/ noun the fact of being of
people who live locally, refer them to hospital
the male or female sex
if necessary and encourage health promotion
gender identity disorder dgender identity disorder/ endə a den generalgeneral practitioner practitioner / d en(ə)rəl pr k
tti ds ɔ də/ noun a condition in which some- tʃ(ə)nə/ noun a doctor who provides first-
one experiences strong discomfort with his or line medical care for all types of illness to peo-
her birth gender ple who live locally, refers them to hospital if
gender reassignment surgery d endəgender reassignment surgery/ necessary and encourages health promotion.
ri ə sanmənt s d əri/ noun surgery to Abbr GP
change someone’s sex gene replacement therapy d i n rgene replacement therapy/
gendergender reorientation reorientation / d endə ri ɔ riən plesmənt θerəpi/ noun the replacement of
teʃ(ə)n/ noun the alteration of a person’s sex
missing genes or damaging gene variations in
through surgical and drug treatment cells by the insertion of appropriate genes to
genegene /d i n/ noun a unit of DNA on a chro- treat a genetic disorder. Also called gene ther-
mosome which governs the synthesis of a pro- apy
tein sequence and determines a particular COMMENT: Gene replacement therapy has
been used successfully in animals, and is in
characteristic the early stages of research in humans, but
may be useful in the future treatment of cystic
COMMENT: A gene may be dominant, in which fibrosis, thalassaemia and other genetic dis-
case the characteristic it controls is always orders.
passed on to the child, or recessive, in which
case the characteristic only appears if both generic dgeneric/ ə nerk/ adjective 1. referring to
parents have contributed the same form of the
gene. medicine which does not have a special trade-
-genesis 158
mark or brand name given to it by its manufac- genitalia dgenitalia/ en teliə/ noun the genital or-
turer 2. referring to a genus ć The generic gans
name of this type of bacterium is Staphylococ- genital organs dgenital organs / ent(ə)l ɔ ənz/ plural
cus. noun the external organs for reproduction, i.e.
-genesis d-genesis / enəss/ suffix production or ori- the penis and testicles in males and the vulva
gin in females. Also called genitals, genitalia
gene therapy dgene therapy / in θerəpi/ noun same as genital wart dgenital wart / ent(ə)l wɔ t/ noun a wart
gene replacement therapy in the genital or anal area, caused by a sexually
geneticgenetic /d ə netk/ adjective referring to transmitted virus
genes genito- dgenito-/ entəυ/ prefix referring to the re-
geneticgenetic code code /d ə netk kəυd/ noun the productive system
characteristics of the DNA of a cell which are genitourinarygenitourinary / d entəυ jυərnəri/ adjec-
passed on when the cell divides and so are in- tive referring to both the reproductive and uri-
herited by a child from its parents nary systems. Abbr GU
geneticgenetic counselling counselling /d ə netk genitourinarygenitourinary system system / d entəυ
kaυnsəlŋ/ noun advice and support given to jυərnəri sstəm/ noun the organs of repro-
people if they or their children might be affect- duction and urination, including the kidneys
ed by inherited genetic disorders genomegenome / d i nəυm/ noun the set of all the
genetic disorder dgenetic disorder / ə netk ds ɔ də/ noun genes of an individual
a disorder or disease caused by a damaging genotypegenotype / d enətap/ noun the genetic
gene variation that may be inherited makeup of an individual. Compare phenotype
geneticgenetic engineering engineering /d ə netk end gentamicingentamicin / d entə masn/ noun an anti-
nərŋ/ noun same as genetic modification
biotic that is effective against a variety of dif-
(informal ) ferent disease-causing organisms. Patients
geneticgenetic fingerprint fingerprint /d ə netk usually receive it by injection and it can cause
fŋ əprnt/ noun the pattern of sequences of serious side effects.
genetic material unique to an individual. Also gentian violet dgentian violet / enʃən vaələt/ noun an
called DNA fingerprint antiseptic blue dye, used to paint on skin infec-
geneticgenetic fingerprinting fingerprinting /d ə netk fŋ ə tions and also to stain specimens. Also called
prntŋ/ noun a method of revealing an indi-
crystal violet
vidual’s genetic profile, used in paternity que- genugenu / d enju / noun the knee
ries and criminal investigations. Also called genualgenual / d enjuəl/ adjective referring to the
DNA fingerprinting knee
geneticist dgeneticist / ə netsst/ noun a person who genucubitalgenucubital position position / d enju
specialises in the study of the way in which kju bt(ə)l pə zʃ(ə)n/ noun the position of
characteristics and diseases are inherited someone resting on their knees and elbows
through the genes genupectoralgenupectoral position position / d enju
geneticgenetic modification modification, genetic manipula- pektər(ə)l pə zʃ(ə)n/ noun the position of
tion noun the combination of genetic material someone resting on their knees and upper
from different sources to produce organisms chest
with altered characteristics genusgenus / d i nəs/ noun a category of related
geneticsgenetics /d ə netks/ noun the study of living organisms ć A genus is divided into dif-
genes, and of the way characteristics and dis- ferent species. (NOTE: The plural is genera.)
eases are inherited through the genes genugenu valgum valgum / d enju v l əm/ noun
geneticgenetic screening screening /d ə netk skri nŋ/ same as knock-knee
noun the process of testing large numbers of genu varum dgenu varum / enju veərəm/ noun same
people to see if anyone has a particular genetic as bow legs
disorder geri-geri- /d eri/ prefix referring to old age
genegene tracking tracking / d i n tr kŋ/ noun the geriatric dgeriatric/ eri trk/ adjective 1. referring
method used to trace throughout a family the to old people 2. specialising in the treatment of
inheritance of a gene such as those causing old people ć geriatric unit
cystic fibrosis or Huntington’s Chorea, in or- geriatrician dgeriatrician / eriə trʃ(ə)n/ noun a doctor
der to diagnose and predict genetic disorders who specialises in the treatment or study of
-genic d-genic/ enk/ suffix referring to a product or diseases of old people
something which produces geriatricsgeriatrics /d eri trks/ noun the study of
genicular dgenicular / e nkjυlə/ adjective referring to the diseases and disorders of old people. Com-
the knee pare paediatrics
genital dgenital / ent(ə)l/ adjective referring to the germgerm /d m/ noun 1. a microorganism which
reproductive organs í plural noun genitals causes a disease, e.g. a virus or bacterium
same as genital organs (informal) ć Germs are not visible to the naked
159 GIFT
eye. 2. a part of an organism capable of devel- get dressedget dressed / et drest/ verb to put your
oping into a new organism clothes on ć This patient still needs helps to
German measles dGerman measles / mən mi z(ə)lz/ get dressed.
noun same as rubella get on withget on with / et ɒn wð/ verb to continue
germ cell dgerm cell/ m sel/ noun a cell which is to do some work ć I must get on with the blood
capable of developing into a spermatozoon or tests.
ovum. Also called gonocyte get overget over / et əυvə/ verb to become better
germinal dgerminal / mn(ə)l/ adjective referring after an illness or a shock ć He got over his
to an embryo cold. ć She never got over her mother’s death.
germinal epithelium dgerminal epithelium/ mn(ə)l ep getting ongetting on / etŋ ɒn/ adjective becoming
θi liəm/ noun the outer layer of the ovary elderly ć Her parents are getting on.
germ layer dgerm layer / m leə/ noun one of two or get upget up / et p/ verb 1. to stand up ć Try to
three layers of cells in animal embryos which get up from your chair slowly and walk across
form the organs of the body the room. 2. to get out of bed ć What time did
gerontologistgerontologist / d erən tɒləd st/ noun a you get up this morning?
specialist in gerontology get wellget well / et wel/ verb to become healthy
gerontologygerontology / d erən tɒləd i/ noun the again after being ill ć We hope your mother
study of the process of ageing and the diseases will get well soon.
of old people GFRGFR abbr glomerular filtration rate
Gerstmann’s syndromeGerstmann’s syndrome / stm nz GHGH abbr growth hormone
sndrəυm/ noun a condition in which some- Ghon’s focusGhon’s focus / ɒnz fəυkəs/ noun a spot
one no longer recognises his or her body im- on the lung produced by the tuberculosis bacil-
age, cannot tell the difference between left and lus [Described 1912. After Anton Ghon (1866–
right, cannot recognise his or her different fin- 1936), Professor of Pathological Anatomy at
gers and is unable to write Prague, Czech Republic.]
Gesell’s developmental chartGesell’s developmental chart / ə zels d GIGI abbr gastrointestinal
veləp ment(ə)l tʃɑ t/ noun a chart showing giant cell dgiant cell / aənt sel/ noun a very large
the development of motor reactions and cell, e.g. an osteoclast or megakaryocyte
growth patterns in children giant-cellgiant-cell arteritis arteritis / d aənt sel ɑ tə
rats/ noun a disease of old people, which of-
/gestate dgestate e stet/ verb to carry a baby in the
ten affects the arteries in the scalp
womb from conception to birth
giant hives dgiant hives aənt havz/ noun a large
gestation dgestation/ e steʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. the process /
of development of a baby from conception to flat white blister caused by an allergic reaction
birth in the mother’s womb 2. same as gesta- Giardia dGiardia / i ɑ diə/ noun a microscopic pro-
tion period tozoan parasite which causes giardiasis
‘…evaluation of fetal age and weight has proved to giardiasis dgiardiasis / iɑ daəss/ noun a disorder
be of value in the clinical management of pregnancy,
particularly in high-risk gestations’ [Southern of the intestine caused by the parasite Giardia
Medical Journal]
lamblia, usually with no symptoms, but in
gestationalgestational age age /d e steʃ(ə)n(ə)l ed / heavy infections the absorption of fat may be
noun the age of a fetus, calculated from the affected, causing diarrhoea. Also called lam-
mother’s last period to the date of birth bliasis
gestationalgestational diabetes diabetes /d e steʃ(ə)n(ə)l gibbositygibbosity / bɒsəti/ noun a sharp angle in
daə bi ti z/ noun a form of diabetes mellitus
the curvature of the spine caused by the weak-
which develops in a pregnant woman ening of a vertebra as a result of tuberculosis
of the backbone
gestationgestation period period /d e steʃ(ə)n pəriəd/ gibbusgibbus / bəs/ noun same as gibbosity
noun the period, usually of 266 days, from giddinessgiddiness / dinəs/ noun a condition in
conception to birth, during which the baby de- which someone has difficulty in standing up
velops in the mother’s womb. Also called and keeping their balance because of a feeling
pregnancy that everything is turning around ć He began
gestodenegestodene / d estədi n/ noun an oral con- to experience attacks of giddiness.
traceptive giddygiddy / di/ adjective feeling that everything
get aroundget around / et ə raυnd/ verb to move is turning round ć She has had several giddy
about ć Since she had the accident she gets spells.
around using crutches. GIFT /GIFT ft/ noun a procedure in which a sur-
get betterget better / et betə/ verb 1. to become geon removes eggs from a woman’s ovary,
healthy again after being ill ć He was serious- mixes them with sperm and places them in one
ly ill, but seems to be getting better. 2. (of an ill- of her Fallopian tubes to help her conceive a
ness) to stop or become less severe ć Her cold child. Full form gamete intrafallopian trans-
has got better. fer
gigantism 160
gigantism dgigantism / a ntz(ə)m/ noun a condi- glansglans / l nz/ noun a rounded part at the end
tion in which someone grows very tall, caused of the penis or clitoris. See illustration at URO-
by excessive production of growth hormone by GENITAL SYSTEM (MALE) in Supplement
the pituitary gland glareglare / leə/ noun 1. a long stare that expresses
Gilbert’s syndromeGilbert’s syndrome / lbəts sndrəυm/ a negative emotion such as anger 2. an uncom-
noun an inherited disorder where the liver does fortably or dazzlingly bright light 3. scattered
not deal with bilirubin correctly bright light when examining something with a
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome i də lGilles de la Tourette syndrome/ microscope í verb 1. to stare angrily 2. to
tυə ret sndrəυm/ noun same as Tourette’s shine uncomfortably brightly 3. to be very ob-
syndrome vious or conspicuous
Gilliam’sGilliam’s operation operation / liəmz ɒpə re Glasgow coma scaleGlasgow coma scale / lɑ s əυ kəυmə
ʃ(ə)n/ noun a surgical operation to correct ret-
skel/, Glasgow scoring system / lɑ s əυ
roversion of the uterus [After David Tod Gilliam skɔ rŋ sstəm/ noun a seven-point scale for
(1844–1923), physician, Columbus, Ohio, USA] evaluating someone’s level of consciousness
gingiv-gingiv- /d nd v/ prefix referring to the glass eyeglass eye / lɑ s a/ noun an artificial eye
gums made of glass
gingivagingiva /d n d avə/ noun same as gum glaucomaglaucoma / lɔ kəυmə/ noun a condition of
(NOTE: The plural is gingivae.) the eyes, caused by unusually high pressure of
gingival dgingival / nd v(ə)l/ adjective relating to fluid inside the eyeball, resulting in distur-
the gums bances of vision and blindness
gingivectomy dgingivectomy / nd vektəmi/ noun the gleetgleet / li t/ noun a thin discharge from the va-
surgical removal of excess gum tissue gina, penis, a wound or an ulcer
gingivitis dgingivitis / nd vats/ noun inflamma- glenohumeralglenohumeral / li nəυ hu mərəl/ adjective
tion of the gums as a result of bacterial infec- referring to both the glenoid cavity and the hu-
tion merus
ginglymus dginglymus / ŋ lməs/ noun a joint which glenohumeralglenohumeral joint joint / li nəυ hu mərəl
d ɔnt/ noun the shoulder joint
allows movement in two directions only, e.g.
glenoidglenoid / li nɔd/ adjective shaped like a
the knee or elbow. Also called hinge joint.
small shallow cup or socket
Compare ball and socket joint
ginseng dginseng / nsen / noun a plant root wide- glenoid cavityglenoid cavity / li nɔd k vti/, glenoid
ly used as a tonic and a traditional Chinese fossa / li nɔd fɒsə/ noun a socket in the
herbal remedy shoulder joint into which the head of the hu-
gippy tummy dgippy tummy / pi t mi/ noun same as merus fits
diarrhoea (informal) glia /glia li ə/ noun connective tissue of the cen-
girdlegirdle / d(ə)l/ noun a set of bones making tral nervous system, surrounding cell bodies,
a ring or arch axons and dendrites. Also called neuroglia
Girdlestone’s operationGirdlestone’s operation / dəlstəυnz glial cellglial cell / li əl sel/ noun a cell in the glia
ɒpə reʃ(ə)n/ noun a surgical operation to re- glial tissueglial tissue / li əl tʃu / noun same as glia
lieve osteoarthritis of the hip [After Gathorne glibenclamideglibenclamide / l beŋkləmad/ noun a
Robert Girdlestone (1881–1950), Nuffield Pro- sulphonylurea drug used to treat Type II diabe-
fessor of Orthopaedics at Oxford, UK] tes mellitus
give upgive up / v p/ verb not to do something gliclazidegliclazide / lkləzad/ noun an antibacterial
any more ć He was advised to give up smok- drug used to treat Type II diabetes mellitus
ing. glio-glio- / laəυ/ prefix referring to brain tissue
glabellaglabella / lə belə/ noun a flat area of bone in glioblastomaglioblastoma / laəυbl stəυmə/ noun a
the forehead between the eyebrows rapidly developing malignant tumour of the
gladiolusgladiolus / l di əυləs/ noun the middle glial tissue in the brain or spinal cord. Also
section of the sternum called spongioblastoma
glandgland / l nd/ noun an organ in the body con- gliomaglioma / la əυmə/ noun any tumour of the
taining cells that secrete substances such as glial tissue in the brain or spinal cord
hormones, sweat or saliva which act elsewhere gliomyomagliomyoma / laəυma əυmə/ noun a tu-
glandersglanders / l ndəz/ noun a bacterial disease mour of both the nerve and muscle tissue
of horses, which can be caught by humans, glipizideglipizide / lpzad/ noun a drug used to re-
with symptoms of high fever and inflamma- duce the glucose level in the blood
tion of the lymph nodes Glisson’s capsuleGlisson’s capsule / ls(ə)nz k psju l/
glandularglandular / l ndjυlə/ adjective referring to noun a tissue sheath in the liver containing the
glands blood vessels [After Francis Glisson (1597–
glandular feverglandular fever / l ndjυlə fi və/ noun 1677), philosopher, physician and anatomist at
same as infectious mononucleosis Cambridge and London, UK]
161 gluteal
globinglobin / ləυbn/ noun a protein which com- glossoplegiaglossoplegia / lɒsəυ pli d ə/ noun paraly-
bines with other substances to form com- sis of the tongue
pounds such as haemoglobin and myoglobin glossotomyglossotomy / lɒ sɒtəmi/ noun a surgical in-
globuleglobule / lɒbju l/ noun a round drop, espe- cision into the tongue
cially of fat glottisglottis / lɒts/ noun an opening in the larynx
globulinglobulin / lɒbjυln/ noun a protein, present between the vocal cords, which forms the en-
in blood, belonging to a group that includes trance to the main airway from the pharynx
antibodies gluc-gluc- / lu k/ prefix referring to glucose
globulinuriaglobulinuria / lɒbjυl njυəriə/ noun the glucagonglucagon / lu kə ɒn/ noun a hormone se-
presence of globulins in the urine creted by the islets of Langerhans in the pan-
globusglobus / ləυbəs/ noun any ball-shaped part creas, which increases the level of blood sugar
of the body by stimulating the breakdown of glycogen
globus hystericusglobus hystericus / ləυbəs h sterkəs/ glucagonomaglucagonoma / lu kə ɒ nəυmə/ noun a
noun a feeling of not being able to swallow, tumour of the cells of the pancreas that pro-
caused by worry or embarrassment duces glucagon
glomangiomaglomangioma / lə m nd i əυmə/ noun a glucocorticoidglucocorticoid / lu kəυ kɔ tkɔd/ noun
tumour of the skin at the ends of the fingers any corticosteroid which breaks down carbo-
and toes hydrates and fats for use by the body, produced
glomerularglomerular / lɒ merυlə/ adjective referring by the adrenal cortex
to a glomerulus gluconeogenesisgluconeogenesis / lu kəυ ni əυ
glomerularglomerular capsule capsule / lɒ merυlə d enəss/ noun the production of glucose in
k psju l/ noun same as Bowman’s capsule the liver from protein or fat reserves
glomerular filtration rateglomerular filtration rate / lɒ merυlə fl glucoseglucose / lu kəυz/ noun a simple sugar
treʃ(ə)n ret/ noun the rate at which the kid- found in some fruit, but also broken down
neys filter blood and remove waste matter from white sugar or carbohydrate and ab-
glomerularglomerular tuft tuft / lɒ merυlə t ft/ noun a sorbed into the body or secreted by the kid-
group of blood vessels in the kidney which fil- neys. Also called dextrose
ter the blood COMMENT: Combustion of glucose with oxy-
gen to form carbon dioxide and water is the
glomeruliglomeruli / lɒ merυli/ plural of glomerulus body’s main source of energy.
glomerulitisglomerulitis / lɒ merυ lats/ noun inflam- glucoseglucose tolerance test tolerance test / lu kəυz
mation causing lesions of glomeruli in the kid- tɒlərəns test/ noun a test for diabetes melli-
ney tus, in which someone eats glucose and his or
glomerulonephritisglomerulonephritis / lɒ merυləυn her urine and blood are tested at regular inter-
frats/ noun same as Bright’s disease vals. Abbr GTT
glomerulusglomerulus / lɒ merυləs/ noun a group of glucosuriaglucosuria / lu kəυ sjυəriə/ noun same as
blood vessels which filter waste matter from glycosuria
the blood in a kidney (NOTE: The plural is glucuronicglucuronic acid acid / lu kjυrɒnk sd/
glomeruli.) noun an acid formed by glucose that acts on bi-
gloss-gloss- / lɒs/ prefix same as glosso- (used be- lirubin
fore vowels) glue earglue ear / lu ə/ noun a condition in which
glossaglossa / lɒsə/ noun same as tongue fluid forms behind the eardrum and causes
glossalglossal / lɒs(ə)l/ adjective relating to the deafness. Also called secretory otitis media
tongue glue-sniffingglue-sniffing / lu snfŋ/ noun solvent
glossectomyglossectomy / lɒ sektəmi/ noun the surgi- abuse
cal removal of the tongue glutamic acid luglutamic acid / t mk sd/ noun an
GlossinaGlossina / lɒ sanə/ noun a genus of Afri- amino acid
can flies which cause trypanosomiasis, e.g. the glutamic oxaloacetic transaminaseglutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
tsetse fly / lu t mk ɒksələυə si tk tr ns m
nez/ noun an enzyme used to test for viral
glossitisglossitis / lɒ sats/ noun inflammation of
the surface of the tongue hepatitis
glosso-glosso- / lɒsəυ/ prefix referring to the glutamic pyruvic transaminase luglutamic pyruvic transaminase/
tongue t mk pa ru vk tr ns mnez/ noun an
glossodyniaglossodynia / lɒsəυ dniə/ noun pain in enzyme produced in the liver and released into
the tongue the blood if the liver is damaged
glossopharyngealglossopharyngeal / lɒsəυf rn d i əl/ glutaminaseglutaminase / lu t mnez/ noun an en-
adjective relating to the tongue and pharynx zyme in the kidneys that helps to break down
glossopharyngealglossopharyngeal nerve nerve / lɒsəυf rn glutamine
d i əl n v/ noun the ninth cranial nerve glutamineglutamine / lu təmi n/ noun an amino acid
which controls the pharynx, the salivary glutealgluteal / lu tiəl/ adjective referring to the
glands and part of the tongue buttocks
gluteal artery 162
gluteal arterygluteal artery / lu tiəl ɑ təri/ noun one of glycosideglycoside / lakəυsad/ noun a chemical
the two arteries supplying the buttocks, the in- compound of a type which is formed from a
ferior gluteal artery or the superior gluteal simple sugar and another compound (NOTE:
artery Many of the drugs produced from plants are gly-
gluteal musclegluteal muscle / lu tiəl m s(ə)l/ noun a cosides.)
muscle in the buttock. ı gluteus glycosuriaglycosuria / lakəυ sjυəriə/ noun a high
gluteal veingluteal vein / lu tiəl ven/ noun one of two level of sugar in the urine, a symptom of dia-
veins draining the buttocks, the inferior glu- betes mellitus
teal vein and the superior gluteal vein GMCGMC abbr General Medical Council
glutengluten / lu t(ə)n/ noun a protein found in gnathic ngnathic / θk/ adjective referring to the
some cereals, which makes the grains form a jaw
sticky paste when water is added gnathoplasty ngnathoplasty / θəυ pl sti/ noun surgery
glutengluten enteropathy enteropathy same as gluten-in- on the jaw
duced enteropathy gnawinggnawing / nɔ ŋ/ adjective referring to a
gluten-free dietgluten-free diet / lu t(ə)n fri daət/ noun physical or emotional feeling that is persistent
a diet containing only food containing no glu- and uncomfortable ć a gnawing pain ć gnaw-
ten ing anxiety
gluten-induced enteropathygluten-induced enteropathy / lu t(ə)n goblet cellgoblet cell / ɒblət sel/ noun a tube-shaped
n dju st entə rɒpəθi/ noun 1. an allergic cell in the epithelium which secretes mucus
disease mainly affecting children, in which the GOCGOC abbr General Optical Council
lining of the intestine is sensitive to gluten, go downgo down / əυ daυn/ verb to become small-
preventing the small intestine from digesting er ć The swelling has started to go down. ć
fat 2. a condition in adults where the villi in the The blood sugar level went down.
intestine become smaller and so reduce the goitregoitre / ɔtə/ noun an excessive enlargement
surface which can absorb nutrients (NOTE: of the thyroid gland, seen as a swelling round
Symptoms include a swollen abdomen, pale di- the neck, caused by a lack of iodine (NOTE: The
arrhoea, abdominal pains and anaemia.) ̈ also US spelling is goiter.)
called coeliac disease goitrogengoitrogen / ɔtrəd ən/ noun a substance
gluteusgluteus / lu tiəs/ noun one of three muscles which causes goitre
in the buttocks, responsible for movements of gold /gold əυld/ noun a soft yellow-coloured pre-
the hip. The largest is the gluteus maximus, cious metal, used as a compound in various
while the gluteus medius and gluteus min- drugs, and sometimes as a filling for teeth
imus are smaller. (NOTE: The chemical symbol is Au.)
glyc-glyc- / lak/ prefix same as glyco- (used be- goldengolden eye ointment eye ointment / əυld(ə)n a
fore vowels) ɔntmənt/ noun a yellow ointment, made of
glycaemiaglycaemia / la si miə/ noun the level of an oxide of mercury, used to treat inflamma-
glucose found in the blood. ı hypoglycaemia, tion of the eyelids
hyperglycaemia gold injectiongold injection / əυld n d ekʃən/ noun an
glyceringlycerin / lsərn/, glycerine, glycerol / injection of a solution containing gold, used to
lsərɒl/ noun a colourless viscous sweet- relieve rheumatoid arthritis
tasting liquid present in all fats (NOTE: Synthet- golfer’s elbowgolfer’s elbow / ɒlfəz elbəυ/ noun inflam-
ic glycerin is used in various medicinal prepara- mation of the tendons of the elbow
tions and also as a lubricant in items such as Golgi apparatusGolgi apparatus / ɒld i pə retəs/ noun
toothpaste and cough medicines.) a folded membranous structure inside the cell
glycineglycine / lasi n/ noun an amino acid cytoplasm which stores and transports en-
glyco-glyco- / lakəυ/ prefix referring to sugar zymes and hormones [Described 1898. After
glycocholicglycocholic acid acid / lakəυkɒlk sd/ Camillo Golgi (1843–1926), Professor of Histol-
noun one of the bile acids ogy and later Rector of the University of Pavia, It-
glycogenglycogen lakəd ən/ noun a type of aly. In 1906 he shared the Nobel Prize with San-
/ tiago Ramón y Cajal for work on the nervous
starch, converted from glucose by the action of system.]
insulin, and stored in the liver as a source of Golgi cellGolgi cell / ɒld i sel/ noun a type of nerve
energy cell in the central nervous system, either with
glycogenesisglycogenesis / lakəυ d enəss/ noun the long axons (Golgi Type 1) or without axons
process by which glucose is converted into (Golgi Type 2)
glycogen in the liver gomphosisgomphosis / ɒm fəυss/ noun a joint which
glycogenolysisglycogenolysis / lakəυd ə nɒləss/ cannot move, like that between a tooth and the
noun the process by which glycogen is broken jaw
down to form glucose gonadgonad / əυn d/ noun a sex gland which
glycolysisglycolysis / la kɒləss/ noun the metabolic produces gametes and also sex hormones, e.g.
breakdown of glucose to release energy a testicle in males or an ovary in females
163 Gram-negative bacterium
gonadotrophic hormonegonadotrophic hormone / əυnədəυ trɒ gout /gout aυt/ noun a disease in which unusual
fk hɔ məυn/ noun one of two hormones, the quantities of uric acid are produced and form
follicle-stimulating hormone and the luteinis- crystals in the cartilage round joints. Also
ing hormone, produced by the anterior pitui- called podagra
tary gland which have an effect on the ovaries COMMENT: Gout was formerly associated with
in females and on the testes in males drinking strong wines such as port, but is now
gonadotrophingonadotrophin / əυnədəυ trəυfn/ noun believed to arise in three ways: excess uric
any of a group of hormones produced by the acid in the diet, overproduction of uric acid in
pituitary gland which stimulates the sex glands the body and inadequate excretion of uric ac-
id. It is likely that both overproduction and in-
at puberty. ı human chorionic gonadotrophin adequate excretion are due to inherited bio-
(NOTE: The US spelling is gonadotropin.) chemical developments. Excess intake of al-
gonagragonagra / ɒ n rə/ noun a form of gout cohol can provoke an attack by interfering
which occurs in the knees with the excretion of uric acid.
goni-goni- / əυni/ prefix same as gonio- (used be- gown /gown aυn/ noun a long robe worn over oth-
fore a vowel) er clothes to protect them ć The surgeons were
gonio-gonio- / əυniəυ/ prefix referring to an angle wearing green gowns. ć The patient was
goniongonion əυniɒn/ noun the outer point at dressed in a theatre gown, ready to go to the
/ operating theatre.
which the lower jawbone angles upwards GPGP abbr general practitioner
goniopuncturegoniopuncture / əυniəυ p ŋktʃə/ noun a GP co-op dGP co-op / i pi kəυ ɒp/ noun a group of
surgical operation for draining fluid from the GPs who work together to provide out-of-
eyes of someone who has glaucoma hours care without making any profit
gonioscopegonioscope / əυniəskəυp/ noun a lens for grgr symbol grain
measuring the angle of the front part of the eye Graafian follicleGraafian follicle / r fiən fɒlk(ə)l/ noun
goniotomygoniotomy / əυni ɒtəmi/ noun a surgical same as ovarian follicle [After Reijnier de Graaf
operation to treat glaucoma by cutting Sch- (1641–73), Dutch physician]
lemm’s canal gracilisgracilis / resls/ noun a thin muscle run-
gonococcalgonococcal / ɒnə kɒk(ə)l/ adjective refer- ning down the inside of the leg from the top of
ring to gonococcus the leg down to the top of the tibia
gonococcusgonococcus / ɒnə kɒkəs/ noun a type of graduatedgraduated / r d uetd/ adjective with
bacterium, Neisseria gonorrhoea, which caus- marks showing various degrees or levels ć a
es gonorrhoea (NOTE: The plural is gonococci.) graduated measuring jar
gonocytegonocyte / ɒnəsat/ noun same as germ Graefe’s knifeGraefe’s knife / refəz naf/ noun a sharp
cell knife used in operations on cataracts [After
gonorrhoeagonorrhoea / ɒnə ri ə/ noun a sexually Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Albrecht von Graefe
transmitted disease which produces painful ir- (1828–70), Professor of Ophthalmology in Ber-
ritation of the mucous membrane and a watery lin, Germany]
discharge from the vagina or penis graftgraft / rɑ ft/ noun 1. the act of transplanting
gonorrhoealgonorrhoeal / ɒnə ri əl/ adjective referring an organ or tissue to replace one which is not
to gonorrhoea functioning or which is diseased ć a skin graft
Goodpasture’sGoodpasture’s syndrome syndrome / υd pɑ stʃəz 2. an organ or tissue which is transplanted ć
sndrəυm/ noun a rare lung disease in which
The corneal graft was successful. ć The pa-
someone coughs up blood, is anaemic, and tient was given drugs to prevent the graft being
may have kidney failure [Described 1919. After rejected. í verb to take a healthy organ or tis-
Ernest William Goodpasture (1886–1960), US sue and transplant it in place of diseased or
pathologist.] malfunctioning organ or tissue ć The surgeons
goose bumpsgoose bumps / u s b mps/, goose flesh / grafted a new section of bone at the side of the
u s fleʃ/, goose pimples / u s pmp(ə)lz/ skull. autograft, homograft
noun a reaction of the skin when someone is graft versus host diseasegraft versus host disease / rɑ ft v səs
cold or frightened, the skin being raised into həυst d zi z/ noun a condition which devel-
many little bumps by the action of the arrector ops when cells from the grafted tissue react
pili muscles. Also called cutis anserina against the person’s own tissue, causing skin
Gordh needleGordh needle / ɔ d ni d(ə)l/ noun a nee- disorders. Abbr GVHD
dle with a bag attached, so that several injec- graingrain / ren/ noun 1. a very small piece of
tions can be made one after the other something hard such as salt 2. a measure of
gorgetgorget / ɔ d t/ noun a surgical instrument weight equal to 0.0648 grams. Symbol gr
used to remove stones from the bladder -gram-gram / r m/ suffix a record in the form of a
gougegouge / aυd / noun a surgical instrument picture
like a chisel, used to cut bone Gram-negativeGram-negative bacterium bacterium / r m
goundougoundou / u ndu / noun a condition caused ne ətv b k təriəm/ noun a bacterium
by yaws, in which growths form on either side which takes up the red counterstain, after the
of the nose alcohol has washed out the first violet dye
Gram-positive bacterium 164
Gram-positive bacterium rGram-positive bacterium/ m pɒztv graphgraph / rɑ f/ noun a diagram which shows
b k təriəm/ noun a bacterium which retains the relationship between quantities as a line
violet dye and appears blue-black when graph- rgraph- / f/ prefix writing
viewed under the microscope -graph-graph / rɑ f/ suffix a machine which records
Gram’s stainGram’s stain / r mz sten/ noun a method something as pictures
of staining bacteria so that they can be identi- -grapher-grapher / rəfə/ suffix a technician who oper-
fied [Described 1884. After Hans Christian ates a machine which records
Joachim Gram (1853–1938), Professor of Medi- -graphy-graphy / rəfi/ suffix the technique of study
cine in Copenhagen, Denmark. He discovered through pictures
the stain by accident as a student in Berlin, Ger- grattage rgrattage / tɑ / noun a procedure that in-
many.] volves scraping the surface of an ulcer which
COMMENT: The tissue sample is first stained is healing slowly to make it heal more rapidly
with a violet dye, treated with alcohol, and
then counterstained with a red dye. gravelgravel / r v(ə)l/ noun small stones which
grand malgrand mal / rɒn m l/ noun a type of epi- pass from the kidney to the urinary system,
lepsy, in which someone becomes uncon- causing pain in the ureter
scious and falls down, while the muscles be- Graves’Graves’ disease disease / revz d zi z/ noun
come stiff and twitch violently same as exophthalmic goitre [Described 1835.
grand multiparitygrand multiparity / rn m lti p rti/ After Robert James Graves (1796–1853), Irish
noun the fact of having given birth to more physician at the Meath Hospital, Dublin, Ireland,
than four children where he was responsible for introducing clinical
granulargranular / r njυlə/ adjective made up of ward work for medical students.]
granules gravidgravid / r vd/ adjective pregnant
granular castgranular cast / r njυlə kɑ st/ noun a cast gravides multiparaegravides multiparae / r vdi z m lti
composed of cells filled with protein and fatty pɑ ri / plural noun women who have given
granules birth to at least four live babies
granular leucocytegranular leucocyte / r njυlə lu kəsat/ gravitygravity / r vti/ noun the importance or po-
noun same as granulocyte tential danger of a disease or situation
granulationgranulation / r njυ leʃ(ə)n/ noun the for- Grawitz tumourGrawitz tumour / rɑ vts tju mə/ noun a
mation of rough red tissue on the surface of a malignant tumour in kidney cells [Described
wound or site of infection, the first stage in the 1883. After Paul Albert Grawitz (1850–1932),
healing process Professor of Pathology at Greifswald, Germany.]
granulationgranulation tissue tissue / r njυ leʃ(ə)n gray /gray re/ noun an SI unit of measurement of
tʃu / noun soft tissue, consisting mainly of
absorbed radiation equal to 100 rads. Symbol
tiny blood vessels and fibres, which forms over Gy. ı rad
a wound grazegraze / rez/ noun a scrape on the skin sur-
granulegranule / r nju l/ noun a very small piece face, making some blood flow í verb to scrape
of something hard the skin surface accidentally
granulocytegranulocyte / r njυləsat/ noun a type of great cerebral veingreat cerebral vein / ret serəbrəl ven/
leucocyte or white blood cell which contains noun a median vein draining the choroid plex-
granules, e.g. a basophil, eosinophil or neu- uses of the lateral and third ventricles
trophil greater curvaturegreater curvature / retə k vətʃə/ noun
granulocytopeniagranulocytopenia / r njυləυ satəυ a convex line of the stomach
pi niə/ noun a usually fatal disease caused by greater vestibular glandsgreater vestibular glands / retə ve stb
the lowering of the number of granulocytes in jυlə l ndz/ noun same as Bartholin’s glands
the blood due to bone marrow malfunction great toegreat toe / ret təυ/ noun same as big toe
granulomagranuloma / r njυ ləυmə/ noun a mass of green monkey diseasegreen monkey disease / ri n m ŋki d
granulation tissue which forms at the site of zi z/ noun same as Marburg disease
bacterial infections (NOTE: The plural is granu- greenstick fracturegreenstick fracture / ri nstk fr ktʃə/
lomata or granulomas.) noun a type of fracture occurring in children,
granulomagranuloma inguinale inguinale / r njυ ləυmə where a long bone bends, but is not completely
ŋ w neli/ noun a sexually transmitted dis-
broken
ease affecting the anus and genitals in which grey commissure regrey commissure / kɒmsjυə/ noun
the skin becomes covered with ulcers, usually part of the grey matter nearest to the central ca-
occurring in the tropics nal of the spinal cord, where axons cross over
granulomatosisgranulomatosis / r njυləυmə təυss/ each other
noun persistent inflammation leading to the grey mattergrey matter / re m tə/ noun nerve tissue
formation of nodules which is of a dark grey colour and forms part
granulopoiesisgranulopoiesis / r nju ləυpɔ i ss/ of the central nervous system
noun the normal production of granulocytes in COMMENT: In the brain, grey matter encloses
the white matter, but in the spinal cord, white
the bone marrow
matter encloses the grey matter.
165 gut
grief counsellorgrief counsellor / ri f kaυns(ə)lə/ noun a long bones and protein synthesis. Also called
person who helps someone to cope with the somatropin
feelings they have when someone such as a grumblinggrumbling appendix appendix / r mblŋ ə
close relative dies pendks/ noun a vermiform appendix that is
Griffith’s typesGriffith’s types / rfθs taps/ noun vari- always slightly inflamed (informal) ı chronic
ous types of haemolytic streptococci, classi- appendicitis
fied according to the antigens present in them GTTGTT abbr glucose tolerance test
gripe watergripe water / rap wɔ tə/ noun a solution GUGU abbr 1. gastric ulcer 2. genitourinary
of glucose and alcohol, used to relieve abdom- guanineguanine / wɑ ni n/ noun one of the four ba-
inal pains in babies sic chemicals in DNA
gripinggriping / rapŋ/ adjective referring to stom- guardian ad litemguardian ad litem / ɑ diən d li təm/
ach pains that are sudden, sharp and intense noun a person who acts on behalf of a minor
grocer’s itchgrocer’s itch / rəυsəz tʃ/ noun a form of who is a defendant in a court case
dermatitis on the hands caused by handling guardian Caldicottguardian Caldicott / ɑ diən kɔ ldkɒt/
flour and sugar noun in the UK, a person appointed by a hos-
groingroin / rɔn/ noun a junction at each side of pital or Health Trust to make sure that infor-
the body where the lower abdomen joins the mation about patients is kept confidential, fol-
top of the thighs ć He had a dull pain in his lowing the Caldicott Report of 1997
groin. (NOTE: For other terms referring to the gubernaculumgubernaculum / u bə n kjυləm/ noun in
groin, see inguinal.) a fetus, fibrous tissue connecting the testes (the
grommetgrommet / rɒmt/ noun a tube which can be gonads) to the groin
passed from the external auditory meatus into Guillain-Barré syndromeGuillain-Barré syndrome / ij nb re
the middle ear, usually to allow fluid to drain sndrəυm/ noun a nervous disorder in which,
off, as in someone who has glue ear after a non-specific infection, demyelination
gross anatomygross anatomy / rəυs ə n təmi/ noun the of the spinal roots and peripheral nerves takes
study of the structure of the body that can be place, leading to generalised weakness and
seen without the use of a microscope sometimes respiratory paralysis. Also called
ground substanceground substance / raυnd s bstəns/ Landry’s paralysis [Described 1916. After
noun same as matrix Georges Guillain (1876–1961), Professor of
groupgroup / ru p/ noun several people, animals or Neurology in Paris, France, Jean Alexandre Bar-
things which are all close together ć A group ré (1880–1967), Professor of Neurology in
of patients were waiting in the surgery. í verb Strasbourg, France.]
to bring things or people together in a group, guillotineguillotine / ləti n/ noun a surgical instru-
or come together in a group ć The drugs are ment for cutting out tonsils
grouped under the heading ‘antibiotics’. guinea wormguinea worm / ni w m/ noun same as
group practicegroup practice / ru p pr kts/ noun a Dracunculus
medical practice where several doctors or den- Gulf War syndromeGulf War syndrome / lf wɔ sndrəυm/
tists share the same office building and support noun a collection of unexplained symptoms,
services including fatigue, skin disorders, and muscle
group therapygroup therapy / ru p θerəpi/ noun a type pains, affecting some soldiers who fought in
of psychotherapy where a group of people the Gulf War in 1991
with the same disorder meet together with a gulletgullet / lt/ noun same as oesophagus
therapist to discuss their condition and try to gum /gum m/ noun the soft tissue covering the
help each other part of the jaw which surrounds the teeth ć
growing painsgrowing pains / rəυŋ penz/ plural noun Her gums are red and inflamed. ć A build-up
pains associated with adolescence, which can of tartar can lead to gum disease. Also called
be a form of rheumatic fever gingiva (NOTE: For other terms referring to the
growthgrowth / rəυθ/ noun 1. the process of in- gums, see words beginning with gingiv-.)
creasing in size ć the growth in the population gumboilgumboil / mbɔl/ noun an abscess on the
since 1960 ć The disease stunts children’s gum near a tooth
growth. 2. a cyst or tumour ć The doctor found gummagumma / mə/ noun an abscess of dead tis-
a cancerous growth on the left breast. ć He sue and overgrown scar tissue, which develops
had an operation to remove a small growth in the later stages of syphilis
from his chin. gustationgustation / steʃ(ə)n/ noun the act of tast-
growth factorgrowth factor / rəυθ f ktə/ noun a chem- ing
ical, especially a polypeptide, produced in the gustatorygustatory / stət(ə)ri/ adjective referring
body which encourages particular cells to to the sense of taste
grow ć a nerve growth factor gut /gut t/ noun 1. the tubular organ for the di-
growth hormonegrowth hormone / rəυθ hɔ məυn/ noun a gestion and absorption of food. Also called in-
hormone secreted by the pituitary gland during testine 2. a type of thread, made from the in-
deep sleep, which stimulates growth of the testines of sheep. It is used to sew up internal
Guthrie test 166
incisions and dissolves slowly so does not gynaecologicalgynaecological / ankə lɒd k(ə)l/ ad-
need to be removed. ı catgut jective referring to the treatment of diseases of
Guthrie testGuthrie test / θri test/ noun a test used on women
babies to detect the presence of phenylketonu- gynaecologistgynaecologist / an kɒləd st/ noun a
ria [After R. Guthrie (b. 1916), US paediatrician.] doctor who specialises in the treatment of dis-
guttagutta / tə/ noun a drop of liquid, as used in eases of women
treatment of the eyes (NOTE: The plural is gut- gynaecologygynaecology / an kɒləd i/ noun the study
tae.) of female sex organs and the treatment of dis-
gutter splintgutter splint / tə splnt/ noun a shaped eases of women in general
container in which a broken limb can rest with- gynaecomastiagynaecomastia / ankə m stiə/ noun
out being completely surrounded the unusual development of breasts in a male
GVHDGVHD abbr graft versus host disease gyne /gyne ani/ same as gynaecology, gynaeco-
gyn- /gyn- an/ prefix same as gynae- (used before logical (informal) ć a gyne appointment
a vowel) gypsumgypsum / d psəm/ noun calcium sulphate,
gynae-gynae- / ani/ prefix referring to women used as plaster of Paris
(NOTE: In US English words beginning with gy- gyrusgyrus / d aərəs/ noun a raised part of the
nae- are spelled gyne-.) cerebral cortex between the sulci
H
H2-receptorH2-receptor antagonist antagonist / etʃ tu r haematemesishaematemesis / hi mə teməss/ noun a
septər n t ənst/ noun a drug that inhib-
condition in which someone vomits blood,
its the production of stomach acid and so re- usually because of internal bleeding
lieves indigestion and gastric ulcers haematichaematic /hi m tk/ adjective referring to
HAHA abbr health authority blood
habithabit / h bt/ noun 1. an action which is an haematinhaematin / hi mətn/ noun a substance
automatic response to a stimulus 2. a regular which forms from haemoglobin when bleed-
way of doing something ć He got into the hab- ing takes place
it of swimming every day before breakfast. ć haematinichaematinic / hi mə tnk/ noun a drug
She’s got out of the habit of taking any exer- which increases haemoglobin in blood, used to
cise. ˽ from force of habit because you do it treat anaemia, e.g. an iron compound
regularly ć I wake up at 6 o’clock from force haemato-haemato- /hi mətəυ/ prefix referring to
of habit. blood
habit-forminghabit-forming / h bt fɔ mŋ/ adjective haematocoelehaematocoele / hi mətəυsi l/, haema-
making someone addicted tocele noun a swelling caused by blood leak-
habit-forming drug hhabit-forming drug/ bt fɔ mŋ dr / ing into a cavity, especially the scrotum
noun a drug which is addictive haematocolposhaematocolpos / hi mətəυ kɒlpəs/ noun a
habitualhabitual /hə btʃuəl/ adjective done fre- condition in which the vagina is filled with
quently or as a matter of habit blood at menstruation because the hymen has
habitualhabitual abortion abortion /hə btʃuəl ə bɔ ʃ(ə)n/ no opening
noun a condition in which a woman has abor- haematocrithaematocrit / hi mətəυkrt/ noun 1. same
tions with successive pregnancies as packed cell volume 2. an instrument for
habituationhabituation /hə btʃu eʃ(ə)n/ noun the fact measuring haematocrit
of being psychologically but not physically ad- haematocysthaematocyst / hi mətəυsst/ noun a cyst
dicted to or dependent on a drug, alcohol or which contains blood
other substance haematogenoushaematogenous / hi mə tɒd ənəs/ adjec-
habitus hhabitus/ btəs/ noun the general physical tive 1. producing blood 2. produced by blood
appearance of a person, including build and haematologicalhaematological / hi mətəυ lɒd k(ə)l/ ad-
posture jective referring to haematology
hacking cough hhacking cough/ kŋ kɒf/ noun a contin- haematologisthaematologist / hi mə tɒləd st/ noun a
uous short dry cough doctor who specialises in haematology
haemhaem /hi m/ noun a molecule containing iron haematology hihaematology/ mə tɒləd i/ noun the sci-
which binds proteins to form haemoproteins entific study of blood, its formation and its dis-
such as haemoglobin and myoglobin eases
haem-haem- /hi m/ prefix same as haemo- (used be- haematomahaematoma / hi mə təυmə/ noun a mass of
fore vowels) (NOTE: In US English, words begin-
ning with the prefix haem- are spelled hem- .) blood under the skin caused by a blow or by
haemagglutinationhaemagglutination / hi mə lu t neʃ(ə)n/ the effects of an operation
noun the clumping of red blood cells, often haematometrahaematometra / hi mə tɒmtrə/ noun 1.
used to test for the presence of antibodies excessive bleeding in the uterus 2. a swollen
haemangiomahaemangioma / hi m nd i əυmə/ noun a uterus, caused by haematocolpos
harmless tumour which forms in blood vessels haematomyeliahaematomyelia / hi mətəυma i liə/ noun
and appears on the skin as a birthmark a condition in which blood leaks into the spi-
haemarthrosishaemarthrosis / hi mɑ θrəυss/ noun pain nal cord
and swelling caused by blood leaking into a haematopoiesishaematopoiesis / hi mətəυpɔ i ss/ noun
joint same as haemopoiesis
haematoporphyrin 168
haematoporphyrinhaematoporphyrin / hi mətəυ pɔ fərn/ haemogramhaemogram / hi məυ r m/ noun the print-
noun porphyrin produced from haemoglobin ed result of a blood test
haematosalpinxhaematosalpinx / hi mətəυ s lpŋks/ haemolysinhaemolysin / hi məυ lasn/ noun a protein
noun same as haemosalpinx which destroys red blood cells
haematospermiahaematospermia / hi m təυ sp miə/ haemolysis hihaemolysis / mɒləss/ noun the destruc-
noun the presence of blood in the sperm tion of red blood cells
haematozoonhaematozoon / hi mətəυ zəυɒn/ noun a haemolytichaemolytic / hi məυ ltk/ adjective de-
parasite living in the blood (NOTE: The plural is stroying red blood cells í noun a substance
haematozoa.) which destroys red blood cells, e.g. snake ven-
haematuriahaematuria / hi mə tjυəriə/ noun the unu- om
sual presence of blood in the urine, as a result haemolytichaemolytic anaemia anaemia / hi məltk ə
ni miə/ noun a condition in which the de-
of injury or disease of the kidney or bladder
haeminhaemin / hi mn/ noun a salt derived from struction of red blood cells is about six times
haemoglobin, used in the treatment of porphy- the usual rate, and the supply of new cells from
ria the bone marrow cannot meet the demand
haemo-haemo- /hi məυ/ prefix referring to blood haemolytic disease of the newbornhaemolytic disease of the newborn /
haemochromatosishaemochromatosis / hi məυkrəυmə hi məυltk d zi z əv ðə nju bɔ n/ noun a
təυss/ noun an inherited disease in which the condition in which the red blood cells of the
body absorbs and stores too much iron, caus- fetus are destroyed because antibodies in the
ing cirrhosis of the liver and giving the skin a mother’s blood react against them
dark colour. Also called bronze diabetes haemolytichaemolytic jaundice jaundice / hi məυltk
haemoconcentrationhaemoconcentration / hi məυ kɒnsən d ɔ nds/ noun jaundice caused by haemoly-
treʃ(ə)n/ noun an increase in the percentage sis of the red blood cells. Also called prehe-
of red blood cells because the volume of plas- patic jaundice
ma is reduced. Compare haemodilution haemolytichaemolytic uraemic syndrome uraemic syndrome /
haemocytoblasthaemocytoblast / hi məυ satəυbl st/ hi məυltk jυ ri mk sndrəυm/ noun a
noun an embryonic blood cell in the bone mar- condition in which haemolytic anaemia dam-
row from which red and white blood cells and ages the kidneys
platelets develop haemopericardiumhaemopericardium / hi məυper kɑ diəm/
haemocytometerhaemocytometer / hi məυsa tɒmtə/ noun a condition in which blood is found in the
noun a glass jar in which a sample of blood is pericardium
diluted and the blood cells counted haemoperitoneumhaemoperitoneum / hi məυpertə ni əm/
haemodialysehaemodialyse / hi məυ daəlaz/ verb to noun a condition in which blood is found in the
remove waste matter from the blood using a peritoneal cavity
dialyser (kidney machine) haemophiliahaemophilia / hi mə fliə/ noun a disorder
haemodialysedhaemodialysed patient patient / hi məυ linked to a recessive gene on the X-chromo-
daəlazd peʃ(ə)nt/ noun someone who has some in which the blood clots much more
undergone haemodialysis slowly than usual, resulting in extensive bleed-
haemodialysishaemodialysis / hi məυda ləss/ noun ing from even minor injuries. The gene is
same as kidney dialysis passed by women to their male children and
haemodilutionhaemodilution / hi məυda lu ʃ(ə)n/ noun the disorder is seen almost exclusively in boys.
a decrease in the percentage of red blood cells haemophiliahaemophilia A A / hi məυfliə e/ noun the
because the volume of plasma has increased. most common type of haemophilia, in which
Compare haemoconcentration the inability to synthesise Factor VIII, a pro-
haemoglobinhaemoglobin / hi məυ ləυbn/ noun a red tein that promotes blood clotting, means that
respiratory pigment formed of haem and glob- the blood clots very slowly
in in red blood cells which gives blood its red haemophiliahaemophilia B B / hi məfliə bi / noun a less
colour. It absorbs oxygen in the lungs and car- common type of haemophilia, in which the in-
ries it in the blood to the tissues. Abbr Hb. ı ox- ability to synthesise Factor IX, a protein that
yhaemoglobin, carboxyhaemoglobin promotes blood clotting, means that the blood
haemoglobinaemiahaemoglobinaemia / hi məυ ləυb clots very slowly. Also called Christmas dis-
ni miə/ noun a condition in which haemo- ease
globin is found in blood plasma haemophiliachaemophiliac / hi mə fli k/ noun a person
haemoglobinopathyhaemoglobinopathy / hi məυ ləυb who has haemophilia
nɒpəθi/ noun an inherited disease of a group haemophilichaemophilic / hi məυ flk/ adjective refer-
which result from damaging variations in the ring to haemophilia
production of haemoglobin, e.g. sickle-cell Haemophilus hiHaemophilus / mɒfləs/ noun a genus of
anaemia bacteria which needs specific factors in the
haemoglobinuriahaemoglobinuria / hi məυ ləυb njυəriə/ blood to grow
noun a condition in which haemoglobin is Haemophilus influenzae hiHaemophilus influenzae / mɒfləs n
found in the urine flu enzə/ noun a bacterium which lives in
169 hallux valgus
healthy throats, but which can cause pneumo- haemostathaemostat / hi məυst t/ noun a device
nia if a person’s resistance is lowered by a bout which stops bleeding, e.g. a clamp
of flu haemostatichaemostatic / hi məυ st tk/ adjective
Haemophilus influenzae type b hi mɒHaemophilus influenzae type b/ stopping bleeding í noun a drug which stops
fləs nflu enzə tap bi / noun a bacterium bleeding
which causes meningitis. Abbr Hib haemothoraxhaemothorax / hi məυ θɔ r ks/ noun a
haemophthalmiahaemophthalmia / hi mɒf θ lmiə/ noun a condition in which blood is found in the pleu-
condition in which blood is found in the vitre- ral cavity
ous humour of the eye Hageman factor hɑHageman factor/ əmən f ktə/ noun
haemopneumothoraxhaemopneumothorax / hi məυ nju məυ same as Factor XII
θɔ r ks/ noun same as pneumohaemothorax
HAIHAI abbr Hospital Acquired Infection
haemopoiesishaemopoiesis / hi məυpɔ i ss/ noun the hairhair cell cell / heə sel/ noun a receptor cell which
continual production of blood cells and blood converts fluid pressure changes into nerve im-
platelets in the bone marrow. Also called pulses carried in the auditory nerve (NOTE: For
blood formation other terms referring to hair, see words begin-
haemopoietichaemopoietic / hi məυpɔ etk/ adjective ning with pilo-, trich-, tricho-.)
referring to the formation of blood in the bone hairhair follicle follicle / heə fɒlk(ə)l/ noun the cells
marrow and tissue that surround the root of a hair
haemoptysis hihaemoptysis/ mɒptəss/ noun a condi- hairlinehairline fracture fracture / heəlan fr ktʃə/ noun a
tion in which someone coughs blood from the very slight crack in a bone caused by injury
lungs, caused by a serious illness such as anae- hairhair papilla papilla /heə pə plə/ noun a part of the
mia, pneumonia, tuberculosis or cancer skin containing capillaries which feed blood to
haemorrhagehaemorrhage / hem(ə)rd / noun the loss of the hair
a large quantity of blood, especially from a hairy cellhairy cell leukaemia leukaemia / heəri sel lu
kiəmiə/ noun a form of leukaemia in which
burst blood vessel ć He died of a brain haem-
orrhage. í verb to bleed heavily ć The injured white blood cells have fine projections
man was haemorrhaging from the mouth. half-lifehalf-life / hɑ f laf/ noun 1. a measurement of
haemorrhagichaemorrhagic / hemə r d k/ adjective re- the period of time taken before the concentra-
ferring to heavy bleeding tion of a drug has reached half of what it was
haemorrhagic disease of the newbornhaemorrhagic disease of the newborn / when it was administered 2. the time taken for
hemər d k d zi z əv ðə nju bɔ n/ noun a half the atoms in a radioactive isotope to decay
disease of newly born babies, which makes halitosis hhalitosis/ l təυss/ noun a condition in
them haemorrhage easily, caused by tempo- which a person has breath which smells un-
rary lack of prothrombin pleasant. Also called bad breath
haemorrhagichaemorrhagic disorder disorder /hemə r d k COMMENT: Halitosis can have several causes:
ds ɔ də/ noun a disorder in which haemor- caries in the teeth, infection of the gums, and
indigestion are the most usual. The breath
rhages occur, e.g. haemophilia can also have an unpleasant smell during
menstruation, or in association with certain
haemorrhagichaemorrhagic fever fever / hemər d k fi və/ diseases such as diabetes mellitus and urae-
mia.
noun a viral infection that results in profuse in-
ternal bleeding from the capillaries, e.g. den-
gue or Ebola halluces hhalluces/ lusi z/ plural of hallux
haemorrhagichaemorrhagic stroke stroke / hemər d k hallucinatehallucinate /hə lu snet/ verb to have hallu-
strəυk/ noun a stroke caused by a burst blood
cinations ć The patient was hallucinating.
vessel hallucinationhallucination /hə lu s neʃ(ə)n/ noun an
haemorrhoidalhaemorrhoidal / hemə rɔdəl/ adjective re- experience of seeing an imaginary scene or
ferring to haemorrhoids hearing an imaginary sound as clearly as if it
haemorrhoidectomyhaemorrhoidectomy / hemərɔ dektəmi/ were really there
noun the surgical removal of haemorrhoids hallucinatoryhallucinatory /hə lu snət(ə)ri/ adjective re-
haemorrhoidshaemorrhoids / hemərɔdz/ plural noun ferring to a drug which causes hallucinations
swollen veins in the anorectal passage. Also hallucinogenhallucinogen / h lu snəd ən/ noun a
called piles drug which causes hallucinations, e.g. canna-
haemosalpinxhaemosalpinx /hi məυ s lpŋks/ noun the bis or LSD
accumulation of blood in the Fallopian tubes hallucinogenichallucinogenic /hə lu snə d enk/ adjec-
haemosiderosishaemosiderosis / hi məυsdə rəυss/ tive referring to a substance which produces
noun a disorder in which iron forms large de- hallucinations ć a hallucinogenic fungus
posits in the tissue, causing haemorrhaging hallux hhallux/ ləks/ noun the big toe (NOTE: The
and destruction of red blood cells plural is halluces.)
haemostasishaemostasis / hi məυ stess/ noun the hallux valgus hhallux valgus/ ləks v l əs/ noun a
process of stopping bleeding or slowing the condition of the foot, where the big toe turns
movement of blood towards the other toes and a bunion is formed
haloperidol 170
haloperidol hhaloperidol/ ləυ perdɒl/ noun a tran- hangnail hhangnail/ ŋnel/ noun a piece of torn skin
quilliser used in the treatment of schizophre- at the side of a nail
nia, mania and psychoses hangover hhangover / ŋəυvə/ noun a condition oc-
halohalo splint splint / heləυ splnt/ noun a device curring after a person has drunk too much al-
used to keep the head and neck still so that they cohol, with dehydration caused by inhibition
can recover from injury or an operation of the antidiuretic hormone in the kidneys. The
halothane hhalothane/ ləυθen/ noun a general an- symptoms include headache, inability to stand
aesthetic that is given by inhalation noise and trembling of the hands.
hamamelis hhamamelis/ mə mi ls/ witch hazel Hansen’sHansen’s bacillus bacillus / h nsənz bə sləs/
hamartoma hhamartoma / mɑ təυmə/ noun a benign noun the bacterium which causes leprosy, My-
tumour containing tissue from any organ cobacterium leprae [Discovered 1873. After
hamatehamate / hemet/, hamate bone / hemet Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen (1841–1912),
bəυn/ noun one of the eight small carpal bones Norwegian physician.]
in the wrist, shaped like a hook. Also called Hansen’s disease hHansen’s disease/ nsənz d zi z/ noun
unciform bone. See illustration at HAND in same as leprosy
Supplement haploid hhaploid/ plɔd/ adjective referring to a
hammer hhammer/ mə/ noun same as malleus cell such as a gamete where each chromosome
hammer toe hhammer toe / mə təυ/ noun a toe which occurs only once. In humans the haploid
has the middle joint permanently bent down- number of chromosomes is 23.
wards hapt-hapt- /h pt/ prefix relating to the sense of
hamstring hhamstring/ mstrŋ/ noun one of a group touch
of tendons behind the knee, which link the hapten hhapten/ pten/ noun a substance which
thigh muscles to the bones in the lower leg causes an allergy, probably by changing a pro-
hamstring muscles hhamstring muscles/ mstrŋ m s(ə)lz/ tein so that it becomes antigenic
plural noun a group of muscles at the back of hardeninghardening of the arteries of the arteries / hɑ d(ə)nŋ əv
the thigh, which flex the knee and extend the ðə ɑ təriz/ noun same as atherosclerosis
gluteus maximus hardhard of hearing of hearing / hɑ d əv hərŋ/ adjective
handhand /h nd/ noun the part at the end of the same as hearing-impaired
arm, beyond the wrist, which is used for hold- hardhard palate palate / hɑ d p lət/ noun the front
ing things ć He injured his hand with a saw. í part of the roof of the mouth between the upper
verb to pass something to someone teeth
COMMENT: The hand is formed of 27 bones: 14 harelipharelip / heəlp/ noun same as cleft lip
phalanges in the fingers, 5 metacarpals in the
harmharm /hɑ m/ noun injury or damage as a re-
main part of the hand, and 8 carpals in the
wrist. sult of something that you do ć Walking to
hand, foot and mouth disease h ndhand, foot and mouth disease/ work every day won’t do you any harm. ˽
fυt ən maυθ d zi z/ noun a mild viral infec- there’s no harm in taking the tablets only
tion in children, causing small blisters for one week there will be no side effects from
handicap hhandicap/ ndik p/ noun a physical or taking the tablets for a week í verb to damage
mental condition which prevents someone or hurt someone or something ć Walking to
from doing some everyday activities í verb to work every day won’t harm you.
prevent someone from doing an everyday ac- harmfulharmful / hɑ mf(ə)l/ adjective causing injury
tivity (NOTE: The word ‘handicap’ is now usually or damage ć Bright light can be harmful to
avoided.) your eyes. ć Sudden violent exercise can be
‘…handicap – disadvantage for a given individual, harmful.
resulting from an impairment or a disability, that harmlessharmless / hɑ mləs/ adjective causing no in-
limits or prevents the fulfilment of a role that is nor- jury or damage ć These herbal remedies are
mal for that individual’ [WHO] quite harmless.
handicapped hhandicapped / ndik pt/ adjective refer- Harrison’s sulcus hHarrison’s sulcus rsənz s lk(ə)s/,
ring to a person who has a disability (NOTE: The /
word ‘handicapped’ is now usually avoided.) Harrison’s groove / h rs(ə)nz ru v/ noun
Hand-Schüller Christian disease h ntHand-Schüller Christian disease/ a hollow on either side of the chest which de-
ʃυlə krʃən d zi z/ noun a disturbance of velops in children who have difficulty in
cholesterol metabolism in young children breathing, seen especially in cases of rickets
which causes disorders in membranous bone, Harris’s operation hHarris’s operation/ rsz ɒpə reʃ(ə)n/
mainly in the skull, exophthalmos, diabetes in- noun the surgical removal of the prostate gland
sipidus, and a yellow-brown colour of the skin [After S.H. Harris (1880–1936), Australian sur-
[First described 1893 then 1915 by Schüller and geon]
1920 by Christian. After Alfred Hand Jr. (1868– Hartmann’sHartmann’s solution solution / hɑ tmənz sə
1949), US paediatrician; Artur Schüller (1874– lu ʃ(ə)n/ noun a chemical solution used in
1958), Austrian neurologist; Henry Asbury drips to replace body fluids lost in dehydra-
Christian (1876–1951), Professor of Medicine at tion, particularly as a result of infantile gastro-
Harvard, USA.] enteritis [Described 1932. After Alexis Frank
171 healthcare professional
Hartmann (1898–1964), paediatrician, St Louis, headhead cold cold /hed kəυld/ noun a minor illness,
with inflammation of the nasal passages, ex-
Missouri, USA.] cess mucus in the nose and sneezing
HartnupHartnup disease disease / hɑ tnəp d zi z/ noun an headhead louse louse / hed laυs/ noun a small insect of
the Pediculus genus, which lives on the scalp
inherited condition affecting amino acid me- and sucks blood. Also called Pediculus capi-
tabolism and producing thick skin and im-
paired mental development [After the name of tis (NOTE: The plural is head lice.)
the family in which this hereditary disease was HeafHeaf test test / hi f test/ noun a test in which tu-
berculin is injected into the skin to find out
first recorded] whether a person is immune to tuberculosis. ı
harvestharvest / hɑ vst/ verb to take something for Mantoux test
use elsewhere, e.g. a piece of skin for a graft or healheal /hi l/ verb 1. (of wound) to return to a
eggs for IVF healthy state ć After six weeks, her wound had
still not healed. ć A minor cut will heal faster
Hashimoto’sHashimoto’s disease disease /h ʃ məυtəz d if it is left without a bandage. 2. to make some-
zi z/ noun a type of goitre in middle-aged one or something get better
women, where the woman is sensitive to secre-
healinghealing / hi lŋ/ noun the process of getting
tions from her own thyroid gland, and, in ex- better ć a substance which will accelerate the
healing process
treme cases, the face swells and the skin turns
healing byhealing by first intention first intention / hi lŋ ba
yellow [Described 1912. After Hakuru Hashim- f st n tenʃən/ noun the healing of a clean
wound where the tissue reforms quickly
oto (1881–1934), Japanese surgeon.]
healing byhealing by second intention second intention / hi lŋ ba
hashish hhashish/ ʃʃ/ noun cannabis sekənd n tenʃən/ noun the healing of an in-
fected wound or ulcer, which takes place slow-
haustrumhaustrum / hɔ strəm/ noun a sac on the out- ly and may leave a permanent scar
side of the colon (NOTE: The plural is haustra.)
healthhealth /helθ/ noun the general condition of
HAVHAV abbr hepatitis A virus the mind or body ć He’s in good health. ć She
had suffered from bad health for some years. ć
Haversian canal hə vHaversian canal/ ʃ(ə)n kə n l/ noun The council said that fumes from the factory
were a danger to public health. ć All cigarette
a fine canal which runs vertically through the packets carry a government health warning.
Haversian systems in compact bone, contain- healthhealth action zone action zone / helθ kʃən zəυn/
ing blood vessels and lymph ducts [Described noun in the UK, an area in which the govern-
ment has funded specific actions to redress
1689. After Clopton Havers (1657–1702), Eng- health inequalities. Abbr HAZ
lish surgeon.] Health andHealth and Safety at Work Act Safety at Work Act / helθ ən
sefti ət w k kt/ noun in the UK, an Act
Haversian system hə vHaversian system/ ʃ(ə)n sstəm/ of Parliament which rules how the health of
workers should be protected by the companies
noun a unit of compact bone built around a Ha- they work for
versian canal, made of a series of bony layers Health andHealth and Safety Executive Safety Executive / helθ ən
sefti zekjυtv/ noun in the UK, a govern-
which form a cylinder. Also called osteon ment organisation responsible for overseeing
the health and safety of workers
hayfeverhayfever / he fi və/ noun inflammation in
the nasal passage and eyes caused by an aller- healthhealth authority authority /helθ ɔ θɒrəti/ noun
Strategic Health Authority
gic reaction to plant pollen. ı allergic rhinitis
healthcarehealthcare / helθkeə/, health care noun the
HAZHAZ abbr health action zone general treatment of people with medical dis-
orders, especially the use of measures to stop a
HbHb abbr haemoglobin disease from occurring
HBVHBV abbr hepatitis B virus healthcarehealthcare assistant assistant / helθkeər ə sstənt/
noun someone who assists health profession-
hCGhCG abbr human chorionic gonadotrophin als in looking after a sick or dependent person
HCHSHCHS abbr Health and Community Health healthcarehealthcare delivery delivery / helθkeə d lv(ə)ri/
noun the provision of care and treatment by the
Services health service
HDLHDL abbr high density lipoprotein healthcarehealthcare professional professional / helθkeə prə
feʃ(ə)n(ə)l/ noun a qualified person who
headhead /hed/ noun 1. the round top part of the works in an occupation related to health care,
body, which contains the eyes, nose, mouth, e.g. a nurse
brain, etc (NOTE: For other terms referring to the
head, see words beginning with cephal-, ce-
phalo-.) 2. a rounded top part of a bone which
fits into a socket ć head of humerus ć head of
femur
headacheheadache / hedek/ noun a pain in the head,
caused by changes in pressure in the blood
vessels feeding the brain which act on the
nerves. Also called cephalalgia
COMMENT: Headaches can be caused by a
blow to the head, by lack of sleep or food, by
eye strain, sinus infections and many other
causes. Mild headaches can be treated with
an analgesic and rest. Severe headaches
which recur may be caused by serious disor-
ders in the head or nervous system.
healthcare system 172
healthcarehealthcare system system / helθkeə sstəm/ health service planning helθhealth service planning/ s vs
noun any organised set of health services pl nŋ/ noun the process of deciding what
healthhealth centre centre / helθ sentə/ noun a public the health care needs of a community are, with
building in which a group of doctors practise the help of statistics, and what resources can
healthhealth education education /helθ edjυ keʃ(ə)n/ be provided for that community
noun the process of teaching people, both healthhealth visitor visitor / helθ vztə/ noun a regis-
school children and adults, to do things to im- tered nurse with qualifications in midwifery or
prove their health, e.g. to take more exercise obstetrics and preventive medicine, who visits
Health Education Authority helθHealth Education Authority/ edjυ mothers and babies and sick people in their
keʃ(ə)n ɔ θɒrti/ noun a government health homes and advises on treatment
promotion agency in England designed to help ‘…in the UK, the main screen is carried out by health
people make aware of how they can improve visitors at 6–10 months’ [Lancet]
their health. Abbr HEA healthyhealthy / helθi/ adjective 1. in good physical
healthhealth food food / helθ fu d/ noun food that is re- condition 2. helping you to stay in good phys-
garded as good for health, especially contain- ical condition ć People are healthier than they
ing ingredients such as cereals, dried fruit and were fifty years ago. ć This town is the health-
nuts and without additives iest place in England. ć If you eat a healthy
healthhealth inequality inequality /helθ n kwɒlti/ noun diet and take plenty of exercise there is no rea-
the differences that exist in health across the son why you should fall ill. (NOTE: healthier –
social classes, with poorer people tending to healthiest)
experience poorer health hearhear /hə/ verb to sense sounds with the ears
health informationhealth information service service / helθ nfə ć I can’t hear what you’re saying. (NOTE: hear-
meʃ(ə)n s vs/ noun a nation-wide infor- ing – heard)
mation service delivered via a free telephone hearinghearing / hərŋ/ noun the ability to hear, or
helpline. Abbr HIS the function performed by the ear of sensing
healthhealth insurance insurance / helθ n ʃυərəns/ noun sounds and sending sound impulses to the
insurance which pays the cost of treatment for brain ć His hearing is failing. (NOTE: For other
illness terms referring to hearing, see words beginning
HealthHealth Ombudsman Ombudsman / helθ ɒmbυdzmən/ with audi-, audio-.)
noun same as Health Service Commissioner hearinghearing aid aid / hərŋ ed/ noun a small elec-
‘…the HA told the Health Ombudsman that nursing tronic device fitted into or near the ear, to im-
staff and students now received full training in the prove someone’s hearing by making the
use of the nursing process’ [Nursing Times] sounds louder
healthhealth promotion promotion / helθ prə məυʃ(ə)n/ hearing-impairedhearing-impaired / hərŋ m peəd/ adjec-
noun the act of improving the health of a par- tive having a degree of hearing loss
ticular community or of the public generally, hearinghearing loss loss / hərŋ lɒs/ noun partial or
e.g. using health education, immunisation and complete loss of the ability to hear
screening heartheart /hɑ t/ noun the main organ in the body,
Health ProtectionHealth Protection Agency Agency / helθ prə which maintains the circulation of the blood
tekʃ(ə)n ed ənsi/ noun a national organisa- around the body by its pumping action ć The
tion for England and Wales, established in doctor listened to his heart. ć She has heart
2003, dedicated to the protection of people’s trouble. (NOTE: For other terms referring to the
health, especially by reducing the impact of in- heart, see also words beginning with cardi-,car-
fectious diseases, chemicals, poisons and radi- dio-.)
ation. It brings together existing sources of ex- COMMENT: The heart is situated slightly to the
left of the central part of the chest, between
pertise in public health, communicable diseas-
the lungs. It is divided into two parts by a ver-
es, emergency planning, infection control,
tical septum; each half is itself divided into an
poisons and radiation hazards.
upper chamber (the atrium) and a lower
healthhealth service service / helθ s vs/ noun an or- chamber (the ventricle). The veins bring blood
ganisation which is in charge of providing from the body into the right atrium; from there
health care to a particular community it passes into the right ventricle and is pumped
Health Service Commissioner helθHealth Service Commissioner into the pulmonary artery which takes it to the
/ lungs. Oxygenated blood returns from the
s vs kə mʃ(ə)nə/, Health Service Om- lungs to the left atrium, passes to the left ven-
budsman / helθ s vs ɒmbυdzmən/ noun tricle and from there is pumped into the aorta
in the UK, an official who investigates com- for circulation round the arteries. The heart
plaints from the public about the National expands and contracts by the force of the
Health Service heart muscle (the myocardium) under impuls-
health service manager helθhealth service manager/ s vs es from the sinoatrial node, and an average
heart beats about 70 times a minute. The con-
m nd ə/ noun someone who is responsible tracting beat as it pumps blood out (the systo-
for the provision of local health care, through le) is followed by a weaker diastole, where the
the management of hospital, GP, and commu- muscles relax to allow blood to flow back into
nity health services the heart. In a heart attack, part of the myocar-
dium is deprived of blood because of a clot in
173 Heimlich manoeuvre
a coronary artery. This has an effect on the heart transplant hɑ theart transplant/ tr nsplɑ nt/ noun
rhythm of the heartbeat and can be fatal. In a surgical operation to transplant a heart into
heart block, impulses from the sinoatrial node someone
fail to reach the ventricles properly. heatheat cramp cramp / hi t kr mp/ noun cramp pro-
heartheart attack attack / hɑ t ə t k/ noun a condition duced by loss of salt from the body in very hot
in which the heart has a reduced blood supply conditions
because one of the arteries becomes blocked heatheat exhaustion exhaustion / hi t zɔ stʃ(ə)n/ noun
by a blood clot, causing myocardial ischaemia
and myocardial infarction (informal) collapse caused by physical exertion in hot
heartbeatheartbeat / hɑ tbi t/ noun the regular noise conditions, involving loss of salt and body flu-
made by the heart as it pumps blood ids
heartheart block block / hɑ t blɒk/ noun the slowing of heatheat rash rash / hi t r ʃ/ noun same as miliaria
the action of the heart because the impulses heatheat spots spots / hi t spɒts/ plural noun little red
from the sinoatrial node to the ventricles are spots which develop on the face in very hot
delayed or interrupted. There are either longer weather
impulses (first degree block) or missing im- heatstrokeheatstroke / hi tstrəυk/ noun a condition in
pulses (second degree block) or no impulses at which someone becomes too hot and his or her
all (complete heart block), in which case the body temperature rises abnormally, leading to
ventricles continue to beat slowly and inde- headaches, stomach cramps and sometimes
pendently of the sinoatrial node. loss of consciousness
heartburnheartburn / hɑ tb n/ noun indigestion heatheat therapy therapy / hi t θerəpi/, heat treatment
/ hi t tri tmənt/ noun same as thermothera-
which causes a burning feeling in the stomach
and oesophagus, and a flow of acid saliva into py
the mouth (informal) heavyheavy period period / hevi pəriəd/ noun a month-
heart bypass hɑheart bypass/ t bapɑ s/, heart bypass ly period during which a woman loses an unu-
operation / hɑ t bapɑ s ɒpə reʃ(ə)n/ noun sually large amount of blood. It is often painful
same as coronary artery bypass graft and sometimes indicates possible health prob-
heartheart disease disease / hɑ t d zi z/ noun any dis- lems, such as fibroids or hypothyroidism.
ease of the heart in general hebephreniahebephrenia / hi b fri niə/, hebephrenic
schizophrenia / hi bfrenk sktsəυ fri niə/
heartheart failure failure / hɑ t feljə/ noun the failure
of the heart to maintain the output of blood to noun a condition in which someone, usually an
meet the demands of the body. It may affect adolescent, has hallucinations, delusions and
the left or right sides of the heart, or both sides. deterioration of personality, talks rapidly and
ı congestive heart failure generally acts in a strange manner
heart-lung machine hɑ theart-lung machine/ l ŋ mə ʃi n/ Heberden’sHeberden’s node node / hi bədənz nəυd/ noun
noun a machine used to pump blood round the a small bony lump which develops on the end
body and maintain the supply of oxygen to the joints of fingers in osteoarthritis [Described
blood during heart surgery 1802. After William Heberden (1767–1845), Brit-
heart-lung transplant hɑ theart-lung transplant/ lŋ tr ns ish physician, specialist in rheumatic diseases.]
plɑ nt/ noun an operation to transplant a new hebetudehebetude / hebtju d/ noun dullness of the
heart and lungs into someone senses during acute fever, which makes the
heartheart massage massage / hɑ t m sɑ / noun a person uninterested in his or her surroundings
treatment which involves pressing on the chest and unable to respond to stimuli
to make a heart which has stopped beating start hectichectic / hektk/ adjective recurring regularly
working again
heartheart murmur murmur / hɑ t m mə/ noun an unu- hectichectic fever fever / hektk fi və/ noun an attack
sual sound made by turbulent blood flow, of fever which occurs each day in someone
sometimes as a result of valve disease who has tuberculosis
heartheart rate rate / hɑ t ret/ noun the number of heelheel /hi l/ noun the back part of the foot
times the heart beats per minute heelheel bone bone / hi l bəυn/ noun the bone forming
heartheart sounds sounds / hɑ t saυndz/ plural noun two the heel, beneath the talus. Also called cal-
different sounds made by the heart as it beats. caneus
lubb-dupp Hegar’sHegar’s sign sign / he əz san/ noun a way of
heartheart stoppage stoppage / hɑ t stɒpd / noun a sit- detecting pregnancy, by inserting the fingers
uation where the heart has stopped beating into the uterus and pressing with the other
heartheart surgeon surgeon / hɑ t s d ən/ noun a sur- hand on the pelvic cavity to feel if the neck of
geon who specialises in operations on the heart the uterus has become soft [After Alfred Hegar
heartheart surgery surgery / hɑ t s d əri/ noun a surgi- (1830–1914), Professor of Obstetrics and Gy-
cal operation to remedy a condition of the naecology at Freiburg, Germany]
heart HeimlichHeimlich manoeuvre manoeuvre / hamlk mə nu və/
heartheart tamponade tamponade /hɑ t t mpə ned/ noun noun an emergency treatment for choking, in
same as cardiac tamponade which a strong upward push beneath the
helco- 174
breastbone of a patient clasped from behind hemiarthroplastyhemiarthroplasty / hemi ɑ θrəυpl sti/
forces the blockage out of the windpipe
noun an operation to repair a joint which re-
helco-helco- /helkəυ/ prefix relating to an ulcer
places one of its surfaces with an artificial sub-
helcoplastyhelcoplasty / helkəυpl sti/ noun a skin
graft to cover an ulcer to aid healing stance, often metal
HelicobacterHelicobacter pylori pylori / helkəυb ktə pa hemiatrophyhemiatrophy / hemi trəf/ noun a condi-
lɔ ri / noun a bacterium found in gastric se-
cretions, strongly associated with duodenal ul- tion in which half of the body or half of an or-
cers and gastric carcinoma
gan or part is atrophied
helicopter-based emergency medicalhelicopter-based emergency medical services
services / helkɒptə best m d ənsi hemiballismushemiballismus / hemibə lzməs/ noun a
medk(ə)l s vsz/ plural noun full form of
HEMS sudden movement of the limbs on one side of
helio-helio- /hi liəυ/ prefix relating to the sun the body, caused by a disease of the basal gan-
heliotherapyheliotherapy / hi liəυ θerəpi/ noun treat- glia
ment by sunlight or sunbathing
hemicolectomyhemicolectomy / hemikə lektəmi/ noun
heliumhelium / hi liəm/ noun a very light gas used
in combination with oxygen, especially to re- the surgical removal of part of the colon
lieve asthma or sickness caused by decompres-
sion (NOTE: The chemical symbol is He.) hemicraniahemicrania / hemi kreniə/ noun a head-
helixhelix / hi lks/ noun the curved outer edge of ache in one side of the head, as in migraine
the ear
hemimeliahemimelia / hemi mi liə/ noun a congenital
Heller’sHeller’s operation operation / heləz ɒpə reʃ(ə)n/
noun same as cardiomyotomy [After E. Heller condition in which someone has absent or ex-
(1877–1964), German surgeon.]
tremely short arms or legs
Heller’sHeller’s test test / heləz test/ noun a test for pro-
tein in the urine [After Johann Florenz Heller hemiparesishemiparesis / hemipə ri ss/ noun slight
(1813–71), Austrian physician]
paralysis of the muscles of one side of the
Hellin’sHellin’s law law / helnz lɔ / noun a finding
which states that twins should occur naturally body
once in 90 live births, triplets once in 8,100
live births, quadruplets once in 729, 000 live hemiplegiahemiplegia / hemi pli d ə/ noun severe pa-
births, and quintuplets once in 65, 610, 000
live births (NOTE: Since the 1960s the numbers ralysis affecting one side of the body due to
have changed due to fertility treatment. For ex-
damage of the central nervous system. Com-
ample, twins now occur once in only 38 births.)
pare diplegia
HELLPHELLP syndrome syndrome / help sndrəυm/ noun
a serious pre-eclamptic disorder which makes hemiplegichemiplegic / hemi pli d k/ adjective refer-
it necessary to terminate a pregnancy. Full
form haemolysis-elevated liver enzymes–low ring to paralysis of one side of the body
platelet count syndrome
hemispherehemisphere / hemsfə/ noun half of a
helminthhelminth / helmnθ/ noun a parasitic worm,
e.g. a tapeworm or fluke sphere
helminthiasishelminthiasis / helmn θaəss/ noun infes- hemo-hemo- /hi məυ/ prefix US spelling of haemo-
tation with parasitic worms
HEMSHEMS /hemz/ plural noun a system of deliver-
helomaheloma /h ləυmə/ noun same as corn
helperhelper / helpə/ noun a person who helps ing a paramedic crew to the scene of an acci-
someone to do something, especially without
payment dent or medical emergency by helicopter and
helperhelper T-cell T-cell / helpə ti sel/ noun a type of then transporting patients to the nearest major
white blood cell that stimulates the production
of cells that destroy antigens hospital or specialist unit. Full form helicop-
hemeralopiahemeralopia / hemərə ləυpiə/ noun a usu- ter-based emergency medical services
ally congenital condition in which someone is
able to see better in bad light than in ordinary Henderson’sHenderson’s model model / hendəs(ə)nz
daylight. Also called day blindness
mɒd(ə)l/ noun a model of nurse–patient rela-
hemi-hemi- /hemi/ prefix half
tionships based on 14 basic principles of nurs-
hemianopiahemianopia / hemiə nəυpiə/ noun a state of
partial blindness in which someone has only ing. The main idea is that ‘the nurse does for
half the usual field of vision in each eye
others what they would do for themselves if
they had the strength, the will, and the knowl-
edge…but that the nurse makes the patient in-
dependent of him or her as soon as possible’.
Henle’sHenle’s loop loop / henli z lu p/ noun same as
loop of Henle [Described 1862. After Friedrich
Gustav Jakob Henle (1809–85), Professor of
Anatomy at Göttingen, Germany.]
Henoch-Schönlein purpura henəkHenoch-Schönlein purpura/
ʃ nlan p pjυrə/, Henoch’s purpura /
henəks p pjυrə/ noun a condition in which
blood vessels become inflamed and bleed into
the skin, causing a rash called purpura and also
pain in the stomach and the joints, vomiting
and diarrhoea. It often occurs after an upper
respiratory infection, mostly in children aged
two to 11. [Described 1832 by Schönlein and
1865 by Henoch. Eduard Heinrich Henoch
(1820–1910), Professor of Paedriatrics at Berlin,
Germany; Johannes Lukas Schönlein (1793–
1864), physician and pathologist at Würzburg,
Zürich and Berlin.]
175 herbal remedy
hephep /hep/ noun same as hepatitis (informal) hepatitishepatitis C virus C virus noun a virus which causes
heparinheparin / hepərn/ noun an anticoagulant hepatitis C. Abbr HCV
substance found in the liver and lungs, and also hepatitishepatitis delta delta / hepə tats deltə/ noun
produced artificially for use in the treatment of same as delta hepatitis
thrombosis hepato-hepato- /hepətəυ/ prefix referring to the liver
hepat-hepat- /hp t/ prefix same as hepato- (used hepatoblastomahepatoblastoma / hepətəυbl stəυmə/
before vowels) noun a malignant tumour in the liver, made up
hepatalgiahepatalgia / hepə t ld ə/ noun pain in the of epithelial-type cells often with areas of im-
liver mature cartilage and embryonic bone
hepatectomyhepatectomy / hepə tektəmi/ noun the sur- hepatocelehepatocele / hepətəυsi l/ noun a hernia of
gical removal of part of the liver the liver through the diaphragm or the abdom-
hepatichepatic /h p tk/ adjective referring to the inal wall
liver hepatocellularhepatocellular / hepətəυ seljυlə/ adjective
hepatichepatic artery artery /h p tk ɑ təri/ noun an ar- referring to liver cells
tery which takes the blood to the liver hepatocellularhepatocellular jaundice jaundice / hepətəυ
hepatichepatic cell cell /h p tk sel/ noun an epitheli- seljυlə d ɔ nds/ noun jaundice caused by
al cell of the liver acini injury to or disease of the liver cells
hepatichepatic duct duct /h p tk d kt/ noun a duct hepatocirrhosishepatocirrhosis / hepətəυs rəυss/ noun
which links the liver to the bile duct leading to same as cirrhosis
the duodenum hepatocolichepatocolic ligament ligament / hepətəυkɒlk
hepatic flexure h phepatic flexure/ tk flekʃə/ noun a l əmənt/ noun a ligament which links the
bend in the colon, where the ascending and gall bladder and the right bend of the colon
transverse colons join hepatocytehepatocyte / hepətəυsat, h p təsat/
hepaticostomyhepaticostomy /h p t kɒstəmi/ noun a noun a liver cell which synthesises and stores
surgical operation to make an opening in the substances, and produces bile
hepatic duct taking bile from the liver hepatogenoushepatogenous / hepə tɒd ənəs/ noun re-
hepatic portal system h phepatic portal system/ tk pɔ t(ə)l ferring to or originating in the liver ć hepatog-
sstəm/ noun a group of veins linking to form enous jaundice
the portal vein, which brings blood from the hepatolenticular degeneration hepətəυhepatolenticular degeneration/
pancreas, spleen, gall bladder and the abdomi- len tkjυlə d d enə reʃ(ə)n/ noun same as
nal part of the alimentary canal to the liver Wilson’s disease
hepatichepatic vein vein /h p tk ven/ noun a vein hepatomahepatoma / hepə təυmə/ noun a malignant
which takes blood from the liver to the inferior tumour of the liver formed of mature cells, es-
vena cava pecially found in people with cirrhosis
hepatishepatis / hepəts/ porta hepatis hepatomegalyhepatomegaly / hepətəυ me əli/ noun a
hepatitishepatitis / hepə tats/ noun inflammation condition in which the liver becomes very
of the liver through disease or drugs large
COMMENT: Infectious hepatitis and serum hep- hepatosplenomegalyhepatosplenomegaly / hepətəυ spli nəυ
atitis are caused by different viruses called A
me əli/ noun enlargement of both the liver
and B, and having had one does not give im- and the spleen, as occurs in leukaemia or lym-
munity against an attack of the other. Hepati- phoma
tis A is less serious than the B form, which can hepatotoxichepatotoxic / hepətəυ tɒksk/ adjective de-
cause severe liver failure and death. Other stroying the liver cells
hepatitis viruses have also been identified.
hepatitishepatitis A A / hepətats e/ noun a relative- heraldherald patch patch / herəld p tʃ/ noun a small
ly mild form of viral hepatitis that is transmit- spot of a rash such as pityriasis rosea which
ted through contaminated food and water appears some time before the main rash
hepatitishepatitis A virus A virus / hepətats e varəs/ herbherb /h b/ noun a plant which can be used in
noun a virus which causes hepatitis A. Abbr preparing medicines
HAV herbal hherbal/ b(ə)l/ adjective referring to plants
hepatitishepatitis B B / hepətats bi / noun a severe which are used as medicines
form of viral hepatitis that is transmitted by herbalism hherbalism/ bəlz(ə)m/ noun herbal
contact with infected blood or other body flu- medicine
ids herbalist hherbalist/ bəlst/ noun a person who
hepatitishepatitis B virus B virus / hepətats bi varəs/ treats illnesses or disorders with substances
noun a virus which causes hepatitis B. Abbr extracted from plants
HBV herbalherbal medicine medicine / h b(ə)l med(ə)sn/
hepatitishepatitis C C noun a form of viral hepatitis that noun a system of medical treatment involving
is transmitted by contact with infected blood the use of substances extracted from plants
or other body fluids but is often without symp- herbal remedy hherbal remedy / b(ə)l remədi/ noun a
toms (NOTE: It was formerly called non-A, non-B medicine made from plants, e.g. an infusion
hepatitis.) made from dried leaves or flowers in hot water
herd immunity 176
herd immunity hherd immunity / d mju nti/ noun the forms blisters in the genital region. Also called
fact of a group of people being resistant to a genital herpes
specific disease, because many individuals in herpesvirus hherpesvirus/ pi z varəs/ noun one of a
the group are immune to or immunised against group of viruses which cause herpes and
the microorganism which causes it chickenpox (herpesvirus Type I), and genital
hereditaryhereditary /hə redt(ə)ri/ adjective passed as herpes (herpesvirus Type II)
from parents to children through the genes COMMENT: Because the same virus causes
herpes and chickenpox, anyone who has had
hereditaryhereditary spherocytosis spherocytosis /hə redt(ə)ri
chickenpox as a child carries the dormant her-
sfərəυsa təυss/ noun same as acholuric pesvirus in his or her bloodstream and can de-
jaundice velop shingles in later life. It is not known what
heredityheredity /hə redti/ noun the process by triggers the development of shingles, though it
is known that an adult suffering from shingles
which genetically controlled characteristics
can infect a child with chickenpox.
pass from parents to children
herpes zoster hherpes zoster pi z zɒstə/ noun in-
Hering-Breuer reflexes herŋHering-Breuer reflexes/ brɔə /
ri fleksz/ plural noun the reflexes which flammation of a sensory nerve, characterised
maintain the usual rhythmic inflation and de- by pain along the nerve and causing a line of
flation of the lungs blisters to form on the skin, usually found
hermaphrodite hhermaphrodite / m frədat/ noun a mainly on the abdomen or back, or on the face.
person with both male and female characteris- Also called shingles, zona
tics herpetic hherpetic/ petk/ adjective referring to
hermaphroditism hhermaphroditism / m frədatz(ə)m/ herpes
noun a condition in which a person has both herpetiformis hherpetiformis/ pet fɔ ms/ dermati-
male and female characteristics tis herpetiformis
hernia hhernia/ niə/ noun a condition in which an hetero-hetero- /hetərəυ/ prefix different
organ bulges through a hole or weakness in the heterochromiaheterochromia / hetərəυ krəυmiə/ noun a
wall which surrounds it. Also called rupture ˽ condition in which the irises of the eyes are
reduction of a hernia putting a hernia back different colours
into the correct position heterogameticheterogametic / hetərəυ ə metk/ adjec-
hernial hhernial/ niəl/ adjective referring to a her- tive producing gametes with different sex chro-
nia mosomes, as in the human male
hernial sac hhernial sac / niəl s k/ noun a sac heterogeneousheterogeneous / hetərəυ d i niəs/ adjec-
formed where a membrane has pushed through tive having different characteristics or qualities
a cavity in the body (NOTE: Do not confuse with heterogenous.)
herniated hherniated/ nietd/ adjective referring to heterogenousheterogenous / hetə rɒd nəs/ adjective
an organ which has developed a hernia coming from a different source (NOTE: Do not
herniated disc hherniated disc / nietd dsk/ noun confuse with heterogeneous.)
displaced intervertebral disc heterograftheterograft / hetərəυ rɑ ft/ noun tissue
herniation hherniation/ ni eʃ(ə)n/ noun the devel- taken from one species and grafted onto an in-
opment of a hernia dividual of another species. Compare hom-
hernio- hhernio-/ niəυ/ prefix relating to a hernia ograft
hernioplasty hhernioplasty / niəυ pl sti/ noun a surgi- heterologousheterologous /hetə rɒlə s/ adjective of a
cal operation to reduce a hernia different type
herniorrhaphy hherniorrhaphy / ni ɔ rəfi/ noun a surgi- heterophoriaheterophoria / hetərəυ fɔ riə/ noun a con-
cal operation to remove a hernia and repair the dition in which if an eye is covered it tends to
organ through which it protruded squint
herniotomy hherniotomy / ni ɒtəmi/ noun a surgical heteroplastyheteroplasty / hetərəυpl sti/ noun same as
operation to remove a hernial sac heterograft
heroinheroin / herəυn/ noun a narcotic drug in the heteropsiaheteropsia / hetə rɒpsiə/ noun a condition
form of a white powder derived from mor- in which the two eyes see differently
phine heterosexualheterosexual / hetərəυ sekʃuəl/ adjective
herpangina hherpangina / p n d anə/ noun an in- attracted to people of the opposite sex or relat-
fectious disease of children, where the tonsils ing to relations between males and females í
and back of the throat become inflamed and noun a person who is sexually attracted to peo-
ulcerated, caused by a Coxsackie virus ple of the opposite sex. Compare bisexual, ho-
herpes hherpes / pi z/ noun inflammation of the mosexual
skin or mucous membrane, caused by a virus, heterosexualityheterosexuality / hetərəυsekʃu lti/
where small blisters are formed noun sexual attraction towards persons of the
herpes simplex hherpes simplex / pi z smpleks/ noun opposite sex
1. (Type I) a virus that produces a painful blis- heterotopiaheterotopia / hetərəυ təυpiə/ noun 1. a
ter, called a cold sore, usually on the lips 2. state where an organ is placed in a different po-
(Type II) a sexually transmitted disease which sition from usual or is malformed or deformed
177 Hippocratic oath
2. the development of tissue which is not natu- high-calorie diet hahigh-calorie diet/ k ləri daət/ noun a
ral to the part in which it is produced diet containing over 4000 calories per day
heterotropiaheterotropia /hetərəυ trəυpiə/ noun same high-density lipoprotein hahigh-density lipoprotein/ densti
as strabismus lpəυ prəυtin/ noun a lipoprotein with a low
heterozygousheterozygous / hetərəυ za əs/ adjective percentage of cholesterol. Abbr HDL
having two or more different versions of a spe- high-energy food hahigh-energy food/ enəd i fu d/ noun
cific gene. Compare homozygous food such as fats or carbohydrates which con-
hex-hex- /heks/ prefix same as hexa- (NOTE: used tain a large number of calories and give a lot of
before vowels) energy when they are broken down in the body
hexa-hexa- /heksə/ prefix six high-fibre diet hahigh-fibre diet/ fabə daət/ noun a
HFEAHFEA abbr Human Fertilization and Embry- diet which contains a high percentage of cere-
ology Authority als, nuts, fruit and vegetables
hGHhGH abbr human growth hormone high-protein diet hahigh-protein diet/ prəυti n daət/
HGPRTHGPRT abbr hypoxanthine guanine phos- noun a diet containing mostly foods high in
phoribosyl transferase. HPRT protein and low in carbohydrates and saturated
HIHI abbr hearing-impaired fat, adopted by people who are trying to lose
hiatushiatus /ha etəs/ noun an opening or space weight
hiatushiatus hernia hernia /ha etəs h niə/, hiatal her- high-riskhigh-risk / ha rsk/ adjective referring to
nia /ha et(ə)l h niə/ noun a hernia where
someone who is very likely to catch or develop
the stomach bulges through the opening in the a disease, develop a cancer or have an accident
diaphragm muscle through which the oesopha- high-riskhigh-risk patient patient / ha rsk peʃ(ə)nt/
gus passes noun a patient who has a high risk of catching
HibHib /hb/ abbr Haemophilus influenzae type B an infection or developing a disease
HibHib vaccine vaccine / hb v ksi n/ noun a vaccine hilarhilar / halə/ adjective referring to a hilum
used to inoculate against the bacterium Hae- hilumhilum / haləm/ noun a hollow where blood
mophilius influenzae that causes meningitis vessels or nerve fibres enter an organ such as a
hiccuphiccup / hk p/, hiccough noun a spasm in kidney or lung (NOTE: The plural is hila.)
the diaphragm which causes a sudden inhala- hindbrainhindbrain / handbren/ noun the part of
tion of breath followed by sudden closure of brain of an embryo from which the medulla
the glottis which makes a characteristic sound oblongata, the pons and the cerebellum even-
ć She had an attack of hiccups or had a hic- tually develop
cupping attack or got the hiccups. Also called hindguthindgut / hand t/ noun part of an embryo
singultus í verb to make a hiccup which develops into the colon and rectum
COMMENT: Many cures have been suggested hingehinge joint joint / hnd d ɔnt/ noun same as
for hiccups, but the main treatment is to try to
get the patient to think about something else. ginglymus
A drink of water, holding the breath and count-
ing, breathing into a paper bag, are all recom- hiphip /hp/ noun a ball and socket joint where
mended.
the thigh bone or femur joins the acetabulum
of the hip bone
HickmanHickman catheter catheter / hkmən k θitə/, hiphip bone bone / hp bəυn/ noun a bone made of
Hickman line / hkmən lan/ noun a plastic
the ilium, the ischium and the pubis which are
tube which is put into the large vein above the fused together, forming part of the pelvic gir-
heart so that drugs can be given and blood dle. Also called innominate bone
samples can be taken easily hip fracturehip fracture / hp fr ktʃə/ noun a fracture
hidr-hidr- /hadr/ prefix referring to sweat of the ball at the top of the femur
hidradenitishidradenitis / hadrədə nats/ noun in- hiphip girdle girdle / hp d(ə)l/ noun same as pel-
flammation of the sweat glands vic girdle
hidrosishidrosis /ha drəυss/ noun sweating, espe- hiphip joint joint / hp d ɔnt/ noun the place where
cially when it is excessive the hip is joined to the upper leg. See illustra-
hidrotichidrotic /ha drɒtk/ adjective referring to tion at PELVIS in Supplement
sweating í noun a substance which makes Hippel-LindauHippel-Lindau / hpəl lndaυ/ von Hip-
someone sweat pel-Lindau syndrome
Higginson’sHigginson’s syringe syringe / hi nsənz s rn / hippocampalhippocampal formation formation / hpək mp(ə)l
noun a syringe with a rubber bulb in the centre fɔ meʃ(ə)n/ noun curved pieces of cortex in-
that allows flow in one direction only, used side each part of the cerebrum
mainly to give enemas [After Alfred Higginson hippocampushippocampus / hpəυ k mpəs/ noun a
(1808–84), British surgeon] long rounded elevation projecting into the lat-
high-altitude sickness hahigh-altitude sickness/ lttju d eral ventricle in the brain
sknəs/ noun same as altitude sickness HippocraticHippocratic oath oath / hpəkr tk əυθ/ noun
high blood pressure hahigh blood pressure/ bl d preʃə/ an ethical code observed by doctors, by which
noun same as hypertension they will treat patients equally, put patients’
hippus 178
welfare first and not discuss openly the details histo-histo- /hstəυ/ prefix relating to the body’s tis-
of a patient’s case sue ć histology
hippushippus / hpəs/ noun alternating rapid con- histochemistryhistochemistry / hstəυ kemstri/ noun the
traction and dilatation of the pupil of the eye study of the chemical constituents of cells and
hip replacementhip replacement / hp r plesmənt/ noun a tissues and also their function and distribution,
surgical operation to replace the whole ball using a light or electron microscope to evalu-
and socket joint at the hip with an artificial one ate the stains
Hirschsprung’sHirschsprung’s disease disease / həʃspr ŋz d histocompatibilityhistocompatibility / hstəυkəmp tə bl
zi z/ noun a congenital condition where parts ti/ noun compatibility between the antigens of
of the lower colon lack nerve cells, making tissues from two individuals, important in
peristalsis impossible, so that food accumu- transplants
lates in the upper colon which becomes swol- histocompatiblehistocompatible / hstəυkəm p tb(ə)l/
len [Described 1888. After Harald Hirschsprung adjective referring to tissues from two individ-
(1830–1916), Professor of Paediatrics in Copen- uals which have compatible antigens
hagen, Denmark.] histogenesishistogenesis / hstəυ d enəss/ noun the
hirsute hhirsute/ sju t/ adjective with a lot of hair formation and development of tissue from the
hirsutism hhirsutism/ sju tz(ə)m/ noun the condi- embryological germ layer
tion of having excessive hair, especially a con- histogramhistogram / hstə r m/ noun a way of dis-
dition in which a woman grows hair on the playing frequency values as columns whose
body in the same way as a man height is proportional to the corresponding fre-
hirudinhirudin /h ru dn/ noun an anticoagulant quency ć a histogram showing numbers of pa-
substance produced by leeches, which is in- tients with the condition in each age group
jected into the bloodstream while the leech is histoidhistoid / hstɔd/ adjective 1. made of or de-
feeding on a body veloped from a particular tissue 2. like stand-
HISHIS abbr Health Information Service ard tissue
hist-hist- /hst/ same as histo- (NOTE: used before histologicalhistological / hstə lɒd k(ə)l/ adjective re-
vowels) ferring to histology
histaminehistamine / hstəmi n/ noun a substance re- histologicalhistological grade grade / hstəlɒd k(ə)l
red/ noun a system of classifying tumours
leased in response to allergens from mast cells
according to how malignant they are
throughout the body. Histamines dilate blood
histologyhistology /h stɒləd i/ noun the study of the
vessels, constrict the cells of smooth muscles
anatomy of tissue cells and minute cellular
and cause an increase in acid secretions in the
structure
stomach.
histolysishistolysis /h stɒləss/ noun the disintegra-
histaminehistamine headache headache / hstəmi n hedek/
tion of tissue
noun Horton’s syndrome
histolyticahistolytica / hstə ltkə/ Entamoeba his-
histaminehistamine receptor receptor / hstəmi n r septə/
tolytica
noun a cell which is stimulated by histamine.
histoplasmosishistoplasmosis / hstəυpl z məυss/
H1 receptors in blood vessels are involved in
noun a lung disease caused by infection with
allergic reactions, H2 receptors in the stomach
the fungus Histoplasma
are involved in gastric acid secretion.
historyhistory / hst(ə)ri/ noun the background in-
histaminehistamine test test / hstəmi n test/ noun a test
formation on someone’s illness. ı case histo-
to determine the acidity of gastric juice
ry, medical history ˽ to take a patient’s his-
histaminichistaminic / hstə mnk/ adjective referring
tory to ask someone to tell what has happened
to histamines
to them in their own words on being admitted
histaminichistaminic headache headache / hstəmnk he
dek/ noun Horton’s syndrome to hospital
histidinehistidine / hstədi n/ noun an amino acid ‘…these children gave a typical history of exercise-
induced asthma’ [Lancet]
from which histamine is derived ‘…the need for evaluation of patients with a history
of severe heart disease’ [Southern Medical Journal]
histiocytehistiocyte / hstiəυsat/ noun a macrophage
histotoxichistotoxic / hstəυ tɒksk/ adjective refer-
of the connective tissue, involved in tissue de-
ring to a substance which is poisonous to tis-
fence
sue
histiocytomahistiocytoma / hstiəυsa təυmə/ noun a
HIVHIV abbr human immunodeficiency virus
tumour containing histiocytes
histiocytosishistiocytosis /hstiəυsa təυss/ noun a ‘HIV-associated dementia is characterized by psy-
chomotor slowing and inattentiveness’ [British
condition in which histiocytes are present in Journal of Nursing]
the blood COMMENT: HIV is the virus which causes
AIDS. Three strains of HIV virus have been
histiocytosishistiocytosis X X / hstiəυsa təυss eks/ identified: HIV-1, HIV-2 and HIV-3.
noun any form of histiocytosis where the cause
is not known, e.g. Hand-Schüller-Christian hiveshives /havz/ noun same as urticaria (NOTE:
disease Takes a singular verb.)
179 hook
HIV-negativeHIV-negative / etʃ a vi ne ətv/ adjec- homeopathichomeopathic / həυmiə p θk/, homoeo-
pathic /həυmiə p θk/ adjective 1. referring
tive referring to someone who has been tested to homeopathy ć a homeopathic clinic ć She
is having a course of homeopathic treatment.
and shown not to have HIV 2. referring to a drug which is given in very
small quantities
HIV-positiveHIV-positive / etʃ a vi pɒztv/ adjective
homeopathisthomeopathist / həυmi ɒpəθst/, homoe-
referring to someone who has been tested and opathist /həυmi ɒpəθst/ noun a person who
practises homeopathy
shown to have HIV
homeopathyhomeopathy / həυmi ɒpəθi/, homoeopathy
HLAHLA abbr human leucocyte antigen /həυmi ɒpəθi/ noun the treatment of a condi-
tion by giving the person very small quantities
HLAHLA system system / etʃ el e sstəm/ noun a of a substance which, when given to a healthy
person, would cause symptoms like those of
system of HLA antigens on the surface of cells the condition being treated. Compare allopa-
which need to be histocompatible to allow thy
transplants to take place homeostasishomeostasis / həυmiəυ stess/ noun the
process by which the functions and chemistry
COMMENT: HLA-A is the most important of the of a cell or internal organ are kept stable, even
antigens responsible for rejection of trans- when external conditions vary greatly
plants.
homo-homo- /həυməυ/ prefix the same
HMOHMO abbr US Health Maintenance Organiza-
homoeo-homoeo- /həυmiəυ/ prefix another spelling
tion of homeo- (used before vowels)
hoarsehoarse /hɔ s/ adjective referring to a voice homogenisehomogenise /hə mɒd ənaz/, homogenize
verb to give something a uniform nature
which is harsh and rough
homografthomograft / hɒmə rɑ ft/ noun the graft of
hoarsenesshoarseness / hɔ snəs/ noun a harsh and an organ or tissue from a donor to a recipient
of the same species, e.g. from one person to
rough sound of the voice, often caused by lar- another. Also called allograft. Compare heter-
yngitis ograft
hobnailhobnail liver liver / hɒbnel lvə/ noun same as homolateralhomolateral / hɒmə l t(ə)rəl/ adjective
same as ipsilateral
atrophic cirrhosis
homologoushomologous /hɒ mɒlə əs/ adjective 1. of
Hodgkin’sHodgkin’s disease disease / hɒd knz d zi z/ the same type 2. referring to chromosomes
which form a pair
noun a malignant disease in which the lymph
homonymoushomonymous /hə mɒnməs/ adjective af-
glands are enlarged and there is an increase in fecting the two eyes in the same way
the lymphoid tissues in the liver, spleen and homonymoushomonymous hemianopia hemianopia /hə mɒnməs
hemiə nəυpiə/ noun a condition in which the
bone marrow. It is frequently fatal if not treat- same half of the field of vision is lost in each
eye
ed early. [Described 1832. After Thomas Hodg-
homoplastyhomoplasty / həυməυpl sti/ noun surgery
kin (1798–1866), British physician.] to replace lost tissues by grafting similar tis-
sues from another person
hoisthoist /hɔst/ noun a device with pulleys and
homosexualhomosexual / həυməυ sekʃuəl/ adjective
wires for raising a bed or a patient referring to homosexuality í noun a person
who is sexually attracted to people of the same
hole inhole in the heart the heart / həυl n ðə hɑ t/ noun sex. Compare bisexual, heterosexual (NOTE:
Although homosexual can apply to both males
same as septal defect (informal)
and females, it is commonly used for males only,
Holger-Nielsen method hɒl əHolger-Nielsen method/ nlsən
and lesbian is used for females.)
meθəd/ noun a formerly used method of giv-
homosexualityhomosexuality / həυməυsekʃu lti/ noun
ing artificial respiration by pressing a person’s sexual attraction to people of the same sex or
sexual relations with people of the same sex
back and raising their arms backwards
homozygoushomozygous / həυməυ za əs/ adjective
holismholism / həυlz(ə)m/ noun the theory that all having two identical versions of a specific
gene. Compare heterozygous
of a person’s physical, mental and social con-
hookhook /hυk/ noun a surgical instrument with a
ditions should be considered in the treatment bent end used for holding structures apart in
operations
of his or her illness
holisticholistic /həυ lstk/ adjective referring to a
method of treatment involving all of some-
one’s mental and family circumstances rather
than just dealing with the condition from
which he or she is suffering
holisticholistic care care /həυ lstk keə/ noun the care
and treatment of a whole person rather than
just of his or her medical symptoms
holo-holo- /hɒləυ/ prefix entire, complete
holocrineholocrine / hɒləkrn/ adjective referring to a
gland where the secretions are made up of dis-
integrated cells of the gland itself
Homans’Homans’ sign sign / həυmənz san/ noun pain
in the calf when the foot is bent back, a sign of
deep-vein thrombosis [Described 1941. After
John Homans (1877–1954), Professor of Clini-
cal Surgery at Harvard, USA.]
homeo-homeo- /həυmiəυ/ prefix like or similar
hookworm 180
hookwormhookworm / hυkw m/ noun a parasitic hospicehospice / hɒsps/ noun a hospital which of-
worm fers palliative care for terminally ill people
hookwormhookworm disease disease / hυkw m d zi z/ hospitalhospital / hɒspt(ə)l/ noun a place where
noun ancylostomiasis sick or injured people are looked after ȣ hos-
pital bed 1. a special type of bed used in hos-
hordeolumhordeolum /hɔ di ələm/ noun an infection
pitals, usually adjustable in many ways for the
of the gland at the base of an eyelash. Also
comfort of the patient ć A hospital bed is
called stye needed if the patient has to have traction. 2. a
horizontalhorizontal / hɒr zɒnt(ə)l/ adjective lying place in a hospital which can be occupied by a
flat or at a right angle to the vertical patient ć There will be no reduction in the
number of hospital beds.
horizontalhorizontal fissure fissure / hɒr zɒnt(ə)l fʃə/
noun ANAT a horizontal groove between the hospital-acquiredhospital-acquired infection infection / hɒspt(ə)l ə
kwaəd n fekʃən/ noun a disease caught
superior and middle lobes of a lung. See illus-
tration at LUNGS in Supplement during a stay in hospital
horizontalhorizontal plane plane / hɒrzɒnt(ə)l plen/ ad- HospitalHospital Activity Analysis Activity Analysis / hɒspt(ə)l
k tvti ə n ləss/ noun a regular detailed
jective same as transverse plane. see illustra-
tion at ANATOMICAL TERMS in Supplement report on patients in hospitals, including infor-
hormonalhormonal /hɔ məυn(ə)l/ adjective referring mation about treatment, length of stay and out-
to hormones come
hormonehormone / hɔ məυn/ noun a substance hospitalhospital care care / hɒspt(ə)l keə/ noun treat-
which is produced by one part of the body, es- ment in a hospital
pecially the endocrine glands and is carried to hospitalhospital chaplain chaplain / hɒspt(ə)l tʃ pln/
another part of the body by the bloodstream noun a religious minister attached to a hospi-
where it has particular effects or functions tal, who visits and comforts patients and their
hormone replacement therapy hɔ məυnhormone replacement therapy/ families and gives them the sacraments if nec-
r plesmənt θerəpi/, hormone therapy / essary
hɔ məυn θerəpi/ noun 1. treatment for some- hospitalhospital corner corner / hɒspt(ə)l kɔ nə/ noun a
one whose endocrine glands have been re- way of folding the overlapping bedding at
moved 2. treatment to relieve the symptoms of each corner of a bed that keeps it tight
the menopause by supplying oestrogen and re- hospitalhospital doctor doctor / hɒspt(ə)l dɒktə/ noun a
ducing the risk of osteoporosis ̈ Abbr HRT doctor who works only in a hospital and does
hornhorn /hɔ n/ noun 1. (in humans) tissue which not receive people in his or her own surgery
grows out of an organ 2. (in humans) one of the hospitalhospital gangrene gangrene / hɒspt(ə)l ŋ ri n/
H-shaped limbs of grey matter seen in a cross- noun gangrene caused by insanitary hospital
section of the spinal cord 3. (in humans) an ex- conditions
tension of the pulp chamber of a tooth towards hospitalhospital infection infection / hɒspt(ə)l n fekʃən/
the cusp
Horner’sHorner’s syndrome syndrome / hɔ nəz sndrəυm/ noun an infection which someone gets during
noun a condition caused by paralysis of the a hospital visit, or one which develops among
sympathetic nerve in one side of the neck, hospital staff
making the eyelids hang down and the pupils COMMENT: Hospital infection is an increasingly
common problem due to growing antimicrobi-
contract [Described 1869. After Johann Frie- al resistance and inappropriate antibiotic use.
Strains of bacteria such as MRSA have
drich Horner (1831–86), Professor of Ophthal- evolved which seem to be more easily trans-
mitted between patients and are difficult to
mology in Zürich, Switzerland.] treat.
hornyhorny / hɔ ni/ adjective referring to skin
which is very hard (NOTE: For terms referring to hospitalisationhospitalisation / hɒspt(ə)la zeʃ(ə)n/,
horny tissue, see words beginning with kerat-, hospitalization noun the act of sending some-
kerato-.) one to hospital ć The doctor recommended im-
mediate hospitalisation.
horseshoehorseshoe kidney kidney / hɔ sʃu kdni/ noun a
congenital condition of the kidney, where hospitalisehospitalise / hɒspt(ə)laz/, hospitalize
sometimes the upper but usually the lower verb to send someone to hospital ć He is so ill
parts of both kidneys are joined together that he has had to be hospitalised.
Horton’sHorton’s syndrome syndrome / hɔ t(ə)nz sn hospitalhospital orderly orderly / hɒspt(ə)l ɔ dəli/ noun a
drəυm/ noun a severe headache, often with
person who does heavy work in a hospital,
constant pain around one eye, which starts
such as wheeling patients into the operating
usually within a few hours of going to sleep. It
theatre or moving equipment about
is caused by the release of histamine in the
body. [After Bayard Taylor Horton (b. 1895), US hospitalhospital trust trust / hɒspt(ə)l tr st/ noun same
physician] as self-governing hospital
hosehose /həυz/ noun 1. a long rubber or plastic hosthost /həυst/ noun a person or animal on
tube 2. support hose which a parasite lives
181 hurt
hothot /hɒt/ adjective very warm or having a high injection to encourage ovulation and help a
temperature woman to become pregnant. Abbr hCG
hothot flush flush / hɒt fl ʃ/ noun a condition in humanhuman crutch crutch / hju mən kr tʃ/ noun a
menopausal women, in which the woman be- method of helping an injured person to walk,
comes hot and sweats, and which is often ac- where they rest one arm over the shoulders of
companied by redness of the skin the person helping
hotpackhotpack / hɒtp k/ noun a cloth bag or a pad human immunodeficiencyhuman immunodeficiency virus virus /
filled with gel or grains which can be heated hju mən mjυnəυd fʃ(ə)nsi varəs/ noun a
and applied to the skin to relieve pain or stiff- virus which causes AIDS. Abbr HIV
ness humanhuman leucocyte antigen leucocyte antigen / hju mən
lu kəsat ntd (ə)n/ noun any of the sys-
hot wax treatment hɒthot wax treatment/ w ks tri tmənt/
tem of antigens on the surface of cells which
noun a treatment for arthritis in which the
need to be histocompatible to allow transplants
joints are painted with hot liquid wax
to take place. Abbr HLA. HLA system
hourglasshourglass contraction contraction / aυə lɑ s kən
tr kʃən/ noun a condition in which an organ humanhuman nature nature / hju mən netʃə/ noun the
such as the stomach is constricted in the centre general behavioural characteristics of human
hourglasshourglass stomach stomach / aυə lɑ s st mək/ beings
noun a condition in which the wall of the stom- humanhuman papillomavirus papillomavirus / hju mən p p
ach is pulled in so that it is divided into two ləυmə varəs/ noun a virus that causes geni-
cavities, cardiac and pyloric tal warts in humans. Abbr HPV
hourlyhourly / aυəli/ adjective, adverb happening humectanthumectant /hju mektənt/ adjective able to
every hour absorb or retain moisture í noun a substance
housemanhouseman / haυsmən/ noun same as house that can absorb or retain moisture, e.g. a skin
officer lotion
househouse mite mite /haυs mat/, house dust mite / humeroulnarhumeroulnar joint joint / hju mərəυ lnə
haυs d st mat/ noun a tiny insect living
d ɔnt/ noun part of the elbow joint, where the
mainly in bedding and soft furnishings, that trochlea of the humerus and the trochlear
can cause an allergic reaction notch of the ulna move next to each other
househouse officer officer / haυs ɒfsə/ noun a doctor humerushumerus / hju mərəs/ noun the top bone in
who works in a hospital as a house surgeon or the arm, running from the shoulder to the el-
house physician during the final year of train- bow (NOTE: The plural is humeri.)
ing before registration by the General Medical humidhumid / hju md/ adjective damp, containing
Council (NOTE: The US term is intern.) moisture vapour
HPRTHPRT noun an enzyme that is lacking in chil- humoralhumoral / hju mərəl/ adjective relating to
dren, usually boys, who have Lesch-Nyhan human body fluids, in particular blood serum
disease. Full form hypoxanthine phosphori- humourhumour / hju mə/, humor noun a fluid in the
bosyl transferase. Also called HGPRT (hy- body
poxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl trans- hunchback hhunchback/ ntʃb k/ noun kyphosis
ferase) hunger hhunger/ ŋ ə/ noun a need to eat
HPVHPV abbr human papillomavirus hungerhunger pains pains / h ŋ ə pens/ plural noun
HRTHRT abbr hormone replacement therapy pains in the abdomen when a person feels hun-
Huhner’sHuhner’s test test / hu nəz test/ noun a test gry, sometimes a sign of a duodenal ulcer
carried out several hours after sexual inter- Hunter’sHunter’s syndrome syndrome / h ntəz sndrəυm/
course to determine the number and motility of noun an inherited disorder caused by an en-
spermatozoa [After Max Huhner (1873–1947), zyme deficiency, which leads to learning diffi-
US urologist] culties
humanhuman / hju mən/ adjective referring to any Huntington’sHuntington’s chorea chorea / h ntŋtənz kɔ
man, woman or child í noun a person ć Most ri ə/ noun a progressive hereditary disease
animals are afraid of humans. which affects adults, where the outer layer of
humanhuman anatomy anatomy / hju mən ə n təmi/ the brain degenerates and the person makes in-
noun the structure, shape and functions of the voluntary jerky movements and develops pro-
human body gressive dementia [Described 1872. After
George Sumner Huntington (1850–1916), US
humanhuman being being / hju mən bi ŋ/ noun a per- physician.]
son Hurler’s syndrome hHurler’s syndrome/ ləz sndrəυm/
human chorionic gonadotrophinhuman chorionic gonadotrophin / noun same as gargoylism [Described 1920. Af-
hju mən kɔ ri ɒnk əυnədə trəυfn/ ter Gertrud Hurler, German paediatrician.]
noun a hormone produced by the placenta, hurthurt /h t/ noun 1. emotional pain 2. a painful
which suppresses the mother’s usual menstru- area (used by children) ć She has a hurt on her
al cycle during pregnancy. It is found in the knee. í verb 1. to have pain ć He’s hurt his
urine during pregnancy, and can be given by hand. 2. to cause someone pain ć His arm is
husky 182
hurting so much he can’t write. ć She fell hydr-hydr- /hadr/ prefix same as hydro- (used be-
down and hurt herself. (NOTE: hurting – hurt) fore vowels)
í adjective 1. feeling physical pain ć He was
slightly hurt in the car crash. ć Two players hydraemiahydraemia /ha dri miə/ noun an excess of
got hurt in the football game. 2. feeling emo- water in the blood
tional pain ć Her parents’ divorce hurt her
deeply. hydragoguehydragogue / hadrə ɒ / noun a laxative or
substance which produces watery faeces
huskyhusky / h ski/ adjective slightly hoarse
hydralazinehydralazine /ha dr ləzi n/ noun a drug that
Hutchinson’sHutchinson’s tooth tooth / h tʃnsənz tu θ/ lowers blood pressure. People usually receive
noun a narrow upper incisor tooth, with notch- it in combination with other drugs that in-
es along the cutting edge, a symptom of con- crease the output of urine.
genital syphilis but also occurring naturally
hydramnioshydramnios /ha dr mniɒs/ noun an unu-
(NOTE: The plural is Hutchinson’s teeth.) [After sually large amount of amniotic fluid sur-
rounding the fetus
Sir Jonathan Hutchinson (1828–1913), British
hydrarthrosishydrarthrosis / hadrɑ θrəυss/ noun
surgeon] swelling caused by excess synovial liquid at a
joint
hyal-hyal- /haəl/ prefix like glass (used before vow-
els) hydratehydrate / hadret/ verb to give water to
someone so as to re-establish or maintain fluid
hyalinhyalin / haəln/ noun a transparent substance balance í noun a chemical compound contain-
produced from collagen and deposited around ing water molecules that can usually be driven
blood vessels and scars when some tissues de- off by heat without altering the compound’s
generate structure
hyalinehyaline / haəln/ adjective nearly transparent hydro-hydro- /hadrəυ/ prefix referring to water
like glass hydroahydroa /ha drəυə/ noun an eruption of small
itchy blisters, e.g. those caused by sunlight
hyalinehyaline cartilage cartilage / haəln kɑ tld / noun
a type of cartilage found in the nose, larynx hydrocalycosishydrocalycosis / hadrəυ k l kəυss/
and joints. It forms most of the skeleton of the noun same as caliectasis
fetus. See illustration at CARTILAGINOUS JOINT
in Supplement hydrocelehydrocele / hadrəυsi l/ noun the collection
of watery liquid found in a cavity such as the
hyalinehyaline membrane disease membrane disease / haəln scrotum
membren d zi z/ noun same as respiratory
distress syndrome hydrocephalushydrocephalus / hadrəυ kefələs/ noun an
excessive quantity of cerebrospinal fluid in the
hyalitishyalitis / haə lats/ noun inflammation of brain
the vitreous humour or the hyaloid membrane
in the eye. Also called vitritis hydrochlorichydrochloric acid acid /hadrəυ klɒrk sd/
noun an acid found in the gastric juices which
hyaloidhyaloid membrane membrane / haəlɔd membren/ helps to break apart the food
noun a transparent membrane round the vitre-
ous humour in the eye hydrocolloidhydrocolloid strip strip / hadrəυkɒlɔd strp/
noun a waterproof gel dressing that seals a
hyaluronichyaluronic acid acid / haəlυrɒnk sd/ noun wound, retaining moisture and preventing ac-
a substance which binds connective tissue and cess to germs and dirt
is found in the eyes
hydrocolposhydrocolpos / hadrəυ kɒlpəs/ noun a cyst
hyaluronidasehyaluronidase / haəlυ rɒndez/ noun an in the vagina containing clear fluid
enzyme which destroys hyaluronic acid
hydrocortisonehydrocortisone / hadrəυ kɔ tzəυn/ noun
hybridhybrid / habrd/ noun an organism that is a a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cor-
result of a cross between individuals that are tex or produced synthetically, used in the treat-
not genetically the same as each other ment of rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory
and allergic conditions
HYCOSYHYCOSY abbr hysterosalpingo-contrast
sonography hydrocyanichydrocyanic acid acid / hadrəυsa nk sd/
noun an acid which forms cyanide. Abbr HCN
hydatidhydatid / hadətd/ noun any cyst-like struc-
ture hydrogenhydrogen / hadrəd ən/ noun a chemical el-
ement, a gas which combines with oxygen to
hydatidhydatid cyst cyst / hadətd sst/ noun the lar- form water, and with other elements to form
val form of the tapeworms of the genus Echi- acids, and is present in all animal tissue (NOTE:
nococcus
The chemical symbol is H.)
hydatidhydatid disease disease / hadətd d zi z/, hydati-
dosis / hadət dəυss/ noun an infection, hydrogenhydrogen peroxide peroxide / hadrəd ən pə rɒk
usually in the lungs or liver, caused by expand- sad/ noun a solution used as a disinfectant
ing hydatid cysts that destroy the tissues of the hydrolysishydrolysis /ha drɒləss/ noun the breaking
infected organ down of a chemical compound when it reacts
with water to produce two or more different
hydatidhydatid mole mole / hadətd məυl/ noun an ab- compounds, as in the conversion of starch to
normal pregnancy from a pathologic ovum, re- glucose
sulting in a mass of cysts shaped like a bunch
of grapes
183 hyperacusis
hydromahydroma /ha drəυmə/ noun same as hygro- hydroxyprolinehydroxyproline /ha drɒksi prəυli n/ noun
an amino acid present in some proteins, espe-
ma cially in collagen
hydrometerhydrometer /ha drɒmtə/ noun an instru- hygienehygiene / had i n/ noun 1. the procedures
and principles designed to keep things clean
ment which measures the density of a liquid and to keep conditions healthy ć Nurses have
to maintain a strict personal hygiene. 2. the
hydromyeliahydromyelia / hadrəυma i liə/ noun a science of health
condition in which fluid swells the central ca- hygienichygienic /ha d i nk/ adjective 1. clean ć
Don’t touch the food with dirty hands – it isn’t
nal of the spinal cord hygienic. 2. producing healthy conditions
hydronephrosishydronephrosis / hadrəυne frəυss/ noun hygienisthygienist / had i nst/ noun a person who
specialises in hygiene and its application
swelling of the pelvis of a kidney caused by ac-
hygr-hygr- /ha r/ prefix same as hygro- (used be-
cumulation of water due to infection or a kid- fore vowels)
ney stone blocking the ureter hygro-hygro- /ha rəυ/ prefix relating to moisture
hydropathyhydropathy /ha drɒpəθi/ noun the treat- hygromahygroma /ha rəυmə/ noun a kind of cyst
which contains a thin fluid
ment of injuries or disease by bathing in water
hymenhymen / hamen/ noun a membrane which
or drinking mineral waters partially covers the vaginal passage in a female
who has never had sexual intercourse
hydropericarditishydropericarditis / hadrəυ perikɑ dats/,
hymenectomyhymenectomy / hamə nektəmi/ noun 1.
hydropericardium / hadrəυ peri kɑ diəm/ the surgical removal of the hymen, or an oper-
ation to increase the size of the opening of the
noun an accumulation of liquid round the heart hymen 2. the surgical removal of any mem-
brane
hydroperitoneumhydroperitoneum / hadrəυ pertə ni əm/
hymenotomyhymenotomy / hamə nɒtəmi/ noun an in-
noun a build-up of fluid in the peritoneal cavity cision of the hymen during surgery
(NOTE: The plural is hydroperitoneums or hy- hyo-hyo- /haəυ/ prefix relating to the hyoid bone
droperitonea.) hyoglossushyoglossus / haəυ lɒsəs/ noun a muscle
which is attached to the hyoid bone and de-
hydrophobiahydrophobia / hadrə fəυbiə/ noun same as presses the tongue
rabies hyoidhyoid / haɔd/ adjective relating to the hyoid
bone
COMMENT: Hydrophobia affects the mental
balance, and the symptoms include difficulty hyoidhyoid bone bone / haɔd bəυn/ noun a small U-
in breathing or swallowing and a horror of wa- shaped bone at the base of the tongue
ter.
hyoscinehyoscine / haəυsi n/ noun a drug used as a
hydropneumoperitoneumhydropneumoperitoneum / hadrəυ sedative, in particular for treatment of motion
sickness
nju məυ pertə ni əm/ noun a condition in
hyp-hyp- /hap/ prefix same as hypo- (used before
which watery fluid and gas collect in the peri- vowels)
toneal cavity hypaemiahypaemia /ha pi miə/ noun an insufficient
amount of blood in the body
hydropneumothoraxhydropneumothorax / hadrəυ nju məυ
θɔ r ks/ noun a condition in which watery hypalgesiahypalgesia / hap l d i ziə/ noun low sen-
sitivity to pain
fluid and gas collect in the pleural cavity
hyper-hyper- /hapə/ prefix higher or too much. Op-
(NOTE: The plural is hydropneumothoraxes or posite hypo-
hydropneumothoraces.) hyperacidityhyperacidity / hapərə sdti/ noun the pro-
duction of more acid in the stomach than is
hydropshydrops / hadrɒps/ noun same as oedema usual. Also called acidity, acid stomach
(NOTE: The plural is hydropses.) hyperacousiahyperacousia / hapərə kju ziə/ noun
same as hyperacusis
hydrorrhoeahydrorrhoea / hadrəυ ri ə/ noun a dis-
hyperactivehyperactive /hapər ktv/ adjective very
charge of watery fluid (NOTE: The US spelling is or unusually active
hydrorrhea.) hyperactivityhyperactivity /hapər k tvəti/ noun a con-
dition in which something or someone, e.g. a
hydrosalpinxhydrosalpinx / hadrəυ s lpŋks/ noun an gland or a child, is too active
occasion when watery fluid collects in one or hyperacusishyperacusis / hapərə kju ss/ noun a con-
dition in which someone is very sensitive to
both of the Fallopian tubes, causing swelling sounds
(NOTE: The plural is hydrosalpinges.)
hydrotherapyhydrotherapy / hadrəυ θerəpi/ noun a type
of physiotherapy involving treatment in water,
where people are put in hot baths or are en-
couraged to swim
hydrothoraxhydrothorax / hadrəυ θɔ r ks/ noun the
collection of liquid in the pleural cavity
hydrotubationhydrotubation / hadrəυtju beʃ(ə)n/
noun an act of putting a fluid through the neck
of the uterus and the Fallopian tubes under
pressure to check whether the tubes are
blocked
hydroureterhydroureter / hadrəυju ri tə/ noun a con-
dition in which water or urine collect in the
ureter because it is blocked
hydroxidehydroxide /ha drɒksad/ noun a chemical
compound containing a hydroxyl group
hyperadrenalism 184
hyperadrenalismhyperadrenalism / hapərə dri n(ə)lz(ə)m/ hypergalactiahypergalactia / hapə ə l ktiə/, hyperga-
lactosis / hapə lək təυss/ noun a condi-
noun a disorder in which too many adrenal tion in which too much milk is secreted
hormones are produced, e.g. because of pitui- hyperglycaemiahyperglycaemia / hapə la si miə/ noun
an excess of glucose in the blood
tary gland malfunction, a tumour of the adre-
hyperhidrosishyperhidrosis / hapəha drəυss/ noun a
nal gland or high doses of steroids condition in which too much sweat is pro-
duced
hyperaemiahyperaemia / hapər i miə/ noun excess
hyperinsulinismhyperinsulinism / hapər nsjυlnz(ə)m/
blood in any part of the body noun the reaction of a diabetic to an excessive
dose of insulin or to hypoglycaemia
hyperaesthesiahyperaesthesia / hapəri s θi ziə/ noun an
hyperkalaemiahyperkalaemia / hapək li miə/ noun a
extremely high sensitivity in the skin condition in which too much potassium occurs
in the blood, which can result in cardiac arrest.
hyperalgesiahyperalgesia / hapər l d i ziə/ noun an Various possible causes include kidney failure
and chemotherapy.
increased sensitivity to pain
hyperkeratosishyperkeratosis / hapəkerə təυss/ noun a
hyperalimentationhyperalimentation / hapər lmen condition in which the outer layer of the skin
becomes unusually thickened
teʃ(ə)n/ noun the feeding of large amounts of
hyperkinesiahyperkinesia / hapək ni ziə/ noun a con-
nutrients by mouth or intravenously to some- dition in which there is unusually great
strength or movement
one with serious nutritional deficiency
hyperkinetichyperkinetic syndrome syndrome / hapək netk
hyperandrogenismhyperandrogenism / hapər sndrəυm/ noun a condition in which some-
one experiences fatigue, shortness of breath,
drɒd ənz(ə)m/ noun a condition in which a pain under the heart and palpitation
woman produces too many androgens, associ- hyperlipidaemiahyperlipidaemia / hapəlp di miə/ noun
the pathological increase of the amount of lip-
ated with many problems such as hirsutism, ids, or fat, in the blood
acne, infertility and polycystic ovarian disease hypermenorrhoeahypermenorrhoea / hapəmenə ri ə/ noun
menstruation in which the flow is excessive
hyperbarichyperbaric / hapə b rk/ adjective refer-
hypermetropiahypermetropia / hapəm trəυpiə/, hyper-
ring to a treatment in which someone is given opia / hapə rəυpiə/ noun a condition in
which someone sees more clearly objects
oxygen at high pressure, used to treat carbon which are a long way away, but cannot see ob-
jects which are close. Also called longsight-
monoxide poisoning
edness, hyperopia
hypercalcaemiahypercalcaemia / hapək l si miə/ noun
hypernatraemiahypernatraemia / hapən tri miə/ noun a
an excess of calcium in the blood serious condition occurring most often in ba-
bies or elderly people, in which too much so-
hypercalcinuriahypercalcinuria / hapək ls njυəriə/ dium is present in the blood as a result of loss
of water and electrolytes through diarrhoea,
noun a condition in which an unusually high excessive sweating, not drinking enough or ex-
cessive salt intake
amount of calcium occurs in the urine
hypernephromahypernephroma / hapənə frəυmə/ noun
hypercapniahypercapnia / hapə k pniə/ noun an unu- same as Grawitz tumour
sually high concentration of carbon dioxide in hyperopiahyperopia / hapə rəυpiə/ noun same as hy-
permetropia
the bloodstream
hyperostosishyperostosis /hapərɒ stəυss/ noun ex-
hypercatabolismhypercatabolism / hapəkə t bəlz(ə)m/ cessive overgrowth on the outside surface of a
bone, especially the frontal bone
noun a condition in which the body breaks
hyperparathyroidismhyperparathyroidism / hapə p rə θa
down its own tissues or a particular substance rɔdz(ə)m/ noun an unusually high concen-
tration of parathyroid hormone in the body. It
too much. It causes weight loss and wasting. causes various medical problems including
damage to the kidneys.
hyperchloraemiahyperchloraemia / hapəklɔ ri miə/ noun
hyperphagiahyperphagia / hapə fed iə/ noun long-
a condition in which there is too much chloride term compulsive overeating
in the blood hyperpiesiahyperpiesia / hapəpa i ziə/ noun same as
hypertension
hyperchlorhydriahyperchlorhydria / hapəklɔ hadriə/ noun
an excess of hydrochloric acid in the stomach
hyperdactylismhyperdactylism / hapə d ktlz(ə)m/
noun the condition of having more than the
usual number of fingers or toes. Also called
polydactylism
hyperemesishyperemesis / hapər emss/ noun exces-
sive vomiting (NOTE: The plural is hypereme-
ses.)
hyperemesishyperemesis gravidarum gravidarum / hapəremss
r v deərəm/ noun uncontrollable vomit-
ing in pregnancy
hyperextensionhyperextension / hapərk stenʃən/ noun
the act of stretching an arm or leg beyond its
usual limits of movement
hyperflexionhyperflexion / hapə flekʃən/ noun the act
of flexing a joint beyond the usual limit ć a
hyperflexion injury
hyperfunctionhyperfunction / hapə f ŋkʃ(ə)n/ noun ex-
cessive activity of a gland or other organ of the
body
185 hypnotism
hyperpiesishyperpiesis / hapəpa i ss/ noun unusual- can be treated with carbimazole. Also called
ly high pressure, especially of the blood thyrotoxicosis
hyperpituitarismhyperpituitarism / hapə ptju tər hypertoniahypertonia / hapə təυniə/ noun an in-
creased rigidity and spasticity of the muscles
z(ə)m/ noun a condition in which the pitui-
hypertonichypertonic / hapə tɒnk/ adjective 1. refer-
tary gland is overactive ring to a solution which has a higher osmotic
pressure than another specified solution 2. re-
hyperplasiahyperplasia / hapə pleziə/ noun a condi- ferring to a muscle which is under unusually
high tension
tion in which there is an increase in the number
hypertrichosishypertrichosis / hapətr kəυss/ noun a
of cells in an organ condition in which someone has excessive
growth of hair on the body or on part of the
hyperpnoeahyperpnoea / hapə pni ə/ noun unusually body
deep or fast breathing, e.g. after physical exer- hypertrophichypertrophic / hapə trɒfk/ adjective asso-
ciated with hypertrophy
cise
hypertrophichypertrophic rhinitis rhinitis / hapətrɒfk ra
hyperpyrexiahyperpyrexia / hapəpa reksiə/ noun a body nats/ noun a condition in which the mucous
membranes in the nose become thicker
temperature of above 41.1°C
hypertrophyhypertrophy /ha p trəfi/ noun an increase
hypersecretionhypersecretion / hapəs kri ʃ(ə)n/ noun a in the number or size of cells in a tissue
condition in which too much of a substance is hypertropiahypertropia / hapə trəυpiə/ noun US same
as hypermetropia
secreted
hyperventilatehyperventilate / hapə ventlet/ verb to
hypersensitivehypersensitive / hapə senstv/ adjective breathe very fast ć We hyperventilate as an ex-
pression of fear or excitement.
referring to a person who reacts more strongly
hyperventilationhyperventilation / hapəvent leʃ(ə)n/
than usual to an antigen noun very fast breathing which can be accom-
panied by dizziness or tetany
hypersensitivityhypersensitivity / hapəsens tvti/ noun
hypervitaminosishypervitaminosis / hapə vtəm nəυss/
a condition in which someone reacts very noun a condition caused by taking too many
synthetic vitamins, especially Vitamins A and
strongly to something such as an allergic sub- D
stance ć her hypersensitivity to dust ć Ana- hypervolaemiahypervolaemia / hapəvɒ li miə/ noun a
condition in which there is too much plasma in
phylactic shock shows hypersensitivity to an the blood
injection. hyphaemahyphaema /ha fi miə/ noun bleeding into
the front chamber of the eye
hypersplenismhypersplenism / hapə splenz(ə)m/ noun a
hypn-hypn- /hpn/ prefix referring to sleep
condition in which too many red blood cells
hypnosishypnosis /hp nəυss/ noun a state like
are destroyed by the spleen, which is often en- sleep, but caused artificially, where a person
can remember forgotten events in the past and
larged will do whatever the hypnotist tells him or her
to do
hypertelorismhypertelorism / hapə telərz(ə)m/ noun a
hypnotherapisthypnotherapist / hpnəυ θerəpst/ noun a
condition in which there is too much space be- person who practises hypnotherapy
tween two organs or parts of the body hypnotherapyhypnotherapy / hpnəυ θerəpi/ noun treat-
ment by hypnosis, used in treating some addic-
hypertensionhypertension / hapə tenʃən/ noun arterial tions
blood pressure that is higher than the usual hypnotichypnotic /hp nɒtk/ adjective 1. relating to
hypnosis and hypnotism 2. referring to a state
range for gender and age. Also called high which is like sleep but which is caused artifi-
cially 3. referring to a drug which causes sleep
blood pressure, hyperpiesia. Compare hypo-
hypnotisehypnotise / hpnətaz/, hypnotize verb to
tension make someone go into a state where he or she
appears to be asleep, and will do whatever the
COMMENT: Hypertension is without a specific hypnotist suggests ć He hypnotises his pa-
cause in more than 50% of cases (essential tients, and then persuades them to reveal their
hypertension) but may be associated with hidden problems.
other diseases. It is treated with drugs such as
beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics and hypnotismhypnotism / hpnətz(ə)m/ noun the tech-
calcium channel blockers. niques used to induce hypnosis
hypertensivehypertensive / hapə tensv/ adjective re-
ferring to high blood pressure
hypertensivehypertensive headache headache / hapətensv
hedek/ noun a headache caused by high
blood pressure
hypertensivehypertensive retinopathy retinopathy / hapətensv
retn ɒpəθi/ noun changes in the retina
caused by local bleeding and a restricted blood
supply that threaten eyesight, as the condition
indicates that the blood pressure is excessively
high
hyperthermiahyperthermia / hapə θ miə/ noun a very
high body temperature
hyperthyroidismhyperthyroidism / hapə θarɔdz(ə)m/
noun a condition in which the thyroid gland is
too active and releases unusual amounts of
thyroid hormones into the blood, giving rise to
a rapid heartbeat, sweating and trembling. It
hypnotist 186
hypnotisthypnotist / hpnətst/ noun a person who hypodermichypodermic syringe syringe / hapəd mk s
hypnotises other people ć The hypnotist rnd / noun a syringe fitted with a hypoder-
passed his hand in front of her eyes and she mic needle for injecting liquid under the skin
went immediately to sleep. hypofibrinogenaemiahypofibrinogenaemia / hapəυ fbrnəυ
hypohypo / hapəυ/ noun (informal) 1. same as hy- d ə ni miə/ noun a condition in which there is
podermic syringe 2. an attack of hypoglycae- not enough fibrinogen in the blood, e.g. be-
mia, experienced, e.g., by people who are dia- cause of several blood transfusions or as an in-
betic herited condition
hypo-hypo- /hapəυ/ prefix less, too little or beneath hypogammaglobulinaemiahypogammaglobulinaemia / hapəυ mə
hypoacidityhypoacidity / hapəυə sdti/ noun unusual- lɒbjυln i miə/ noun an unusually low con-
ly low acidity, especially in the stomach centration of gamma globulin in the blood that
hypoaesthesiahypoaesthesia / hapəυi s θi ziə/ noun a causes an immune deficiency. It may be
condition in which someone has a diminished present from birth or acquired later in life.
sense of touch hypogastriumhypogastrium / hapə striəm/ noun the
hypoallergenichypoallergenic / hapəυələ d enk/ adjec- part of the abdomen beneath the stomach
tive not likely to cause an allergic reaction hypoglossalhypoglossal / hapəυ lɒsəl/ adjective 1.
hypocalcaemiahypocalcaemia / hapəυk l si miə/ noun underneath or on the lower side of the tongue
an unusually low amount of calcium in the 2. relating to the hypoglossal nerve
blood, which can cause tetany hypoglossalhypoglossal nerve nerve /hapə lɒs(ə)l n v/
hypocapniahypocapnia / hapəυ k pniə/ noun a con- noun the twelfth cranial nerve which governs
dition in which there is not enough carbon di- the muscles of the tongue
oxide in the blood hypoglycaemiahypoglycaemia / hapəυ la si miə/ noun
hypochloraemiahypochloraemia / hapəυklɔ ri miə/ noun a low concentration of glucose in the blood
COMMENT: Hypoglycaemia affects diabetics
a condition in which there are not enough who feel weak from lack of sugar. A hypogly-
chlorine ions in the blood caemic attack can be prevented by eating glu-
hypochlorhydriahypochlorhydria / hapəυklɔ hadriə/ cose or a lump of sugar when feeling faint.
noun a condition in which there is not enough hypoglycaemichypoglycaemic / hapəυ la si mk/ adjec-
hydrochloric acid in the stomach tive having hypoglycaemia
hypochondriahypochondria / hapəυ kɒndriə/ noun a hypoglycaemichypoglycaemic coma coma / hapəυ la
condition in which a person is too worried si mk kəυmə/ noun a state of unconscious-
about his or her own health and believes he or ness affecting diabetics after taking an over-
she is ill dose of insulin
hypochondriachypochondriac / hapəυ kɒndri k/ noun a hypohidrosishypohidrosis / hapəυha drəυss/, hy-
person who worries about his or her health too poidrosis /hapɔ drəυss/ noun a condition
much in which someone produces too little sweat
hypochondriachypochondriac region region / hapəυ kɒn hypoinsulinismhypoinsulinism / hapəυ nsjυlnz(ə)m/
dri k ri d ən/ noun one of two parts of the
noun a condition in which the body does not
upper abdomen, on either side of the epigastri- have enough insulin, often because of a prob-
um below the floating ribs lem with the pancreas
hypochondriumhypochondrium / hapəυ kɒndriəm/ noun hypokalaemiahypokalaemia / hapəυk li miə/ noun a
one of the two hypochondriac regions in the deficiency of potassium in the blood
upper part of the abdomen hypomaniahypomania / hapəυ meniə/ noun a state of
hypochromichypochromic / hapəυ krəυmk/ adjective mild mania or overexcitement, especially
referring to blood cells or body tissue which when part of a manic-depressive cycle
do not have the usual amount of pigmentation hypomenorrhoeahypomenorrhoea / hapəmenə ri ə/ noun
ć hypochromic scars the production of too little blood at menstrua-
hypochromichypochromic anaemia anaemia / hapəυkrəυmk tion
ə ni miə/ noun anaemia where haemoglobin is
hypometropiahypometropia / hapəυm trəυpiə/ noun
reduced in proportion to the number of red same as myopia
blood cells, which then appear very pale hyponatraemiahyponatraemia / hapəυn tri miə/ noun a
hypodermichypodermic / hapə d mk/ adjective be- lack of sodium in the body
neath the skin í noun a hypodermic syringe, hypoparathyroidismhypoparathyroidism / hapəυ p rə θa
rɔdz(ə)m/ noun a condition in which the par-
needle or injection (informal)
athyroid glands do not secrete enough parath-
hypodermichypodermic injection injection / hapəd mk n
d ekʃən/ noun an injection of a liquid, e.g. a yroid hormone, leading to low blood calcium
and muscle spasms
painkilling drug, beneath the skin. Also called hypopharynxhypopharynx / hapəυ f rŋks/ noun the
subcutaneous injection part of the pharynx between the hyoid bone
hypodermichypodermic needle needle / hapəd mk and the bottom of the cricoid cartilage (NOTE:
ni d(ə)l/ noun a needle for injecting liquid un- The plural is hypopharynxes or hypopharyn-
der the skin ges.)
187 hypoventilation
hypophysealhypophyseal / hapə fziəl/ adjective refer- hypotensionhypotension / hapəυ tenʃən/ noun a con-
ring to the pituitary gland dition in which the pressure of the blood is un-
hypophysealhypophyseal stalk stalk / hapəfziəl stɔ k/ usually low. Also called low blood pressure.
noun a funnel-shaped stem which attaches the Compare hypertension
pituitary gland to the hypothalamus hypotensivehypotensive / hapə tensv/ adjective hav-
hypophysectomyhypophysectomy /ha pɒf sektəmi/ noun ing low blood pressure
the surgical removal of the pituitary gland hypothalamichypothalamic / hapəυθə l mk/ adjective
hypophysishypophysis cerebri cerebri /ha pɒfəss serəbri/ referring to the hypothalamus
noun same as pituitary gland hypothalamichypothalamic hormone hormone / hapəυθə
hypopiesishypopiesis / hapəυpa ss/ noun a condi- l mk hɔ məυn/ noun same as releasing
tion in which the blood pressure is too low hormone
hypopituitarismhypopituitarism / hapəυp tju tər hypothalamushypothalamus / hapəυ θ ləməs/ noun the
z(ə)m/ noun a condition in which the pitui- part of the brain above the pituitary gland,
tary gland is underactive which controls the production of hormones by
hypoplasiahypoplasia / hapəυ pleziə/ noun a lack of the pituitary gland and regulates important
development or incorrect formation of a body bodily functions such as hunger, thirst and
tissue or an organ sleep. See illustration at BRAIN in Supplement
hypoplastichypoplastic left heart left heart /hapəυ pl stk hypothalmushypothalmus / hapəυ θ lməs/ noun same
left hɑ t/ noun a serious heart disorder in
as hypothalamus (NOTE: The plural is hypoth-
which the left side of the heart does not devel- almuses or hypothalmi.)
op properly, leading to death within six weeks hypothenarhypothenar /ha pɒθnə/ adjective referring
of birth unless surgery is performed to the soft fat part of the palm beneath the little
hypopnoeahypopnoea / hapəυ pni ə/ noun unusually finger
shallow and slow breathing hypothenarhypothenar eminence eminence /ha pɒθnə
hypoproteinaemiahypoproteinaemia / hapəυprəυt ni miə/ emnəns/ noun a lump on the palm beneath
noun a condition in which there is not enough the little finger. Compare thenar
protein in the blood hypothermalhypothermal / hapəυ θ m(ə)l/ adjective
hypoprothrombinaemiahypoprothrombinaemia / hapəυprəυ referring to hypothermia
θrɒmb ni miə/ noun a condition in which hypothermiahypothermia / hapəυ θ miə/ noun a re-
there is not enough prothrombin in the blood, duction in body temperature below normal, for
so that the person bleeds and bruises easily medical purposes taken to be below 35°C
‘…inadvertent hypothermia can readily occur in pa-
hypopyonhypopyon / hapə paən/ noun an accumu- tients undergoing surgery when there is reduced heat
lation of pus in the aqueous humour in the production and a greater potential for heat loss to the
front chamber of the eye environment’ [British Journal of Nursing]
hyposensitisehyposensitise / hapəυ senstaz/, hypo- hypothermichypothermic / hapə θ mk/ adjective suf-
sensitize verb to reduce someone’s sensitivity fering from hypothermia ć Examination re-
to something, e.g. in the treatment of allergies vealed that she was hypothermic, with a rectal
hyposensitivehyposensitive / hapəυ senstv/ adjective temperature of only 29.4°C.
being less sensitive than usual hypothermichypothermic perfusion perfusion / hapəθ mk pə
fju (ə)n/ noun a method of preserving a do-
hyposensitivityhyposensitivity / hapəυ sens tvti/
nor organ by introducing a preserving solution
noun an unusually low sensitivity to stimuli
and storing the organ at a low temperature
such as allergens
hypothesishypothesis /ha pɒθəss/ noun a suggested
hypospadiashypospadias / hapə spediəs/ noun a con-
explanation for an observation or experimental
genital condition of the wall of the male ure-
result, which is then refined or disproved by
thra or the vagina, so that the opening occurs
further investigation
on the under side of the penis or in the vagina.
hypothyroidismhypothyroidism / hapəυ θarɔdz(ə)m/
Compare epispadias
noun underactivity of the thyroid gland
hypostasishypostasis /ha pɒstəss/ noun a condition
hypotoniahypotonia / hapəυ təυniə/ noun reduced
in which fluid accumulates in part of the body
tone of the skeletal muscles
because of poor circulation
hypotonichypotonic / hapəυ tɒnk/ adjective 1.
hypostatichypostatic / hapəυ st tk/ adjective refer-
showing hypotonia 2. referring to a solution
ring to hypostasis
with a lower osmotic pressure than plasma
hypostatichypostatic eczema eczema / hapəυst tk eksmə/ hypotrichosishypotrichosis / hapəυtr kəυss/ noun a
noun same as varicose eczema condition in which less hair develops than usu-
hypostatichypostatic pneumonia pneumonia / hapəυst tk al. Compare alopecia (NOTE: The plural is hy-
nju məυniə/ noun pneumonia caused by flu-
potrichoses.)
id accumulating in the lungs of a bedridden hypotropiahypotropia / hapəυ trəυpiə/ noun a form
person with a weak heart of squint where one eye looks downwards
hypostheniahyposthenia / hapɒs θi niə/ noun a condi- hypoventilationhypoventilation / hapəυvent leʃ(ə)n/
tion of unusual bodily weakness noun very slow breathing
hypovitaminosis 188
hypovitaminosishypovitaminosis / hapəυ vtəm nəυss/ hystericushystericus /h sterkəs/ globus hysteri-
noun a lack of vitamins
cus
hypoxaemiahypoxaemia / hapɒk si miə/ noun an inad-
equate supply of oxygen in the arterial blood hystero-hystero- /hstərəυ/ prefix referring to the
hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl trans-hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase uterus
ferase noun full form of HPRT
hysterocelehysterocele / hstərəυsi l/ noun same as
hypoxiahypoxia /ha pɒksiə/ noun 1. an inadequate
supply of oxygen to tissue as a result of a lack uterocele
of oxygen in the arterial blood 2. same as hy-
poxaemia hystero-oöphorectomyhystero-oöphorectomy / hstərəυ əυəfə
hyster-hyster- /hstə/ prefix same as hystero- (used rektəmi/ noun the surgical removal of the
before vowels)
uterus, the uterine tubes and the ovaries
hysteralgiahysteralgia / hstər ld ə/ noun pain in the
uterus hysteroptosishysteroptosis / hstərɒp təυss/ noun pro-
hysterectomyhysterectomy / hstə rektəmi/ noun the lapse of the uterus
surgical removal of the uterus, often either to
treat cancer or because of the presence of fi- hysterosalpingo-contrast sonographyhysterosalpingo-contrast sonography /
broids
hsterəυ s lpŋ əυ kɒntrɑ st sɒn ɒ rəfi/
hysteriahysteria /h stəriə/ noun a term formerly
used in psychiatry, but now informally used noun examination of the uterus and Fallopian
for a condition in which the person appears un-
stable, and may scream and wave their arms tubes by ultrasound. Abbr HYCOSY
about, but also is repressed, and may be slow
to react to outside stimuli (dated) hysterosalpingographyhysterosalpingography / hstərəυ s lpŋ
hystericalhysterical /h sterk(ə)l/ adjective referring ɒ rəfi/ noun an X-ray examination of the
to a reaction showing hysteria (informal)
uterus and Fallopian tubes following injection
hystericallyhysterically /h sterkli/ adverb in a hysteri-
cal way (informal) of radio-opaque material. Also called uteros-
hystericalhysterical personality personality /h sterk(ə)l alpingography
p sə n lti/ noun the mental condition of a
person who is unstable, lacks usual feelings hysterosalpingostomyhysterosalpingostomy / hstərəυ s lpŋ
and is dependent on others (dated)
ɒstəmi/ noun an operation to remake an
hystericshysterics /h sterks/ noun an attack of hys-
teria (dated) opening between the uterine tube and the uter-
us, to help with infertility problems
hysteroscopehysteroscope / hstərəskəυp/ noun a tube
for inspecting the inside of the uterus
hysteroscopyhysteroscopy / hstə rɒskəpi/ noun an ex-
amination of the uterine cavity using a hyster-
oscope or fibrescope
hysterotomyhysterotomy / hstə rɒtəmi/ noun a surgical
incision into the uterus, as in caesarean section
or for some types of abortion
hysterotrachelorrhaphyhysterotrachelorrhaphy / hstərəυ tr kiə
lɒrəfi/ noun an operation to repair a tear in the
cervix
-iasis
I
-iasis /aəss/ suffix disease caused by some- icterus gravisicterus gravis neonatorum neonatorum / ktərəs
r vs ni əυnə tɔ rəm/ noun jaundice as-
thing ć amoebiasis
sociated with erythroblastosis fetalis
iatro-iatro- /a trəυ/ prefix relating to medicine or
ictusictus / ktəs/ noun a stroke or fit
doctors
ICUICU abbr intensive care unit
iatrogenesis aiatrogenesis/ trəυ d enəss/ noun any
idid /d/ noun (in Freudian psychology) the basic
condition caused by the actions of doctors or unconscious drives which exist in hidden
forms in a person
other healthcare professionals
ideationideation / adi eʃ(ə)n/ noun the act or proc-
iatrogenic aiatrogenic/ trə d enk/ adjective refer- ess of imagining or forming thoughts and ideas
ring to a condition which is caused by a doc- identicalidentical twins twins /a dentk(ə)l twnz/ plural
noun twins who are exactly the same in ap-
tor’s treatment for another disease or condition pearance because they developed from the
same ovum. Also called monozygotic twins,
ć an iatrogenic infection uniovular twins
COMMENT: An iatrogenic condition can be identificationidentification /a dentf keʃ(ə)n/ noun
caused by a drug, i.e. a side effect, by infec- the act of discovering or stating who someone
tion from the doctor or simply by worry about
possible treatment. is or what something is ˽ identification with
IBSIBS abbr irritable bowel syndrome someone the act of associating with and un-
consciously taking on the viewpoints and be-
ibuprofenibuprofen / abju prəυfən/ noun a nonster- haviours of one or more other people
oidal anti-inflammatory drug that relieves pain identityidentity bracelet bracelet /a dentti breslət/,
identity label /a dentti leb(ə)l/ noun a la-
and swelling, especially in arthritis and rheu- bel attached to the wrist of a newborn baby or
patient in hospital, so that he or she can be
matism. It is also widely used as a household identified
painkiller. ideo-ideo- /adiəυ/ prefix involving ideas
iceice bag bag / as b /, icebag, ice pack / as idio-idio- /diəυ/ prefix referring to one particular
p k/ noun a cold compress made of lumps of person
ice wrapped in a cloth or put in a special bag idiopathicidiopathic / diə p θk/ adjective 1. refer-
ring to a disease with no obvious cause 2. re-
and held against an injured part of the body to ferring to idiopathy
reduce pain or swelling idiopathicidiopathic epilepsy epilepsy / diəp θk ep lepsi/
noun epilepsy not caused by a brain disorder,
ichthamolichthamol /k θ mɒl/ noun a thick dark red beginning during childhood or adolescence
liquid which is a mild antiseptic and analgesic, idiopathyidiopathy / di ɒpəθi/ noun a condition
which develops without any known cause
used in the treatment of skin diseases
idiosyncrasyidiosyncrasy / diəυ sŋkrəsi/ noun a way
ichthyosisichthyosis / kθ əυss/ noun a hereditary of behaving which is particular to one person
condition in which the skin does not form idiotidiot savant savant / diəυ s vɒŋ/ noun a person
with learning difficulties who also possesses a
properly, resulting in a dry, non-inflammatory single particular mental ability, such as the
ability to play music by ear, to draw remem-
and scaly appearance bered objects or to do mental calculations,
which is very highly developed
ICMICM abbr International Confederation of Mid-
wives
ICNICN abbr 1. International Council of Nurses 2.
infection control nurse
ICPICP abbr intracranial pressure
ICRCICRC abbr International Committee of the
Red Cross
ICSHICSH abbr interstitial cell stimulating hor-
mone
ictericicteric /k terk/ adjective referring to some-
one with jaundice
icterusicterus / ktərəs/ noun same as jaundice
idioventricular 190
idioventricularidioventricular / diəυven trkjυlə/ adjec- ileosigmoidostomyileosigmoidostomy / liəυs mɔ dɒstəmi/
tive relating to the ventricles of the heart noun a surgical operation to create a link be-
idioventricularidioventricular rhythm rhythm / diəυven trkjυlə tween the ileum and the sigmoid colon
rð(ə)m/ noun a slow natural rhythm in the ileostomyileostomy / li ɒstəmi/ noun a surgical oper-
ventricles of the heart, but not in the atria ation to make an opening between the ileum
IDKIDK abbr internal derangement of the knee and the abdominal wall to act as an artificial
IgIg abbr immunoglobulin opening for excretion of faeces
Ig A antiendomysial antibody a d i eIg A antiendomysial antibody/ ileostomyileostomy bag bag /li ɒstəmi b / noun a bag
ntiendəυ masiəl ntbɒdi/ noun a sero- attached to the opening made by an ileostomy,
logical screening test for coeliac disease to collect faeces as they are passed out of the
IHDIHD abbr ischaemic heart disease body
IL-1IL-1 abbr interleukin-1 ileumileum / liəm/ noun the lower part of the small
IL-2IL-2 abbr interleukin-2 intestine, between the jejunum and the cae-
ile-ile- /li/ prefix same as ileo- (used before vow- cum. Compare ilium. See illustration at DIGES-
els) TIVE SYSTEM in Supplement (NOTE: The plural is
ileailea / liə/ plural of ileum ilea.)
COMMENT: The ileum is the longest section of
ileacileac / li k/ adjective 1. relating to an ileus 2. the small intestine, being about 2.5 metres
relating to the ileum long.
ilealileal / liəl/ adjective referring to the ileum ileusileus / liəs/ noun obstruction of the intestine,
ilealileal bladder bladder / liəl bl də/, ileal conduit / usually distension caused by loss of muscular
liəl kɒndjut/ noun an artificial tube formed action in the bowel. paralytic ileus
when the ureters are linked to part of the ileum, ili-ili- /li/ prefix same as ilio- (used before vowels)
and that part is linked to an opening in the ab- iliailia / liə/ plural of ilium
dominal wall iliaciliac / li k/ adjective referring to the ilium
ilealileal pouch pouch / liəl paυtʃ/ noun a part of the iliaciliac crest crest / li k krest/ noun a curved top
small intestine which is made into a new rec- edge of the ilium. See illustration at PELVIS in
tum in a surgical operation, freeing someone Supplement
from the need for an ileostomy after their co- iliaciliac fossa fossa / li k fɒsə/ noun a depression
lon is removed on the inner side of the hip bone
ileectomyileectomy / li ektəmi/ noun the surgical re- iliaciliac region region / li k ri d ən/ noun one of two
moval of all or part of the ileum regions of the lower abdomen, on either side of
ileitisileitis / li ats/ noun inflammation of the il- the hypogastrium
eum iliaciliac spine spine / li k span/ noun a projection at
ileo-ileo- /liəυ/ prefix relating to the ileum the posterior end of the iliac crest
ileocaecalileocaecal / liəυ si k(ə)l/ adjective referring iliacusiliacus /li kəs/ noun a muscle in the groin
to the ileum and the caecum which flexes the thigh
ileocaecalileocaecal orifice orifice / liəυsi k(ə)l ɒrfs/ ilio-ilio- /liəυ/ prefix relating to the ilium
noun an opening where the small intestine iliococcygealiliococcygeal / liəυkɒk sd iəl/ adjective
joins the large intestine referring to both the ilium and the coccyx
ileocaecal valve liileocaecal valve/ əυsi k(ə)l v lv/ noun a iliolumbariliolumbar / liəυ l mbə/ adjective referring
valve at the end of the ileum, which allows to the iliac and lumbar regions
food to pass from the ileum into the caecum iliopectinealiliopectineal / liəυpek tniəl/ adjective re-
ileocaecocystoplastyileocaecocystoplasty / liəυ si kəυ satəυ ferring to both the ilium and the pubis
pl sti/ noun an operation to reconstruct the iliopectinealiliopectineal eminence eminence / liəυpektniəl
bladder using a piece of the combined ileum emnəns/ noun a raised area on the inner sur-
and caecum face of the innominate bone
ileocolicileocolic / liəυ kɒlk/ adjective referring to iliopsoasiliopsoas / liəυ səυəs/ noun a muscle
both the ileum and the colon formed from the iliacus and psoas muscles
ileocolicileocolic artery artery / li əυkɒlk ɑ təri/ noun a iliopubiciliopubic / liəυ pju bk/ adjective same as il-
branch of the superior mesenteric artery iopectineal
ileocolitisileocolitis / liəυkə lats/ noun inflamma- iliopubiciliopubic eminence eminence / liəυ pju bk
tion of both the ileum and the colon emnəns/ noun same as iliopectineal emi-
ileocolostomyileocolostomy / liəυkə lɒstəmi/ noun a nence
surgical operation to make a link directly be- iliotibialiliotibial tract tract / liəυ tbiəl tr kt/ noun a
tween the ileum and the colon thick fascia which runs from the ilium to the
ileoproctostomyileoproctostomy / liəυprɒk tɒstəmi/ tibia
noun a surgical operation to create a link be- iliumilium / liəm/ noun the top part of each of the
tween the ileum and the rectum hip bones, which form the pelvis. Compare il-
ileorectalileorectal / liəυ rekt(ə)l/ adjective referring eum. See illustration at PELVIS in Supplement
to both the ileum and the rectum (NOTE: The plural is ilia.)
191 immunocompromised
illill /l/ adjective not well ć If you feel very ill immobilisationimmobilisation / məυbla zeʃ(ə)n/, im-
you ought to see a doctor. mobilization noun the act of preventing some-
illegal abortion liillegal abortion/ (ə)l ə bɔ ʃ(ə)n/ noun body or something from being able to move
same as criminal abortion immobiliseimmobilise / məυblaz/, immobilize verb
ill healthill health / l helθ/ noun the fact of not being 1. to keep someone from moving 2. to attach a
well ć He has been in ill health for some time. splint to a joint or fractured limb to prevent the
ć She has a history of ill health. ć He had to bones from moving
retire early for reasons of ill health. immovableimmovable / mu vəb(ə)l/ adjective refer-
illnessillness / lnəs/ noun 1. a state of not being ring to a joint which cannot be moved
well ć Most of the children stayed away from immuneimmune / mju n/ adjective protected against
school because of illness. 2. a type of disease an infection or allergic disease ć She seems to
ć Scarlet fever is no longer considered to be a be immune to colds. ć The injection should
very serious illness. ć He is in hospital with an make you immune to yellow fever.
infectious tropical illness. immuneimmune deficiency deficiency / mju n d fʃ(ə)nsi/
illusionillusion / lu (ə)n/ noun a condition in noun a lack of immunity to a disease. ı AIDS
which a person has a wrong perception of ex- immuneimmune reaction reaction / mju n ri kʃən/, im-
mune response / mju n r spɒns/ noun a re-
ternal objects
i.m.,i.m. IM abbr intramuscular action of a body to an antigen
imageimage / md / noun a sensation, e.g. a smell, immuneimmune system system / mju n sstəm/ noun a
sight or taste, which is remembered clearly complex network of cells and cell products,
imageryimagery / md əri/ noun visual sensations which protects the body from disease. It in-
clearly produced in the mind cludes the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, white
imaginaryimaginary / m d n(ə)ri/ adjective refer- blood cells and antibodies.
ring to something which does not exist but is ‘…the reason for this susceptibility is a profound ab-
normality of the immune system in children with
imagined sickle-cell disease’ [Lancet]
imaginary playmate mimaginary playmate/ d nəri ple ‘…the AIDS virus attacks a person’s immune system
and damages his or her ability to fight other diseases’
met/ noun a friend who does not exist but [Journal of the American Medical Association]
who is imagined by a small child to exist
imaginationimagination / m d neʃ(ə)n/ noun the immunisationimmunisation / mjυna zeʃ(ə)n/, immu-
ability to see or invent things in your mind ć nization noun the process of making a person
In her imagination she saw herself sitting on a immune to an infection, either by injecting an
beach in the sun. antiserum, passive immunisation or by inocu-
imagineimagine / m d n/ verb to see, hear or feel lation
something in your mind ć Imagine yourself ‘…vaccination is the most effective way to prevent
children getting the disease. Children up to 6 years
sitting on the beach in the sun. ć I thought I old can be vaccinated if they missed earlier immuni-
zation’ [Health Visitor]
heard someone shout, but I must have imag-
immuniseimmunise / mjυnaz/, immunize verb to
ined it because there is no one there. ˽ to im-
agine things to have delusions ć She keeps
imagining things. ć Sometimes he imagines he give someone immunity from an infection. ı
is swimming in the sea. vaccinate (NOTE: You immunise someone
imagingimaging / md ŋ/ noun a technique for cre- against a disease.)
ating pictures of sections of the body, using COMMENT: In the UK, infants are immunised
routinely against diphtheria, pertussis, polio,
scanners attached to computers tetanus, Hib, mumps, measles and rubella,
unless there are contra-indications or the par-
imbalanceimbalance /m b ləns/ noun a situation in ents object.
which things are unequal or in the wrong pro-
portions to one another, e.g. in the diet immunityimmunity / mju nti/ noun the ability to re-
imipramineimipramine / mprəmi n/ noun a drug that sist attacks of a disease because antibodies are
is used as a treatment for depression produced ć The vaccine gives immunity to tu-
immatureimmature / mə tjυə/ adjective not mature, berculosis.
lacking insight and emotional stability immuno-immuno- /mjυnəυ, mju nəυ/ prefix im-
immatureimmature cell cell / mətjυə sel/ noun a cell mune, immunity
which is still developing immunoassayimmunoassay / mjυnəυ se/ noun a test
immaturityimmaturity / mə tʃυərti/ noun behaviour for the presence and strength of antibodies
which is lacking in maturity immunocompetenceimmunocompetence / mjυnəυ
immersion foot mimmersion foot/ ʃ(ə)n fυt/ noun same kɒmptəns/ noun the ability to develop an
as trench foot immune response following exposure to an an-
immiscibleimmiscible / msəb(ə)l/ adjective (of liquids) tigen
not able to be mixed immunocompromisedimmunocompromised / mjυnəυ kɒmprə
mazd/ adjective not able to offer resistance to
immobileimmobile / məυbal/ adjective not moving,
which cannot move infection
immunodeficiency 192
immunodeficiencyimmunodeficiency / mjυnəυd fʃ(ə)nsi/ pass through the anus and have to be surgically
noun a lack of immunity to a disease removed
immunodeficiencyimmunodeficiency virus virus / mjυnəυd impacted fracture m pimpacted fracture/ ktd fr ktʃə/
fʃ(ə)nsi varəs/ noun a retrovirus which at-
noun a fracture where the broken parts of the
tacks the immune system bones are pushed into each other
immunodeficientimmunodeficient / mjυnəυd fʃ(ə)nt/ impactedimpacted tooth tooth /m p ktd tu θ/ noun a
adjective lacking immunity to a disease ć This tooth which is held against another tooth and
form of meningitis occurs in persons who are so cannot grow normally
immunodeficient. impacted ureteric calculus m pimpacted ureteric calculus/ ktd
immunoelectrophoresisimmunoelectrophoresis / mjυnəυ lektrəυfə jυərterk k lkjυləs/ noun a small hard
ri ss/ noun a method of identifying antigens in
mass of mineral salts which is lodged in a ure-
a laboratory, using electrophoresis ter
immunogenicimmunogenic / mjυnəυ d enk/ adjective impactionimpaction /m p kʃən/ noun a condition in
producing an immune response which two things are impacted
immunogenicityimmunogenicity / mjυnəυd ə nsti/ impairimpair /m peə/ verb to harm a sense or func-
noun the property which makes a substance tion so that it does not work properly
able to produce an immune response in an or- impairedimpaired hearing hearing /m peəd hərŋ/ noun
ganism hearing which is not clear and sharp
immunoglobulinimmunoglobulin / mjυnəυ lɒbjυln/ impairedimpaired vision vision /m peəd v (ə)n/ noun
noun an antibody, a protein produced in blood eyesight which is not fully clear
plasma as protection against infection, the impairmentimpairment /m peəmənt/ noun a condition
commonest being gamma globulin. Abbr Ig in which a sense or function is harmed so that
(NOTE: The five main classes are called: immu- it does not work properly ć His hearing im-
noglobulin G, A, D, E and M or IgG, IgA, IgD, pairment does not affect his work. ć The im-
IgE and IgM.) pairment was progressive, but she did not no-
immunologicalimmunological / mjυnə lɒd k(ə)l/ adjec- tice that her eyesight was getting worse.
tive referring to immunology ‘…impairment – any loss or abnormality of psycho-
logical, physical or anatomical structure or function’
immunologicalimmunological staining staining / mjυnə [WHO]
lɒd k(ə)l stenŋ/ noun the process of
checking if cancer is likely to return after impalpableimpalpable /m p lpəb(ə)l/ adjective not
someone has been declared free of the disease, able to be felt when touched
by staining cells impedimentimpediment /m pedmənt/ noun an ob-
immunologicalimmunological tolerance tolerance / mjυnə struction
lɒd k(ə)l tɒlərəns/ noun tolerance of the imperforateimperforate /m p f(ə)rət/ adjective with-
lymphoid tissues to an antigen out an opening
immunologistimmunologist / mjυ nɒləd st/ noun a imperforate anus m pimperforate anus/ f(ə)rət enəs/
specialist in immunology noun same as proctatresia
immunologyimmunology / mjυ nɒləd i/ noun the study imperforate hymen m pimperforate hymen/ f(ə)rət hamen/
of immunity and immunisation noun a membrane in the vagina which is miss-
immunosuppressantimmunosuppressant / mjυnəυsə ing the opening for the menstrual flow
pres(ə)nt/ noun a drug used to act against the impermeableimpermeable /m p miəb(ə)l/ adjective not
response of the immune system to reject a allowing liquids or gases to pass through
transplanted organ impetigoimpetigo / mp ta əυ/ noun an irritating
immunosuppressionimmunosuppression / mjυnəυsə and very contagious skin disease caused by
preʃ(ə)n/ noun the suppression of the body’s staphylococci, which spreads rapidly and is
natural immune system so that it will not reject easily passed from one child to another, but
a transplanted organ can be treated with antibiotics
immunosuppressiveimmunosuppressive / mjυnəυsə presv/ implantimplant noun / mplɑ nt/ something grafted
adjective counteracting the immune system or inserted into a person, e.g. tissue, a drug, in-
immunotherapyimmunotherapy / mjυnəυ θerəpi/ noun ert material or a device such as a pacemaker í
verb /m plɑ nt/ 1. to fix into something ć The
adoptive immunotherapy
immunotransfusionimmunotransfusion / mjυnəυtr ns ovum implants in the wall of the uterus. 2. to
fju (ə)n/ noun a transfusion of blood, serum graft or insert tissue, a drug, inert material or a
or plasma containing immune bodies device ć The site was implanted with the bio-
ImodiumImodium / məυdiəm/ a trade name for Iop- material.
eramide hydrochloride implantationimplantation / mplɑ n teʃ(ə)n/ noun 1.
impactedimpacted /m p ktd/ adjective tightly the act of grafting or inserting tissue, a drug,
pressed or firmly lodged against something inert material or a device into a person, or the
impacted faeces m pimpacted faeces / ktd fi si z/ plural introduction of one tissue into another surgi-
noun extremely hard dry faeces which cannot cally 2. same as nidation
193 incompatibility
implantimplant material material / mplɑ nt mə təriəl/ inbreedinginbreeding / nbri dŋ/ noun a situation
where closely related males and females, or
noun a substance grafted or inserted into a per- those with very similar genetic make-up, have
children together, so allowing congenital con-
son ditions to be passed on
implantimplant site site / mplɑ nt sat/ noun a place in incapacitatedincapacitated / inkə p stetd/ adjective
not able to act or work ć He was incapacitated
or on the body where the implant is positioned for three weeks by his accident.
impotenceimpotence / mpət(ə)ns/ noun the inability incarceratedincarcerated /n kɑ səretd/ adjective re-
ferring to a hernia which cannot be corrected
in a male to have an erection or to ejaculate, by physical manipulation
and so have sexual intercourse incestincest / nsest/ noun an act of sexual inter-
course or other sexual activity with so close a
impotentimpotent / mpət(ə)nt/ adjective (of a man) relative, that it is illegal or culturally not al-
lowed
unable to have sexual intercourse
incidenceincidence / nsd(ə)ns/ noun the number of
impregnateimpregnate / mpre net/ verb 1. to make a times something happens in a specific popula-
tion over a period of time ć the incidence of
female pregnant 2. to soak a cloth with a liquid drug-related deaths ć Men have a higher inci-
dence of strokes than women.
ć a cloth impregnated with antiseptic
incidenceincidence rate rate / nsd(ə)ns ret/ noun the
impregnationimpregnation / mpre neʃ(ə)n/ noun the number of new cases of a disease during a giv-
en period, per thousand of population
action of impregnating
incipientincipient /n spiənt/ adjective just beginning
impressionimpression /m preʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. a mould or in its early stages ć He has an incipient ap-
pendicitis. ć The tests detected incipient dia-
of a person’s jaw made by a dentist before betes mellitus.
making a denture 2. a depression on an organ inciseincise /n saz/ verb to cut into something
or structure into which another organ or struc- incisedincised wound wound /n sazd wu nd/ noun a
wound with clean edges, caused by a sharp
ture fits ȣ cardiac impression 1. concave area knife or razor
near the centre of the upper surface of the liver incisionincision /n s (ə)n/ noun a cut in a person’s
body made by a surgeon using a scalpel, or any
under the heart 2. depression on the mediasti- cut made with a sharp knife or razor ć The first
incision is made two millimetres below the
nal part of the lungs where they touch the peri- second rib. Compare excision
cardium incisionalincisional /n s (ə)n(ə)l/ adjective referring
to an incision
improveimprove /m pru v/ verb to get better, or
incisionalincisional hernia hernia /n s (ə)n(ə)l h niə/
make something better ć She was very ill, but noun a hernia which breaks through the ab-
dominal wall at a place where a surgical inci-
she is improving now. sion was made during an operation
improvementimprovement /m pru vmənt/ noun the act incisorincisor /n sazə/, incisor tooth /n sazə
tu θ/ noun one of the front teeth, of which
of getting better ć The patient’s condition has there are four each in the upper and lower
jaws, which are used to cut off pieces of food.
shown a slight improvement. ć Doctors have See illustration at TEETH in Supplement
not detected any improvement in her asthma. inclusioninclusion /n klu (ə)n/ noun something en-
closed inside something else
impulseimpulse / mp ls/ noun 1. a message trans-
inclusioninclusion bodies bodies /n klu (ə)n bɒdiz/ plu-
mitted by a nerve 2. a sudden feeling of want- ral noun very small particles found in cells in-
fected by a virus
ing to act in a specific way
inclusiveinclusive /n klu sv/ adjective (of health
impureimpure /m pjυə/ adjective not pure services) provided whether or not someone has
a disability or special needs
impurityimpurity /m pjυərti/ noun a substance
incoherentincoherent / nkəυ hərənt/ adjective not
which is not pure or clean ć The kidneys filter able to speak in a way which makes sense
impurities out of the blood. incompatibilityincompatibility / nkəmp t blti/ noun the
fact of being incompatible ć the incompatibil-
in-in- /n/ prefix 1. in, into, towards 2. not ity of the donor’s blood with that of the patient
inaccessibleinaccessible / nək sesb(ə)l/ adjective 1.
physically difficult or impossible to reach 2.
very technical and difficult to understand
inactiveinactive /n ktv/ adjective 1. not being ac-
tive, not moving ć Patients must not be al-
lowed to become inactive. 2. not working ć
The serum makes the poison inactive.
inactivity ninactivity/ k tvti/ noun a lack of activ-
ity
inanitioninanition / nə nʃ(ə)n/ noun a state of ex-
haustion caused by starvation
inarticulateinarticulate / nɑ tkjυlət/ adjective 1.
without joints or segments, as in the bones of
the skull 2. unable to speak fluently or intelli-
gibly 3. not understandable as speech or lan-
guage
in articulo mortis n ɑin articulo mortis/ tkjυləυ mɔ ts/
adverb a Latin phrase meaning ‘at the onset of
death’
inborninborn /n bɔ n/ adjective congenital, which
is in the body from birth ć A body has an in-
born tendency to reject transplanted organs.
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Dictionary of Medical Terms 4th Ed.- (Malestrom)
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Dictionary of Medical Terms 4th Ed.- (Malestrom)
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