incompatible 194
incompatibleincompatible / nkəm p tb(ə)l/ adjective incudesincudes /n kju di z/ plural of incus
1. referring to something which does not go to- incusincus / ŋkəs/ noun one of the three ossicles
gether with something else 2. referring to in the middle ear, shaped like an anvil. See il-
drugs which must not be used together because
lustration at EAR in Supplement
they undergo chemical change and the thera-
independentindependent / nd pendənt/ adjective not
peutic effect is lost or changed to something
undesirable 3. referring to tissue which is ge- controlled by someone or something else
netically different from other tissue, making it independent nursing function ndindependent nursing function/
impossible to transplant into that tissue pendənt n sŋ f ŋkʃən/ noun any part of
incompatibleincompatible blood blood / nkəmp təb(ə)l the nurse’s job for which the nurse takes full
bl d/ noun blood from a donor that does not
responsibility
match the blood of the person receiving the InderalInderal / ndər l/ a trade name for pro-
transfusion
pranolol
incompetenceincompetence /n kɒmpt(ə)ns/ noun the indexindex finger finger / ndeks fŋ ə/ noun the first
inability to do a particular act, especially a lack finger next to the thumb
of knowledge or skill which makes a person indicanindican / ndik n/ noun potassium salt
unable to do particular job indicationindication / nd keʃ(ə)n/ noun a situation
incompetentincompetent cervix cervix /n kɒmpt(ə)nt or sign which suggests that a specific treat-
s vks/ noun a dysfunctional cervix of the
ment should be given or that a condition has a
uterus which is often the cause of spontaneous particular cause ć Sulpha drugs have been re-
abortions and premature births and can be
placed by antibiotics in many indications. ı
remedied by purse-string stitching contraindication
incompleteincomplete abortion abortion / nkəmpli t ə indicatorindicator / ndketə/ noun 1. a substance
bɔ ʃ(ə)n/ noun an abortion where part of the
which shows something, e.g. a substance se-
contents of the uterus is not expelled creted in body fluids which shows which
incompleteincomplete fracture fracture / nkəmpli t blood group a person belongs to 2. something
fr ktʃə/ noun a fracture that does not go all that serves as a warning or guide
the way through a bone indigenousindigenous /n dd nəs/ adjective 1. natu-
ral or inborn 2. native to or representative of a
incontinenceincontinence /n kɒntnəns/ noun the ina- country or region
bility to control the discharge of urine or fae- indigestionindigestion / nd d estʃən/ noun a distur-
ces (NOTE: Single incontinence is the inability to
bance of the normal process of digestion,
control the bladder. Double incontinence is the where the person experiences pain or discom-
inability to control both the bladder and the bow- fort in the stomach ć He is taking tablets to re-
els.) lieve his indigestion or He is taking indigestion
incontinenceincontinence pad pad /n kɒntnəns p d/ tablets. ı dyspepsia
noun a pad of material to absorb urine indigoindigo carmine carmine / nd əυ kɑ man/ noun a
incontinentincontinent /n kɒntnənt/ adjective unable blue dye which is injected into a person to test
to control the discharge of urine or faeces
how well their kidneys are working
incoordinationincoordination / nkəυɔ d neʃ(ə)n/ noun indirectindirect contact contact / ndarekt kɒnt kt/
a situation in which the muscles in various noun the fact of catching a disease by inhaling
parts of the body do not act together, making it germs or by being in contact with a vector
impossible to carry out some actions
indisposedindisposed / nd spəυzd/ adjective slightly
incubationincubation / ŋkjυ beʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. the de- ill ć My mother is indisposed and cannot see
velopment of an infection inside the body be- any visitors.
fore the symptoms of the disease appear 2. the indispositionindisposition / ndspə zʃ(ə)n/ noun a slight
keeping of an ill or premature baby in a con-
illness
trolled environment in an incubator 3. the individualiseindividualise / nd vd uə laz/, individu-
process of culturing cells or microorganisms alize verb to provide something that matches
under controlled conditions
the needs of a specific person or situation ć in-
incubationincubation period period / ŋkjυ beʃ(ə)n dividualised care
pəriəd/ noun the time during which a virus or individualisedindividualised nursing care nursing care / nd vd
bacterium develops in the body after contami- juəlazd n sŋ keə/ noun care which is de-
nation or infection, before the appearance of signed to provide exactly what one particular
the symptoms of the disease. Also called sta- patient needs ć The home’s staff are specially
dium invasioni trained to provide individualised nursing care.
incubatorincubator / ŋkjυbetə/ noun 1. an apparatus IndocidIndocid / ndəsd/ a trade name for in-
for growing bacterial cultures 2. an enclosed domethacin
container in which a premature baby can be indolentindolent / ndələnt/ adjective 1. causing little
kept, within which conditions such as temper-
pain 2. referring to an ulcer which develops
ature and oxygen levels can be controlled slowly and does not heal
195 infective hepatitis
indomethacinindomethacin / ndəυ meθəsn/ noun a tics of an infant when he or she becomes an
drug that reduces pain, fever and inflamma- adult
tion, especially that caused by arthritis infant mortalityinfant mortality rate rate / nfənt mɔ t lti
indrawingindrawing /n drɔ ŋ/ noun the act of pulling ret/ noun the number of infants who die per
towards the inside thousand births
indrawnindrawn /n drɔ n/ adjective pulled inside infant respiratory distress syndromeinfant respiratory distress syndrome /
induceinduce /n dju s/ verb to make something nfənt r sprət(ə)ri d stres sndrəυm/
happen ˽ to induce labour to make a woman noun a condition of newborn babies in which
go into labour the lungs do not function properly. Abbr IRDS
inducedinduced abortion abortion /n dju st ə bɔ ʃ(ə)n/ infarctinfarct / nfɑ kt/ noun an area of tissue which
noun an abortion which is deliberately caused is killed when the blood supply is cut off by the
by drugs or by surgery blockage of an artery
inductioninduction /n d kʃən/ noun 1. the process of infarctioninfarction /n fɑ kʃ(ə)n/ noun a condition in
starting or speeding up the birth of a baby 2. which tissue is killed by the cutting off of the
the stimulation of an enzyme’s production blood supply
when the substance on which it acts increases ‘…cerebral infarction accounts for about 80% of
in concentration 3. a process by which one part first-ever strokes’ [British Journal of Hospital
of an embryo influences another part’s devel- Medicine]
opment 4. information and support given to infectinfect /n fekt/ verb to contaminate someone
new employees in an organisation or something with microorganisms that cause
induction of labour n dinduction of labour kʃən əv lebə/ disease or toxins ć The disease infected her
/ liver. ć The whole arm soon became infected.
noun the action of starting childbirth artificial- infectedinfected wound wound /n fektd wu nd/ noun a
ly wound into which bacteria have entered
indurationinduration / ndjυə reʃ(ə)n/ noun the hard- infectioninfection /n fekʃən/ noun 1. the entry or in-
ening of tissue or of an artery because of path- troduction into the body of microorganisms,
ological change which then multiply ć As a carrier he was
induratuminduratum / ndjυə retəm/ erythema spreading infection to other people in the of-
industrialindustrial disease disease /n d striəl d zi z/ fice. 2. an illness which is caused by the entry
noun a disease which is caused by the type of of microbes into the body ć She is susceptible
work done by a worker or by the conditions in to minor infections.
which he or she works, e.g. by dust produced infectiousinfectious /n fekʃəs/ adjective referring to a
or chemicals used in the factory disease which is caused by microorganisms
indwellingindwelling catheter catheter /n dwelŋ k θtə/ and can be transmitted to other persons by di-
noun a catheter left in place for a period of time rect means ć This strain of flu is highly infec-
after its introduction tious. ć Her measles is at the infectious stage.
inebriationinebriation / ni br eʃ(ə)n/ noun a state infectiousinfectious disease disease /n fekʃəs d zi z/ noun
where a person is drunk, especially habitually a disease caused by microorganisms such as
drunk bacteria, viruses or fungi. ı communicable
inertinert / n t/ adjective 1. (of person) not mov- disease, contagious disease
ing 2. (of chemical, etc.) not active or not pro- infectiousinfectious hepatitis hepatitis /n fekʃəs hepə
ducing a chemical reaction tats/ noun hepatitis A, transmitted by a car-
inertiainertia / n ʃə/ noun a lack of activity in the rier through food or drink. Also called infec-
body or mind tive hepatitis
in extremisin extremis /n ks tri ms/ adverb at the infectiousinfectious mononucleosis mononucleosis /n fekʃəs
mɒnəυ nju kli əυss/ noun an infectious dis-
moment of death
ease where the body has an excessive number
infantinfant / nfənt/ noun a child under two years
of white blood cells. Also called glandular fe-
of age
ver
infanticideinfanticide /n f ntsad/ noun 1. the act of
infectiousinfectious parotitis parotitis /n fekʃəs p rə
killing an infant 2. a person who kills an infant
tats/ noun same as mumps
infantileinfantile / nfəntal/ adjective 1. referring to
infectiousinfectious virus hepatitis virus hepatitis /n fekʃəs
small children 2. referring to a disease which
varəs hepətats/ noun hepatitis transmit-
affects children
ted by a carrier through food or drink
infantileinfantile convulsions convulsions / nfəntal kən infectiveinfective /n fektv/ adjective referring to a
v lʃənz/, infantile spasms / nfəntal disease caused by a microorganism, which can
sp zəmz/ plural noun convulsions or minor
be caught from another person but which may
epileptic fits in small children
not always be directly transmitted
infantileinfantile paralysis paralysis / nfəntal pə r ləss/ infectiveinfective enteritis enteritis /n fektv entə rats/
noun a former name for poliomyelitis noun enteritis caused by bacteria
infantilisminfantilism /n f ntlz(ə)m/ noun a condi- infectiveinfective hepatitis hepatitis /n fektv hepə tats/
tion in which a person keeps some characteris- noun same as infectious hepatitis
infectivity 196
infectivityinfectivity / nfek tvti/ noun the fact of be- inflameinflame /n flem/ verb to make an organ or a
ing infective ć The patient’s infectivity can
last about a week. tissue react to an infection, an irritation or a
inferiorinferior /n fəriə/ adjective referring to a blow by becoming sore, red and swollen
lower part of the body. Opposite superior
inflamedinflamed /n flemd/ adjective sore, red and
inferiorinferior aspect aspect /n fəriər spekt/ noun a
view of the body from below swollen ć The skin has become inflamed
inferiorityinferiority /n fəri ɒrti/ noun the fact of be- around the sore.
ing lower in value or quality, substandard. Op-
posite superiority inflammationinflammation / nflə meʃ(ə)n/ noun the
inferiorityinferiority complex complex /n fəri ɒrti kɒmpleks/ fact of having become sore, red and swollen as
noun a mental disorder arising from a combi-
nation of wanting to be noticed and fear of hu- a reaction to an infection, an irritation or a
miliation. The resulting behaviour may either
be aggression or withdrawal from the external blow ć She has an inflammation of the blad-
world.
der or a bladder inflammation. ć The body’s
inferior mesentericinferior mesenteric artery artery /n fəriə
mesen terk ɑ təri/ noun one of the arteries reaction to infection took the form of an in-
which supply the transverse colon and rectum
flammation of the eyelid.
inferiorinferior vena cava vena cava /n fəriə vi nə kɑ və/
noun the main vein carrying blood from the inflammatoryinflammatory /n fl mət(ə)ri/ adjective
lower part of the body to the heart. See illustra-
tion at HEART in Supplement, KIDNEY in Supple- causing an organ or a tissue to become sore,
ment
red and swollen
infertileinfertile /n f tal/ adjective not fertile, not
able to reproduce inflammatoryinflammatory bowel disease bowel disease /n
infertilityinfertility / nfə tlti/ noun the fact of not be- fl mət(ə)ri baυəl d zi z/ noun any condi-
ing fertile, not able to reproduce
tion, e.g. Crohn’s disease, colitis or ileitis, in
infestinfest /n fest/ verb (of parasites) to be
present somewhere in large numbers ć The which the bowel becomes inflamed
child’s hair was infested with lice.
inflammatory response n flinflammatory response/ mət(ə)ri r
infestationinfestation / nfe steʃ(ə)n/ noun the fact of
having large numbers of parasites, or an inva- spɒns/, inflammatory reaction /n
sion of the body by parasites ć The condition fl mət(ə)ri r kʃən/ noun any condition
is caused by infestation of the hair with lice.
where an organ or a tissue reacts to an external
infiltrateinfiltrate / nfltret/ verb (of liquid or waste)
to pass from one part of the body to another stimulus by becoming inflamed ć She showed
through a wall or membrane and be deposited
in the other part í noun a substance which has an inflammatory response to the ointment.
infiltrated a part of the body
inflateinflate /n flet/ verb to fill something with
‘…the chest roentgenogram often discloses intersti-
tial pulmonary infiltrates, but may occasionally be air, or be filled with air ć The abdomen is in-
normal’ [Southern Medical Journal]
flated with air before a coelioscopy. ć In val-
infiltrationinfiltration / nfl treʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. the
process where a liquid passes through the vuloplasty, a balloon is introduced into the
walls of one part of the body into another part
2. a condition in which waste is brought to and valve and inflated.
deposited around cells
influenzainfluenza / nflu enzə/ noun an infectious
‘…the lacrimal and salivary glands become infiltrat-
ed with lymphocytes and plasma cells. The infiltra- disease of the upper respiratory tract with fever
tion reduces lacrimal and salivary secretions which
in turn leads to dry eyes and dry mouth’ and muscular aches, which is transmitted by a
[American Journal of Nursing]
virus and can occur in epidemics. Also called
infirminfirm /n f m/ adjective old and weak
flu
infirmaryinfirmary /n f məri/ noun 1. a room in a
school or workplace where people can go if COMMENT: The influenza virus is spread by
they are ill 2. a former name for a hospital
(NOTE: Infirmary is still used in the names of droplets of moisture in the air, so the disease
some hospitals: the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.) can be spread by coughing or sneezing. Influ-
infirmityinfirmity /n f mti/ noun a lack of strength enza can be quite mild, but virulent strains oc-
and energy because of illness or age (formal)
cur from time to time, such as Spanish influen-
za or Hong Kong flu, and can weaken the per-
son so much that he or she becomes
susceptible to pneumonia and other more se-
rious infections.
informalinformal patient patient /n fɔ m(ə)l peʃ(ə)nt/
noun a patient who has admitted himself or
herself to a hospital, without being referred by
a doctor
informationinformation / nfə meʃ(ə)n/ noun facts
about something ć Have you any information
about the treatment of sunburn? ć The police
won’t give us any information about how the
accident happened. ć You haven’t given me
enough information about when your symp-
toms started. ć That’s a very useful piece or bit
of information. (NOTE: No plural: some infor-
mation; a piece of information.)
informedinformed /n fɔ md/ adjective having the lat-
est information
informedinformed consent consent /n fɔ md kən sent/
noun an agreement to allow a procedure to be
carried out, given by a patient, or the guardian
197 inhibitory nerve
of a patient, who has been provided with all the inguinal ligament ŋinguinal ligament/ wn(ə)l l əmənt/
necessary information noun a ligament in the groin, running from the
infra-infra- / nfrə/ prefix below spine to the pubis. Also called Poupart’s liga-
infracostalinfracostal / nfrə kɒst(ə)l/ adjective lying ment
below the ribs inguinal region ŋinguinal region/ wn(ə)l ri d ən/ noun
infraorbitalinfraorbital nerve nerve / nfrəɔ bt(ə)l n v/ the part of the body where the lower abdomen
noun a continuation of the maxillary nerve be- joins the top of the thigh. ı groin
low the orbit of the eye INHINH abbr isoniazid
infraorbitalinfraorbital vein vein / nfrəɔ bt(ə)l ven/ inhalantinhalant /n helənt/ noun a medicinal sub-
noun a vessel draining the face through the in- stance which is breathed in
fraorbital canal to the pterygoid plexus inhalationinhalation / nhə leʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. the act of
infraredinfrared / nfrə red/ adjective relating to in- breathing in. Opposite exhalation 2. the action
frared radiation í noun invisible electromag- of breathing in a medicinal substance as part of
netic radiation between light and radio waves a treatment
infraredinfrared radiation radiation / nfrəred redi inhaleinhale /n hel/ verb 1. to breathe in, or
eʃ(ə)n/ noun same as infrared rays breathe something in ć She inhaled some toxic
infraredinfrared rays rays / nfrəred rez/ plural noun gas fumes and was rushed to hospital. 2. to
long invisible rays, below the visible red end breathe in a medicinal substance as part of a
of the colour spectrum, used to produce heat in treatment. Opposite exhale
body tissues in the treatment of traumatic and inhalerinhaler /n helə/ noun a small device for ad-
inflammatory conditions. ı light therapy ministering medicinal substances into the
infundibuluminfundibulum / nf n dbjυləm/ noun any mouth or nose so that they can be breathed in
part of the body shaped like a funnel, especial- inherentinherent /n hərənt/ adjective referring to a
ly the stem which attaches the pituitary gland thing which is part of the essential character of
to the hypothalamus a person or a permanent characteristic of an or-
infuseinfuse /n fju z/ verb to introduce a solution ganism
such as saline, sucrose or glucose using a drip inheritinherit /n hert/ verb to receive genetically
into a vein, body cavity or the intestinal tract in controlled characteristics from a parent ć She
order to treat or feed someone inherited her father’s red hair. ć Haemophilia
infusioninfusion /n fju (ə)n/ noun 1. a drink made is a condition which is inherited through the
by pouring boiling water on a dry substance mother’s genes.
such as herb tea or a powdered drug 2. the inheritanceinheritance /n hert(ə)ns/ noun 1. the proc-
process of putting of liquid into someone’s ess by which genetically controlled character-
body, using a drip istics pass from parents to offspring ć the in-
ingestaingesta /n d estə/ plural noun food or liquid heritance of chronic inflammatory bowel dis-
that enters the body via the mouth ease 2. all of the qualities and characteristics
ingestioningestion /n d estʃən/ noun 1. the act of which are passed down from parents ć an un-
taking in food, drink or medicine by the mouth fortunate part of our genetic inheritance
2. the process by which a foreign body such as inheritedinherited /n hertd/ adjective passed on
a bacillus is surrounded by a cell from a parent through the genes ć an inherited
ingredient ningredient/ ri diənt/ noun a substance disorder of the lungs
which is used with others to make something inhibitinhibit /n hbt/ verb to prevent an action
ingrowing toenail ningrowing toenail/ rəυŋ təυnel/, in- happening, or stop a functional process ć As-
growing nail / n rəυŋ nel/, ingrown toe- pirin inhibits the clotting of blood. ˽ to have
nail / n rəυn təυnel/ noun a toenail which
an inhibiting effect on something to block
is growing into the skin at the side of the nail,
something, to stop something happening
causing pain and swelling. The toenail cuts
into the tissue on either side of it, creating in- inhibitioninhibition / nh bʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. the action
flammation and sometimes sepsis and ulcera- of blocking or preventing something happen-
tion. ing, especially of preventing a muscle or organ
inguinalinguinal / ŋ wn(ə)l/ adjective referring to from functioning properly 2. (in psychology)
the groin the suppression of a thought which is associat-
inguinal canal ŋinguinal canal/ wn(ə)l kə n l/ noun a ed with a sense of guilt 3. (in psychology) the
passage in the lower abdominal wall, carrying blocking of a spontaneous action by some
the spermatic cord in the male and the round mental influence
ligament of the uterus in the female inhibitorinhibitor /n hbtə/ noun a substance which
inguinaleinguinale / ŋ w neli/ granuloma in- inhibits
guinale inhibitoryinhibitory nerve nerve /n hbtəri n v/ noun a
inguinal hernia ŋinguinal hernia/ wn(ə)l h niə/ noun nerve which stops a function taking place ć
a hernia where the intestine bulges through the The vagus nerve is an inhibitory nerve which
muscles in the groin slows down the action of the heart.
inion 198
inioninion / niən/ noun a part of the occipital bone innominateinnominate bone bone / nɒmnət bəυn/ noun
same as hip bone
that can be felt as a slight lump at the back of
innominateinnominate vein vein / nɒmnət ven/ noun
the skull just above the neck same as brachiocephalic vein
injectinject /n d ekt/ verb to put a liquid into inoculantinoculant / nɒkjυlənt/ noun same as inocu-
lum
someone’s body under pressure, by using a
inoculateinoculate / nɒkjυlet/ verb to introduce
hollow needle inserted into the tissues ć He vaccine into a person’s body in order to make
the body create its own antibodies, so making
was injected with morphine. ć She injected the person immune to the disease ć The baby
was inoculated against diphtheria. (NOTE: You
herself with a drug.
inoculate someone with or against a disease.)
injectedinjected /n d ektd/ adjective 1. referring to
inoculationinoculation / nɒkjυ leʃ(ə)n/ noun the ac-
a liquid or substance introduced into the body tion of inoculating someone ć Has the baby
had a diphtheria inoculation?
2. referring to surface blood vessels which are
inoculuminoculum / nɒkjυləm/ noun a substance
swollen used for inoculation, e.g. a vaccine (NOTE: The
injectioninjection /n d ekʃən/ noun 1. the act of in- plural is inocula.)
jecting a liquid into the body ć He had a pen- inoperableinoperable /n ɒpər(ə)b(ə)l/ adjective refer-
ring to a condition which cannot be operated
icillin injection. 2. a liquid introduced into the on ć The surgeon decided that the cancer was
inoperable.
body
inorganicinorganic / nɔ nk/ adjective referring to
injureinjure / nd ə/ verb to hurt someone or a part a substance which is not made from animal or
vegetable sources
of the body ć Six people were injured in the
inorganicinorganic acid acid / nɔ nk sd/ noun an
accident. acid which comes from minerals, used in di-
lute form to help indigestion
injuredinjured / nd əd/ adjective referring to some-
inotropicinotropic / nəυ trɒpk/ adjective affecting
one who has been hurt í plural noun ˽ the in- the way muscles contract, especially those of
the heart
jured people who have been injured ć All the
inpatientinpatient / n peʃ(ə)nt/ noun someone who
injured were taken to the nearest hospital. stays overnight or for some time in a hospital
for treatment or observation. Compare outpa-
injuryinjury / nd əri/ noun damage or a wound
tient
caused to a person’s body ć His injuries re-
inquestinquest / ŋkwest/ noun an inquiry by a cor-
quired hospital treatment. ć He received se- oner into the cause of a death
vere facial injuries in the accident. COMMENT: An inquest has to take place where
death is violent or not expected, where death
injury scoringinjury scoring system system / nd əri skɔ rŋ could be murder or where a prisoner dies and
when police are involved.
sstəm/ noun any system used for deciding
insaneinsane /n sen/ adjective mentally unwell
how severe an injury is ć a standard lung in- (dated, informal)
jury scoring system Abbr ISS insanitaryinsanitary /n s nt(ə)ri/ adjective not hygi-
enic ć Cholera spread rapidly because of the
inlayinlay / nle/ noun (in dentistry) a type of fill- insanitary conditions in the town.
ing for teeth insectinsect / nsekt/ noun a small animal with six
legs and a body in three parts
inletinlet / nlet/ noun a passage or opening
insectinsect bite bite / nsekt bat/ noun a sting caused
through which a cavity can be entered by an insect which punctures the skin to suck
blood, and in so doing introduces irritants
INNINN abbr international nonproprietary name
COMMENT: Most insect bites are simply irritat-
innardsinnards / nədz/ plural noun the internal or- ing. Others can be more serious, as insects
can carry the organisms which produce ty-
gans of the body, especially the intestines phus, sleeping sickness, malaria, filariasis
and many other diseases.
innateinnate / net/ adjective inherited, which is
insecticideinsecticide /n sektsad/ noun a substance
present in a body from birth which kills insects
innerinner / nə/ adjective referring to a part which inseminationinsemination /n sem neʃ(ə)n/ noun the
introduction of sperm into the vagina
is inside
insensibleinsensible /n sensb(ə)l/ adjective 1. lack-
innerinner ear ear / nər ə/ noun the part of the ear ing feeling or consciousness 2. not aware of or
inside the head, behind the eardrum, contain-
ing the semicircular canals, the vestibule and
the cochlea
innerinner pleura pleura / nə plυərə/ noun same as vis-
ceral pleura
innervateinnervate / n vet/ verb to cause a muscle,
organ or other part of the body to act
innervation ninnervation/ veʃ(ə)n/ noun the nerve
supply to an organ, including both motor
nerves and sensory nerves
innocentinnocent / nəs(ə)nt/ adjective referring to a
growth which is benign, not malignant
innominateinnominate / nɒmnət/ adjective with no
name
innominateinnominate artery artery / nɒmnət ɑ təri/ noun
the largest branch of the arch of the aorta,
which continues as the right common carotid
and right subclavian arteries
199 insulin
responding to a stimulus 3. too slight to be per- instinctinstinct / nstŋkt/ noun a tendency or ability
ceived by the senses which the body has from birth and does not
need to learn ć The body has a natural instinct
insertinsert /n s t/ verb to put something into to protect itself from danger.
something ć The catheter is inserted into the
passage. instinctiveinstinctive /n stŋktv/ adjective automatic
or unconscious rather than planned ć an in-
insertioninsertion /n s ʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. the point of stinctive reaction
attachment of a muscle to a bone 2. the point
where an organ is attached to its support 3. a institutioninstitution / nst tju ʃ(ə)n/ noun a place
change in the structure of a chromosome, where people are cared for, e.g. a hospital or
where a segment of the chromosome is intro- clinic, especially a psychiatric hospital or chil-
duced into another member of the complement dren’s home
insidesinsides /n sadz/ plural noun internal organs, institutionalisationinstitutionalisation / nst tju ʃ(ə)nəla
especially the stomach and intestines zeʃ(ə)n/, institutionalization, institutional
(informal) ć He says he has a pain in his in- neurosis / nsttju ʃən(ə)l njυ rəυss/ noun
sides. ć You ought to see the doctor if you a condition in which someone has become so
think there is something wrong with your in- adapted to life in an institution that it is impos-
sides. sible for him or her to live outside it
insidiousinsidious /n sdiəs/ adjective causing harm institutionaliseinstitutionalise / nst tju ʃ(ə)nəlaz/, in-
without showing any obvious signs stitutionalize verb to put someone into an in-
stitution
insidiousinsidious disease disease /n sdiəs d zi z/ noun a
disease which causes damage before being de- instructionsinstructions /n str kʃənz/ plural noun spo-
tected ken or written information which explains how
something is used or how to do something ć
insightinsight / nsat/ noun the ability of a person She gave the taxi driver instructions on how to
to realise that he or she is ill or has particular get to the hospital. ć The instructions are writ-
problems or characteristics ten on the medicine bottle. ć We can’t use this
machine because we have lost the book of in-
insipidusinsipidus /n spdəs/ diabetes insipidus structions.
in situin situ / n stju / adverb in place instrumentinstrument / nstrυmənt/ noun a piece of
insolubleinsoluble /n sɒljυb(ə)l/ adjective not able to equipment or a tool ć The doctor had a box of
be dissolved in liquid surgical instruments.
insolubleinsoluble fibre fibre /n sɒljυb(ə)l fabə/ noun instrumentalinstrumental / nstrυ ment(ə)l/ adjective ˽
the fibre in bread and cereals, which is not di-
gested but which swells inside the intestine instrumental in helping to do something ć
She was instrumental in developing the new
insomniainsomnia /n sɒmniə/ noun the inability to technique.
sleep ć She experiences insomnia. ć What
does the doctor give you for your insomnia? instrumentalinstrumental delivery delivery / nstrυment(ə)l d
Also called sleeplessness lv(ə)ri/ noun childbirth where the doctor uses
forceps to help the baby out of the mother’s
insomniacinsomniac /n sɒmni k/ noun a person who uterus
has insomnia
insufficiencyinsufficiency / nsə fʃ(ə)nsi/ noun 1. the
inspirationinspiration / nsp reʃ(ə)n/ noun the act of fact of not being strong or large enough to per-
taking air into the lungs. Opposite expiration form usual functions ć The patient is suffering
from a renal insufficiency. 2. the incompetence
COMMENT: Inspiration takes place when the of an organ
muscles of the diaphragm contract, allowing
the lungs to expand. insufflateinsufflate / nsəflet/ verb to blow gas, va-
pour or powder into the lungs or another body
inspiratoryinspiratory /n sparət(ə)ri/ adjective refer- cavity as a treatment
ring to breathing in
insufflationinsufflation / nsə fleʃ(ə)n/ noun the act of
inspireinspire /n spaə/ verb to inhale air or a gas blowing gas, vapour or powder into the lungs
into the lungs or another body cavity as a treatment
inspissatedinspissated /n spsetd/ adjective refer- insulainsula / nsjυlə/ noun part of the cerebral cor-
ring to a liquid which is thickened by remov- tex which is covered by the folds of the sulcus
ing water from it
insulininsulin / nsjυln/ noun a hormone produced
inspissationinspissation / nsp seʃ(ə)n/ noun the act by the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas
of removing water from a solution to make it
thicker COMMENT: Insulin controls the way in which
the body converts sugar into energy and reg-
instepinstep / nstep/ noun an arched top part of the ulates the level of sugar in the blood. A lack of
foot insulin caused by diabetes mellitus makes the
level of glucose in the blood rise. Insulin injec-
instilinstil /n stl/, instill verb to put a liquid in tions are regularly used to treat diabetes mel-
something drop by drop ć Instil four drops in litus, but care has to be taken not to exceed
each nostril twice a day. the dose as this will cause hyperinsulinism
and hypoglycaemia.
instillationinstillation / nst leʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. the proc-
ess of putting a liquid in drop by drop 2. a liq-
uid put in drop by drop
insulinase 200
insulinaseinsulinase / nsjυlnez/ noun an enzyme saving and life-support equipment in which
seriously ill people who need constant medical
which breaks down insulin attention are cared for. Abbr ICU
insulininsulin dependence dependence / nsjυln d intentionintention /n tenʃən/ noun a plan to do
something
pendəns/ noun the fact of being dependent on
intentionintention tremor tremor /n tenʃən tremə/ noun a
insulin injections trembling of the hands seen when people suf-
fering from particular brain diseases make vol-
insulin-dependentinsulin-dependent diabetes diabetes / nsjυln d untary movements to try to touch something
pendənt daə bi tiz/ noun same as Type I di- inter-inter- /ntə/ prefix between
abetes mellitus interactioninteraction / ntər kʃən/ noun an effect
which two or more substances such as drugs
insulinomainsulinoma / nsjυl nəυmə/ noun a tumour have on each other
in the islets of Langerhans interatrialinteratrial septum septum / ntər etriəl septəm/
noun a membrane between the right and left
insulin-resistantinsulin-resistant / nsjυln r zst(ə)nt/ atria in the heart
adjective referring to a condition in which the intercalatedintercalated /n t kəletd/ adjective in-
serted between other tissues
muscle and other tissue cells respond inade-
intercalatedintercalated disc disc /n t kəletd dsk/
quately to insulin, as in Type II diabetes noun closely applied cell membranes at the
end of adjacent cells in cardiac muscle, seen as
insulininsulin shock shock / nsjυln ʃɒk/ noun a seri- transverse lines
ous drop in blood sugar, caused by too much intercellularintercellular / ntə seljυlə/ adjective be-
tween the cells in tissue
insulin accompanied by sweating, dizziness,
intercostalintercostal / ntə kɒst(ə)l/ adjective be-
trembling and eventually coma tween the ribs í noun same as intercostal
muscle
insulomainsuloma / nsjυ ləυmə/ noun same as in-
intercostalintercostal muscle muscle /ntə kɒst(ə)l m s(ə)l/
sulinoma noun one of the muscles between the ribs
insultinsult / ns lt/ noun 1. a physical injury or COMMENT: The intercostal muscles expand
and contract the thorax, so changing the pres-
trauma 2. something that causes a physical in- sure in the thorax and making the person
breathe in or out. There are three layers of in-
jury or trauma tercostal muscle: external, internal and inner-
most or intercostalis intimis.
intactintact /n t kt/ adjective having all body
intercourseintercourse / ntəkɔ s/ noun same as sexual
parts present and undamaged intercourse
intakeintake / ntek/ noun 1. the amount of a sub- intercurrentintercurrent disease disease / ntək rənt d zi z/,
intercurrent infection / ntək rənt n fekʃən/
stance taken in ć a high intake of alcohol ć noun a disease or infection which affects
someone who has another disease
She was advised to reduce her intake of sugar.
interdigitalinterdigital / ntə dd t(ə)l/ adjective refer-
2. the process of taking in a substance ring to the space between the fingers or toes
IntalIntal / int l/ a trade name for a preparation of interdisciplinaryinterdisciplinary / ntə ds plnəri/ adjec-
tive combining two or more different areas of
cromolyn sodium medical or scientific study
integratedintegrated service service / nt retd s vs/ interferoninterferon / ntə fərɒn/ noun a protein pro-
duced by cells, usually in response to a virus,
noun a broad care service provided by health and which then reduces the spread of viruses
and social agencies acting together COMMENT: Although it is now possible to syn-
thesise interferon outside the body, large-
integrativeintegrative medicine medicine / nt retv scale production is extremely expensive and
the substance has not proved as successful at
med(ə)s(ə)n/ noun the combination of main- combating viruses as had been hoped,
though it is used in multiple sclerosis with
stream therapies and those complementary or some success.
alternative therapies for which there is scien- interiorinterior /n təriə/ noun a part which is inside
í adjective inside
tific evidence of efficacy and safety
interleukininterleukin / ntə lu kn/ noun a protein pro-
integumentintegument /n te jυmənt/ noun a covering duced by the body’s immune system
layer, e.g. the skin interleukin-1interleukin-1 / ntəlu kn w n/ noun a pro-
tein which causes high temperature. Abbr IL-1
intellectintellect / ntlekt/ noun a person’s ability to
think, reason and understand
intelligenceintelligence /n teld əns/ noun the ability
to learn and understand quickly
intelligenceintelligence quotient quotient /n teld əns
kwəυʃ(ə)nt/ noun the ratio of the mental age,
as given by an intelligence test, to the chrono-
logical age of the person. Abbr IQ
intenseintense /n tens/ adjective referring to a very
strong pain ć She is suffering from intense post
herpetic neuralgia.
intensityintensity /n tensti/ noun the strength of
e.g. pain
intensiveintensive care care /n tensv keə/ noun 1. the
continual supervision and treatment of an ex-
tremely ill person in a special section of a hos-
pital ć The patient was put in intensive care. ı
residential care 2. same as intensive care unit
intensiveintensive care unit care unit /n tensv keə ju nt/
noun a section of a hospital equipped with life-
201 International Council of Nurses
interleukin-2interleukin-2 / ntəlu kn tu / noun a pro- the heart start beating again by pressing on the
tein which stimulates T-cell production, used heart itself
in the treatment of cancer. Abbr IL-2 internal carotid n tinternal carotid/ n(ə)l k rɒtd/ noun
interlobarinterlobar / ntə ləυbə/ adjective between an artery in the neck, behind the external carot-
lobes id, which gives off the ophthalmic artery and
interlobarinterlobar artery artery / ntələυbər ɑ təri/ noun ends by dividing into the anterior and middle
an artery running towards the cortex on each cerebral arteries
side of a renal pyramid internal derangement of the knee ninternal derangement of the knee/
interlobularinterlobular /ntə lɒbjυlə/ adjective be- t n(ə)l d ren mənt əv ðə ni / noun a
tween lobules condition in which the knee cannot function
interlobularinterlobular artery artery /ntə lɒbjυlə ɑ təri/ properly because of a torn meniscus. Abbr IDK
noun one of the arteries running to the glomer- internalinternal ear ear /n t n(ə)l ə/ noun the part of
uli of the kidneys the ear inside the head, behind the eardrum,
intermediateintermediate care care / ntəmi diət keə/ noun containing the semicircular canals, the vesti-
care following surgery or illness that can be bule and the cochlea
delivered in special units attached to a hospital internalinternal haemorrhage haemorrhage /n t n(ə)l
or in the person’s home by a special multidis- hem(ə)rd / noun a haemorrhage which takes
ciplinary team place inside the body
intermediusintermedius / ntə mi diəs/ vastus inter- internalinternal haemorrhoids haemorrhoids /n t n(ə)l
medius hemərɔdz/ plural noun swollen veins inside
intermenstrualintermenstrual / ntə menstruəl/ adjective the anus
between the menstrual periods internal iliac artery n tinternal iliac artery/ n(ə)l li k ɑ təri/
intermittentintermittent / ntə mt(ə)nt/ adjective oc- noun an artery which branches from the aorta
curring at intervals in the abdomen and leads to the pelvis
intermittentintermittent claudication claudication / ntəmt(ə)nt internal injury n tinternal injury/ n(ə)l nd əri/ noun
klɔ d keʃ(ə)n/ noun a condition of the arter-
damage to one of the internal organs
ies causing severe pain in the legs which internalinternal jugular jugular /n t n(ə)l d jυlə/
makes the person limp after having walked a noun the largest jugular vein in the neck, lead-
short distance (NOTE: The symptoms increase ing to the brachiocephalic veins
with walking, stop after a short rest and recur internallyinternally /n t n(ə)l/ adverb inside the
when the person walks again.) body ć He was bleeding internally.
intermittentintermittent fever fever / ntəmt(ə)nt fi və/ internalinternal medicine medicine /n t n(ə)l
noun fever which rises and falls regularly, as in med(ə)s(ə)n/ noun US the treatment of dis-
malaria eases of the internal organs by specialists
intermittentintermittent self-catheterisation self-catheterisation / internalinternal nares nares /n t n(ə)l neəri z/ plural
ntəmt(ə)nt self k θitəra zeʃ(ə)n/ noun noun the two openings shaped like funnels
a procedure in which someone puts a catheter leading from the nasal cavity to the pharynx.
through the urethra into their own bladder Also called posterior nares
from time to time to empty out the urine. Abbr internal oblique n tinternal oblique/ n(ə)l ə bli k/ noun
ISC the middle layer of muscle covering the abdo-
internintern / nt n/ noun US a medical graduate men, beneath the external oblique
who is working in a hospital before being li- internalinternal organ organ /n t n(ə)l ɔ ən/ noun an
censed to practise medicine. ı house officer organ situated inside the body
internainterna /n t nə/ otitis interna internal respiration n tinternal respiration/ n(ə)l resp re
internalinternal /n t n(ə)l/ adjective inside the ʃ(ə)n/ noun the part of respiration concerned
body or a body part. Opposite external ˽ the with the passage of oxygen from the blood to
drug is for internal use only it should not be the tissues, and the passage of carbon dioxide
used on the outside of the body from the tissues to the blood
internalinternal auditory meatus auditory meatus /n t n(ə)l International Committee of the RedInternational Committee of the Red Cross
ɔ dt(ə)ri mi etəs/ noun a channel which
Cross /ntə n ʃ(ə)n(ə)l kə mti əv ðə red
takes the auditory nerve through the temporal krɒs/ noun an international organisation
bone which provides mainly emergency medical
internalinternal bleeding bleeding /n t n(ə)l bli dŋ/ help, but also relief to victims of earthquakes,
noun loss of blood inside the body, e.g. from a floods and other disasters, or to prisoners of
wound in the intestine war. Abbr ICRC
internal capsule n tinternal capsule / n(ə)l k psju l/ International Council of NursesInternational Council of Nurses /
noun a bundle of fibres linking the cerebral ntən ʃ(ə)n(ə)l kaυnsəl əv n sz/ noun
cortex and other parts of the brain an organisation founded in 1899 which now
internalinternal cardiac massage cardiac massage /n t n(ə)l represents nurses in more than 120 countries.
kɑ di k m sɑ / noun a method of making
Its aims are to bring nurses together, to ad-
international unit 202
vance nursing worldwide and to influence intersticeinterstice /n t sts/ noun a small space be-
health policies. Abbr ICN tween body parts or within a tissue
internationalinternational unit nonproprietary name / interstitialinterstitial / ntə stʃ(ə)l/ adjective referring
ntən ʃ(ə)nəl nɒnprəpraət(ə)ri nem/ to tissue located in the spaces between parts of
something, especially between the active tis-
noun each of 8,000 names selected by the sues in an organ
World Health Organization that are the legally
required generic names for pharmaceutical interstitialinterstitial cell cell / ntə stʃ(ə)l sel/ noun a
testosterone-producing cell between the tu-
product labelling for most countries in the
bules in the testes. Also called Leydig cell
world, including all EU countries. Abbr INN
internationalinternational unit unit / ntən ʃ(ə)nəl ju nt/ interstitial cell stimulating hormoneinterstitial cell stimulating hormone /
noun an internationally agreed standard used ntə stʃ(ə)l sel stmjυletŋ hɔ məυn/
in pharmacy as a measure of a substance such noun a hormone produced by the pituitary
gland which stimulates the formation of cor-
as a drug or hormone. Abbr IU pus luteum in females and testosterone in
interneuroneinterneurone / ntə nju rəυn/ noun a neu-
rone with short processes which is a link be- males. Abbr ICSH. Also called luteinising hor-
tween two other neurones in sensory or motor mone
pathways interstitialinterstitial cystitis cystitis / ntəstʃ(ə)l s stats/
noun a persistent nonbacterial condition in
internistinternist / nt nst/ noun a specialist who which someone has bladder pain and wants to
pass urine frequently. It is often associated
treats diseases of the internal organs by non- with Hunner’s ulcer.
surgical means
internodalinternodal / ntə nəυd(ə)l/ adjective be-
tween two nodes intertrigointertrigo / ntə tra əυ/ noun an irritation
internuncialinternuncial neurone neurone / ntən nʃ(ə)l which occurs when two skin surfaces rub
nju rəυn/ noun a neurone which links two
against each other, as in the armpit or between
other nerve cells the buttocks
internusinternus /n t nəs/ noun medial rectus mus- intertubercularintertubercular plane plane / ntətjυ b kjυlə
plen/ noun same as transtubercular plane
cle in the orbit of the eye
interoceptorinteroceptor / ntərəυ septə/ noun a nerve interventionintervention / ntə venʃən/ noun a treatment
cell which reacts to a change taking place in- interventionalinterventional radiology radiology / ntəvenʃən(ə)l
redi ɒləd i/ noun the area of medicine which
side the body
interosseousinterosseous / ntər ɒsiəs/ adjective be- uses X-rays, ultrasound and computer-assisted
tomography to guide small instruments into
tween bones
interparietalinterparietal / ntəpə raət(ə)l/ adjective be- the body for procedures such as biopsies,
tween parietal parts, especially between the draining fluids or widening narrow vessels
parietal bones í noun same as interparietal interventricularinterventricular / ntəven trkjυlə/ adjec-
tive between ventricles in the heart or brain
bone
interparietalinterparietal bone bone / ntəpə raət(ə)l interventricularinterventricular foramen foramen / ntəven
bəυn/ noun a triangular bone in the back of
trkjυlə fə remən/ noun an opening in the
the skull, rarely present in humans
brain between the lateral ventricle and the
interpeduncularinterpeduncular cistern cistern / ntəpə third ventricle, through which the cerebrospi-
nal fluid passes
d ŋkjυlər sstən/ noun subarachnoid space
between the two cerebral hemispheres beneath interventricularinterventricular septum septum / ntəven
the midbrain and the hypothalamus trkjυlə septəm/ noun a membrane between
interphalangealinterphalangeal joint joint / ntəfə l nd iəl the right and left ventricles in the heart
d ɔnt/ noun a joint between the phalanges.
intervertebralintervertebral / ntə v tbr(ə)l/ adjective
Also called IP joint between vertebrae
interphaseinterphase / ntəfez/ noun a stage of a cell intervertebralintervertebral disc disc / ntə v tbrəl dsk/
noun a round plate of cartilage which separates
between divisions
interpubicinterpubic joint joint / ntəpju bk d ɔnt/ two vertebrae in the spinal column. See illus-
tration at CARTILAGINOUS JOINT in Supplement.
noun a piece of cartilage which joins the two Also called vertebral disc
sections of the pubic bone. Also called pubic
symphysis
interruptusinterruptus / ntə r ptəs/ coitus interrup- intervertebral foramen ntə vintervertebral foramen/ tbrəl fə
tus remən/ noun a space between two vertebrae
intersexintersex / ntəseks/ noun an organism that intestinalintestinal /n testn(ə)l/ adjective referring
to the intestine
has both male and female characteristics
intersexualityintersexuality / ntəsekʃu lti/ noun a intestinalintestinal anastomosis anastomosis /n testn(ə)l ə
n stə məυss/ noun a surgical operation to
condition in which a baby has both male and
join one part of the intestine to another, after a
female characteristics, as in Klinefelter’s syn-
drome and Turner’s syndrome section has been removed
203 intrauterine
intestinalintestinal flora flora /n testn(ə)l flɔ rə/ plural dal fluid, which fills the space between the
noun beneficial bacteria which are always skull and the brain. Abbr ICP
present in the intestine intractableintractable /n tr ktəb(ə)l/ adjective not
intestinalintestinal glands glands /n testn(ə)l l ndz/ able to be controlled ć an operation to relieve
plural noun tubular glands found in the mucous intractable pain
membrane of the small and large intestine, es- intracutaneousintracutaneous / ntrəkju teniəs/ adjec-
pecially those between the bases of the villi in tive inside layers of skin tissue
the small intestine. Also called Lieberkühn’s intracutaneousintracutaneous injection injection / ntrəkju
glands, crypts of Lieberkühn teniəs n d ekʃən/ noun an injection of a
intestinalintestinal infection infection /n testn(ə)l n liquid between the layers of skin, as for a test
fekʃ(ə)n/ noun an infection in the intestines
for an allergy
intestinalintestinal juice juice /n testn(ə)l d u s/ noun intradermalintradermal / ntrə d m(ə)l/ adjective with-
alkaline liquid secreted by the small intestine in or introduced between the layers of the skin
which helps to digest food intradermalintradermal test test /ntrə d m(ə)l test/ noun
intestinalintestinal obstruction obstruction /n testn(ə)l əb a test requiring an injection into the thickness
str kʃən/ noun a blocking of the intestine
of the skin, e.g. a Mantoux test or an allergy
intestinalintestinal villi villi /n testn(ə)l vla/ plural test
noun projections on the walls of the intestine intradermicintradermic / ntrə d mk/ adjective same
which help in the digestion of food as intradermal
intestinalintestinal wall wall /n testn(ə)l wɔ l/ noun the intraduralintradural / ntrə djυərəl/ adjective inside
layers of tissue which form the intestine the dura mater
intestineintestine /n testn/ noun the part of the di- intramedullaryintramedullary / ntrəme d ləri/ adjective
gestive system between the stomach and the inside the bone marrow or spinal cord
anus that digests and absorbs food. ı large in- intramuralintramural / ntrə mjυərəl/ adjective inside
testine, small intestine (NOTE: For other terms the wall of an organ
referring to the intestines, see words beginning intramuscularintramuscular / ntrə m skjυlə/ adjective
with entero-.) inside a muscle
intimaintima / ntmə/ tunica intima intramuscularintramuscular injection injection / ntrə m skjυlə
n d ekʃən/ noun an injection of liquid into a
intoleranceintolerance /n tɒlərəns/ noun the fact of
muscle, e.g. for a slow release of a drug
being unable to endure something such as pain
intranasalintranasal / ntrə nez(ə)l/ adjective inside
or to take a medicine without an adverse reac-
or into the nose
tion ć He developed an intolerance to penicil-
intraocularintraocular / ntrə ɒkjυlə/ adjective inside
lin.
the eye
intoxicantintoxicant /n tɒkskənt/ noun a substance
intraocularintraocular lens lens / ntrə ɒkjυlə lenz/ noun
which induces a state of intoxication or poi-
an artificial lens implanted inside the eye.
soning, e.g. an alcoholic drink
Abbr IOL
intoxicateintoxicate /n tɒksket/ verb to make some-
intraocularintraocular pressure pressure / ntrə ɒkjυlə
one incapable of controlling his or her actions,
preʃə/ noun the pressure inside the eyeball
because of the influence of alcohol on the
(NOTE: If the pressure is too high, it causes glau-
nervous system ć He drank six glasses of
coma.)
whisky and became completely intoxicated.
intraoperativeintraoperative ultrasound ultrasound noun high-reso-
intoxicationintoxication /n tɒks keʃ(ə)n/ noun a con-
lution imaging used in surgery. Abbr IOUS
dition which results from the absorption and
intraorbitalintraorbital / ntrə ɔ bt(ə)l/ adjective with-
diffusion in the body of a substance such as al-
in the orbit of the eye
cohol ć She was driving in a state of intoxica-
intraosseousintraosseous / ntrə ɒsiəs/ adjective within
tion.
a bone
intra-intra- /ntrə/ prefix inside
intrathecalintrathecal / ntrə θi k(ə)l/ adjective inside a
intra-abdominalintra-abdominal / ntrə b dɒmn(ə)l/ ad-
sheath, especially inside the intradural or sub-
jective inside the abdomen
arachnoid space
intra-articularintra-articular / ntrə ɑ tkjυlə/ adjective
intratrachealintratracheal / ntrətrə kiəl/ adjective with-
inside a joint
in the trachea. Also called endotracheal
intracellularintracellular / ntrə seljυlə/ adjective inside
intratubercularintratubercular plane plane / ntrətju b kjυlə
a cell
plen/ noun a plane at right angles to the sag-
intracerebralintracerebral haematoma haematoma / ntrə
ittal plane, passing through the tubercles of the
serəbrəl hi mə təυmə/ noun a blood clot in-
iliac crests
side a cerebral hemisphere
intrauterineintrauterine / ntrə ju təran/ adjective in-
intracranialintracranial / ntrə kreniəl/ adjective inside
side the uterus
the skull intrauterineintrauterine contraceptive device / ntrə
intracranialintracranial pressure pressure / ntrəkreniəl ju təran kɒntrə septv d vas/, intrauter-
preʃə/ noun the pressure of the subarachnoi-
ine device / ntrəju təran d vas/ noun a
intravascular 204
plastic coil placed inside the uterus to prevent introduction of semen into the woman’s uterus
pregnancy. Abbr IUCD, IUD ć the introduction of an endotracheal tube
into the patient’s mouth 2. the act of starting a
intravascularintravascular / ntrə v skjυlə/ adjective new process
inside the blood vessels
introitusintroitus /n trəυtəs/ noun an opening into
intravenousintravenous / ntrə vi nəs/ adjective into a any hollow organ or canal
vein. Abbr IV
introjectionintrojection / ntrəυ d ekʃən/ noun a per-
intravenousintravenous drip drip / ntrəvi nəs drp/ noun son’s unconscious adoption of the attitudes or
a thin tube that is inserted into a vein and is values of another person whom he or she
used to very gradually give a person fluids, ei- wants to impress
ther for rehydration, feeding or medication
purposes introspectionintrospection / ntrə spekʃən/ noun a de-
tailed and sometimes obsessive mental self-
intravenousintravenous feeding feeding / ntrəvi nəs fi dŋ/ examination of feelings, thoughts and motives
noun the procedure of giving someone liquid
food by means of a tube inserted into a vein introversionintroversion / ntrə v ʃ(ə)n/ noun a condi-
tion in which a person is excessively interested
intravenousintravenous injection injection / ntrəvi nəs n in himself or herself and his or her own mental
d ekʃən/ noun an injection of liquid into a state. Compare extroversion
vein, e.g. for the fast release of a drug
introvertintrovert / ntrəv t/ noun a person who
intravenouslyintravenously / ntrə vi nəsli/ adverb into a thinks only about himself or herself and his or
vein ć a fluid given intravenously her own mental state. Compare extrovert
intravenousintravenous pyelogram pyelogram / ntrəvi nəs introvertedintroverted / ntrəυ v td/ adjective refer-
paələ r m/, intravenous urogram / ntrə ring to someone who thinks only about himself
vi nəs jυərə r m/ noun a series of X-ray or herself
photographs of the kidneys using pyelography.
Abbr IVP intubateintubate / ntju bet/ verb to insert a tube
into any organ or part of the body. Also called
intravenousintravenous pyelography pyelography / ntrəvi nəs
paə lɒ rəfi/, intravenous urography / ntrə catheterise
vi nəs jυ rɒ rəfi/ noun an X-ray examination
of the urinary tract after opaque liquid has intubationintubation / ntju beʃ(ə)n/ noun the thera-
been injected intravenously into the body and peutic insertion of a tube into the larynx
taken by the blood into the kidneys through the glottis to allow the passage of air.
Also called catheterisation
intraventricularintraventricular / ntrəven trkjυlə/ adjec-
tive inside or placed into a ventricle in the heart intumescenceintumescence / ntju mes(ə)ns/ noun the
or the brain swelling of an organ
intraintra vitam vitam / ntrə vatəm/ adverb during intussusceptionintussusception / ntəsə sepʃən/ noun a
life condition in which part of the gastrointestinal
tract becomes folded down inside the part be-
intrinsicintrinsic /n trnsk/ adjective belonging to neath it, causing an obstruction and strangula-
the essential nature of an organism, or entirely tion of the folded part
within an organ or part
inunctioninunction /n ŋkʃən/ noun 1. the act of rub-
intrinsicintrinsic factor factor /n trnsk f ktə/ noun a bing an ointment into the skin so that the med-
protein produced in the gastric glands which icine in it is absorbed 2. an ointment which is
reacts with the extrinsic factor, and which, if rubbed into the skin
lacking, causes pernicious anaemia
in uteroin utero / n ju tərəυ/ adverb, adjective in, or
intrinsicintrinsic ligament ligament /n trnsk l əmənt/ while still inside, a woman’s womb
noun a ligament which forms part of the cap-
sule surrounding a joint invadeinvade /n ved/ verb to enter and spread
gradually throughout a part of the body, e.g.
intrinsicintrinsic muscle muscle /n trnsk m s(ə)l/ noun the entry of a microorganism that causes dis-
a muscle lying completely inside the part or ease
segment, especially of a limb, which it moves
invaginationinvagination /n v d neʃ(ə)n/ noun 1.
intro-intro- /ntrəυ/ prefix inward same as intussusception 2. the surgical treat-
ment of hernia, in which a sheath of tissue is
introduceintroduce / ntrə dju s/ verb 1. to put some- made to cover the opening
thing into something ć He used a syringe to
introduce a medicinal substance into the body. invalidinvalid / nvəld/ (dated) noun someone who
ć The nurse introduced the catheter into the has had an illness and has not fully recovered
vein. 2. to present two people to one another from it or who has been permanently disabled
when they have never met before ć Can I in- í adjective weak or disabled
troduce my new assistant? 3. to start a new way
of doing something ć The hospital has intro- invalidityinvalidity / nvə ldti/ noun the condition of
duced a new screening process for cervical being disabled
cancer.
invasioninvasion /n ve (ə)n/ noun the entry of bac-
introductionintroduction / ntrə d kʃən/ noun 1. the act teria into a body, or the first attack of a disease
of putting something inside something ć the
invasiveinvasive /n vesv/ adjective 1. referring to
cancer which tends to spread throughout the
205 iridencleisis
body 2. referring to an inspection or treatment which occurs in people, mainly women, after
middle age, probably caused by a change of
which involves entering the body by making endocrine secretions
an incision. ı non-invasive iodineiodine / aədi n/ noun a chemical element
which is essential to the body, especially to the
inverse care law nvinverse care law / s keə lə / noun the functioning of the thyroid gland (NOTE: Lack of
idea that the people who most need care and iodine in the diet can cause goitre. The chemical
services are least likely or able to access them symbol is I.)
inversioninversion /n v ʃ(ə)n/ noun the fact of being IOLIOL abbr intraocular lens
turned towards the inside ć inversion of the ionion / aən/ noun an atom that has an electric
charge (NOTE: Ions with a positive charge are
foot See illustration at ANATOMICAL TERMS in called cations and those with a negative charge
Supplement ˽ inversion of the uterus a con- are called anions.)
dition in which the top part of the uterus touch- COMMENT: It is believed that living organisms,
including human beings, react to the presence
es the cervix, as if it were inside out, which of ionised particles in the atmosphere. Hot dry
winds contain a higher proportion of positive
may happen after childbirth ions than usual and these winds cause head-
aches and other illnesses. If negative ionised
invertaseinvertase /n v tez/ noun an enzyme in the air is introduced into an air-conditioning sys-
tem, the incidence of headaches and nausea
intestine which splits sucrose among people working in the building may be
reduced.
investigationinvestigation /n vest eʃ(ə)n/ noun an
ioniseionise / aənaz/, ionize verb to give an atom
examination to find out the cause of something an electric charge
which has happened ć The Health Authority ioniserioniser / aənazə/, ionizer noun a machine
that increases the amount of negative ions in
ordered an investigation into how the drugs the atmosphere of a room, so counteracting the
effect of positive ions
were stolen.
ionotherapyionotherapy /a ɒnə θerəpi/ noun treatment
investigativeinvestigative surgery surgery /n vest ətv by ions introduced into the body via an electric
current
s d əri/ noun surgery to investigate the
iontophoresisiontophoresis /a ɒntəυfə ri ss/ noun the
cause of a condition movement of ions through a biological materi-
al when an electric current passes through it
in vitroin vitro /n vi trəυ/ adjective, adverb a Latin
IOUSIOUS abbr intraoperative ultrasound
phrase meaning ‘in a glass’, i.e. in a test tube
IPAVIPAV abbr intermittent positive airway ventila-
or similar container used in a laboratory ˽ in tion. ı positive pressure ventilation
vitro activity, in vitro experiment experi- ipecacuanhaipecacuanha / pk kjυ nə/ noun a drug
made from the root of an American plant, used
ment which takes place in the laboratory as a treatment for coughs, and also as an emet-
ic (NOTE: The US term is ipecac.)
in vitro fertilisation nin vitro fertilisation/ vi trəυ f təla
IP jointIP joint / a pi d ɔnt/ noun same as inter-
zeʃ(ə)n/ noun the fertilisation of an ovum in phalangeal joint
the laboratory. ı test-tube baby. Abbr IVF IPPVIPPV abbr intermittent positive pressure venti-
lation. ı positive pressure ventilation
inin vivo vivo adjective, adverb a Latin phrase mean-
ipratropiumipratropium / aprə trəυpiəm/, ipratropium
ing ‘in living tissue’, i.e. referring to an exper- bromide / aprə trəυpiəm brəυmad/ noun a
drug which helps to relax muscles in the air-
iment which takes place on the living body ways, used in the treatment of conditions such
as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema
in vivo experiment nin vivo experiment / vi vəυ k sper
ipsilateralipsilateral / ps l tərəl/ adjective located
mənt/ noun an experiment on a living body, on or affecting the same side of the body. Also
called homolateral. Opposite contralateral
e.g. that of an animal
IQIQ abbr intelligence quotient
involucruminvolucrum / nvə lu krəm/ noun a covering
IRDSIRDS abbr infant respiratory distress syn-
of new bone which forms over diseased bone drome
involuntaryinvoluntary /n vɒlənt(ə)ri/ adjective done irid-irid- /rd/ prefix referring to the iris
iridectomyiridectomy / r dektəmi/ noun the surgical
automatically, without any conscious thought removal of part of the iris
or decision-making being involved ć Patients iridencleisisiridencleisis / rden klass/ noun an oper-
ation to treat glaucoma, where part of the iris
are advised not to eat or drink, to reduce the
risk of involuntary vomiting while on the oper-
ating table.
involuntaryinvoluntary action action /n vɒlənt(ə)ri kʃən/
noun an action which someone does without
thinking or making a conscious decision
involuntaryinvoluntary muscle muscle /n vɒlənt(ə)ri
m s(ə)l/ noun a muscle supplied by the auto-
nomic nervous system, and therefore not under
voluntary control, e.g. the muscle which acti-
vates a vital organ such as the heart
involutioninvolution / nvə lu ʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. the return
of an organ to its usual size, e.g. the shrinking
of the uterus after childbirth 2. a period of de-
cline of organs which sets in after middle age
involutionalinvolutional / nvə lu ʃ(ə)n(ə)l/ adjective re-
ferring to involution
involutionalinvolutional melancholia melancholia /nvə
lu ʃ(ə)n(ə)l melən kəυliə/ noun a depression
iridocyclitis 206
is used as a drainage channel through a hole in irritableirritable hip hip / rtəb(ə)l hp/ noun a condi-
the conjunctiva tion of pain in the hip which is caused by
swelling of the synovium. Treatment involves
iridocyclitisiridocyclitis / rdəυs klats/ noun inflam- bed rest, traction and anti-inflammatory drugs.
mation of the iris and the tissues which sur-
round it irritantirritant / rt(ə)nt/ noun a substance which
can irritate
iridodialysisiridodialysis / rdəυda ləss/ noun the
separation of the iris from its insertion irritantirritant dermatitis dermatitis / rt(ə)nt d mə
tats/ noun same as contact dermatitis
iridoplegiairidoplegia / rdəυ pli d ə/ noun paralysis
of the iris irritateirritate / rtet/ verb to cause a painful reac-
tion in part of the body, especially to make it
iridoptosisiridoptosis / rdəυ təυss/ noun the push- inflamed ć Some types of wool can irritate the
ing forward of the iris through a wound in the skin.
cornea
irritationirritation / r teʃ(ə)n/ noun a feeling of be-
iridotomyiridotomy / r dɒtəmi/ noun a surgical inci- ing irritated ć an irritation caused by the oint-
sion into the iris ment
irisiris / ars/ noun a coloured ring in the eye, ISCISC abbr intermittent self-catheterisation
with the pupil at its centre. See illustration at
EYE in Supplement isch-isch- /sk/ prefix too little
ischaemiaischaemia / ski miə/ noun a deficient blood
COMMENT: The iris acts like the aperture in a supply to a part of the body
camera shutter, opening and closing to allow
more or less light through the pupil into the ischaemicischaemic / ski mk/ adjective lacking in
eye. blood
iritisiritis /a rats/ noun inflammation of the iris ‘…the term stroke does not refer to a single patho-
logical entity. Stroke may be haemorrhagic or is-
ironiron / aən/ noun 1. a chemical element essen- chaemic: the latter is usually caused by thrombosis
tial to the body, present in foods such as liver or embolism’ [British Journal of Hospital Medicine]
and eggs 2. a common grey metal (NOTE: The
ischaemicischaemic heart disease heart disease / ski mk hɑ t
chemical symbol is Fe.) d zi z/ noun a disease of the heart caused by a
failure in the blood supply, as in coronary
COMMENT: Iron is an essential part of the red thrombosis. Abbr IHD
pigment in red blood cells. Lack of iron in hae-
moglobin results in iron-deficiency anaemia. ischi-ischi- /ski/ prefix same as ischio- (used be-
Storage of too much iron in the body results in fore vowels)
haemochromatosis.
ischiaischia / skiə/ plural of ischium
iron-deficiencyiron-deficiency anaemia anaemia / aən d ischialischial / skiəl/ adjective referring to the is-
fʃ(ə)nsi ə ni miə/ noun anaemia caused by a chium or hip joint
lack of iron in red blood cells
ischialischial tuberosity tuberosity / skiəl tju bə rɒsti/
ironiron lung lung / aən l ŋ/ noun same as Drinker noun a lump of bone forming the ring of the is-
respirator chium
irradiationirradiation / red eʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. the proc- ischio-ischio- /skiəυ/ prefix referring to the ischium
ess of spreading from a centre, as e.g., nerve
impulses do 2. the use of radiation to treat peo- ischiocavernosusischiocavernosus muscle muscle / skiəυk və
ple or to kill bacteria in food nəυsəs m s(ə)l/ noun a muscle along one
side of the perineum
irreducibleirreducible hernia hernia /r dju səb(ə)l h niə/
noun a hernia where the organ cannot be re- ischiorectalischiorectal / skiəυ rekt(ə)l/ adjective re-
turned to its usual position ferring to both the ischium and the rectum
irregularirregular / re jυlə/ adjective not regular or ischiorectalischiorectal abscess abscess / skiəυ rekt(ə)l
normal ć The patient’s breathing was irregu- bses/ noun an abscess which forms in fat
lar. ć The nurse noted that the patient had de-
veloped an irregular pulse. ć He has irregular cells between the anus and the ischium
bowel movements.
ischiorectalischiorectal fossa fossa / skiəυ rekt(ə)l fɒsə/
irrigateirrigate / r et/ verb to wash out a cavity in noun a space on either side of the lower end of
the body the rectum and anal canal
irrigationirrigation / r eʃ(ə)n/ noun the washing ischiumischium / skiəm/ noun the lower part of the
out of a cavity in the body hip bone in the pelvis. See illustration at PELVIS
in Supplement (NOTE: The plural is ischia.)
irritabilityirritability / rtə blti/ noun the state of be-
ing irritable IshiharaIshihara colour charts colour charts / ʃhɑ rə k lə
tʃɑ ts/ plural noun charts used in a test for col-
irritableirritable / rtəb(ə)l/ adjective 1. easily able to our vision in which numbers or letters are
become inflamed and painful 2. feeling an- shown in dots of primary colours with dots of
noyed and impatient other colours around them. People with nor-
mal colour vision can see them, but people
irritableirritable bowel syndrome bowel syndrome / rtəb(ə)l who are colour-blind cannot.
baυəl sndrəυm/ noun mucous colitis.
Abbr IBS IshiharaIshihara test test / ʃ hɑ rə test/ noun a test us-
ing Ishihara colour charts
irritableirritable colon colon / rtəb(ə)l kəυlɒn/ noun
mucous colitis
207 IVU
isletsislets of Langerhans of Langerhans / aləts əv isoprenalineisoprenaline / asəυ prenəli n/, isoprotere-
nol noun a drug that relieves asthma by widen-
l ŋəh ns/, islands of Langerhans / aləndz ing the bronchial tubes in the lungs
əv l ŋəh nz/, islet cells / alət selz/ plural isosorbideisosorbide dinitrate dinitrate / asəυ sɔ bad da
natret/ noun a compound which causes
noun groups of cells in the pancreas which se- widening or relaxation of the blood vessels,
used in the treatment of angina pectoris
crete the hormones glucagon, insulin and gas-
isotonicisotonic / asəυ tɒnk/ adjective referring to
trin [Described 1869. After Paul Langerhans a solution, e.g. a saline drip, which has the
same osmotic pressure as blood serum and
(1847–88), Professor of Pathological Anatomy which can therefore be passed directly into the
body. Compare hypertonic, hypotonic
at Freiburg, Germany.]
isotonicityisotonicity / asətɒ nsti/ noun the equal
iso-iso- /asəυ/ prefix equal osmotic pressure of two or more solutions
isoantibodyisoantibody / asəυ ntbɒdi/ noun an anti- isotonicisotonic solution solution / asəυtɒnk sə lu ʃ(ə)n/
noun a solution which has the same osmotic
body which forms in one person as a reaction pressure as blood serum, or as another liquid it
is compared with
to antigens from another person (NOTE: The
isotopeisotope / asətəυp/ noun a form of a chemi-
plural is isoantibodies.) cal element which has the same chemical
properties as other forms but a different atomic
isograftisograft / asəυ rɑ ft/ noun a graft of tissue mass
from an identical twin. Also called syngraft isotretinoinisotretinoin / asəυtre tnɔn/ noun a drug
used in the treatment of severe acne and sever-
isoimmunisationisoimmunisation / asəυ mjuna al other skin diseases
zeʃ(ə)n/, isoimmunization noun immunisa- ispaghulaispaghula / spə u lə/, ispaghula husk /
spə u lə h sk/ noun a natural dietary fibre
tion of a person with antigens derived from an- used to treat constipation, diverticulitis and ir-
ritable bowel syndrome
other person
ISSISS abbr injury scoring system
isolateisolate / asəlet/ verb 1. to keep one person
isthmusisthmus / sməs/ noun 1. a short narrow ca-
apart from others because he or she has a dan- nal or cavity 2. a narrow band of tissue joining
two larger masses of similar tissue, e.g. the
gerous infectious disease 2. to identify a single section in the centre of the thyroid gland,
which joins the two lobes (NOTE: The plural is
virus, bacterium or other pathogen among isthmi or isthmuses.)
many ć Scientists have been able to isolate the itchitch /tʃ/ noun 1. an irritated place on the skin
which makes a person want to scratch 2. the
virus which causes Legionnaires’ disease. ć itch same as scabies (informal) í verb to pro-
duce an irritating sensation, making someone
Candida is easily isolated from the mouths of want to scratch
healthy adults. itchingitching / tʃŋ/ noun same as pruritus
isolationisolation / asə leʃ(ə)n/ noun the separation itchyitchy / tʃi/ adjective making a person want to
scratch ć The main symptom of the disease is
of a person, especially one with an infectious an itchy red rash.
disease, from others -itis-itis /ats/ suffix inflammation
isolationisolation ward ward / asə leʃ(ə)n wɔ d/ noun a ITUITU abbr intensive therapy unit
special ward where people who have danger- IUIU abbr international unit
ous infectious diseases can be kept isolated IUCDIUCD abbr intrauterine contraceptive device
from others IUDIUD abbr 1. intrauterine death 2. intrauterine
device
isolatorisolator / asəletə/ noun 1. a large clear
IUSIUS abbr intrauterine system
plastic bag in which a person can be nursed, or
IVIV abbr intravenous
operated on, in a sterile environment 2. a room
IVFIVF abbr in vitro fertilisation
or piece of equipment which keeps people or
IVPIVP abbr intravenous pyelogram
substances separated from others which may
IVUIVU abbr intravenous urography
contaminate them ć an isolator stretcher ć an
isolator cabinet
isoleucineisoleucine /asəυ lu si n/ noun an essential
amino acid
isometricisometric / asəυ metrk/ adjective 1. in-
volving equal measurement ć an isometric
view of the system 2. referring to muscle con-
traction in which tension occurs with very lit-
tle shortening of muscle fibres 3. referring to
exercises in which the muscles are put under
tension but not contracted
isometricsisometrics / asəυ metrks/ plural noun ex-
ercises to strengthen the muscles, in which the
muscles contract but do not shorten
isoniazidisoniazid / asə naəzd/ noun a colourless
crystalline compound that is used in the treat-
ment of tuberculosis. Abbr INH
J
JJ /d e/ abbr joule jejun- djejun-/ d u n/ prefix same as jejuno- (used
jabjab /d b/ noun an injection or inoculation before vowels)
(informal) ć a tetanus jab jejunaljejunal /d d u n(ə)l/ adjective referring to
Jacksonian epilepsy dJacksonian epilepsy/ k səυniən ep the jejunum
lepsi/ noun a form of epilepsy in which the jejunaljejunal ulcer ulcer /d d u n(ə)l lsə/ noun an
jerking movements start in one part of the ulcer in the jejunum
body before spreading to others [Described jejunectomyjejunectomy / d d u nektəmi/ noun a
1863. After John Hughlings Jackson (1835– surgical operation to remove all or part of the
1911), British neurologist.] jejunum (NOTE: The plural is jejunectomies.)
Jacquemier’s sign dJacquemier’s sign/ kəməz san/ jejuno-jejuno- /d i d u nəυ/ prefix referring to the
noun a sign of early pregnancy in which the jejunum
vaginal mucosa becomes slightly blue due to jejunoileostomyjejunoileostomy /d d u nəυ li ɒstəmi/
an increased amount of blood in the arteries noun a surgical operation to make an artificial
[After Jean Marie Jacquemier (1806–79), link between the jejunum and the ileum (NOTE:
French obstetrician] The plural is jejunoileostomies.)
jactitation djactitation/ kt teʃ(ə)n/ noun the ac- jejunostomy djejunostomy / d u nɒstəmi/ noun a sur-
tion of constantly moving the body around in a gical operation to make an artificial passage to
restless way, especially because of mental ill- the jejunum through the wall of the abdomen
ness (NOTE: The plural is jejunostomies.)
jagjag /d / noun in Scotland, an injection or jejunotomy djejunotomy/ d u nɒtəmi/ noun a surgi-
inoculation (informal) cal operation to cut into the jejunum (NOTE:
jargon djargon/ ɑ ən/ noun 1. the words used by The plural is jejunotomies.)
people who have a particular area of knowl- jejunum djejunum/ d u nəm/ noun the part of the
edge, which are usually only understood by small intestine between the duodenum and the
those people ć medical jargon 2. a stream of ileum, about 2 metres long. See illustration at
words that makes no sense, produced by some- DIGESTIVE SYSTEM in Supplement
one with aphasia or a severe mental disorder jerkjerk /d k/ noun a sudden movement of part
jaundicejaundice / d ɔ nds/ noun a condition in of the body which indicates that the local re-
which there is an excess of bile pigment in the flex arc is intact í verb to make sudden move-
blood, and in which the pigment is deposited ments, or cause something to make sudden
in the skin and the whites of the eyes, which movements ć In some forms of epilepsy the
have a yellow colour. Also called icterus limbs jerk.
COMMENT: Jaundice can have many causes, jet lag djet lag/ et l / noun a condition suffered
usually relating to the liver: the most common
are blockage of the bile ducts by gallstones or by people who travel long distances in planes,
by disease of the liver and Weil’s disease. caused by rapid changes in time zones which
jawjaw /d ɔ / noun the bones in the face which affect sleep patterns and meal times and thus
hold the teeth and form the mouth ć He fell interfere with the body’s metabolism ć We had
down and broke his jaw. ć The punch on his jet lag when we flew from Australia.
mouth broke his jaw. jet-lagged djet-lagged/ et l d/ adjective experienc-
COMMENT: The jaw has two parts, the upper ing jet lag ć jet-lagged travellers ć We were
(the maxillae) being fixed parts of the skull,
jet-lagged for a week.
and the lower (the mandible) being attached
jointjoint /d ɔnt/ noun a structure at a point
to the skull with a hinge so that it can move up
and down. where two or more bones join, especially one
jawbone djawbone/ ɔ bəυn/ noun one of the bones which allows movement of the bones ć The el-
which form the jaw, especially the lower jaw bow is a joint in the arm. ć Arthritis is accom-
or mandible panied by stiffness in the joints. Charcot’s
209 juxtaposition
joint (NOTE: For other terms referring to joints, jugular vein djugular vein/ jυlə ven/ noun one of
see words beginning with arthr-, arthro-.) the veins which pass down either side of the
joint-breaker fever djoint-breaker fever/ ɔnt brekə fi və/ neck. Also called jugular
noun same as o’nyong-nyong fever juicejuice /d u s/ noun 1. liquid from a fruit or
jointjoint capsule capsule / d ɔnt k psju l/ noun vegetable ć a glass of orange juice or tomato
white fibrous tissue which surrounds and juice 2. a natural fluid of the body. gastric
holds a joint together. See illustration at SYNO- juice
VIAL JOINT in Supplement jumper’s knee djumper’s knee mpəz ni / noun a pain-
joint investmentjoint investment plan plan / d ɔnt n /
vestmənt pl n/ noun a plan that health and ful condition suffered by athletes and dancers
social services draw up together for specific in which inflammation develops in the knee
areas of care joint
jointjoint mouse mouse / d ɔnt maυs/ plural noun a junction djunction/ ŋkʃən/ noun a joining point
loose piece of bone or cartilage in the knee junior doctor djunior doctor/ u niə dɒktə/ noun a doc-
joint, making the joint lock tor who is completing his or her training in
joulejoule /d u l/ noun the SI unit of measurement hospital
of work or energy. 4.184 joules equals one cal- junk food djunk food/ ŋk fu d/ noun food of little
orie. Symbol J nutritional value, e.g. high-fat processed
/jugular djugular jυlə/ adjective referring to the snacks, eaten between or instead of meals
throat or neck í noun same as jugular vein
COMMENT: There are three jugular veins on juvenile djuvenile/ u vənal/ adjective relating to or
each side: the internal jugular is large and affecting children or adolescents
leads to the brachiocephalic vein, the exter- juxta- djuxta- kstə/ prefix beside or near
nal jugular is smaller and leads to the subcla- /
vian vein and the anterior jugular is the juxta-articular djuxta-articular/ kstə ɑ tkjυlə/ adjec-
smallest. tive occurring near a joint
jugular nerve djugular nerve/ jυlə n v/ noun one of juxtaposition djuxtaposition
the nerves in the neck / kstəpə zʃ(ə)n/ noun
jugular trunk djugular trunk/ jυlə tr ŋk/ noun a ter- the placing of two or more things side by side
minal lymph vessel in the neck, draining into so as to make their similarities or differences
the subclavian vein more obvious
K
kk symbol kilo- 1954), German ophthalmologist; Bruno Richard
KahnKahn test test / kɑ n test/ noun a test of blood Fleischer (1848–1904), German physician.]
serum to diagnose syphilis [Described 1922. kcalkcal abbr kilocalorie
After Reuben Leon Kahn, Lithuanian-born serol- KegelKegel exercises exercises / ke (ə)l eksəsazz/
plural noun exercises which strengthen the
ogist who worked in the USA.] muscles of the pelvic floor in women and help
to prevent any accidental leakage of urine
kala-azarkala-azar / kɑ lə ə zɑ / noun an often fatal when they cough, sneeze or lift things
form of leishmaniasis caused by the infection Keller’sKeller’s operation operation / keləz ɒpə reʃ(ə)n/
noun a surgical operation on the big toe to re-
of the intestines and internal organs by a para- move a bunion or to correct an ankylosed joint
[Described 1904. After William Lordan Keller
site, Leishmania, spread by flies. Symptoms
(1874–1959), US surgeon.]
are fever, anaemia, general wasting of the
keloidkeloid / ki lɔd/ noun an excessive amount of
body and swelling of the spleen and liver. scar tissue at the site of a skin injury
kaliumkalium / keliəm/ noun same as potassium kerat-kerat- /kerət/ prefix same as kerato- (used be-
fore vowels)
kaolinkaolin / keəln/ noun a fine soft clay used in
keratalgiakeratalgia / kerə t ld iə/ noun pain felt in
the making of medical preparations, especially the cornea
for the treatment of diarrhoea keratectasiakeratectasia / kerətek teziə/ noun a condi-
tion in which the cornea bulges
Kaposi’sKaposi’s sarcoma sarcoma /kə pəυziz sɑ kəυmə/
keratectomykeratectomy / kerə tektəmi/ noun a surgi-
noun a cancer which takes the form of many cal operation to remove the whole or part of
the cornea (NOTE: The plural is keratectomies.)
haemorrhagic nodes affecting the skin, espe-
keratickeratic /kə r tk/ adjective 1. relating to
cially on the extremities [Described 1872. After horny tissue or to keratin 2. relating to the cor-
nea
Moritz Kohn Karposi (1837–1902), Professor of
keratinkeratin / kerətn/ noun a protein found in
Dermatology at Vienna, Austria.] horny tissue such as fingernails, hair or the
outer surface of the skin
COMMENT: Formerly a relatively rare disease,
found mainly in tropical countries, Kaposi’s keratinisationkeratinisation / kerətna zeʃ(ə)n/, kerati-
sarcoma is now more common as it is one of nization noun the appearance of horny charac-
the diseases associated with AIDS. teristics in tissue. Also called cornification
Kartagener’sKartagener’s syndrome syndrome / kɑ tə d i nəz keratinisekeratinise / kerətnaz, kə r tnaz/,
sndrəυm/ noun a hereditary condition in keratinize verb to convert something into ker-
atin or into horny tissue (NOTE: keratinising –
which all the organs in the chest and abdomen keratinised)
are positioned on the opposite side from the keratinocytekeratinocyte / kerə tnəυsat/ noun a cell
which produces keratin
usual one, i.e. the heart and stomach are on the
keratitiskeratitis / kerə tats/ noun inflammation of
right the cornea
karyo- kkaryo-/ riəυ/ prefix relating to a cell nucle- kerato-kerato- /kerətəυ/ prefix referring to horn,
horny tissue or the cornea
us
keratoacanthomakeratoacanthoma / kerətəυ kən θəυmə/
karyotype kkaryotype/ riəυtap/ noun the chromo- noun a type of benign skin tumour which dis-
some complement of a cell, shown as a dia-
gram or as a set of letters and numbers
KawasakiKawasaki disease disease / kɑ wə sɑ kiz d zi z/
noun a retrovirus infection that often occurs in
small children and causes a high temperature,
rash, reddened eyes, peeling skin and swollen
lymph nodes
Kayser-FleischerKayser-Fleischer ring ring / kazə flaʃə rŋ/
noun a brown ring on the outer edge of the cor-
nea, which is a diagnostic sign of hepatolen-
ticular degeneration [Described 1902 by Kay-
ser, 1903 by Fleischer. Bernard Kayser (1869–
211 kidney dialysis
appears after a few months (NOTE: The plural is ketoacidosisketoacidosis / ki təυ s dəυss/ noun an
accumulation of ketone bodies in tissue in dia-
keratoacanthomas or keratoacanthomata.) betes, causing acidosis
keratoconjunctivitiskeratoconjunctivitis / kerətəυkən ketoconazoleketoconazole / ki təυ kɒnəzəυl/ noun a
drug which is effective against a wide range of
d ŋkt vats/ noun inflammation of the fungal infections such as cryptococcosis and
thrush
cornea with conjunctivitis
ketogenesisketogenesis / ki təυ d enəss/ noun the
keratoconuskeratoconus / kerətəυ kəυnəs/ noun a cone- production of ketone bodies
shaped lump on the cornea ketogenicketogenic / ki təυ d enk/ adjective form-
ing ketone bodies
keratoglobuskeratoglobus / kerətəυ ləυbəs/ noun swell-
ketogenicketogenic diet diet / ki təυd enk daət/ noun a
ing of the eyeball diet with a high fat content, producing ketosis
keratomakeratoma / kerə təυmə/ noun a hard thick- ketonaemiaketonaemia / ki təυ ni miə/ noun a morbid
state in which ketone bodies exist in the blood
ened growth due to hypertrophy of the horny
ketoneketone / ki təυn/ noun a chemical compound
zone of the skin (NOTE: The plural is keratomas produced when glucose is unavailable for use
as energy, as in untreated diabetes, and fats are
or keratomata.) used instead, leading to ketosis
keratomalaciakeratomalacia / kerətəυmə leʃə/ noun 1. a ketoneketone bodies bodies / ki təυn bɒdiz/ plural noun
ketone compounds formed from fatty acids
softening of the cornea frequently caused by
ketoneketone group group / ki təυn ru p/ noun a chem-
Vitamin A deficiency 2. softening of the horny ical group characteristic of ketones, with car-
bon atoms doubly bonded to an oxygen atom
layer of the skin and to the carbon atoms of two other organic
groups
keratomekeratome / kerətəυm/ noun a surgical knife
ketonuriaketonuria / ki təυ njυəriə/ noun a state in
used for operations on the cornea which ketone bodies are excreted in the urine
keratometerkeratometer / kerə tɒmtə/ noun an instru- ketoprofenketoprofen / ki təυ prəυfən/ noun an anti-
inflammatory drug used in the treatment of
ment for measuring the curvature of the cornea rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
keratometrykeratometry / kerə tɒmtri/ noun the proc- ketosisketosis /ki təυss/ noun a state in which ke-
tone bodies such as acetone and acetic acid ac-
ess of measuring the curvature of the cornea cumulate in the tissues, a late complication of
Type I diabetes mellitus
keratopathykeratopathy / kerə tɒpəθi/ noun any non-
ketosteroidketosteroid / ki təυ stərɔd/ noun a steroid
inflammatory disorder of the cornea (NOTE: such as cortisone which contains a ketone
group
The plural is keratopathies.)
keyholekeyhole surgery surgery / ki həυl s d əri/ noun
keratoplastykeratoplasty / kerətəpl sti/ noun a surgi- surgery carried out by inserting tiny surgical
instruments through an endoscope (informal)
cal operation to graft corneal tissue from a do- Also called laparoscopic surgery
nor in place of diseased tissue (NOTE: The plural kgkg abbr kilogram
is keratoplasties.) kidneykidney / kdni/ noun either of two organs sit-
uated in the lower part of the back on either
keratoprosthesiskeratoprosthesis / kerətəυprɒs θi ss/ side of the spine behind the abdomen, whose
function is to maintain the usual concentra-
noun 1. a surgical operation to replace the cen- tions of the main constituents of blood, pass-
ing the waste matter into the urine. See illus-
tral area of a cornea with clear plastic, when it tration at KIDNEY in Supplement
has become opaque 2. a piece of clear plastic COMMENT: A kidney is formed of an outer cor-
tex and an inner medulla. The nephrons which
put into the cornea (NOTE: The plural is kerato- run from the cortex into the medulla filter the
blood and form urine. The urine is passed
prostheses.) through the ureters into the bladder. Sudden
sharp pain in back of the abdomen, going
keratoscopekeratoscope / kerətəskəυp/ noun an instru- downwards, is an indication of a kidney stone
passing into the ureter.
ment for examining the cornea to see if it has
kidneykidney dialysis dialysis / kdni da ləss/ noun the
an unusual curvature. Also called Placido’s process of removing waste matter from blood
by passing it through a kidney machine. Also
disc called haemodialysis
keratosiskeratosis / kerə təυss/ noun a lesion of the
skin (NOTE: The plural is keratoses.)
keratotomykeratotomy / kerə tɒtəmi/ noun a surgical
operation to make a cut in the cornea, the first
step in many intraocular operations (NOTE: The
plural is keratotomies.)
kerionkerion / kəriɒn/ noun a painful soft mass,
usually on the scalp, caused by ringworm
kernicteruskernicterus /kə nktərəs/ noun yellow pig-
mentation of the basal ganglia and other nerve
cells in the spinal cord and brain, found in chil-
dren with icterus
Kernig’s sign kKernig’s sign/ n z san/ noun a symp-
tom of meningitis in which the knee cannot be
straightened if the person is lying down with
the thigh brought up against the abdomen [De-
scribed 1882. After Vladimir Mikhailovich Kernig
(1840–1917), Russian neurologist.]
ketamineketamine / ketəmi n/ noun a white crystal-
line powder that is a general anaesthetic, used
in human and veterinary medicine
kidney donor 212
kidneykidney donor donor / kdni dəυnə/ noun a person COMMENT: Kinaesthesia is the result of infor-
who gives one of his or her kidneys as a trans-
plant mation from muscles and ligaments which is
kidneykidney failure failure / kdni feljə/ noun a situa- passed to the brain and which allows the brain
tion in which the kidneys do not function prop-
erly to recognise movements, touch and weight.
kidneykidney machine machine / kdni mə ʃi n/ noun an kinanaesthesia knkinanaesthesia/ ni s θi ziə/ noun the
apparatus through which blood is passed to be
cleaned by dialysis if the person’s kidneys fact of not being able to sense the movement
have failed
and position of parts of the body (NOTE: The US
kidneykidney stone stone / kdni stəυn/ noun a hard
mass of calcium like a little piece of stone spelling is kinanesthesia.)
which forms in the kidney
kinasekinase / kanez/ noun an enzyme belonging
kidneykidney transplant transplant / kdni tr nsplɑ nt/
noun a surgical operation to give someone with to a large family of related substances that bind
a diseased or damaged kidney a kidney from
another person to the energy-providing molecule ATP and
killkill /kl/ verb to make someone or something regulate functions such as cell division and
die ć She was killed in a car crash. ć Heart at-
tacks kill more people every year. ć Antibodies signalling between cells
are created to kill bacteria.
kine-kine- /kni/ prefix movement
killerkiller / klə/ noun a person or disease which
kills ć In the winter, bronchitis is the killer of kinematicskinematics / kn m tks/ noun the science
hundreds of senior citizens. ć Virulent typhoid
fever can be a killer disease. ı painkiller of movement, especially of body movements
killerkiller cell cell / klə sel/, killer T cell noun a type kineplastykineplasty / knpl sti/ noun an amputation
of immune cell that recognises and destroys
cells that have specific antigens on their sur- in which the muscles of the stump of the am-
face, e.g. virus-infected or cancerous cells
putated limb are used to operate an artificial
Killian’sKillian’s operation operation / kliənz ɒpə reʃ(ə)n/
noun a surgical operation to clear the frontal si- limb (NOTE: The plural is kineplasties.)
nus by curetting in which the incision is made
in the eyebrow [After Gustav Killian (1860– kinesi-kinesi- /kani si/ prefix movement (NOTE:
1921), German laryngologist] used before vowels)
kilo-kilo- /kləυ/ prefix one thousand (103). Sym-
bol k kinesiologykinesiology / kani si ɒləd i/ noun the
kilogramkilogram / klə r m/ noun an SI unit of study of human movements, particularly with
measurement of weight equal to 1000 grams ć
She weighs 62 kilos (62 kg). Symbol kg regard to their use in treatment
kilojoulekilojoule / kləυd u l/ noun an SI unit of kinesiskinesis noun the movement of a cell in re-
measurement of energy or heat equal to 1000
joules. Symbol kJ sponse to a stimulus. Compare taxis
kilopascalkilopascal / kləυp skəl/ noun an SI unit of -kinesis-kinesis /kni ss/ suffix 1. activity or motion
measurement of pressure equal to 1000 pas-
cals. Symbol kPa 2. a change in the movement of a cell, though
Kimmelstiel-WilsonKimmelstiel-Wilson disease disease / kməlsti l not in any particular direction. Examples are a
wlsən d zi z/, Kimmelstiel-Wilson syn-
drome / kməlsti l wlsən sndrəυm/ noun change in its speed or in its turning behaviour.
a form of nephrosclerosis found in people with
diabetes [Described 1936. After Paul Kimmel- kinesitherapykinesitherapy / kani si θerəpi/ noun thera-
stiel (1900–70), US pathologist; Clifford Wilson py involving movement of parts of the body
(1906–98), Professor of Medicine, London Uni- kinetickinetic /k netk, ka netk/ adjective relat-
versity, UK.] ing to movement
kinkin /kn/ noun relatives or close members of King’sKing’s Fund Fund / kŋz f nd/ noun a major inde-
the family
pendent health charity in London
kin-kin- /kn/ prefix same as kine- (used before
vowels) King’sKing’s model model / kŋz mɒd(ə)l/ noun a model
kinaesthesiakinaesthesia / kni s θi ziə/ noun the fact of of nurse–patient relationships based on ten
being aware of the movement and position of
parts of the body (NOTE: The US spelling is ki- principles: interaction, perception, communi-
nesthesia.) cation, transaction, role, stress, growth and de-
velopment, time, self and space. Through an
exchange of information nurses and patients
work together to help individuals and groups
attain, maintain and restore health.
kininkinin / kann/ noun a polypeptide that makes
blood vessels widen and smooth muscles con-
tract
Kirschner wire kKirschner wire/ ʃ(ə)nə waə/, Kirschn-
er’s wire noun a wire attached to a bone and
tightened to provide traction to a fracture [De-
scribed 1909. After Martin Kirschner (1879–
1942), Professor of Surgery at Heidelberg, Ger-
many.]
kisskiss of life of life / ks əv laf/ noun same as cardi-
opulmonary resuscitation (informal)
kJkJ abbr kilojoule
KlebsiellaKlebsiella / klebsi elə/ noun a Gram-nega-
tive bacterium, one form of which, Klebsiella
pneumoniae, can cause pneumonia
Klebs-Loeffler bacillus klebzKlebs-Loeffler bacillus/ leflə bə
sləs/ noun the bacterium which causes diph-
213 Krukenberg tumour
theria, Corynebacterium diphtheriae [After den change is made between inward and out-
Theodor Albrecht Klebs (1834–1913), bacteriol- ward rotation of the head of the joint
ogist in Zürich, Switzerland, and Chicago, USA; Koch’sKoch’s bacillus bacillus / kəυks bə sləs/ noun the
Friedrich August Loeffler (1852–1915), bacteri- bacterium which causes tuberculosis, Myco-
ologist in Berlin, Germany] bacterium tuberculosis [Described 1882. After
KleihauerKleihauer test test / klahaυə test/, Kleihauer- Robert Koch (1843–1910), Professor of Hygiene
Betke test noun a test used to check whether in Berlin, Germany, later Director of the Institute
there has been any blood loss from a fetus to for Infectious Diseases. (Nobel Prize 1905).]
the mother across the placenta. It is usually Koch-Weeks bacillus kəυkKoch-Weeks bacillus/ wi ks bə
done immediately after delivery. sləs/ noun the bacillus which causes con-
klepto-klepto- /kleptəυ/ prefix stealing or theft junctivitis
kleptomaniakleptomania / kleptəυ meniə/ noun a form Köhler’s disease kKöhler’s disease / ləz d si z/ noun a
of mental disorder in which someone has a degeneration of the navicular bone in children.
compulsive desire to steal things, even things Also called scaphoiditis [Described 1908 and
of little value 1926. After Alban Köhler (1874–1947), German
kleptomaniackleptomaniac / kleptəυ meni k/ noun a radiologist.]
person who has a compulsive desire to steal koilonychiakoilonychia / kɔləυ nkiə/ noun a condition
Klinefelter’sKlinefelter’s syndrome syndrome / klanfeltəz sn in which the fingernails are brittle and con-
drəυm/ noun a genetic disorder in which a cave, caused by iron-deficiency anaemia
male has an extra female chromosome, mak- Koplik’sKoplik’s spots spots / kɒplks spɒts/ plural noun
ing an XXY set, giving sterility and partial fe- small white spots with a blue tinge surrounded
male characteristics [Described 1942. After by a red areola, found in the mouth in the early
Harry Fitch Klinefelter Jr. (b. 1912), Associate stages of measles [Described 1896. After Henry
Professor of Medicine, John Hopkins Medical Koplik (1858–1927), US paediatrician.]
School, Baltimore, USA.] Korotkoff’sKorotkoff’s method method / kɒrətkɒfs meθəd/
Klumpke’sKlumpke’s paralysis paralysis / klu mpkəz pə noun a method of finding a person’s blood
r ləss/ noun a form of paralysis due to an in- pressure by inflating a cuff around his or her
jury during birth, affecting the forearm and upper arm to a pressure well above the systolic
hand. Also called Déjerine-Klumpke’s syn- blood pressure and then gradually decreasing
drome [Described 1885. After Augusta Klumpke it
(Madame Déjerine-Klumpke) (1859–1937), Korsakoff’sKorsakoff’s syndrome syndrome / kɔ səkɒfs sn
French neurologist, one of the first women to drəυm/ noun a condition, caused usually by
qualify in Paris in 1888.] chronic alcoholism or disorders in which there
kneeknee /ni / noun a joint in the middle of the leg, is a deficiency of vitamin B, in which a per-
joining the femur and the tibia (NOTE: For other son’s memory fails and he or she invents things
terms referring to the knee, see genu.) which have not happened and is confused [De-
kneecapkneecap / ni k p/ noun same as patella scribed 1887. After Sergei Sergeyevich Korsa-
kneeknee jerk jerk / ni d k/ noun same as patellar koff (1854–1900), Russian psychiatrist.]
reflex kraurosis penis krɔkraurosis penis/ rəυss pi ns/ noun a
kneeknee joint joint /ni d ɔnt/ noun a joint where the condition in which the foreskin becomes dry
femur and the tibia are joined, covered by the and shrivelled
kneecap kraurosis vulvae krəkraurosis vulvae/ rəυss v lvə/ noun
knitknit /nt/ verb (of broken bones) to join togeth- a condition in which the vulva becomes thin
er again ć Broken bones take longer to knit in and dry due to lack of oestrogen, found usually
elderly people than in children. (NOTE: knitting in elderly women
– knitted – knit) KrauseKrause corpuscles corpuscles / kraυzə kɔ p s(ə)lz/
knock-kneeknock-knee / nɒk ni / noun a state in which plural noun encapsulated nerve endings in the
the knees touch and the ankles are apart when mucous membrane of the mouth, nose, eyes
a person is standing straight. Also called genu and genitals [Described 1860. After Wilhelm Jo-
valgum hann Friedrich Krause (1833–1910), German
knock-kneedknock-kneed /nɒk ni d/ adjective referring anatomist.]
to a person whose knees touch when he or she KrebsKrebs cycle cycle / krebz sak(ə)l/ noun same as
stands straight with feet slightly apart citric acid cycle [Described 1937. After Sir
knockknock out out / nɒk aυt/ verb to hit someone so Hans Adolf Krebs (1900–81), German biochem-
hard that he or she is no longer conscious ć He ist who emigrated to England in 1934. Shared
was knocked out by a blow on the head. the Nobel prize for Medicine 1953 with F.A. Lip-
mann.]
knuckle nknuckle/ k(ə)l/ noun the back of each joint KrukenbergKrukenberg tumour tumour / kru kənb
on a person’s hand tju mə/ noun a malignant tumour in the ovary
KocherKocher manoeuvre manoeuvre / kɒkə mə nu və/ secondary to a tumour in the stomach [After
noun a method for realigning a dislocated Friedrich Krukenberg (1871–1946), German gy-
shoulder in which the arm is raised and a sud- naecologist]
Kuntscher nail 214
KuntscherKuntscher nail nail / k ntʃə nel/, Küntscher kwashiorkorkwashiorkor / kwɒʃi ɔ kɔ / noun malnutri-
nail noun a long steel nail used in operations to tion of small children, mostly in tropical coun-
pin fractures of long bones, especially the fe- tries, causing anaemia, wasting of the body
mur, through the bone marrow [Described and swollen liver
1940. After Gerhard Küntscher (1900–72), Ger-
kypho-kypho- /kafəυ/ prefix a hump
man surgeon.] kyphoscoliosiskyphoscoliosis / kafəυ skɒli əυss/ noun
a condition in which someone has both back-
Kupffer’sKupffer’s cells cells / kυpfəz selz/, Kupffer cells ward and lateral curvature of the spine
plural noun large specialised liver cells which
break down haemoglobin into bile [Described kyphosiskyphosis /ka fəυss/ noun an excessive
1876. After Karl Wilhelm von Kupffer (1829– backward curvature of the top part of the spine
(NOTE: The plural is kyphoses.)
1902), German anatomist.]
kyphotickyphotic /ka fɒtk/ adjective referring to
KveimKveim test test / kvam test/ noun a skin test to kyphosis
confirm the presence of sarcoidosis [After
Morten Ansgar Kveim (b. 1892), Swedish physi-
cian]
L
ll , L symbol litre laboratorylaboratory officer officer /lə bɒrət(ə)ri ɒfsə/ noun
lablab /l b/ noun same as laboratory (informal) ć a qualified person in charge of a laboratory
The samples have been returned by the lab. ć
We’ll send the specimens away for a lab test. laboratorylaboratory technician technician /lə bɒrət(ə)ri tek
lab-lab- /leb/ prefix same as labio- (used before nʃ(ə)n/ noun a person who does practical
vowels)
work in a laboratory and has particular care of
labellabel / leb(ə)l/ noun a piece of paper or card
attached to an object or person for identifica- equipment
tion í verb to attach a label to an object ć The
bottle is labelled ‘poison’. (NOTE: labelling – laboratorylaboratory techniques techniques /lə bɒrət(ə)ri tek
ni kz/ plural noun the methods or skills need-
labelled. The US spellings are labeling – la-
ed to perform experiments in a laboratory
beled.)
laboratorylaboratory test test /lə bɒrət(ə)ri test/ noun a
labialabia / lebiə/ plural of labium
labiallabial / lebiəl/ adjective referring to the lips test carried out in a laboratory
or to labia
labialabia majora majora / lebiə mə d ɔ rə/ plural noun labourlabour / lebə/ noun childbirth, especially the
two large fleshy folds at the outside edge of the
vulva. See illustration at UROGENITAL SYSTEM contractions in the uterus which take place
(FEMALE) in Supplement
during childbirth ˽ in labour experiencing the
labialabia minora minora / lebiə m nɔ rə/ plural noun
two small fleshy folds on the inside edge of the physical changes such as contractions in the
vulva. See illustration at UROGENITAL SYSTEM
(FEMALE) in Supplement. Also called nymphae uterus which precede the birth of a child ć She
labilelabile / lebal/ adjective referring to a drug
which is unstable and likely to change if heat- was in labour for 14 hours. ˽ to go into la-
ed or cooled
labilitylability of mood of mood /lə blti əv mu d/ noun a bour to start to experience the contractions
tendency for a person’s mood to change sud-
denly which indicate the birth of a child is imminent
labio-labio- /lebiəυ/ prefix referring to the lips or to
labia ć She went into labour at 6 o’clock.
labioplastylabioplasty / lebiəυ pl sti/ noun a surgical
operation to repair damaged or deformed lips COMMENT: Labour usually starts about nine
months, or 266 days, after conception. The
(NOTE: The plural is labioplasties.) cervix expands and the muscles in the uterus
contract, causing the amnion to burst. The
labiumlabium / lebiəm/ noun 1. any of the four muscles continue to contract regularly, push-
fleshy folds which surround the female genital ing the baby into, and then through, the vagi-
organs 2. a structure which looks like a lip na.
(NOTE: The plural is labia.) labouredlaboured breathing breathing / lebəd bri ðŋ/ noun
laborlabor / lebə/ noun US spelling of labour difficult breathing, which can be due to various
laboratorylaboratory /lə bɒrət(ə)ri/ noun a special
room or place where scientists can do special- causes such as asthma
ised work such as research, the testing of
chemical substances or the growing of tissues labourlabour pains pains / lebə penz/ plural noun the
in culture ć The samples of water from the
hospital have been sent to the laboratory for pains felt at regular intervals by a woman as
testing. ć The new drug has passed its labora-
tory tests. (NOTE: The plural is laboratories.) the muscles of the uterus contract during child-
birth
labrumlabrum / lebrəm/ noun a ring of cartilage
around the rim of a joint (NOTE: The plural is la-
bra.)
labyrinth llabyrinth/ bərnθ/ noun a series of inter-
connecting tubes, especially those in the inside
of the ear
COMMENT: The labyrinth of the inner ear is in
three parts: the three semicircular canals, the
vestibule and the cochlea. The osseous laby-
rinth is filled with a fluid (perilymph) and the
membranous labyrinth is a series of ducts and
canals inside the osseous labyrinth. The
membranous labyrinth contains a fluid (endol-
ymph). As the endolymph moves about in the
membranous labyrinth it stimulates the vestib-
labyrinthectomy 216
ular nerve which communicates the sense of lactase llactase / ktez/ noun an enzyme, secreted
movement of the head to the brain. If a person in the small intestine, which converts milk
turns round and round and then stops, the en-
sugar into glucose and galactose
dolymph continues to move and creates the
lactate llactate k tet/ verb to produce milk in the
sensation of giddiness. /
labyrinthectomy llabyrinthectomy / bərn θektəmi/ noun body (NOTE: lactating – lactated)
a surgical operation to remove the labyrinth of lactation llactation / k teʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. the produc-
the inner ear (NOTE: The plural is labyrinthecto- tion of milk in the body 2. the period during
mies.) which a mother is breastfeeding a baby
labyrinthitis llabyrinthitis / bərn θats/ noun same as COMMENT: Lactation is stimulated by the pro-
duction of the hormone prolactin by the pitui-
otitis interna tary gland. It starts about three days after
childbirth, before which period the breasts se-
lacerated llacerated / səretd/ adjective torn or with crete colostrum.
a rough edge
laceratedlacerated wound wound / l səretd wu nd/ lacteal llacteal/ ktiəl/ adjective referring to milk í
noun a wound where the skin is torn, as by a noun a lymph vessel in a villus which helps the
rough surface or barbed wire digestive process in the small intestine by ab-
laceration llaceration / sə reʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. a wound sorbing fat
which has been cut or torn with rough edges, lactic llactic/ ktk/ adjective relating to milk
and is not the result of stabbing or pricking 2. lacticlactic acid acid / l ktk sd/ noun a sugar
the act of tearing tissue which forms in cells and tissue, and also in
lachrymal llachrymal / krm(ə)l/ adjective same as sour milk, cheese and yoghurt
lacrimal COMMENT: Lactic acid is produced as the body
uses up sugar during exercise. Excessive
lacrimal llacrimal/ krm(ə)l/ adjective referring to amounts of lactic acid in the body can produce
muscle cramp.
tears, the tear ducts or the tear glands. ı nasol-
acrimal lactiferous llactiferous k tfərəs/ adjective produc-
lacrimallacrimal apparatus apparatus / l krm(ə)l pə /
retəs/ noun the arrangement of glands and ing, secreting or carrying milk
ducts which produce and drain tears. Also lactiferous duct llactiferous duct/ k tfərəs d kt/ noun a
called lacrimal system duct in the breast which carries milk
lacrimal bone llacrimal bone / krm(ə)l bəυn/ noun one lactiferouslactiferous sinus sinus /l k tfərəs sanəs/
of two little bones which join with others to noun a dilatation of the lactiferous duct at the
form the orbits base of the nipple
lacrimallacrimal canaliculus canaliculus / l krm(ə)l k nə lacto-lacto- prefix referring to milk
lkjυləs/ noun a small canal draining tears Lactobacillus lLactobacillus / ktəυbə sləs/ noun a ge-
into the lacrimal sac nus of Gram-positive bacteria which produces
lacrimallacrimal caruncle caruncle / l krm(ə)l kə lactic acid from glucose and may be found in
r ŋk(ə)l/ noun a small red point at the inner the digestive tract and the vagina
corner of each eye lactogeniclactogenic hormone hormone / l ktəυ d enk
hɔ məυn/ noun same as prolactin
lacrimallacrimal duct duct / l krm(ə)l d kt/ noun a
small duct leading from the lacrimal gland. lactose llactose / ktəυs/ noun a type of sugar found
Also called tear duct in milk
lacrimal gland llacrimal gland / krm(ə)l l nd/ noun a lactose intolerance llactose intolerance/ ktəυs n tɒlərəns/
gland beneath the upper eyelid which secretes noun a condition in which a person cannot di-
tears. Also called tear gland gest lactose because lactase is absent in the in-
lacrimal puncta llacrimal puncta / krm(ə)l p ŋktə/ plu- testine or because of an allergy to milk, caus-
ral noun small openings of the lacrimal canal- ing diarrhoea
iculus at the corners of the eyes through which lactosuria llactosuria / ktəυ sjυəriə/ noun the excre-
tears drain into the nose tion of lactose in the urine
lacrimal sac llacrimal sac / krm(ə)l s k/ noun a sac lactovegetarianlactovegetarian / l ktəυved teəriən/
at the upper end of the nasolacrimal duct, link- noun a person who does not eat meat, but eats
ing it with the lacrimal canaliculus vegetables, fruit, dairy produce and eggs and
lacrimallacrimal system system / l krm(ə)l sstəm/ sometimes fish ć He has been a lactovegetar-
noun same as lacrimal apparatus ian for twenty years. Compare vegan, vegetar-
lacrimation llacrimation / kr meʃ(ə)n/ noun the pro- ian
duction of tears lactulose llactulose / ktjυləυs/ noun an artificially
lacrimator llacrimator / krmetə/ noun a substance produced sugar used as a laxative
which irritates the eyes and makes tears flow lacuna llacuna / kju nə/ noun a small hollow or
lacrymal llacrymal/ krml/, lachrymal / l krm(ə)l/ cavity (NOTE: The plural is lacunae.)
adjective another spelling of lacrimal lacunar llacunar / kju nə/ adjective relating to hol-
lact-lact- /l kt/ prefix same as lacto- (used before lows or cavities in tissue such as in bone or
vowels) cartilage, especially ones that are unusual
217 laryngeal prominence
Laënnec’sLaënnec’s cirrhosis cirrhosis / leəneks sə rəυss/ [After Jean-Baptiste Octave Landry (1826–65),
noun the commonest form of alcoholic cirrho- French physician]
sis of the liver [Described 1819. After René Landsteiner’s classification lLandsteiner’s classification/ ndstanəz
Théophile Hyacinthe Laennec (1781–1826), kl sf keʃ(ə)n/ noun same as ABO system
Professor of medicine at the Collège de France, Langerhans’ cells lLangerhans’ cells / ŋəh ns selz/ plural
and inventor of the stethoscope.] noun cells on the outer layers of the skin
laevocardialaevocardia / li vəυ kɑ diə/ noun the condi- Langer’s lines lLanger’s lines / ŋəz lanz/ plural noun the
tion of having the heart in the usual position, arrangement of collagen protein fibres which
with the apex towards the left side of the body. causes the usual skin creases. Cuts made along
Compare dextrocardia these lines sever fewer fibres and heal better
-lalia-lalia /leliə/ suffix speech or a speech disorder than other cuts. Also called cleavage lines
lambda llambda / mdə/ noun 1. the 11th letter of the Lange test lLange test / ŋ ə test/ noun a method of
Greek alphabet 2. the point at the back of the detecting globulin in the cerebrospinal fluid
skull where the sagittal suture and lambdoidal [Described 1912. After Carl Friedrich August
suture meet Lange (b. 1883), German physician.]
lambdoid llambdoid / mdɔd/ adjective shaped like lanolin llanolin/ nəln/ noun grease from sheep’s
the capital Greek letter lambda, like an upside wool which absorbs water and is used to rub
down V or y on dried skin, or in the preparation of cosmet-
lambdoid suture llambdoid suture / m dɔd su tʃə/, lamb- ics
doidal suture /l m dɔd(ə)l su tʃə/ noun a lanugolanugo /lə nju əυ/ noun 1. soft hair on the
horizontal joint across the back of the skull be- body of a fetus or newborn baby 2. soft hair on
tween the parietal and occipital bones the body of an adult, except on the palms of the
lamblia llamblia / mbliə/ noun same as Giardia hands, the soles of the feet and the parts where
lambliasis llambliasis/ m blaəss/ noun same as gia- long hair grows
rdiasis laparo- llaparo-/ pərəυ/ prefix the lower abdomen
lamelame /lem/ adjective not able to walk easily laparoscope llaparoscope / pərəskəυp/ noun a surgi-
because of pain, stiffness or damage in a leg or cal instrument which is inserted through a hole
foot (NOTE: This term is regarded as offensive.) in the abdominal wall to allow a surgeon to ex-
lamellalamella /lə melə/ noun 1. a thin sheet of tissue amine the inside of the abdominal cavity. Also
2. a thin disc placed under the eyelid to apply called peritoneoscope
a drug to the eye (NOTE: The plural is lamellae.) laparoscopic llaparoscopic / pərə skɒpk/ adjective us-
lamenesslameness / lemnəs/ noun the inability to ing a laparoscope
walk normally because of pain, stiffness or laparoscopiclaparoscopic surgery surgery / l pərə skɒpk
s d əri/ noun same as keyhole surgery
damage in a leg or foot
lamina llamina/ mnə/ noun 1. a thin membrane 2. laparoscopy llaparoscopy / pə rɒskəpi/ noun a proce-
a side part of the posterior arch in a vertebra dure in which a laparoscope is used to examine
(NOTE: The plural is laminae.) the inside of the abdominal cavity. Also called
lamina propria llamina propria/ mnə prəυpriə/ noun peritoneoscopy (NOTE: The plural is laparo-
the connective tissue of mucous membranes scopies.)
containing, e.g., blood vessels and lymphatic laparotomy llaparotomy / pə rɒtəmi/ noun a surgical
tissues operation to cut open the abdominal cavity
laminectomy llaminectomy / m nektəmi/ noun a surgi- (NOTE: The plural is laparotomies.)
cal operation to cut through the lamina of a large intestine lɑ dlarge intestine / n testn/ noun the
vertebra in the spine to get to the spinal cord. section of the digestive system from the cae-
Also called rachiotomy (NOTE: The plural is cum to the rectum
laminectomies.) Lariam lLariam riəm/ a trade name for meflo-
lamotriginelamotrigine /lə mɒtrd i n/ noun a drug that /
helps to control petit mal epilepsy quine hydrochloride
lancelance /lɑ ns/ verb to make a cut in a boil or ab- larvalarva / lɑ və/ noun a stage in the development
scess to remove the pus of an insect or tapeworm, after the egg has
lancetlancet / lɑ nst/ noun 1. a sharp two-edged hatched but before the animal becomes adult
pointed knife formerly used in surgery 2. a (NOTE: The plural is larvae.)
small pointed implement used to take a small laryng-laryng- /lərnd / prefix same as laryngo-
capillary blood sample, e.g. to measure blood (used before vowels)
glucose levels laryngeallaryngeal /lə rnd iəl/ adjective referring to
lancinatelancinate / lɑ nsnet/ verb to lacerate or cut the larynx
something (NOTE: lancinating – lancinated) laryngeallaryngeal inlet inlet /lə rnd iəl nlət/ noun the
lancinatinglancinating / lɑ nsnetŋ/ adjective refer- entrance from the laryngopharynx leading
ring to pain which is sharp and cutting through the vocal cords to the trachea
Landry’s paralysis lLandry’s paralysis/ ndrz pə r ləss/ laryngeallaryngeal prominence prominence /lə rnd iəl
noun same as Guillain-Barré syndrome (see) prɒmnəns/ noun same as Adam’s apple
laryngeal reflex 218
laryngeallaryngeal reflex reflex /lə rnd iəl ri fleks/ noun larynx llarynx / rŋks/ noun the organ in the throat
the reflex that makes a person cough which produces sounds. Also called voice box
laryngectomylaryngectomy / l rn d ektəmi/ noun a (NOTE: The plural is larynges or larynxes.)
surgical operation to remove the larynx, usual- COMMENT: The larynx is a hollow passage
ly as treatment for throat cancer (NOTE: The plu- made of cartilage, containing the vocal cords,
ral is laryngectomies.) situated behind the Adam’s apple. It is closed
by the epiglottis when swallowing or before
laryngeslarynges /lə rnd i z/ plural of larynx coughing.
laryngismus llaryngismus / rn d zməs/, laryngismus laserlaser / lezə/ noun an instrument which pro-
stridulus /l rn d zməs strdjυləs/ noun a duces a highly concentrated beam of light
spasm of the throat muscles with a sharp intake which can be used to cut or attach tissue, as in
of breath which occurs when the larynx is irri- operations for a detached retina
tated, as in children who have croup laser laparoscopylaser laparoscopy / lezə l pə rɒskəpi/
laryngitis llaryngitis/ rn d ats/ noun inflamma- noun surgery performed through a laparoscope
tion of the larynx using a laser
laryngo-laryngo- /lərŋ əυ/ prefix larynx laserlaser probe probe / lezə prəυb/ noun a metal
laryngofissurelaryngofissure /lə rŋ əυ fʃə/ noun a sur- probe which is inserted into the body and
gical operation to make an opening into the through which a laser beam can be passed to
larynx through the thyroid cartilage remove a blockage in an artery
laryngologistlaryngologist / l rn ɒləd st/ noun a laserlaser surgery surgery / lezə s d əri/ noun sur-
doctor who specialises in diseases of the lar- gery using lasers, e.g. for the removal of tu-
ynx, throat and vocal cords mours, sealing blood vessels, or the correction
of shortsightedness
laryngology llaryngology / rn ɒləd i/ noun the study LasixLasix / lezks/ a trade name for frusemide
of diseases of the larynx, throat and vocal Lassa fever lLassa fever / sə fi və/ noun a highly in-
cords fectious and often fatal virus disease found in
laryngomalacialaryngomalacia /lə rŋ əυmə leʃə/ noun a Central and West Africa, causing high fever,
condition in which breathing is made difficult pains, and ulcers in the mouth [After a village in
by softness of the larynx, occurring mainly in northern Nigeria where the fever was first report-
children under the age of two ed]
laryngopharyngeallaryngopharyngeal /lə rŋn əυfə rn Lassar’s paste lLassar’s paste / səz pest/ noun an oint-
d iəl/ adjective referring to both the larynx and ment made of zinc oxide, used to treat eczema
the pharynx [After Oskar Lassar (1849–1907), German der-
laryngopharynxlaryngopharynx /lərŋ əυ f rŋks/ noun matologist]
the part of the pharynx below the hyoid bone lassitude llassitude / stju d/ noun a state where a
laryngoscopelaryngoscope /lə rŋ əskəυp/ noun an in- person does not want to do anything, some-
strument for examining the inside of the larynx times because he or she is depressed
using a light and mirrors latalata / l tə/ fascia lata
laryngoscopy llaryngoscopy / rŋ ɒskəpi/ noun an ex- latentlatent / let(ə)nt/ adjective referring to a dis-
amination of the larynx with a laryngoscope ease which is present in the body but does not
(NOTE: The plural is laryngoscopies.) show any signs ć The children were tested for
laryngospasmlaryngospasm /lə rŋ əsp zəm/ noun a latent viral infection.
muscular spasm which suddenly closes the lar- lateral llateral / t(ə)rəl/ adjective 1. further away
ynx from the midline of the body 2. referring to one
laryngostenosislaryngostenosis /lə rŋ əυstə nəυss/ side of the body
noun narrowing of the lumen of the larynx lateral aspect llateral aspect / t(ə)rəl spekt/ noun a
laryngostomy llaryngostomy / rŋ ɒstəmi/ noun a sur- view of the side of part of the body. Also called
gical operation to make a permanent opening lateral view. See illustration at ANATOMICAL
from the neck into the larynx (NOTE: The plural TERMS in Supplement
is laryngostomies.) laterallateral epicondyle epicondyle / l t(ə)rəl ep
laryngotomy llaryngotomy rŋ ɒtəmi/ noun a surgi- kɒndal/, lateral epicondyle of the humerus
/ / l t(ə)rəl ep kɒndal əv ðə hju mərəs/
cal operation to make an opening in the larynx noun a lateral projection on the rounded end of
through the membrane, especially in an emer- the humerus at the elbow joint
gency, when the throat is blocked (NOTE: The lateral epicondylitis llateral epicondylitis / t(ə)rəl epkɒnd
plural is laryngotomies.) lats/ noun same as tennis elbow
laryngotracheallaryngotracheal /lə rŋ əυ trekiəl/ adjec- laterallateral fissure fissure / l t(ə)rəl fʃə/ noun a
tive relating to both the larynx and the trachea groove along the side of each cerebral hemi-
ć laryngotracheal stenosis sphere
laryngotracheobronchitislaryngotracheobronchitis /lə rŋ əυ laterally llaterally / trəli/ adverb towards or on the
trekiəυbrɒŋ kats/ noun inflammation of side of the body. See illustration at ANATOMICAL
the larynx, trachea and bronchi, as in croup TERMS in Supplement
219 leishmaniasis
laterallateral malleolus malleolus / l t(ə)rəl mə li ələs/ LELE cells cells / el i selz/ plural noun white blood
noun the part of the end of the fibula which cells which show that someone has lupus ery-
protrudes on the outside of the ankle thematosus
lateral view llateral view/ t(ə)rəl vju / noun same as lecithinlecithin / lesθn/ noun a chemical which is a
lateral aspect constituent of all animal and plant cells and is
lateroversion llateroversion / t(ə)rəυ v ʃ(ə)n/ noun a involved in the transport and absorption of fats
condition in which an organ is turned to one leechleech /li tʃ/ noun a blood-sucking parasitic
side worm which lives in water, occasionally used
latissimuslatissimus dorsi dorsi /lə tsməs dɔ si/ noun a in specialist procedures
large flat triangular muscle covering the lum- COMMENT: Leeches were formerly commonly
used in medicine to remove blood from a pa-
bar region and the lower part of the chest tient. Today they are used in special cases,
where it is necessary to make sure that blood
laudanumlaudanum / lɔ d(ə)nəm/ noun a solution of does not build up in part of the body, e.g. in a
severed finger which has been sewn back on.
opium in alcohol that was formerly in wide-
spread use for pain relief
laughinglaughing gas gas / lɑ fŋ s/ noun same as ni- left-handedleft-handed / left h ndd/ adjective using
trous oxide (informal) the left hand in preference to the right in most
lavage llavage/ vd , l vɑ / noun the act of everyday tasks
washing out or irrigating an organ such as the left-handednessleft-handedness / left h nddnəs/ noun
stomach the fact of being left-handed
laxative llaxative/ ksətv/ adjective causing a bow- legleg /le / noun a part of the body with which a
el movement í noun a medicine which causes person or animal walks and stands
a bowel movement, e.g. bisacodyl, which COMMENT: The leg is formed of the thigh, with
the thighbone or femur, the knee with the
stimulates intestinal motility, or lactulose kneecap or patella, and the lower leg, with two
bones – the tibia and fibula.
which alters fluid retention in the bowel ̈ also
called (all senses) purgative
COMMENT: Laxatives are very commonly used legal abortion lilegal abortion/ (ə)l ə bɔ ʃ(ə)n/ noun an
without prescription to treat constipation, al-
abortion which is carried out legally
though they should only be used as a short
Legg-Calvé disease leLegg-Calvé disease/ k lve d zi z/,
term solution. Change of diet and regular ex-
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease / le k lve
ercise are better ways of treating most types
of constipation. p tz d zi z/ noun degeneration of the up-
lazylazy eye eye / lezi a/ noun an eye which does per end of the thighbone in young boys, which
not focus properly without an obvious cause prevents the bone growing properly and can
(informal) ı amblyopia result in a permanent limp [Described 1910
LDLD abbr lethal dose separately by all three workers. Arthur Thornton
LDLLDL abbr low-density lipoprotein Legg (1874–1939), American orthopaedic sur-
L-dopaL-dopa /el dəυpə/ noun same as levodopa geon; Jacques Calvé (1875–1954), French or-
LELE abbr lupus erythematosus thopaedic surgeon; Georg Clemens Perthes
leadlead /led/ noun a very heavy soft metallic ele- (1869–1927), German surgeon.]
ment, which is poisonous in compounds (NOTE: Legionnaires’Legionnaires’ disease disease /li d ə neəz d
zi z/ noun a bacterial disease similar to pneu-
The chemical symbol is Pb.)
monia
lead-freelead-free / led fri / adjective with no lead in
COMMENT: The disease is thought to be trans-
it ć lead-free paint ć lead-free petrol mitted in droplets of moisture in the air, and so
the bacterium is found in central air-condition-
leadlead line line / led lan/ noun a blue line seen on ing systems. It can be fatal to elderly or sick
people, and so is especially dangerous if
the gums in cases of lead poisoning present in a hospital.
leadlead poisoning poisoning /led pɔz(ə)nŋ/ noun poi-
soning caused by taking in lead salts. Also leio-leio- /leəυ/ prefix smooth or smoothness
called plumbism, saturnism leiomyomaleiomyoma / laəυma əυmə/ noun a tu-
COMMENT: Lead salts are used externally to mour of smooth muscle, especially the smooth
treat bruises or eczema, but if taken internally
produce lead poisoning. Lead poisoning can muscle coating the uterus (NOTE: The plural is
also be caused by paint (children’s toys must leiomyomas or leiomyomata.)
be painted in lead-free paint) or by lead fumes leiomyosarcomaleiomyosarcoma / laəυ maəυsɑ kəυmə/
from car engines not using lead-free petrol.
learning llearning / nŋ/ noun the act of gaining noun a sarcoma in which large bundles of
knowledge of something or of how to do smooth muscle are found (NOTE: The plural is
something leiomyosarcomas or leiomyosarcomata.)
learninglearning disability disability / l nŋ dsə blti/, LeishmaniaLeishmania /li ʃ meniə/ noun a tropical
learning difficulty / l nŋ dfk(ə)lti/ noun a parasite which is passed to humans by the bites
condition that results in someone finding it dif- of sandflies and causes the group of infections
ficult to learn skills or information at the same known as leishmaniasis
rate as others of similar age ć children with leishmaniasisleishmaniasis / li ʃmə naəss/ noun a dis-
learning disabilities ease caused by the parasite Leishmania, one
Lembert’s suture 220
form of which causes disfiguring ulcers, while leptospirosisleptospirosis / leptəυspa rəυss/ noun an
another attacks the liver and bone marrow
infectious disease caused by the spirochaete
Lembert’sLembert’s suture suture / lɑ mbeəz su tʃə/ noun
a suture used to close a wound in the intestine Leptospira, transmitted to humans from rat
which includes all the coats of the intestine
[Described 1826. After Antoine Lembert (1802– urine, causing jaundice and kidney damage.
51), French surgeon.] Also called Weil’s disease
lenslens /lenz/ noun 1. the part of the eye behind leresisleresis /lə ri ss/ noun uncoordinated speech,
the iris and pupil, which focuses light coming
from the cornea onto the retina. See illustra- a sign of dementia
tion at EYE in Supplement 2. a piece of shaped
glass or plastic which forms part of a pair of lesbianlesbian / lezbiən/ noun a woman who experi-
spectacles or microscope 3. same as contact
lens ences sexual attraction towards other women
COMMENT: The lens in the eye is elastic, and í adjective referring to a lesbian
can change its shape under the influence of
the ciliary muscle, to allow the eye to focus on lesbianismlesbianism / lezbiənz(ə)m/ noun sexual at-
objects at different distances.
traction in one woman for another. Compare
lenslens implant implant /lenz mplɑ nt/ noun an artifi-
cial lens implanted in the eye when the natural homosexuality
lens is removed, as in the case of cataract
Lesch-Nyhan disease leʃLesch-Nyhan disease / nahən d
lenticularlenticular /len tkjυlə/ adjective referring to
or like a lens zi z/, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome / leʃ nahən
sndrəυm/ noun a rare genetic disorder in
lentigolentigo /len ta əυ/ noun a small brown spot
on the skin often caused by exposure to sun- boys caused by a lack of the enzyme HPRT.
light. Also called freckle (NOTE: The plural is
lentigines.) Symptoms include uncontrolled muscle move-
leontiasisleontiasis / li ɒn taəss/ noun a rare disor- ments and learning disabilities, and life ex-
der in which the skull bones become enlarged
and may give the appearance of a lion’s head. pectancy is 20 – 25.
It occurs if Paget’s disease is not treated.
lesionlesion / li (ə)n/ noun a wound, sore or dam-
lepidosislepidosis / lep dəυss/ noun a skin eruption
in which pieces of skin fall off in flakes age to the body (NOTE: Used to refer to any dam-
lepromaleproma /le prəυmə/ noun a lesion of the age to the body, from the fracture of a bone to a
skin caused by leprosy (NOTE: The plural is lep-
romas or lepromata.) cut on the skin.)
leprosyleprosy / leprəsi/ noun an infectious bacteri- lesserlesser / lesə/ adjective smaller
al disease of skin and peripheral nerves caused
by Mycobacterium leprae, which destroys the lesser circulation lesəlesser circulation/ s kjυ leʃ(ə)n/
tissues and causes severe disfigurement if left
untreated. Also called Hansen’s disease noun same as pulmonary circulation
COMMENT: Leprosy attacks the nerves in the lesserlesser trochanter trochanter / lesə trə k ntə/ noun a
skin, and finally the patient loses all feeling in
a limb, and parts such as fingers or toes can projection on the femur which is the insertion
drop off.
of the psoas major muscle
leptinleptin / leptn/ noun a hormone produced by
fat cells that signals the body’s level of hunger lesser vestibularlesser vestibular gland gland / lesə ve stbjυlə
to the hypothalamus of the brain l nd/ noun the more anterior of the vestibu-
lepto-lepto- /leptəυ/ prefix thin lar glands
leptocyteleptocyte / leptəsat/ noun a thin red blood lethallethal / li θ(ə)l/ adjective killing or able to kill
cell found in anaemia
ć These fumes are lethal if inhaled.
leptomeningesleptomeninges / leptəυme nnd i z/ plural
noun the two inner meninges, the pia mater lethallethal dose dose / li θl dəυs/ noun the amount of
and arachnoid
a drug or other substance which will kill the
leptomeningitisleptomeningitis / leptəυmenn d ats/
noun inflammation of the leptomeninges person who takes it ć She took a lethal dose of
LeptospiraLeptospira / leptəυ sparə/ noun a genus of aspirin. Abbr LD
bacteria excreted continuously in the urine of
rats and many domestic animals. It can infect lethallethal gene gene / li θ(ə)l d i n/, lethal mutation
humans, causing leptospirosis or Weil’s dis- / li θ(ə)l mju teʃ(ə)n/ noun a gene, usually
ease.
recessive, that results in the premature death of
an individual who inherits it, e.g. the gene con-
trolling sickle-cell anaemia
lethargiclethargic /l θɑ d k/ adjective showing leth-
argy
lethargiclethargic encephalitis encephalitis /lə θɑ d k en
kefə lats/ noun a common type of virus en-
cephalitis occurring in epidemics in the 1920s.
Also called encephalitis lethargica, sleepy
sickness
lethargylethargy / leθəd i/ noun a state in which
someone is not mentally alert, has slow move-
ments and is almost inactive
Letterer-SiweLetterer-Siwe disease disease / letərə si we d
z z/ noun a usually fatal disease, most com-
mon in infants, caused by the overproduction
of a specialised type of immune cell
leucineleucine / lu si n/ noun an essential amino
acid
leuco-leuco- / lu kəυ/, leuko- /lu kəυ/ prefix white
221 lichenoid
leucocyteleucocyte / lu kəsat/, leukocyte noun a levatorlevator /lə vetə/ noun 1. a surgical instru-
white blood cell which contains a nucleus but ment for lifting pieces of fractured bone 2. a
has no haemoglobin muscle which lifts a limb or a part of the body
COMMENT: In average conditions the blood levellevel of care of care / lev(ə)l əv keə/ noun any of
contains far fewer leucocytes than erythro- the planned divisions within the system of
cytes (red blood cells), but their numbers in- health care which is offered by a particular or-
crease rapidly when infection is present in the ganisation ć Our care homes offer six different
body. Leucocytes are either granular (with levels of care to allow the greatest independ-
granules in the cytoplasm) or nongranular. ence possible.
The main types of leucocyte are: lymphocytes
and monocytes which are nongranular, and levodopalevodopa / li və dəυpə/ noun a natural
neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils which chemical that stimulates the production of
are granular (granulocytes). Granular leuco- dopamine in the brain and is used to treat Par-
cytes are produced by the bone marrow, and kinson’s disease
their main function is to remove foreign parti-
cles from the blood and fight infection by form- levonorgestrellevonorgestrel / li vəυnɔ d estrəl/ noun
ing antibodies. an artificially produced female sex hormone,
used mostly in birth control pills or capsules
leucocytolysisleucocytolysis / lu kəυsa tɒləss/, leuko-
cytolysis /lu kəsa tɒləss/ noun destruction LewyLewy body body / lu wi bɒdi/ noun an unusual
of leucocytes deposit of protein in neurons in the brain
leucocytosisleucocytosis / lu kəυsa təυss/, leukocy- Lewy bodyLewy body dementia dementia / lu wi bɒdi d
tosis /lu kəsa təυss/ noun an increase in the menʃə/ noun a disease characterised by the
numbers of leucocytes in the blood above the presence of Lewy bodies in the brain, which
usual upper limit, in order to fight an infection affects the mental processes. It is similar to
Alzheimer’s disease, but people with it are
leucodepleteleucodeplete / lu kəυd pli t/, leukode- more prone to hallucinations and delusions.
plete verb to remove white cells from the
blood (NOTE: leucodepleting – leucodepleted) LeydigLeydig cells cells / lad selz/ plural noun testo-
sterone-producing cells between the tubules in
leucodermaleucoderma / lu kəυ d mə/, leukoderma the testes. Also called interstitial cells [De-
noun same as vitiligo scribed 1850. After Franz von Leydig (1821–
leucolysinleucolysin / lu kəυ lasn/, leukolysin noun 1908), Professor of Histology at Würzburg, Tü-
a protein which destroys white blood cells
bingen and then Bonn, Germany.]
leucomaleucoma /lu kəυmə/, leukoma noun a white
scar of the cornea (NOTE: The plural is leuco- LeydigLeydig tumour tumour / lad tju mə/ noun a tu-
mour of the Leydig cells of the testis. It often
mas or leucomata.) releases testosterone, which makes young
boys show early signs of maturing.
leuconychialeuconychia / lu kəυ nkiə/, leukonychia
noun a condition in which white marks appear l.g.v.l.g.v. abbr lymphogranuloma venereum
on the fingernails
LHLH abbr luteinising hormone
leucopenialeucopenia / lu kə pi niə/, leukopenia noun
a reduction in the number of leucocytes in the libidolibido /l bi dəυ/ noun 1. the sexual urge 2. (in
blood, usually as the result of a disease psychology) a force which drives the uncon-
scious mind
leucoplakialeucoplakia / lu kəυ pl kiə/, leukoplakia
noun a condition in which white patches form LibriumLibrium / lbriəm/ a trade name for chlo-
on mucous membranes, e.g. on the tongue or rdiazepoxide
inside of the mouth
licelice /las/ plural of louse
leucopoiesisleucopoiesis / lu kəυpɔ i ss/, leukopoie-
sis noun the production of leucocytes licencelicence / las(ə)ns/ noun an official docu-
ment which allows someone to do something,
leucorrhoealeucorrhoea / lu kə ri ə/, leukorrhoea noun e.g. one allowing a doctor to practise, a phar-
an excessive discharge of white mucus from macist to make and sell drugs or, in the USA,
the vagina. Also called whites (NOTE: The US a nurse to practise ć He was practising as a
doctor without a licence. ć She is sitting her
spelling is leukorrhea.) registered nurse licence examination. (NOTE:
The US spelling is license.)
leukaemialeukaemia /lu ki miə/ noun any of several
malignant diseases where an unusual number licensurelicensure / lasənʃə/ noun US the act of li-
of leucocytes form in the blood (NOTE: The US censing a nurse to practise nursing
spelling is leukemia.) licentiatelicentiate /la senʃiət/ noun a person who
has been given a licence to practise as a doctor
COMMENT: Apart from the increase in the
number of leucocytes, the symptoms include lichenlichen / laken/ noun a type of skin disease
swelling of the spleen and the lymph glands. with thick skin and small lesions
There are several forms of leukaemia: the
commonest is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia lichenificationlichenification /la kenf keʃ(ə)n/ noun a
which is the commonest cancer occurring in thickening of the skin at the site of a lesion
children and can be treated by radiotherapy.
lichenoidlichenoid / lakənɔd/ adjective like lichen
leuko-leuko- /lu kəυ/ prefix same as leuco-
lichen planus 222
lichenlichen planus planus / laken plenəs/ noun a skin ligamentligament / l əmənt/ noun a thick band of fi-
disease where itchy purple spots appear on the
brous tissue which connects the bones at a
arms and thighs joint and forms the joint capsule
lidlid /ld/ noun the top which covers a container ligateligate / la et/ verb to tie something with a
ć a medicine bottle with a child-proof lid ligature, e.g. to tie a blood vessel to stop bleed-
lidocainelidocaine / ladəken/ noun US a drug used ing or to tie the Fallopian tubes as a sterilisa-
as a local anaesthetic. Also called lignocaine tion procedure (NOTE: ligating – ligated)
lielie /la/ noun same as lie of fetus í verb to be ligationligation /la eʃ(ə)n/ noun a surgical opera-
in a flat position ć The accident victim was ly-
ing on the pavement. ć Make sure the patient tion to tie up a blood vessel
lies still and does not move. (NOTE: lying – lay
ligatureligature / l ətʃə/ noun a thread used to tie
vessels or a lumen, e.g. to tie a blood vessel to
– lain) stop bleeding í verb same as ligate (NOTE: lig-
Lieberkühn’sLieberkühn’s glands glands / li bəku nz l ndz/ aturing – ligatured)
plural noun same as crypts of Lieberkühn
lightlight /lat/ adjective 1. bright so that a person
lien-lien- /laən/ prefix spleen can see ć At six o’clock in the morning it was
lienallienal / laən(ə)l/ adjective relating to or af- just getting light. 2. referring to hair or skin
fecting the spleen ć the lienal artery which is very pale ć She has a very light com-
lienculuslienculus /lə eŋkjυləs/ noun a small second- plexion. ć He has light-coloured hair. 3.
ary spleen sometimes found in the body (NOTE:
weighing a comparatively small amount í
The plural is lienculi.) noun the energy that makes things bright and
helps a person to see ć There’s not enough
lienorenallienorenal / laənəυ ri n(ə)l/ adjective relat- light in here to take a photo.
ing to or affecting both the spleen and the kid- light adaptationlight adaptation / lat d p teʃ(ə)n/ noun
neys changes in the eye to adapt to an unusually
lienterylientery / laəntri/, lienteric diarrhoea / bright or dim light or to adapt to light after be-
laənterk daə ri ə/ noun a form of diar-
ing in darkness
rhoea where the food passes through the intes-
lighteninglightening / latənŋ/ noun a late stage in
tine rapidly without being digested
pregnancy where the fetus goes down into the
lie oflie of fetus fetus / la əv fi təs/ noun the position pelvic cavity
of the fetus in the uterus ć Cause of rupture:
lightninglightning pains pains / latnŋ penz/ plural noun
abnormal lie of fetus.
sharp pains in the legs in someone who has
lifelife /laf/ noun the quality that makes a person tabes dorsalis
or thing alive and not dead or inorganic ć The lightlight reflex reflex / lat ri fleks/ noun same as pu-
surgeons saved the patient’s life. ć Her life is
in danger because the drugs are not available. pillary reaction
ć The victim showed no sign of life. lightlight therapy therapy / lat θerəpi/, light treatment
/ lat tri tmənt/ noun the treatment of a dis-
lifelife event event / laf vent/ noun a significant
event which alters a person’s status as regards order by exposing the person to light such as
taxation, insurance or employment benefits, sunlight or infrared light
e.g. the birth of a child or the onset of a disa- lightlight wave wave / lat wev/ noun a wave travel-
bility
ling in all directions from a source of light
life expectancylife expectancy /laf k spektənsi/ noun the which stimulates the retina and is visible
number of years a person of a particular age is lignocaine llignocaine/ nəken/ noun same as lido-
likely to live caine
life-saving equipment laflife-saving equipment/ sevŋ limblimb /lm/ noun one of the legs or arms
kwpmənt/ noun equipment kept ready in limbilimbi / lmbi/ plural of limbus
case of an emergency, e.g. boats, stretchers or limbiclimbic system system / lmbk sstəm/ noun a sys-
first-aid kits tem of nerves in the brain, including the hip-
life-supportlife-support system system /laf sə pɔ t sstəm/ pocampus, the amygdala and the hypothala-
noun a machine that takes over one or more vi- mus, which are associated with emotions such
tal functions such as breathing when someone
as fear and anger
is unable to survive unaided because of a dis- limblimb lead lead / lm li d/ noun an electrode at-
ease or injury tached to an arm or leg when taking an electro-
life-threatening disease laflife-threatening disease/ θret(ə)nŋ cardiogram
d zi z/ noun a disease which may kill limb lengthening lmlimb lengthening/ leŋθənŋ/ noun a
liftlift /lft/ noun 1. a particular way of carrying procedure in which an arm or a leg is made
an injured or unconscious person ć a four- longer. Its bone is divided in two and new bone
handed lift ć a shoulder lift 2. a cosmetic op- forms in the gap between the ends.
eration to remove signs of age or to change a
limblesslimbless / lmləs/ adjective lacking one or
body feature ć a face lift more limbs
223 lipolytic enzyme
limbuslimbus / lmbəs/ noun an edge, especially the linoleniclinolenic acid acid /lnəυ lenk sd/ noun one
edge of the cornea where it joins the sclera of the essential fatty acids, found in linseed
(NOTE: The plural is limbi.) and other natural oils
liminalliminal / lmn(ə)l/ adjective referring to a lintlint /lnt/ noun thick flat cotton wadding, used
stimulus at the lowest level which can be as part of a surgical dressing
sensed
liothyronineliothyronine / laəυ θarəυni n/ noun a hor-
limplimp /lmp/ noun a way of walking awkwardly mone produced by the thyroid gland which can
because of pain, stiffness or malformation of a be artificially synthesised for use as a rapid-
leg or foot ć She walks with a limp. í verb to acting treatment for hypothyroidism
walk awkwardly because of pain, stiffness or
malformation of a leg or foot ć He was still liplip /lp/ noun 1. each of two fleshy muscular
limping three weeks after the accident. parts round the edge of the mouth ć Her lips
were dry and cracked. 2. an edge of flesh
linctuslinctus / lŋktəs/ noun a sweet cough medi- round an opening 3. same as labium
cine
lipaemialipaemia /l pi miə/ noun an excessive
lineline /lan/ catheter amount of fat in the blood (NOTE: The US spell-
ing is lipemia.)
linealinea / lniə/ noun a thin line (NOTE: The plural
is lineae.) lipaselipase / lpez/ noun an enzyme which breaks
down fats in the intestine. Also called lipolytic
linealinea alba alba / lniə lbə/ noun a tendon run- enzyme
ning from the breastbone to the pubic area, to
which abdominal muscles are attached (NOTE: lipidlipid / lpd/ noun an organic compound
The plural is lineae albae.) which is insoluble in water, e.g. a fat, oil or
wax
linealinea nigra nigra / lniə na rə/ noun a dark line
on the skin from the navel to the pubis which COMMENT: Lipids are not water soluble. They
appears during the later months of pregnancy float in the blood and can attach themselves
(NOTE: The plural is lineae nigrae.) to the walls of arteries causing atherosclero-
sis.
linearlinear / lniə/ adjective 1. long and narrow in
shape 2. able to be represented by a straight lipid-loweringlipid-lowering drug drug / lpd ləυərŋ dr /
line noun a drug which lowers serum triglycerides
and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and
linguallingual / lŋ wəl/ adjective referring to the raises high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to
tongue reduce the progression of coronary arthero-
sclerosis. Lipid-lowering drugs are used in
linguallingual artery artery / ln wəl ɑ təri/ noun an ar- people with, or at high risk of developing cor-
tery which supplies blood to the tongue onary heart disease. (NOTE: Lipid-lowering drugs
have names ending in -fibrate: bezafibrate.)
linguallingual tonsil tonsil / lŋ wəl tɒns(ə)l/ noun a
mass of lymphoid tissue on the top surface of lipid metabolismlipid metabolism / lpd mə t bəlz(ə)m/
the back of the tongue noun the series of chemical changes by which
lipids are broken down into fatty acids
linguallingual vein vein / ln wəl ven/ noun a vein
which takes blood away from the tongue lipidosislipidosis / lp dəυss/ noun a disorder of li-
pid metabolism in which subcutaneous fat is
lingulalingula / lŋ jυlə/ noun a long thin piece of not present in some parts of the body
bone or other tissue ć the lingula of the left
lung (NOTE: The plural is lingulae.) lipochondrodystrophylipochondrodystrophy / lpəυ kɒndrəυ
dstrəfi/ noun a congenital disorder affecting
lingularlingular / lŋ jυlə/ adjective relating to a lin- lipid metabolism, the bones and the main or-
gula gans, causing learning difficulties and physical
deformity
linimentliniment / lnmənt/ noun an oily liquid
rubbed on the skin to ease the pain or stiffness lipodystrophylipodystrophy / lpəυ dstrəfi/ noun a dis-
of a sprain or bruise by acting as a vasodilator order of lipid metabolism
or counterirritant. Also called embrocation
lipogenesislipogenesis / lpəυ d enəss/ noun the pro-
lininglining / lanŋ/ noun a substance or tissue on duction or making of deposits of fat
the inside of an organ ć the thick lining of the
aorta lipoidlipoid / lpɔd/ noun a compound lipid, or a
fatty substance such as cholesterol which is
linklink /lŋk/ verb 1. to join things together ć The like a lipid í adjective like a lipid
ankle bone links the bones of the lower leg to
the calcaneus. 2. to be related to or associated lipoidosislipoidosis / lpɔ dəυss/ noun a group of
with something ć Health is linked to diet. diseases with reticuloendothelial hyperplasia
and unusual deposits of lipoids in the cells
linkagelinkage / lŋkd / noun (of genes) the fact of
being close together on a chromosome, and lipolysislipolysis /l pɒlsis/ noun the process of
therefore likely to be inherited together breaking down fat by lipase
linoleiclinoleic acid acid / lnəυli k sd/ noun one of lipolyticlipolytic enzyme enzyme / lpəltk enzam/ noun
the essential fatty acids, found in grains and same as lipase
seeds
lipoma 224
lipomalipoma /l pəυmə/ noun a benign tumour lithiumlithium / lθiəm/ noun a soft silver-white me-
formed of fatty tissue (NOTE: The plural is lipo- tallic element that forms compounds, used as a
medical treatment for bipolar disorder
mas or lipomata.)
litho-litho- prefix referring to a calculus
lipomatosislipomatosis / lpəυmə təυss/ noun an ex-
cessive deposit of fat in the tissues in tumour- litholapaxylitholapaxy /l θɒləp ksi/ noun the evacua-
like masses tion of pieces of a stone in the bladder after
crushing it with a lithotrite. Also called lithot-
lipoproteinlipoprotein / lpəυ prəυti n/ noun a protein rity
which combines with lipids and carries them
in the bloodstream and lymph system (NOTE: lithonephrotomylithonephrotomy / lθəυnə frɒtəmi/ noun a
Lipoproteins are classified according to the per- surgical operation to remove a stone in the kid-
ney (NOTE: The plural is lithonephrotomies.)
centage of protein which they carry.)
lithotomylithotomy /l θɒtəmi/ noun a surgical opera-
liposarcomaliposarcoma / lpəυsɑ kəυmə/ noun a rare tion to remove a stone from the bladder (NOTE:
malignant tumour found in fatty tissue (NOTE: The plural is lithotomies.)
The plural is liposarcomas or liposarcomata.)
lithotomylithotomy position position /l θɒtəmi pə zʃ(ə)n/
liposuctionliposuction / lpəυ s kʃ(ə)n/ noun the sur- noun a position for some medical examina-
gical removal of fatty tissue for cosmetic rea- tions in which the person lies on his or her
sons back with the legs flexed and the thighs against
the abdomen
lipotrophiclipotrophic / lpəυ trɒfk/ adjective refer-
ring to a substance which increases the amount lithotripsylithotripsy / lθətrpsi/ noun the process of
of fat present in the tissues breaking up kidney or gall bladder stones into
small fragments that the body can eliminate
LippesLippes loop loop / lpəz lu p/ noun a type of in- them unaided
trauterine device
lithotritelithotrite / lθətrat/ noun a surgical instru-
lippinglipping / lpŋ/ noun a condition in which ment which crushes a stone in the bladder
bone tissue grows over other bones
lithotritylithotrity /l θɒtrti/ noun same as lithola-
lip salvelip salve / lp s lv/ noun an ointment, usual- paxy
ly sold as a soft stick, used to rub on lips to pre-
vent them cracking lithuresislithuresis / lθjυ ri ss/ noun the passage of
small stones from the bladder during urination
lipurialipuria /l pjυəriə/ noun the presence of fat or
oily emulsion in the urine lithurialithuria /l θjυəriə/ noun the presence of ex-
cessive amounts of uric acid or urates in the
liquidliquid diet diet / lkwd daət/ noun a diet con- urine
sisting only of liquids ć The clear liquid diet
is a temporary diet used in preparation for sur- litmuslitmus / ltməs/ noun a substance which turns
gery. red in acid and blue in alkali
liquidliquid paraffin paraffin / lkwd p rəfn/ noun an litmuslitmus paper paper / ltməs pepə/ noun a small
oil used as a laxative piece of paper impregnated with litmus, used
to test for acidity or alkalinity
liquorliquor / lkə/ noun (in pharmacy) a solution,
usually aqueous, of a pure substance litrelitre / li tə/ noun a unit of measurement of liq-
uids equal to 1.76 pints. Abbr l, L (NOTE: With
lisplisp /lsp/ noun a speech condition in which figures, usually written l or L: 2.5l, but it can be
someone replaces ‘s’ sounds with ‘th’ í verb written in full to avoid confusion with the numeral
to talk with a lisp
1. The US spelling is liter.)
ListeriaListeria /l stəriə/ noun a genus of bacteria
found in domestic animals and in unpasteur- littlelittle finger finger / lt(ə)l fŋ ə/ noun the smallest
ised milk products which can cause uterine in- finger on the hand
fection or meningitis
Little’sLittle’s area area / lt(ə)lz eəriə/ noun an area of
listeriosislisteriosis /l stəri əυss/ noun an infec- blood vessels in the nasal septum
tious disease transmitted from animals to hu-
mans by the bacterium Listeria Little’sLittle’s disease disease / lt(ə)lz d zi z/ noun same
as spastic diplegia [Described 1843. After Wil-
listlesslistless / lstləs/ adjective weak and tired liam John Little (1810–94), physician at the Lon-
listlessnesslistlessness / lstləsnəs/ noun the fact of don Hospital, UK.]
being generally weak and tired
littlelittle toe toe / lt(ə)l təυ/ noun the smallest toe
literliter / li tə/ noun US spelling of litre on the foot ć Her little toe was crushed by the
lith-lith- /lθ/ prefix same as litho- (used before door.
vowels)
livelive adjective /lav/ 1. living, not dead ć graft
lithaemialithaemia /l θi miə/ noun an unusual amount using live tissue ı birth 2. carrying electricity
of uric acid in the blood. Also called uricaci- ć He was killed when he touched a live wire.
í verb /lv/ to be alive ć She is very ill, and the
daemia (NOTE: The US spelling is lithemia.) doctor doesn’t think she will live much longer.
(NOTE: living – lived)
lithagoguelithagogue / lθə ɒ / noun a drug which
helps to remove stones from the urine
lithiasislithiasis /l θaəss/ noun the formation of
stones in an organ
225 lockjaw
livelive birth birth / lav b θ/ noun the birth of a lobectomylobectomy /ləυ bektəmi/ noun a surgical
baby which is alive ć The number of live
births has remained steady. operation to remove one of the lobes of an or-
livedolivedo /l vi dəυ/ noun discoloured spots on gan such as the lung ć The plural is lobecto-
the skin
mies.
liverliver / lvə/ noun a large gland in the upper
part of the abdomen. See illustration at DIGES- lobotomylobotomy /ləυ bɒtəmi/ noun a surgical oper-
TIVE SYSTEM in Supplement (NOTE: For other
ation formerly used to treat mental illness by
terms referring to the liver, see words beginning
cutting into a lobe of the brain to cut the nerve
with hepat-, hepato-.)
fibres (NOTE: The plural is lobotomies.)
COMMENT: The liver is situated in the top part
of the abdomen on the right side of the body lobularlobular / lɒbjυlə/ adjective relating to a lob-
next to the stomach. It is the largest gland in
the body, weighing almost 2 kg. Blood carry- ule ć lobular carcinoma
ing nutrients from the intestines enters the liv-
er by the hepatic portal vein; the nutrients are lobulelobule / lɒbju l/ noun a small section of a
removed and the blood returned to the heart
through the hepatic vein. The liver is the major lobe in the lung, formed of acini
detoxicating organ in the body; it destroys
harmful organisms in the blood, produces locallocal / ləυk(ə)l/ adjective 1. referring to a sep-
clotting agents, secretes bile, stores glycogen
and metabolises proteins, carbohydrates and arate place 2. confined to one part í noun same
fats. Diseases affecting the liver include hep-
atitis and cirrhosis; the symptom of liver dis- as local anaesthetic
ease is often jaundice.
local anaesthesialocal anaesthesia / ləυk(ə)l nəs θi ziə/
liverliver fluke fluke / lvə flu k/ noun a parasitic flat-
worm which can infest the liver noun loss of feeling in a single part of the body
liverliver spot spot / lvə spɒt/ noun a little brown local anaestheticlocal anaesthetic / ləυk(ə)l nəs θetk/
patch on the skin of the backs of the hands, at-
tributed to sun damage (NOTE: Liver spots are noun an anaesthetic such as lignocaine which
unconnected with any liver disorder.) removes the feeling in a single part of the body
liver transplantliver transplant / lvə tr nsplɑ nt/ noun a only ć The surgeon removed the growth under
surgical operation to give a person the liver of
another person who has died local anaesthetic.
lividlivid / lvd/ adjective referring to skin with a localiselocalise / ləυkəlaz/, localize verb 1. to re-
blue colour because of being bruised or be-
cause of asphyxiation strict the spread of something to a specific area
livingliving will will / lvŋ wl/ noun a document 2. to find where something is 3. to transfer
signed by a person while in good health to
specify the decisions he or she wishes to be power from a central authority to local organi-
taken about medical treatment if he or she be-
comes incapable of making or communicating sations (NOTE: localising – localised)
them
localisedlocalised / ləυkəlazd/, localized adjective
LMCLMC abbr local medical committee
referring to an infection which occurs in one
loaloa loa loa / ləυə ləυə/ noun a tropical disease of
the eye caused when the threadworm Loa loa part of the body only. Opposite generalised
enters the eye or the skin around the eye
Local MedicalLocal Medical Committee Committee / ləυk(ə)l
LoaLoa loa loa / ləυə ləυə/ noun a tropical thread-
worm which digs under the skin, especially medk(ə)l kə mti/ noun a committee re-
around and into the eye, causing loa loa and
loiasis sponsible for monitoring the interests of pro-
lobarlobar / ləυbə/ adjective referring to a lobe viders of primary care such as GPs, dentists
lobarlobar bronchi bronchi / ləυbə brɒŋki / plural noun and pharmacists in a district. Abbr LMC
air passages supplying a lobe of a lung. Also
called secondary bronchi local supervisinglocal supervising authority authority / ləυk(ə)l
su pəvazŋ ɔ θɒrti/ noun an organisation
lobarlobar pneumonia pneumonia / ləυbə nju məυniə/
noun pneumonia which affects one or more which controls midwife services within its
lobes of the lung
area
lobelobe /ləυb/ noun 1. a rounded section of an or-
gan such as the brain, lung or liver. See illus- lochialochia / lɒkiə/ noun a discharge from the va-
tration at LUNGS in Supplement 2. the soft
fleshy part at the bottom of the ear 3. a cusp on gina after childbirth or abortion
the crown of a tooth
lochiallochial / ləυkiəl/ adjective referring to lochia
lochiometralochiometra / lɒkiəmi trə/ noun a condition
in which lochia remains in the uterus after a
baby is born, making it swollen
locklock /lɒk/ verb to fix something in a position
locked-in syndrome lɒktlocked-in syndrome/ n sndrəυm/
noun a condition in which only the eyes and
eyelids can move although the person is fully
alert and conscious. It results from severe
damage to the brain stem.
lockedlocked knee knee /lɒkt ni / noun a condition in
which a piece of the cartilage in the knee slips
out of position. The symptom is a sharp pain,
and the knee remains permanently bent.
lockinglocking joint joint / lɒkŋ d ɔnt/ noun a joint
which can be locked in an extended position,
e.g. the knee or elbow
lockjawlockjaw / lɒkjɔ / noun same as tetanus (dat-
ed informal)
locomotion 226
locomotionlocomotion / ləυkə məυʃ(ə)n/ noun the fact longitudinallongitudinal lie lie / lɒŋ tju dn(ə)l la/
of being able to move noun the usual position of a fetus, lying along
locomotorlocomotor / ləυkə məυtə/ adjective relating the axis of the mother’s body
to locomotion longitudinal study lɒŋlongitudinal study/ tju dn(ə)l st
locomotorlocomotor ataxia ataxia / ləυkə məυtər ə t ksiə/ di/ noun a study of individuals or groups of
noun same as tabes dorsalis people and of how some aspect such as their
loculatedloculated / lɒkjυletd/ adjective referring to health or education changes over a long time
an organ or a growth which is divided into longsightedlongsighted / lɒŋ satd/ adjective able to
many compartments ć a loculated renal ab- see clearly things which are far away but not
scess things which are close
loculelocule / lɒkju l/ noun same as loculus longsightednesslongsightedness / lɒŋ satdnəs/ noun the
loculusloculus / lɒkjυləs/ noun a small space in an condition of being longsighted. Also called
organ (NOTE: The plural is loculi.) hypermetropia
locumlocum / ləυkəm/ noun a healthcare profes- long-staylong-stay / lɒŋ ste/ adjective referring to
sional such as a doctor or pharmacist who staying a long time in hospital ć patients in
takes the place of another for a time. Also long-stay units
called locum tenens long staylong stay patient patient / lɒŋ ste peʃ(ə)nt/
locumlocum tenens tenens noun same as locum (NOTE: noun a patient who will stay in hospital for a
The plural is locum tenentes.) long time
locuslocus / ləυkəs/ noun 1. an area or point where longlong stay ward stay ward / lɒŋ ste wɔ d/ noun a
an infection or disease is to be found 2. a posi- ward for patients who will stay in hospital for
tion on a chromosome occupied by a gene a long time
(NOTE: The plural is loci.) looloo /lu / noun a toilet, or a room containing a
lodgelodge /lɒd / verb to stay or stick somewhere, toilet (informal) ˽ to go to the loo to urinate or
or to stick something somewhere ć The piece defecate
of bone lodged in her throat. ć The larvae of looklook after after / lυk ɑ ftə/ verb to take care of a
the tapeworm lodge in the walls of the intes- person and attend to his or her needs ć The
tine. nurses looked after him very well or He was
lofepraminelofepramine /lɒ feprəmi n/ noun an antide- very well looked after in hospital. ć She is off
pressant drug work looking after her children who have
loglog roll roll / lɒ rəυl/ noun a method of turning mumps.
people in bed onto their side by putting them looploop /lu p/ noun 1. a curve or bend in a line,
into a straight position and pulling on the sheet especially one of the particular curves in a fin-
under them gerprint 2. a curved piece of wire placed in the
logrolling lɒlogrolling/ rəυlŋ/ noun the process of uterus to prevent contraception
moving a person who is lying down into anoth- loop of Henle luloop of Henle/ p əv henli/ noun a curved
er position using the log roll method tube which forms the main part of a nephron in
-logy-logy /ləd i/ suffix 1. science or study ć psy- the kidney
chology ć embryology 2. speech or expression loperamideloperamide /ləυ perəmad/, loperamide hy-
loiasisloiasis /ləυ aəss/ noun a tropical disease of drochloride /ləυ perəmad hadrəυ klɔ rad/
the eye caused when the threadworm Loa loa noun a drug that relieves severe diarrhoea by
enters the eye or the skin around the eye slowing down the movements of the intestine
loinloin /lɔn/ noun the lower back part of the loratidineloratidine /lɒr tdi n/ noun an antihista-
body above the buttocks mine drug
LomotilLomotil /ləυ məυtl/ a trade name for a prep- lorazepamlorazepam /lɔ r zp m/ noun a mild tran-
aration containing diphenoxalate quilliser that people often receive before sur-
long-actinglong-acting / lɒŋ ktŋ/ adjective referring gery to lessen anxiety
to a drug or treatment which has an effect that lordosislordosis /lɔ dəυss/ noun excessive forward
lasts a long time curvature of the lower part of the spine. ı ky-
longlong bone bone / lɒŋ bəυn/ noun any long limb phosis
bone that contains marrow and ends in a part lordoticlordotic /lɔ dɒtk/ adjective referring to lor-
that forms a joint with another bone dosis
longitudinallongitudinal / lɒŋ tju dn(ə)l/ adjective 1. lotionlotion / ləυʃ(ə)n/ noun a medicinal liquid
positioned lengthwise 2. in the direction of the used to rub on the skin ć a mild antiseptic lo-
long axis of the body tion
longitudinal arch lɒŋlongitudinal arch/ tju dn(ə)l ɑ tʃ/ louselouse /laυs/ noun a small insect of the Pedic-
noun same as plantar arch ulus genus, which sucks blood and lives on the
longitudinallongitudinal fissure fissure / lɒŋ tju dn(ə)l skin as a parasite on animals and humans
fʃə/ noun a groove separating the two cere-
(NOTE: The plural is lice.)
bral hemispheres COMMENT: There are several forms of louse:
the commonest are the body louse, the crab
227 lunate
louse and the head louse. Some diseases can Germany, and Court Physician to King Frederick
be transmitted by lice. II.]
lowlow /ləυ/ adjective 1. relatively little in height lueslues / lu i z/ noun a former name for syphilis
2. close to the bottom or base of something or the plague
low blood pressure ləυlow blood pressure/ bl d preʃə/ lumbago llumbago / m be əυ/ noun pain in the low-
noun same as hypotension er back (informal) ć She has been suffering
low-calorie diet ləυlow-calorie diet/ k ləri daət/ noun a from lumbago for years. ć He has had an at-
diet with few calories, to help a person to lose tack of lumbago.
weight lumbarlumbar / l mbə/ adjective referring to the
low-density lipoprotein ləυlow-density lipoprotein/ densti lower part of the back
lpəυprəυti n/ noun a lipoprotein with a large lumbar artery llumbar artery / mbə ɑ təri/ noun one of
percentage of cholesterol which deposits fats four arteries which supply blood to the back
in muscles and arteries. Abbr LDL muscles and skin
lowerlower / laυə/ adjective in a position below an- lumbar cistern llumbar cistern / mbə sstən/ noun a sub-
other thing arachnoid space in the spinal cord, where the
lowerlower jaw jaw / ləυə d ɔ / noun same as mandi- dura mater ends, filled with cerebrospinal fluid
ble lumbarlumbar enlargement enlargement / l mbə n
lowerlower limb limb / ləυə lm/ noun a leg lɑ d mənt/ noun the wider part of the spinal
lower motor neurones ləυəlower motor neurones/ məυtə cord in the lower spine, where the nerves of the
njυərəυnz/ plural noun linked neurones lower limbs are attached
which carry motor impulses from the spinal lumbar plexus llumbar plexus / mbə pleksəs/ noun the
cord to the muscles point where several nerves which supply the
low-fatlow-fat diet diet / ləυ f t daət/ noun a diet thighs and abdomen join together, lying in the
with little animal fat, which can help reduce upper psoas muscle
the risk of heart disease and alleviate some lumbar puncture llumbar puncture mbə p ŋktʃə/ noun a
skin conditions /
low-risklow-risk patient patient / ləυ rsk peʃ(ə)nt/ noun surgical operation to remove a sample of cere-
a person not likely to catch or develop a partic- brospinal fluid by inserting a hollow needle
ular disease into the lower part of the spinal canal. Also
low-saltlow-salt diet diet / ləυ sɔ lt daət/ noun a diet called spinal puncture (NOTE: The US term is
with little salt, which has been shown to help usually spinal tap.)
reduce high blood pressure lumbar region llumbar region / mbə ri d ən/ noun the
lozengelozenge / lɒznd / noun a sweet medicinal two parts of the abdomen on each side of the
tablet ć She was sucking a cough lozenge. umbilical region
LPNLPN abbr US licensed practical nurse lumbarlumbar vertebra vertebra / l mbə v tbrə/ plural
LRCPLRCP abbr licentiate of the Royal College of noun each of the five vertebrae between the
Physicians thoracic vertebrae and the sacrum
LSALSA abbr local supervising authority lumbo- llumbo- / mbəυ/ prefix the lumbar region
LSDLSD abbr lysergic acid diethylamide lumbosacral llumbosacral / mbəυ sekrəl/ adjective re-
lubb-dupp llubb-dupp/ bd b/ noun two sounds made ferring to both the lumbar vertebrae and the
by the heart, which represent each cardiac cy- sacrum
cle when heard through a stethoscope lumbosacrallumbosacral joint joint / l mbəυ sekrəl
lubricantlubricant / lu brkənt/ noun a fluid which lu- d ɔnt/ noun a joint at the bottom of the back
bricates between the lumbar vertebrae and the sacrum
lubricatelubricate / lu brket/ verb to cover some- lumenlumen / lu mn/ noun 1. an SI unit of light
thing with a fluid to reduce friction (NOTE: lu- emitted per second 2. the inside width of a pas-
bricating – lubricated) sage in the body or of an instrument such as an
lubricatinglubricating jelly jelly / lu brket d eli/ noun a endoscope 3. a hole at the end of an instrument
jelly used to make a surface slippery such as an endoscope
lucidlucid / lu sd/ adjective with a clearly working lumplump /l mp/ noun a mass of hard tissue which
mind ć In spite of the pain, he was still lucid. rises on the surface or under the surface of the
lucidlucid interval interval / lu sd ntəv(ə)l/ noun a pe- skin ć He has a lump where he hit his head on
riod of clear thinking which occurs between the low door. ć She noticed a lump in her right
two periods of unconsciousness or of mental breast and went to see the doctor.
illness lumpectomy llumpectomy / m pektəmi/ noun a surgical
Ludwig’sLudwig’s angina angina / lu dv z n d anə/ operation to remove a hard mass of tissue such
noun cellulitis of the mouth and some parts of as a breast tumour, leaving the surrounding tis-
the neck which causes the neck to swell and sue intact (NOTE: The plural is lumpectomies.)
may obstruct the airway [Described 1836. After lunatelunate / lu net/, lunate bone / lu net bəυn/
Wilhelm Friedrich von Ludwig (1790–1865), Pro- noun one of the eight small carpal bones in the
fessor of Surgery and Midwifery at Tübingen, wrist. See illustration at HAND in Supplement
Lund and Browder chart 228
Lund andLund and Browder chart Browder chart / l nd ən then add further lymphocytes to the lymph be-
braυdə tʃɑ t/ noun a chart for calculating the fore it continues in the system. It eventually
surface area of a burn drains into the brachiocephalic (innominate)
lunglung /l ŋ/ noun one of two organs of respira- veins, and joins the venous bloodstream.
Lymph is not pumped round the body like
tion in the body into which air is sucked when blood but moves by muscle pressure on the
a person breathes (NOTE: For other terms refer- lymph vessels and by the negative pressure
ring to the lungs, see words beginning with of the large veins into which the vessels emp-
bronch-, broncho-, pneum-, pneumo-, pneu- ty. Lymph is an essential part of the body’s de-
mon-, pneumono-, pulmo-.) fence against infection.
COMMENT: The two lungs are situated in the lymph-lymph- /lmf/ prefix meaning same as lym-
chest cavity, protected by the ribcage. The pho- (used before vowels)
heart lies between the lungs. The right lung lymphaden-lymphaden- /lmf dən/ prefix relating to the
has three lobes, the left lung only two. Air lymph nodes
goes down into the lungs through the trachea lymphadenectomylymphadenectomy / lmf də nektəmi/
and bronchi. It passes to the alveoli where its noun the surgical removal of a lymph node
oxygen is deposited in the blood in exchange (NOTE: The plural is lymphadenectomies.)
for waste carbon dioxide which is exhaled lymphadenitislymphadenitis / lmf də nats/ noun in-
(gas exchange). Lung cancer can be caused
by smoking tobacco, and is commonest in flammation of the lymph nodes
people who are heavy smokers. lymphadenomalymphadenoma / lmf də nəυmə/ noun
lung cancer llung cancer / ŋ k nsə/ noun cancer in the same as lymphoma
lung lymphadenopathylymphadenopathy / lmf də nɒpəθi/ noun
lunulalunula / lu njυlə/ noun a curved white mark any unusual condition of the lymph nodes
at the base of a fingernail (NOTE: The plural is (NOTE: The plural is lymphadenopathies.)
lunulae.) lymphangi-lymphangi- /lmf nd i/ prefix lymphatic
lupuslupus / lu pəs/ noun a persistent skin disease, vessel
of which there are several unrelated types lymphangiectasislymphangiectasis / lmf nd i ektəss/
lupuslupus erythematosus erythematosus / lu pəs erθi mə noun swelling of the smaller lymph vessels as
təυsəs/ noun an inflammatory disease of con- a result of obstructions in larger vessels
nective tissue of which the more serious, sys- lymphangiographylymphangiography / lmf nd i ɒ rəfi/
temic, form affects the heart, joints and blood noun an X-ray examination of the lymph ves-
vessels. Abbr LE sels following introduction of radio-opaque
lupuslupus vulgaris vulgaris / lu pəs v l eərs/ noun a material (NOTE: The plural is lymphangiogra-
form of tuberculosis of the skin in which red phies.)
spots appear on the face and become infected lymphangiomalymphangioma / lmf nd i əυmə/ noun a
luteinlutein / lu tin/ noun a yellow pigment in the benign tumour formed of lymph tissues (NOTE:
corpus luteum The plural is lymphangiomas or lymphangi-
luteinisingluteinising hormone hormone / lu tinazŋ omata.)
hɔ məυn/, luteinizing hormone noun a hor- lymphangioplastylymphangioplasty /lmf nd iəpl sti/
mone produced by the pituitary gland, which noun a surgical operation to make artificial
stimulates the formation of the corpus luteum lymph channels (NOTE: The plural is lym-
in females and of testosterone in males. Abbr phangioplasties.)
LH. Also called interstitial cell stimulating lymphangiosarcomalymphangiosarcoma /lmf nd iəυsɑ
hormone kəυmə/ noun a malignant tumour of the en-
luteo-luteo- /lu tiəυ/ prefix 1. yellow 2. corpus lu- dothelial cells lining the lymph vessels (NOTE:
teum The plural is lymphangiosarcomas or lym-
luxation lluxation/ k seʃ(ə)n/ noun same as dislo- phangiosarcomata.)
cation lymphangitislymphangitis / lmf n d ats/ noun in-
LymeLyme disease disease / lam d zi z/ noun a viral flammation of the lymph vessels
disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi trans- lymphaticlymphatic /lm f tk/ adjective referring to
mitted by bites from deer ticks. It causes rash- lymph
es, nervous pains, paralysis and, in extreme lymphatic capillary lm flymphatic capillary/ tk kə pləri/
cases, death. plural noun any of the capillaries which lead
lymphlymph /lmf/ noun a colourless liquid contain- from tissue and join lymphatic vessels
ing white blood cells which circulates in the lymphaticlymphatic duct duct /lm f tk d kt/ noun the
lymph system from all body tissues, carrying main channel for carrying lymph
waste matter away from tissues to the veins. lymphaticlymphatic node node /lm f tk nəυd/ noun
Also called lymph fluid same as lymph gland
COMMENT: Lymph drains from the tissues lymphaticlymphatic nodule nodule /lm f tk nɒdju l/
through capillaries into lymph vessels. It is noun a small lymph node found in clusters in
formed of water, protein and white blood cells tissues
(lymphocytes). Waste matter such as infec- lymphaticlymphatic system system /lm f tk sstəm/
tion in the lymph is filtered out and destroyed noun a series of vessels which transport lymph
as it passes through the lymph nodes, which
229 lysozyme
from the tissues through the lymph nodes and lymphokinelymphokine / lmfəυkan/ noun a protein
into the bloodstream
produced by lymphocytes that has an effect on
lymphaticlymphatic vessel vessel /lm f tk ves(ə)l/ noun other cells in the immune system. ı cytokine
a tube which carries lymph round the body
from the tissues to the veins lymphomalymphoma /lm fəυmə/ noun a malignant tu-
lymphlymph duct duct / lmf d kt/ noun any channel mour arising from lymphoid tissue. Also
carrying lymph called lymphadenoma (NOTE: The plural is lym-
lymphlymph fluid fluid / lmf flu d/ noun same as phomas or lymphomata.)
lymph
lymphopenialymphopenia / lmfəυ pi niə/ noun a reduc-
lymphlymph gland gland / lmf l nd/, lymph node / tion in the number of lymphocytes in the
lmf nəυd/ noun a mass of lymphoid tissue
situated in various points of the lymphatic sys- blood. Also called lymphocytopenia
tem, especially under the armpits and in the
groin, through which lymph passes and in lymphopoiesislymphopoiesis / lmfəυpɔ i ss/ noun the
which lymphocytes are produced. Also called production of lymphocytes or lymphoid tissue
lymphatic node
lymphorrhagialymphorrhagia / lmfə red ə/, lymphor-
lympho-lympho- /lmfəυ/ prefix meaning lymph rhoea / lmfə riə/ noun escape of lymph from
lymphoblastlymphoblast / lmfəυbl st/ noun an unusu- ruptured or severed lymphatic vessels
al cell which forms in acute lymphoblastic leu-
kaemia as a result of the change which takes lymphosarcomalymphosarcoma / lmfəυsɑ kəυmə/ noun
place in a lymphocyte on contact with an anti- a malignant growth arising from lymphocytes
gen
and their cells of origin in the lymph nodes
lymphoblasticlymphoblastic / lmfəυ bl stk/ adjective
referring to lymphoblasts, or forming lym- (NOTE: The plural is lymphosarcomas or lym-
phocytes
phosarcomata.)
lymphocelelymphocele / lmfəsi l/ noun a cyst contain-
ing lymph from injured or diseased lymph lymphotropiclymphotropic / lmfə trɒpk/ adjective af-
nodes or ducts fecting the lymphatic system
lymphocytelymphocyte / lmfəsat/ noun a type of ma- lymphurialymphuria /lm fjυəriə/ noun the presence of
ture leucocyte or white blood cell formed by
the lymph nodes and concerned with the pro- lymph in the urine
duction of antibodies
lymphlymph vessel vessel / lmf ves(ə)l/ noun one of
lymphocytopenialymphocytopenia / lmfəυ satəυ pi niə/
noun same as lymphopenia the tubes which carry lymph round the body
from the tissues to the veins
lymphocytosislymphocytosis / lmfəυsa təυss/ noun an
increased number of lymphocytes in the blood lyophilisationlyophilisation /la ɒfla zeʃ(ə)n/, lyophili-
lymphoedemalymphoedema / lmfəυ di mə/ noun a zation noun the act of preserving tissue, plas-
swelling caused by obstruction of the lymph ma or serum by freeze-drying it in a vacuum
vessels or unusual development of lymph ves-
sels (NOTE: The US spelling is lymphedema.) lyophiliselyophilise /la ɒflaz/, lyophilize verb to
lymphogranulomalymphogranuloma inguinale inguinale / lmfəυ preserve tissue, plasma or serum by freeze-
r njυ ləυmə n w neli/ noun same as drying in a vacuum (NOTE: lyophilising –
lymphogranuloma venereum lyophilised)
lymphogranulomalymphogranuloma venereum venereum / lmfəυ lysergic acid diethylamide la slysergic acid diethylamide/ d k
r njυ ləυmə və nərəm/ noun a sexually
sd da eθləmad/ noun a powerful hallu-
transmitted bacterial infection that causes
swelling of the genital lymph nodes and, espe- cinogenic drug which can cause psychosis.
cially in men, a genital ulcer. Abbr l.g.v.
Abbr LSD
lymphographylymphography /lm fɒ rəfi/ noun the mak-
ing of images of the lymphatic system after lysinlysin / lasn/ noun 1. a protein in the blood
having introduced a radio-opaque substance
which destroys the cell against which it is di-
lymphoidlymphoid / lmfɔd/ adjective referring to rected 2. a toxin which causes the lysis of cells
lymph, lymphatic tissue, or the lymphatic sys-
tem lysinelysine / lasi n/ noun an essential amino acid
lymphoidlymphoid tissue tissue / lmfɔd tʃu / noun tis- lysislysis / lass/ noun 1. the destruction of a cell
sue in the lymph nodes, the tonsils and the by a lysin, in which the membrane of the cell
spleen where masses of lymphocytes are sup- is destroyed 2. a reduction in a fever or disease
ported by a network of reticular fibres and slowly over a period of time. Opposite crisis
cells
-lysis-lysis /lss/ suffix referring to processes
which involve breaking up or decaying, or to
objects which are doing this ć haemolysis
lysollysol / lasɒl/ noun a strong disinfectant,
made of cresol and soap
lysosomelysosome / lasəsəυm/ noun a particle in a
cell which contains enzymes which break
down substances such as bacteria which enter
the cell
lysozymelysozyme / lasəzam/ noun an enzyme
found in the whites of eggs and in tears, which
destroys specific bacteria
M
mm symbol 1. metre 2. milli- macrodactylymacrodactyly / m krəυ d ktli/ noun a
MM symbol mega- condition in which a person has unusually
MAAGMAAG abbr medical audit advisory group large or long fingers or toes
macerate mmacerate/ səret/ verb to make some- macrogenitosomamacrogenitosoma / m krəυ d entə
thing soft by letting it lie in a liquid for a time səυmə/ noun premature development of the
(NOTE: macerating – macerated) body with the genitals being of an unusually
maceration mmaceration sə reʃ(ə)n/ noun the proc- large size
/ macroglobulin mmacroglobulin/ krəυ lɒbjυln/ noun
ess of softening a solid by letting it lie in a liq- a class of immunoglobulin, a globulin protein
uid so that the soluble matter dissolves of high molecular weight, which serves as an
Mackenrodt’sMackenrodt’s ligaments ligaments / m kənrəυdz antibody
l əmənts/ plural noun same as cardinal liga-
macroglossia mmacroglossia/ krəυ lɒsiə/ noun the
ments condition of having an unusually large tongue
MacmillanMacmillan nurse nurse /mək mlən n s/ noun a macrognathiamacrognathia / m krəυ neθiə/ noun a
nurse who specialises in cancer care and is em- condition in which the jaw is larger than usual
ployed by the organisation Macmillan Cancer macrolide drug mmacrolide drug/ krəlad dr / noun a
Relief
drug used in the treatment of bacterial infec-
macro- mmacro-/ krəυ/ prefix large. Opposite mi- tion, often in place of penicillin in people sen-
cro- sitive to penicillin (NOTE: Macrolide drugs have
macrobioticmacrobiotic / m krəυba ɒtk/ adjective names ending in -omycin: erythromycin.)
referring to food which has been produced nat- macromastiamacromastia / m krəυ m stiə/ noun
urally without artificial additives or preserva- overdevelopment of the breasts
tives
macromelia mmacromelia/ krəυ mi liə/ noun a condi-
COMMENT: Macrobiotic diets are usually vege- tion in which a person has unusually large
tarian and are prepared in a special way. They
consist of beans, coarse flour, fruit and vege- limbs
tables. They may not contain enough protein
or trace elements, especially to satisfy the macronutrient mmacronutrient/ krəυ nju triənt/ noun
needs of children.
a substance which an organism needs in large
amounts for normal growth and development,
macrocephalymacrocephaly / m krəυ kefli/ noun the e.g. nitrogen, carbon or potassium. Compare
condition of having an unusually large head
micronutrient
macrocheiliamacrocheilia / m krəυ kaliə/ noun the macrophage mmacrophage/ krəυfed / noun any of
condition of having large lips several large cells which destroy inflammatory
macrocyte mmacrocyte/ krəυsat/ noun an unusual- tissue, found in connective tissue, wounds,
ly large red blood cell found in people who lymph nodes and other parts
have pernicious anaemia macropsia mmacropsia/ krɒpsiə/ noun a condition
macrocythaemiamacrocythaemia / m krəυsa θi miə/ in which a person sees objects larger than they
noun same as macrocytosis really are, caused by an unusual development
in the retina
macrocytic mmacrocytic/ krəυ stk/ adjective refer- macroscopicmacroscopic / m krəυ skɒpk/ adjective
ring to macrocytes able to be seen with the naked eye
macrocyticmacrocytic anaemia anaemia / m krəυstk ə macrosomiamacrosomia / m krəυ səυmiə/ noun a
ni miə/ noun anaemia in which someone has
condition in which the body grows too much
unusually large red blood cells macrostomiamacrostomia / m krəυ stəυmiə/ noun a
macrocytosismacrocytosis / m krəυsa təυss/ noun condition in which the mouth is too wide be-
the condition of having macrocytes in the
cause the bones of the upper and lower jaw
blood. Also called macrocythaemia have not fused, either on one or on both sides
231 malarial therapy
macula mmacula/ kjυlə/ noun 1. same as macule maimmaim /mem/ verb to incapacitate someone
2. a small coloured area, e.g. a macula lutea 3. with a major injury
an area of hair cells inside the utricle and sac- mainmain bronchi bronchi /men brɒŋki / plural noun
cule of the ear (NOTE: The plural is maculae.) the two main air passages which branch from
macula lutea mmacula lutea/ kjυlə lu tiə/ noun a yel- the trachea outside the lung. Also called pri-
low spot on the retina, surrounding the fovea, mary bronchi
the part of the eye which sees most clearly. majormajor / med ə/ adjective 1. important or se-
Also called yellow spot rious 2. more important or serious than others
macular mmacular/ kjυlə/ adjective referring to a of the same type ć The operation was a major
macula one. ̈ opposite minor
macularmacular degeneration degeneration / m kjυlə d majormajor surgery surgery / med ə s d əri/ noun
d enə reʃ(ə)n/ noun an eye disorder in eld- surgical operations involving important organs
erly people in which fluid leaks into the retina in the body. Compare minor surgery
and destroys cones and rods, reducing central malmal /m l/ noun an illness or disease
vision mal-mal- /m l/ prefix bad or unusual
macular oedema mmacular oedema / kjυlə di mə/ noun malabsorptionmalabsorption / m ləb sɔ pʃən/ noun a
a disorder of the eye in which fluid gathers in situation where the intestines are unable to ab-
the fovea sorb the fluids and nutrients in food properly
macule mmacule/ kju l/ noun a small flat coloured malabsorptionmalabsorption syndrome syndrome / m ləb
spot on the skin. Compare papule sɔ pʃən sndrəυm/ noun a group of symp-
maculopapular mmaculopapular / kjυləυ p pjυlə/ ad- toms and signs, including malnutrition, anae-
jective made up of both macules and papules ć mia, oedema and dermatitis, which results
maculopapular rash from steatorrhoea and malabsorption of vita-
mad cowmad cow disease disease noun same as bovine mins, protein, carbohydrates and water
spongiform encephalopathy (informal) malaciamalacia /mə leʃə/ noun the pathological sof-
maduromycosismaduromycosis /mə djυərəυma kəυss/, tening of an organ or tissue
maduromycetoma /mə djυərəυ masə maladjusted mmaladjusted/ lə d std/ adjective re-
təυmə/, Madura foot /mə djυərə fυt/ noun a ferring to a person who has difficulty fitting
tropical fungus infection in the feet which can into society or family
destroy tissue and infect bones maladjustmentmaladjustment / m lə d stmənt/ noun
Magendie’sMagendie’s foramen foramen /mə d endz fə difficulty experienced in fitting into society or
remen/ noun an opening in the fourth ventri- family
cle of the brain which allows cerebrospinal malaisemalaise /mə lez/ noun a feeling of discom-
fluid to flow [Described 1828. After François fort
Magendie (1783–1855), French physician and malaligned mmalaligned/ lə land/ adjective not in
physiologist.] the correct position relative to other parts of
magnamagna / m nə/ cisterna magna the body
magnesium mmagnesium/ ni ziəm/ noun a chemi- malalignmentmalalignment / m lə lanmənt/ noun a
cal element found in green vegetables, which condition in which something is malaligned,
is essential especially for the correct function- especially in which a tooth is not in its correct
ing of muscles (NOTE: The chemical symbol is position in the mouth
Mg.) malarmalar / melə/ adjective referring to the cheek
magnesium sulphate mmagnesium sulphate/ ni ziəm s l malarmalar bone bone / melə bəυn/ noun same as
fet/ noun a magnesium salt used as a laxative. cheekbone
Also called Epsom salts malariamalaria /mə leəriə/ noun a mainly tropical
magnesium trisilicate mmagnesium trisilicate/ ni ziəm tra disease caused by a parasite Plasmodium,
slkət/ noun a magnesium compound used to which enters the body after a bite from the fe-
treat peptic ulcers male anopheles mosquito
magnetic mmagnetic/ netk/ adjective able to at- COMMENT: Malaria is a recurrent disease. It
tract objects, like a magnet produces headaches, shivering, vomiting,
magnetic field mmagnetic field/ netk fi ld/ noun an sweating and sometimes hallucinations which
are caused by toxins coming from the waste
area round an object which is under the influ- of the parasite Plasmodium in the blood.
ence of the magnetic force exerted by the ob- malarialmalarial /mə leəriəl/ adjective referring to
ject malaria
magnetic resonance imaging mmagnetic resonance imaging/ netk malarialmalarial parasite parasite /mə leəriəl p rəsat/
rezənəns md ŋ/ noun a scanning tech- noun a parasite transmitted into the human
nique which exposes the body to a strong mag- bloodstream by the bite of the female anophe-
netic field and uses the electromagnetic signals les mosquito
emitted by the body to form an image of soft malarialmalarial therapy therapy /mə leəriə θerəpi/ noun a
tissue and cells. Abbr MRI treatment in which a person is given a form of
magnum mmagnum/ nəm/ foramen magnum malaria in the belief that the high fevers they
male menopause 232
experience can stimulate the immune system Mallory bodies mMallory bodies/ ləri bɒdiz/ plural noun
to fight off serious diseases such as syphilis large irregular masses which occur in the cyto-
and HIV plasm of damaged liver cells, often a sign of an
malemale menopause menopause /mel menəpɔ z/ noun a alcohol-related disease
period in middle age when a man may feel in- Mallory’s stain mMallory’s stain/ ləriz sten/ noun tri-
secure and anxious about the fact that his phys- chrome stain, used in histology to distinguish
ical powers are declining (informal) collagen, cytoplasm and nuclei
malemale sex hormone sex hormone / mel seks hɔ məυn/ Mallory-Weiss syndrome mMallory-Weiss syndrome/ ləri vas
noun same as testosterone sndrəυm/, Mallory-Weiss tear / m ləri
malemale sex organs sex organs / mel seks ɔ ənz/ plu- vas teə/ noun a condition in which there is a
ral noun the testes, epididymis, vasa deferentia, tearing in the mucous membrane where the
seminal vesicles, ejaculatory ducts and penis stomach and oesophagus join, e.g. because of
malformation mmalformation/ lfɔ meʃ(ə)n/ noun an strain on them due to vomiting [Described
unusual variation in the shape, structure or de- 1929. After G. Kenneth Mallory (b. 1900), Pro-
velopment of something fessor of Pathology, Boston University, USA;
malformed mmalformed/ l fɔ md/ adjective unusual in Konrad Weiss (1898–1942) US physician.]
shape, structure or development malnourishedmalnourished /m l n rʃt/ adjective not
malfunction mmalfunction/ l f ŋkʃən/ noun a situation having enough to eat or having only poor-qual-
in which a particular organ does not work in ity food, leading to ill-health
the usual way ć Her loss of consciousness was malnutrition mmalnutrition/ lnjυ trʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. a
due to a malfunction of the kidneys or to a kid- lack of food or of good-quality food, leading to
ney malfunction. í verb to fail to work correct- ill-health 2. the state of not having enough to
ly ć During the operation his heart began to eat
malfunction. malocclusionmalocclusion / m lə klu (ə)n/ noun a
malignancymalignancy /mə l nənsi/ noun 1. the state condition in which the teeth in the upper and
of being malignant ć The tests confirmed the lower jaws do not meet properly when the per-
malignancy of the growth. 2. a cancerous son’s mouth is closed
growth (NOTE: The plural is malignancies.) malodorous mmalodorous/ l əυdərəs/ adjective with a
malignantmalignant /mə l nənt/ adjective likely to strong unpleasant smell
cause death or serious disablement if not prop- Malpighian body mMalpighian body/ l p iən bɒdi/, Mal-
erly treated pighian corpuscle /m l p iən kɔ p s(ə)l/
malignantmalignant hypertension hypertension /mə l nənt noun same as renal corpuscle [Described
hapə tenʃən/ noun dangerously high blood 1666. After Marcello Malpighi (1628–94), anato-
pressure mist and physiologist in Rome and Bologna, Ita-
malignantmalignant melanoma melanoma /mə l nənt melə ly.]
nəυmə/ noun a dark tumour which develops Malpighian glomerulus mMalpighian glomerulus/ l p iən lɒ
on the skin from a mole, caused by exposure to merυləs/ noun same as Bowman’s capsule
strong sunlight Malpighian layer mMalpighian layer/ l p iən leiə/ noun
malignantmalignant pustule pustule /mə l nənt p stju l/ the deepest layer of the epidermis
noun a pus-filled swelling that results from in- malposition mmalposition/ lpə zʃ(ə)n/ noun an unu-
fection of the skin with anthrax sual or unexpected position of something such
malignantmalignant tumour tumour /mə l nənt tju mə/ as a fetus in the uterus or fractured bones
noun a tumour which is cancerous and can malpractice mmalpractice/ l pr kts/ noun 1. illegal,
grow again or spread into other parts of the unethical, negligent or immoral behaviour by a
body, even if removed surgically. Opposite be- professional person, especially a healthcare
nign tumour professional ć The surgeon was found guilty
malingerermalingerer /mə lŋ ərə/ noun a person who of malpractice. 2. wrong treatment of a patient
pretends to be ill for which a healthcare professional may be
malingeringmalingering /mə lŋ ərŋ/ adjective the act tried in court
of pretending to be ill malpresentationmalpresentation / m lprez(ə)n teʃ(ə)n/
malleolarmalleolar /mə li ələ/ adjective referring to a noun an unusual position of a fetus in the uter-
malleolus us just before it is ready to be born
malleolusmalleolus /mə li ələs/ noun one of two bony MaltaMalta fever fever / mɔ ltə fi və/ noun same as
prominences at each side of the ankle (NOTE: brucellosis
The plural is malleoli.) maltasemaltase / mɔ ltez/ noun an enzyme in the
mallet finger mmallet finger/ lt fŋ ə/ noun a finger small intestine which converts maltose into
which cannot be straightened because the ten- glucose
don attaching the top joint has been torn maltosemaltose / mɔ ltəυs/ noun a sugar formed by
malleus mmalleus/ liəs/ noun the largest of the digesting starch or glycogen
three ossicles in the middle ear, shaped like a malunion mmalunion/ l ju njən/ noun a bad join of
hammer. See illustration at EAR in Supplement the pieces of a broken bone
233 mannitol
mamillamamilla /mə mlə/ noun another spelling of hinge joint and can move up and down, and
mammilla the maxillae which are fixed parts of the skull.
mamillarymamillary / m mlri/ adjective another mandibular mmandibular/ n dbjυlə/ adjective refer-
spelling of mammillary ring to the lower jaw
mamm-mamm- prefix same as mammo- (used before mandibularmandibular fossae fossae /m n dbjυlə fɒsi/
vowels) plural noun sockets in the skull into which the
mammamamma / m mə/ noun same as breast ends of the lower jaw fit
(NOTE: The plural is mammae.) mandibularmandibular nerve nerve /m n dbjυlə n v/
mammary mmammary/ məri/ adjective referring to noun a sensory nerve which supplies the teeth
the breast in the lower jaw, the temple, the floor of the
mammary gland mmammary gland / məri l nd/ noun a mouth and the back part of the tongue
gland in female mammals which produces manemane / meni/ adverb (used on prescriptions)
milk during the daytime. Opposite nocte
mammillamammilla /mə mlə/, mamilla noun the pro- ‘…he was diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus at
truding part in the centre of the breast, contain- age 14, and was successfully controlled on insulin 15
units mane and 10 units nocte’ [British Journal
ing the milk ducts through which the milk of Hospital Medicine]
flows. Also called nipple manganese mmanganese/ ŋ əni z/ noun a metallic
mammillary mmammillary/ ml(ə)ri/, mamillary adjec- trace element (NOTE: The chemical symbol is
tive referring to the nipple Mn.)
mammillarymammillary body body / m ml(ə)ri bɒdi/ maniamania / meniə/ noun a state of bipolar disor-
noun one of two little projections on the base der in which the person is excited, very sure of
of the hypothalamus his or her own abilities and has increased ener-
mammo-mammo- prefix referring to breasts gy
mammogram mmammogram / mə r m/ noun a picture -mania-mania /meniə/ suffix obsession with some-
of a breast made using a special X-ray tech- thing
nique maniacmaniac / meni k/ noun a person who be-
mammography mmammography / mɒ rəfi/ noun exami- haves in an uncontrolled way or is considered
nation of the breast using a special X-ray tech- to have an obsession (NOTE: This term is regard-
nique ed as offensive.)
‘…mammography is the most effective technique manicmanic / m nk/ adjective referring to mania
available for the detection of occult (non-palpable) manicmanic depression depression / m nk d preʃ(ə)n/
breast cancer. It has been estimated that mammogra- noun same as bipolar disorder
phy can detect a carcinoma two years before it be- manic-depressive mmanic-depressive/ nk d presv/ ad-
comes palpable.’ [Southern Medical Journal] jective relating to bipolar disorder í noun a
mammoplasty mmammoplasty/ məpl sti/ noun plastic person with bipolar disorder
surgery to alter the shape or size of the breasts manic-depressivemanic-depressive illness illness / m nk d
mammothermographymammothermography / m məυθ mɒ presv lnəs/, manic-depressive psychosis
rəfi/ noun thermography of a breast
/ m nk d presv sa kəυss/ noun same as
manage mmanage/ nd / verb 1. to be in charge or
bipolar disorder
control of something ć She manages the ward
manifestation mmanifestation/ nfe steʃ(ə)n/ noun a
very efficiently. ć Bleeding can usually be
sign, indication or symptom of a disease
managed, but sometimes an operation may be
‘…the reason for this susceptibility is a profound ab-
necessary. 2. to be able to do something, or to
normality of the immune system in children with
succeed in doing something ć Did you man-
sickle cell disease. The major manifestations of
age to phone the doctor? ć Can she manage to pneumococcal infection in SCD are septicaemia,
feed herself? (NOTE: managing – managed) meningitis and pneumonia.’ [Lancet]
management mmanagement/ nd mənt/ noun 1. the manikinmanikin / m nkn/ noun an anatomical
organising or running of an organisation such model of the human body, used in teaching
as a hospital, clinic or health authority 2. the anatomy
organisation of a series of different treatments manipulatemanipulate /mə npjυ let/ verb to rub or
for a person move parts of the body with the hands to treat
managermanager / m nd ə/ noun a person in a joint, a slipped disc or a hernia (NOTE: manip-
charge of a department in the health service or ulating – manipulated)
in charge of a group of hospitals manipulationmanipulation /mə npjυ leʃ(ə)n/ noun a
Manchester operation mManchester operation/ ntʃstər ɒpə form of treatment that involves moving or rub-
reʃ(ə)n/ noun a surgical operation to correct bing parts of the body with the hands, e.g. to
downward movement of the uterus, involving treat a disorder of a joint
removal of the cervix manner mmanner/ nə/ noun a way of doing some-
mandiblemandible / m ndb(ə)l/ noun the lower thing or of behaving ć He was behaving in a
bone in the jaw. Also called lower jaw strange manner. ı bedside manner
COMMENT: The jaw is formed of two bones, the mannitol mmannitol/ ntɒl/ noun a diuretic drug
mandible which is attached to the skull with a
used in the treatment of oedema of the brain
manometer 234
manometermanometer /mə nɒmtə/ noun an instru- on the chest and back. í verb to make a mark
ment for comparing pressures on something ˽ the door is marked ‘Super-
manometrymanometry /mə nɒmtri/ noun the measure- visor’ the door has the word ‘Supervisor’ writ-
ment of pressures within organs of the body ten on it
which contain gases or liquids, e.g. the markedmarked /mɑ kt/ adjective obvious or noticea-
oesophagus or parts of the brain ble ć There has been a marked improvement in
Mantoux test mMantoux test/ ntu test/ noun a test for his condition.
tuberculosis, in which a person is given an in- markermarker / mɑ kə/ noun 1. something which
tracutaneous injection of tuberculin. ı Heaf acts an indicator of something else 2. a sub-
test [Described 1908. After Charles Mantoux stance introduced into the body to make inter-
(1877–1947), French physician.] nal structures clearer to X-rays
manual mmanual/ njuəl/ adjective done by hand marrow mmarrow/ rəυ/ noun soft tissue in cancel-
manual examination mmanual examination/ njυəl z m lous bone. In young animals red marrow is
neʃ(ə)n/ noun an examination using the concerned with blood formation while in
hands and fingers adults it becomes progressively replaced with
manubriummanubrium /mə nu briəm/ noun a handle- fat and is known as yellow marrow. Also called
shaped anatomical part, e.g. part of the inner bone marrow. See illustration at BONE STRUC-
ear TURE in Supplement
manubriummanubrium sterni sterni /mə nu briəm st na/ marsupialisation mɑmarsupialisation/ su˜ piəla zeʃ(ə)n/,
noun the upper part of the sternum marsupialization noun a surgical procedure in
MAOMAO abbr monoamine oxidase which the inside of a cyst is opened up so that
MAOIMAOI abbr monoamine oxidase inhibitor the cyst can be allowed to shrink gradually, be-
MAOMAO inhibitor inhibitor / em e əυ n hbtə/ noun cause it cannot be cut out
same as monoamine oxidase inhibitor masculinisationmasculinisation / m skjυlna zeʃ(ə)n/,
maple syrupmaple syrup urine disease urine disease / mep(ə)l masculinization noun the development of
srəp jυərn d zi z/ noun an inherited con- male characteristics such as body hair and a
dition caused by not having enough of a partic- deep voice in a woman, caused by hormone
ular enzyme which helps the body to deal with deficiency or by treatment with male hor-
amino acid. The urine smells like maple syrup. mones
It can be fatal if not treated. maskmask /mɑ sk/ noun 1. a metal and rubber
marasmusmarasmus /mə r zməs/ noun a wasting dis- frame that fits over the nose and mouth and is
ease which affects small children who have used to administer an anaesthetic 2. a piece of
difficulty in absorbing nutrients or who are gauze which fits over the mouth and nose to
malnourished. Also called failure to thrive prevent droplet infection 3. a cover which fits
marblemarble bone disease bone disease / mɑ b(ə)l bəυn d over the face of a person who has suffered fa-
zi z/ noun same as osteopetrosis cial damage in an accident
Marburg disease mɑ bMarburg disease/ d zi z/, Mar- maskedmasked /mɑ skt/ adjective used to describe
burg virus disease / mɑ b varəs d zi z/ diseases that are present but not observable
noun a severe viral infection causing high fe- Maslow’s hierarchy of human needsMaslow’s hierarchy of human needs /
ver, bleeding from mucous membranes, vom- m zləυz harɑ ki əv hju mən ni dz/
iting and often death. Also called green mon- noun a system which explains human behav-
key disease iour by organising human needs in order of
COMMENT: The disease is transmitted to hu- priority, from basic ones such as eating to
mans from green monkeys. Because the
complex ones such as finding self-fulfilment, a
monkeys are used in laboratory experiments,
higher level of motivation not being activated
the disease mainly affects laboratory workers.
until the lesser needs have been satisfied
marchmarch fracture fracture /mɑ tʃ fr ktʃə/ noun a
masochism mmasochism/ səkz(ə)m/ noun a sexual
fracture of one of the metatarsal bones in the
condition in which a person takes pleasure in
foot, caused by excessive exercise to which the
being hurt or badly treated
body is not accustomed
masochist mmasochist/ səkst/ noun a person suf-
Marfan’sMarfan’s syndrome syndrome / mɑ fɑ nz sn
fering from masochism
drəυm/, Marfan syndrome / mɑ fɑ n sn
masochistic mmasochistic/ sə kstk/ adjective refer-
drəυm/ noun a hereditary condition in which a
ring to masochism
person has extremely long fingers and toes,
with disorders of the heart, aorta and eyes [De- massmass /m s/ noun 1. a large quantity, e.g. a
scribed 1896. After Bernard Jean Antonin Mar- large number of people ć The patient’s back
fan (1858–1942), French paediatrician.] was covered with a mass of red spots. 2. a body
marijuana mmarijuana/ r wɑ nə/ noun same as can- of matter with no clear shape 3. a mixture for
nabis making pills 4. the main solid part of bone
markmark /mɑ k/ noun a spot or small area of a massage mmassage/ sɑ / noun a treatment for
different colour ć There’s a red mark where muscular conditions which involves rubbing,
you hit your head. ć The rash has left marks stroking or pressing the body with the hands í
235 mattress
verb to rub, stroke or press the body with the mastoidmastoid process process / m stɔd prəυses/
hands noun part of the temporal bone which pro-
masseter mmasseter/ si tə/, masseter muscle /m trudes at the side of the head behind the ear
si tə m s(ə)l/ noun a muscle in the cheek masturbatemasturbate / m stəbet/ verb to excite
which clenches the lower jaw making it move one’s own genitals so as to produce an orgasm
up, to allow chewing masturbation mmasturbation/ stə beʃ(ə)n/ noun stim-
massive mmassive/ sv/ adjective very large ć He ulation of one’s own genitals to produce an or-
was given a massive injection of penicillin. ć gasm. Also called onanism
She had a massive heart attack. matchmatch /m tʃ/ verb 1. to examine two things
mass radiography m smass radiography / redi ɒ rəfi/ to see if they are similar or fit together ć They
noun the practice of taking X-ray photographs are trying to match the donor to the recipient.
of large numbers of people to check for tuber- 2. to fit together in a specific way ć The two
culosis samples don’t match.
mass screening mmass screening / s skri nŋ/ noun the ‘…bone marrow from donors has to be carefully
matched with the recipient or graft-versus-host dis-
practice of testing large numbers of people for
ease will ensue’ [Hospital Update]
the presence of a disease
matermater / metə/ dura mater
mast-mast- /m st/ prefix same as masto- (used be-
materialmaterial /mə təriəl/ noun 1. matter which
fore vowels)
can be used to make something 2. cloth ć The
mastalgia mmastalgia/ st ld ə/ noun pain in the
wound should be covered with gauze or other
mammary gland
light material. 3. all that is necessary in sur-
mastatrophy mmastatrophy / st trəfi/ noun atrophy of gery
the mammary gland materiamateria medica medica /mə təriə medkə/ noun
mast cell mmast cell/ st sel/ noun a large cell in the study of drugs or dosages as used in treat-
connective tissue, which carries histamine and ment (NOTE: It comes from a Latin term meaning
reacts to allergens ‘medical substance’.)
mastectomy mmastectomy / stektəmi/ noun the surgi- maternalmaternal /mə t n(ə)l/ adjective referring to
cal removal of a breast a mother
masticate mmasticate/ stket/ verb to chew food maternalmaternal death death /mə t n(ə)l deθ/ noun the
mastication mmastication/ st keʃ(ə)n/ noun the act death of a mother during pregnancy, childbirth
of chewing food or up to twelve months after childbirth
mastitis mmastitis/ stats/ noun inflammation of maternal deprivation mə tmaternal deprivation/ n(ə)l depr
the breast veʃ(ə)n/ noun a psychological condition
masto- mmasto-/ stəυ/ prefix referring to a breast caused when a child does not have a proper re-
mastoid mmastoid/ stɔd/ adjective 1. shaped like a lationship with a mother
nipple 2. belonging to the part of the temporal maternal dystocia mə tmaternal dystocia/ n(ə)l ds təυsiə/
bone which protrudes at the side of the head noun difficult childbirth caused by a physical
behind the ear í noun same as mastoid proc- problem in the mother
ess maternalmaternal instincts instincts /mə t n(ə)l n
mastoid air cell mmastoid air cell/ stɔd eə sel/, mas- stŋkts/ plural noun instinctive feelings in a
toid cell / m stɔd sel/ noun an air cell in the woman to look after and protect her child
mastoid process maternitymaternity /mə t nti/ noun childbirth, the
mastoid antrum mmastoid antrum / stɔd ntrəm/ noun fact of becoming a mother
a cavity linking the air cells of the mastoid maternitymaternity case case /mə t nti kes/ noun a
process with the middle ear woman who is about to give birth
mastoid bone mmastoid bone / stɔd bəυn/ noun same maternity clinic mə tmaternity clinic/ nti klnk/ noun
as mastoid process same as antenatal clinic
mastoidectomy mmastoidectomy / stɔ dektəmi/ noun a maternity hospital mə tmaternity hospital/ nti hɒspt(ə)l/,
surgical operation to remove part of the mas- maternity ward /mə t nti wɔ d/, maternity
unit /mə t nti ju nt/ noun a hospital, ward
toid process, as a treatment for mastoiditis
or unit which deals only with women giving
mastoiditis mmastoiditis stɔ dats/ noun inflam-
/ birth
mation of the mastoid process and air cells. matrixmatrix / metrks/ noun an amorphous mass
The symptoms are fever and pain in the ears. of cells forming the basis of connective tissue.
COMMENT: The mastoid process can be infect- Also called ground substance
ed by infection from the middle ear through
the mastoid antrum. Mastoiditis can cause matronmatron / metrən/ noun a title formerly given
deafness and can affect the meninges if not
treated. to a woman in charge of the nurses in a hospi-
tal. ı modern matron
mastoidotomymastoidotomy / m stɔ dɒtəmi/ noun a matter mmatter/ tə/ noun a substance
surgical operation to make a cut into the mas- mattress mmattress/ trəs/ noun the thick soft part
toid process to treat infection of a bed for lying on
mattress suture 236
mattress suture mmattress suture/ trəs su tʃə/ noun a measlesmeasles / mi z(ə)lz/ noun an infectious dis-
suture made with a loop on each side of the in- ease of children, where the body is covered
cision with a red rash ć She’s in bed with measles. ć
maturationmaturation / m tʃυ reʃ(ə)n/ noun the He’s got measles. ć They caught measles from
process of becoming mature or fully devel- their friend at school. ć Have you had the
oped measles? Also called morbilli, rubeola (NOTE:
maturemature /mə tjυə/ adjective fully developed Takes a singular or plural verb.)
maturemature follicle follicle /mə tʃυə fɒlk(ə)l/ noun a COMMENT: Measles can be a serious disease
as it weakens the body’s resistance to other
Graafian follicle just before ovulation diseases, especially bronchitis and ear infec-
tions. It can be prevented by immunisation. If
maturingmaturing /mə tʃυərŋ/ adjective becoming caught by an adult it can be very serious.
mature measuremeasure / me ə/ noun a unit of size, quantity
maturingmaturing egg egg /mə tʃυərŋ e /, maturing or degree ć A metre is a measure of length. í
ovum / əυvəm/ noun an ovum contained by a
verb 1. to find out the size of something ć A
Graafian follicle
thermometer measures temperature. 2. to be a
maturitymaturity /mə tjυərti/ noun 1. being fully
particular size ć The room measures 3 metres
developed 2. (in psychology) the state of being
by 2 metres.
a responsible adult
measurementmeasurement / me əmənt/ noun the size,
maxilla mmaxilla/ k slə/, maxilla bone /m k slə
length, etc. of something which has been
bəυn/ noun the upper jaw bone (NOTE: The plu-
measured
ral is maxillae. It is more correct to refer to the
meatmeat /mi t/ noun animal flesh which is eaten
upper jaw as the maxillae, as it is in fact formed
(NOTE: No plural: some meat, a piece or a slice
of two bones which are fused together.)
of meat; he refuses to eat meat.)
maxillary mmaxillary/ k sləri/ adjective referring to
meat-meat- /miet/ prefix relating to a meatus
the maxilla
meatusmeatus /mi etəs/ noun an opening leading
maxillarymaxillary antrum antrum /m k sləri ntrəm/,
maxillary air sinus /m k sləri eə sanəs/ to an internal passage in the body, e.g. the ure-
noun one of two sinuses behind the cheek- thra or the nasal cavity (NOTE: The plural is
bones in the upper jaw. Also called antrum of meatuses or meatus.)
Highmore mechanismmechanism / mekənz(ə)m/ noun 1. a phys-
maxillo-facialmaxillo-facial /m k sləυ feʃ(ə)l/ adjec- ical or chemical change by which a function is
tive referring to the maxillary bone and the face carried out 2. a system in the body which car-
ć maxillo-facial surgery ries out or controls a particular function ć The
MBMB abbr bachelor of medicine inner ear is the body’s mechanism for the
McBurney’sMcBurney’s point point /mək b niz pɔnt/ sense of balance.
noun a point which indicates the usual position mechanismmechanism of labour of labour / mekənz(ə)m əv
lebə/ noun all the forces and processes which
of the appendix on the right side of the abdo-
combine to push a foetus out of the uterus dur-
men, between the hip bone and the navel,
ing its birth, together with the ones which op-
which is extremely painful if pressed when the
pose it
person has appendicitis [Described 1899. After
mechanotherapymechanotherapy / mekənəυ θerəpi/ noun
Charles McBurney (1845–1913), US surgeon.]
the treatment of injuries through mechanical
McNaghten’s Rules on Insanity at LawMcNaghten’s Rules on Insanity at Law
means, such as massage and exercise ma-
/mək nɔ tənz ru lz ɒn n s nti ət lɔ /,
McNaghten’s Rules /mək nɔ tənz ru lz/ plu- chines
ral noun a set of principles which explain how Meckel’sMeckel’s diverticulum diverticulum / mekəlz davə
tkjυləm/ noun a congenital formation of a
people can defend themselves in law by claim-
diverticulum in the ileum [Described 1809. Af-
ing that they committed a murder because they
ter Johann Friedrich Meckel II (1781–1833),
were mentally ill, and therefore not responsi-
German surgeon and anatomist.]
ble for any of their actions. In 1957 it was
adapted to include the idea of knowing that an meconismmeconism / mekəυniz(ə)m/ noun poison-
action is wrong but being unable to stop your- ing by opium or morphine
self from committing it because of your mental meconiummeconium /m kəυniəm/ noun the first dark
condition. green faeces produced by a newborn baby
MCPMCP joint joint / em si pi d ɔnt/ noun same as med.med. abbr 1. medical 2. medicine
metacarpophalangeal joint mediamedia / mi diə/ noun same as tunica media
MCU,MCU MCUG abbr micturating cysto(-ure- medialmedial / mi diəl/ adjective nearer to the cen-
thro)gram tral midline of the body or to the centre of an
MDMD abbr doctor of medicine organ. Compare lateral
MEME abbr myalgic encephalomyelitis medialmedial arcuate ligament arcuate ligament / mi diəl
mealmeal /mi l/ noun food eaten at a particular ɑ kjut l əmənt/ noun a fibrous arch to
time which the diaphragm is attached
237 Medical Officer of Health
medialmedial epicondyle epicondyle / mi diəl ep kɒndal/ such as the Red Cross, to a person who is ill or
noun a medial projection on the condyle of the injured
humerus medicalmedical assistant assistant / medk(ə)l ə sst(ə)nt/
mediallymedially / mi diəli/ adverb towards or on the noun someone who performs routine adminis-
sagittal plane of the body. See illustration at trative and clinical tasks to help in the offices
ANATOMICAL TERMS in Supplement and clinics of doctors and other medical prac-
medialmedial malleolus malleolus / mi diəl mə li ələs/ titioners
noun a bone at the end of the tibia which pro- medicalmedical audit audit / medk(ə)l ɔ dt/ noun a
trudes at the inside of the ankle systematic critical analysis of the quality of
medialmedial rectus rectus / mi diəl rektəs/ noun a medical care provided to a person, which ex-
muscle inserted into the sclera of the eyeball amines the procedures used for diagnosis and
medianmedian / mi diən/ adjective towards the cen- treatment, the use of resources and the result-
tral midline of the body, or placed in the mid- ing outcome and quality of life for the person
dle medical audit advisory groupmedical audit advisory group /
medianmedian nerve nerve / mi diən n v/ noun one of medk(ə)l ɔ dt əd vaz(ə)ri ru p/ noun a
the main nerves of the forearm and hand body with the responsibility of advising on
medianmedian plane plane / mi diən plen/ noun an im- medical audit in primary care. Abbr MAAG
aginary flat surface on the midline and at right medicalmedical centre centre / medk(ə)l sentə/ noun a
angles to the coronal plane, which divides the place where several different doctors and spe-
body into right and left halves. See illustration cialists practise
at ANATOMICAL TERMS in Supplement medicalmedical certificate certificate / medk(ə)l sə tfkət/
mediastinalmediastinal /mi diə stan(ə)l/ adjective re- noun an official document signed by a doctor,
ferring to the mediastinum ć the mediastinal giving someone permission to be away from
surface of pleura or of the lungs work or not to do specific types of work
mediastinitismediastinitis / mi diəst nats/ noun in- medicalmedical committee committee / medk(ə)l kə mti/
flammation of the mediastinum noun a committee of doctors in a hospital who
mediastinoscopymediastinoscopy / mi diəst nɒskəpi/ advise the management on medical matters
noun an operation in which a tube is put into medicalmedical diathermy diathermy / medk(ə)l daə
the mediastinum so that its organs can be ex- θ mi/ noun the use of heat produced by elec-
amined tricity for treatment of muscle and joint disor-
mediastinummediastinum / mi diə stanəm/ noun the ders such as rheumatism
section of the chest between the lungs, where medicalmedical doctor doctor / medk(ə)l dɒktə/ noun a
the heart, oesophagus and phrenic and vagus doctor who practises medicine, but is not usu-
nerves are situated ally a surgeon
medicmedic / medk/ noun a doctor or medical stu- medicalmedical ethics ethics / medk(ə)l eθks/ plural
dent (informal) noun the moral and professional principles
medicalmedical / medk(ə)l/ adjective 1. referring to which govern how doctors and nurses should
the study of diseases ć a medical student 2. re- work, and, in particular, what type of relation-
ferring to treatment of disease which does not ship they should have with their patients
involve surgery ć Medical help was provided medicalmedical examination examination / medk(ə)l
by the Red Cross. 3. referring to treatment giv- z m neʃ(ə)n/ noun an examination of a
en by a doctor, as opposed to a surgeon, in a person by a doctor
hospital or in his or her surgery í noun an of- medicalmedical history history / medk(ə)l hst(ə)ri/
ficial examination of a person by a doctor ć noun the details of a person’s medical condi-
He wanted to join the army, but failed his med- tion and treatment over a period of time
ical. ć You will have to have a medical if you medicalmedical intervention intervention / medk(ə)l ntə
take out an insurance policy. venʃən/ noun the treatment of illness by
medicalmedical administration administration / medk(ə)l əd drugs
mn streʃ(ə)n/ noun the running of hospi- medicalisationmedicalisation / medkəla zeʃ(ə)n/,
tals and other health services ć She started her medicalization noun the act of looking at
career in medical administration. something as a medical issue or problem
medicalmedical aid aid / medk(ə)l ed/ noun treatment medicalmedical jurisprudence jurisprudence / medk(ə)l
of someone who is ill or injured, given by a d υərs pru d(ə)ns/ noun the use of the prin-
doctor. ı first aid ciples of law as they relate to the practice of
medicalmedical alert bracelet alert bracelet / medk(ə)l ə l t medicine and the relationship of doctors with
breslət/ noun a band or chain worn around each other, their patients and society. ı foren-
the wrist giving information about the wearer’s sic medicine
medical needs, allergies or condition MedicalMedical Officer of Health Officer of Health / medk(ə)l
medicalmedical assistance assistance / medk(ə)l ə ɒfsər əv helθ/ noun formerly, a local gov-
sst(ə)ns/ noun help provided by a nurse, an ernment official in charge of the health servic-
ambulanceman or a member of an association es in an area. Abbr MOH
medical practitioner 238
medicalmedical practitioner practitioner / medk(ə)l pr k medicinemedicine / med(ə)s(ə)n/ noun 1. a prepara-
tʃ(ə)nə/ noun a person qualified in medicine,
tion taken to treat a disease or condition, espe-
i.e. a doctor or surgeon cially one in liquid form ć Take some cough
medicalmedical profession profession / medk(ə)l prə medicine if your cough is bad. ć You should
feʃ(ə)n/ noun all doctors take the medicine three times a day. 2. the
medicalmedical records records / medk(ə)l rekɔ dz/ plu- study of diseases and how to cure or prevent
ral noun information about a person’s medical them ć She is studying medicine because she
history wants to be a doctor. 3. the study and treatment
MedicalMedical Register Register / medk(ə)l red stə/ of diseases which does not involve surgery
noun a list of doctors approved by the General medicinemedicine bottle bottle / med(ə)s(ə)n bɒt(ə)l/
Medical Council ć The committee ordered his noun a special bottle which contains medicine
name to be struck off the Medical Register. medicinemedicine cabinet cabinet / med(ə)s(ə)n
MedicalMedical Research Council Research Council / medk(ə)l r k bnət/, medicine chest / med(ə)s(ə)n
s tʃ kaυnsəl/ noun a government body tʃest/ noun a cupboard where medicines,
which organises and pays for medical re- bandages, thermometers and other pieces of
search. Abbr MRC medical equipment can be left locked up, but
medicalmedical school school / medk(ə)l sku l/ noun a ready for use in an emergency
section of a university which teaches medicine medicomedico / medkəυ/ noun a doctor (informal)
ć He is at medical school. ć The medico said I was perfectly fit.
medicalmedical secretary secretary / medk(ə)l medico-medico- /medkəυ/ prefix referring to medi-
sekrt(ə)ri/ noun a qualified secretary who cine or to doctors
specialises in medical documentation, either in medicochirurgicalmedicochirurgical / medkəυka
a hospital or in a doctor’s surgery r d k(ə)l/ adjective referring to both medi-
medicalmedical social worker social worker / medk(ə)l cine and surgery
səυʃ(ə)l w kə/ noun someone who helps medicolegalmedicolegal / medkəυ li (ə)l/ adjective
people with family problems or problems re- referring to both medicine and the law
lated to their work which may have an effect medicosocialmedicosocial / medkəυ səυʃ(ə)l/ adjec-
on their response to treatment tive involving both medical and social factors
medicalmedical ward ward / medk(ə)l wɔ d/ noun a mediummedium / mi diəm/ adjective average, in the
ward for people who do not have to undergo middle or at the halfway point í noun a sub-
surgical operations stance through which something acts
MedicareMedicare / medkeə/ noun a system of pub- medroxyprogesteronemedroxyprogesterone /mə drɒksiprəυ
lic health insurance in the US d estərəυn/ noun a synthetic hormone used
medicatedmedicated / medketd/ adjective contain- to treat menstrual disorders, in oestrogen re-
ing a medicinal drug ć medicated cough sweet placement therapy and as a contraceptive
medicatedmedicated shampoo shampoo / medketd ʃ m medullamedulla /me d lə/ noun 1. the soft inner part
pu / noun a shampoo containing a chemical of an organ, as opposed to the outer cortex. See
which is supposed to prevent dandruff illustration at KIDNEY in Supplement 2. bone
medicationmedication / med keʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. the marrow 3. any structure similar to bone mar-
treatment of illnesses by giving people drugs. row
ı premedication 2. a drug used to treat a par- medullamedulla oblongata oblongata /me d lə ɒblɒŋ
ticular illness ć What sort of medication has etə/ noun a continuation of the spinal cord
she been taking? ć 80% of elderly patients ad- going through the foramen magnum into the
mitted to geriatric units are on medication. brain
medicinalmedicinal /mə ds(ə)n(ə)l/ adjective which medullarymedullary /me d ləri/ adjective 1. similar to
has healing properties or a beneficial effect on marrow 2. referring to a medulla
someone’s health ć He has a drink of whisky medullary cavity me dmedullary cavity/ ləri k vti/ noun
before he goes to bed for medicinal purposes. a hollow centre of a long bone, containing
medicinalmedicinal bath bath /mə ds(ə)n(ə)l bɑ θ/ noun bone marrow. See illustration at BONE STRUC-
treatment in which someone lies in a bath of TURE in Supplement
hot water containing particular chemicals, in medullarymedullary cord cord /me d ləri kɔ d/ noun an
hot mud or in other substances epithelial fibre found near the hilum of the fe-
medicinalmedicinal drug drug /mə ds(ə)n(ə)l dr / tal ovary
noun a drug used to treat a disease as opposed medullatedmedullated nerve nerve / medəletd n v/ noun
to hallucinatory or addictive drugs a nerve surrounded by a myelin sheath
medicinalmedicinal leech leech /mə ds(ə)n(ə)l li tʃ/ medulloblastomamedulloblastoma /me d ləυbl stəυmə/
noun a leech which is raised specially for use noun a tumour which develops in the medulla
in medicine oblongata and the fourth ventricle of the brain
medicinallymedicinally /mə ds(ə)n(ə)li/ adverb used as in children
a medicine ć The herb can be used medicinal- mefenamicmefenamic acid acid / mefən mk sd/ noun
ly. a drug which reduces inflammation and pain,
239 melanuria
used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis somes. Compare mitosis (NOTE: The US spell-
and menstrual problems ing is miosis.)
mefloquinemefloquine / mefləkwi n/, mefloquine hy- Meissner’sMeissner’s corpuscle corpuscle / masnəz
drochloride / mefləkwi n hadrəυ klɔ rad/ kɔ p s(ə)l/ noun a receptor cell in the skin
noun a drug used in the prevention and treat- which is thought to be sensitive to touch
ment of malaria Meissner’sMeissner’s plexus plexus / masnəz pleksəs/
mega-mega- /me ə/ prefix 1. large. Opposite micro- noun a network of nerve fibres in the wall of
2. one million, or 106
the alimentary canal [Described 1853. After
megacolonmegacolon / me ə kəυlən/ noun a condi- Georg Meissner (1829–1905), German anato-
tion in which the lower colon is very much mist and physiologist.]
larger than normal, because part of the colon melaenamelaena /mə li nə/ noun black faeces where
above is constricted, making bowel move- the colour is caused by bleeding in the intes-
ments impossible tine
megajoulemegajoule / me əd u l/ noun a unit of melan-melan- /melən/ prefix same as melano- (used
measurement of energy equal to one million before vowels)
joules. Symbol Mj melancholiamelancholia / melən kəυliə/ noun 1. a se-
megakaryocytemegakaryocyte / me ə k riəsat/ noun a vere depressive illness occurring usually be-
bone marrow cell which produces blood plate- tween the ages of 45 and 65 2. a clinical syn-
lets drome with a tendency to delusion, fixed per-
megalo-megalo- /me ələυ/ prefix large sonality and agitated movements
megaloblast memegaloblast/ ələυbl st/ noun an unu- melaninmelanin / melənn/ noun a dark pigment
sually large blood cell found in the bone mar- which gives colour to skin and hair, also found
row of people who have some types of anae- in the choroid of the eye and in some tumours
mia caused by Vitamin B12 deficiency melanismmelanism / melənz(ə)m/ noun 1. the unex-
megaloblasticmegaloblastic / me ələυ bl stk/ adjec-
pected depositing of dark pigment 2. the stain-
tive referring to megaloblasts
ing of all body tissue with melanin in a form of
megaloblasticmegaloblastic anaemia anaemia / me ələυ
carcinoma
bl stk ə ni miə/ noun anaemia caused by
melano-melano- /melənəυ/ prefix black or dark
Vitamin B12 deficiency
megalocephaly memegalocephaly ələυ kefəli/ noun the melanocytemelanocyte / melənəυsat/ noun any cell
/
which carries pigment
condition of having an unusually large head
melanocyte-stimulatingmelanocyte-stimulating hormone hormone /
megalocyte memegalocyte/ ələυsat/ noun an unusu-
melənəυsat stmjυletŋ hɔ məυm/ noun
ally large red blood cell, found in pernicious
a hormone produced by the pituitary gland
anaemia
which causes darkening in the colour of the
megalomaniamegalomania / me ələυ meniə/ noun a
skin. Abbr MSH
psychiatric disorder in which a person believes
melanodermamelanoderma / melənəυ d mə/ noun 1. a
they are very powerful and important
large amount of melanin in the skin 2. discol-
megalomaniacmegalomaniac / me ələυ meni k/ noun
oration of patches of the skin
someone who has megalomania í adjective
melanomamelanoma / melə nəυmə/ noun a tumour
having megalomania
formed of dark pigmented cells
-megaly-megaly /me əli/ suffix enlargement
COMMENT: ABCD is the key to remember if you
megauretermegaureter / me əjυ ri tə/ noun a condi- want to know if there is a risk of developing a
melanoma: A = ASYMMETRY, ie. the two
tion in which a part of the ureter becomes very sides are not quite the same, and the mole
does not have a perfect shape; B = BORDER,
wide, above the site of a blockage the edge becomes irregular; C = COLOUR,
there may be a change in colour, with the
meibomianmeibomian cyst cyst /ma bəυmiən sst/ noun mole becoming darker; D = DIAMETER, any
change in diameter should be considered an
the swelling of a sebaceous gland in the eyelid. important factor. Among other features, pain
is rarely an important feature but itching could
Also called chalazion be one.
meibomianmeibomian gland gland /ma bəυmiən l nd/
noun a sebaceous gland on the edge of the eye-
lid which secretes a liquid to lubricate the eye-
lid. Also called tarsal gland melanophoremelanophore / melənəυfɔ / noun a cell
meibomianitismeibomianitis /ma bəυmiə nats/ noun a which contains melanin
condition in which the meibomian glands be- melanoplakiamelanoplakia / melənəυplekiə/ noun areas
come swollen of pigment in the mucous membrane inside the
Meigs’ syndrome meMeigs’ syndrome / z sndrəυm/ noun mouth
a condition in which liquid collects in the chest melanosismelanosis / melə nəυss/ noun same as
and abdominal cavities. It is associated with
pelvic tumours. melanism
meiosismeiosis /ma əυss/ noun the process of cell melanuriamelanuria / melə njυəriə/ noun 1. the pres-
division which results in two pairs of haploid ence of dark colouring in the urine 2. a condi-
cells, i.e. cells with only one set of chromo- tion in which the urine turns black after being
melasma 240
allowed to stand, e.g. in cases of malignant meningealmeningeal haemorrhage haemorrhage /me nnd iəl
melanoma hem(ə)rd / noun a haemorrhage from a me-
ningeal artery
melasmamelasma /mə l zmə/ noun the presence of
little brown, yellow or black spots on the skin meningealmeningeal sarcoma sarcoma /me nnd iəl sɑ
kəυmə/ noun a malignant tumour in the me-
melatoninmelatonin / melə təυnn/ noun a hormone ninges
produced by the pineal gland during the hours
of darkness, which makes animals sleep dur- meningesmeninges /me nnd i z/ plural noun the
ing the winter months. It is thought to control membranes which surround the brain and spi-
the body’s rhythms. nal cord (NOTE: The singular is meninx.)
melenamelena /mə li nə/ noun same as melaena COMMENT: The meninges are divided into
three layers: the tough outer layer (dura
mellitusmellitus / meltəs/ diabetes mellitus mater) which protects the brain and spinal
cord; the middle layer (arachnoid mater) and
membranemembrane / membren/ noun a thin layer of the delicate inner layer (pia mater) which con-
tissue which lines or covers an organ tains the blood vessels. The cerebrospinal flu-
id flows in the space (subarachnoid space)
membranemembrane bone bone / membren bəυn/ noun a between the arachnoid mater and pia mater.
bone which develops from tissue and not from
cartilage meningiomameningioma / mennd i əυmə/ noun a be-
nign tumour in the meninges
membranousmembranous / membrənəs/ adjective refer-
ring to membranes, or like a membrane meningismmeningism /me nnd z(ə)m/ noun a condi-
tion in which there are signs of meningeal irri-
membranousmembranous labyrinth labyrinth / membrənəs tation suggesting meningitis, but where there
l bərnθ/ noun a series of ducts and canals is no pathological change in the cerebrospinal
formed of membrane inside the osseous laby- fluid
rinth
meningitismeningitis / menn d ats/ noun inflam-
memorymemory / mem(ə)ri/ noun the ability to re- mation of the meninges, causing someone to
member ć He has a very good memory for have violent headaches, fever, and stiff neck
dates. ć He said the whole list from memory. muscles, and sometimes to become delirious
menarchemenarche /mə nɑ ki/ noun the start of men- COMMENT: Meningitis is a serious viral or bac-
strual periods terial disease which can cause brain damage
and even death. The bacterial form can be
mendmend /mend/ verb to repair something ć The treated with antibiotics. The most common
surgeons are trying to mend the damaged forms of bacterial meningitis are Hib and
heart valves. meningococcal.
Mendel’sMendel’s laws laws / mendəlz lɔ z/ plural noun meningo-meningo- /mənŋ əυ/ prefix referring to the
the laws of heredity, that are the basis of the meninges
science of genetics [Described 1865. After Gre-
gor Johann Mendel (1822–84), Austrian Augus- meningocelemeningocele /mə nŋ əυsi l/ noun a condi-
tinian monk and naturalist of Brno, whose work tion in which the meninges protrude through
the vertebral column or skull
was rediscovered by de Vries in 1900.]
meningococcalmeningococcal /mə nŋ əυ kɒk(ə)l/ ad-
Mendelson’sMendelson’s syndrome syndrome / mendəlsənz jective referring to meningococci
sndrəυm/ noun a sometimes fatal condition
in which acid fluid from the stomach is meningococcalmeningococcal disease disease /mə nŋ əυ
brought up into the windpipe and passes into kɒk(ə)l d zi z/ noun a disease caused by a
the lungs, occurring mainly in obstetric pa- meningococcus
tients [Described 1946. After Curtis L. Mendel-
son (b. 1913), US obstetrician and gynaecolo- meningococcalmeningococcal meningitis meningitis /mə nŋ əυ
gist.] kɒk(ə)l menn d ats/ noun the common-
est epidemic form of meningitis, caused by a
Ménière’sMénière’s disease disease /meni eəz d zi z/, bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, where the
Ménière’s syndrome / sndrəυm/ noun a dis- meninges become inflamed causing headaches
ease of the middle ear, in which someone be- and fever
comes dizzy, hears ringing in the ears and may
vomit, and becomes progressively deaf. The meningococcusmeningococcus /mə nŋ əυ kɒkəs/ noun
causes may include infections or allergies, the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis which
which increase the fluid contents of the laby- causes meningococcal meningitis (NOTE: The
rinth in the middle ear. [Described 1861. After
Prosper Ménière (1799–1862) and his son, plural is meningococci.)
Emile Antoine Ménière (1839–1905), French
meningoencephalitismeningoencephalitis /mə nŋ əυen kefə
physicians.] lats/ noun inflammation of the meninges
and the brain
mening-mening- /mennd / prefix same as meningo-
(used before vowels) meningoencephalocelemeningoencephalocele /mə nŋ əυen
kefələυsi l/ noun a condition in which part of
meningealmeningeal /me nnd iəl/ adjective referring the meninges and the brain push through a gap
to the meninges in the skull
meningomyelocelemeningomyelocele /mə nŋ əυ maələυ
si l/ noun the pushing forward of part of the
241 mentally
meninges and spinal cord through a gap in the a person’s intellectual development, usually
spine. Also called myelomeningocele, mye-
compared to standardised data for a chrono-
locele
logical age ˽ he’s nine, but he has a mental
meningovascularmeningovascular /mə nŋ əυ v skjυlə/
adjective referring to the meningeal blood ves- age of five although he is nine years old, his
sels
level of intellectual development is the same as
meninxmeninx / menŋks/ noun meninges
meniscectomymeniscectomy / men sektəmi/ noun the that of an average child of five
surgical removal of a cartilage from the knee
mentalmental block block / ment(ə)l blɒk/ noun a tem-
meniscusmeniscus /mə nskəs/ noun one of two pads
of cartilage, the lateral meniscus and medial porary inability to remember something,
meniscus, between the femur and tibia in a
knee joint. Also called semilunar cartilage caused by the effect of nervous stress on the
(NOTE: The plural is menisci.) mental processes
meno-meno- /menəυ/ prefix referring to menstrua- mentalmental deficiency deficiency / ment(ə)l d fʃ(ə)nsi/
tion
noun a former term for learning disability
menopausalmenopausal / menə pɔ z(ə)l/ adjective re-
ferring to the menopause (NOTE: This term is regarded as offensive.)
menopausemenopause / menəpɔ z/ noun a period, mentalmental development development / ment(ə)l d
usually between 45 and 55 years of age, when
a woman stops menstruating and can no longer veləpmənt/ noun the development of the
bear children. Also called climacteric, change
mind ć Her mental development is higher
of life
than usual for her age.
menorrhagiamenorrhagia / menə red iə/ noun very
heavy bleeding during menstruation. Also mentalmental disorder disorder / ment(ə)l ds ɔ də/ noun
called flooding
a temporary or permanent change in a person’s
menorrhoeamenorrhoea / menə ri ə/ noun normal
bleeding during menstruation mental state which makes them function less
mensesmenses / mensi z/ plural noun same as men- effectively than they would usually, or than the
struation
average person would be expected to function
menstrualmenstrual / menstruəl/ adjective referring
to menstruation mentalmental faculties faculties / ment(ə)l f kəlti z/ plu-
menstrualmenstrual cramp cramp / menstruəl kr mp/ ral noun abilities such as thinking and deci-
noun a cramp in the muscles round the uterus
during menstruation sion-making ć There has been no impairment
menstrualmenstrual cycle cycle / menstruəl sak(ə)l/ of the mental faculties.
noun a period, usually of 28 days, during
which a woman ovulates, the walls of the uter- mentalmental handicap handicap / ment(ə)l h ndik p/
us swell and bleeding takes place if the ovum
has not been fertilised noun a former term for learning disability
menstrualmenstrual flow flow / menstruəl fləυ/ noun the (NOTE: This term is regarded as offensive.)
discharge of blood from the uterus during
menstruation mentalmental health health / ment(ə)l helθ/ noun the
menstruatemenstruate / menstruet/ verb to bleed condition of someone’s mind
from the uterus during menstruation
MentalMental Health Acts Health Acts / ment(ə)l helθ kts/
menstruationmenstruation / menstru eʃ(ə)n/ noun
bleeding from the uterus which occurs in a plural noun laws made by a parliament which
woman each month when the lining of the
uterus is shed because no fertilised egg is lay down rules for the care of people with
present
mental illness
menstruummenstruum / menstru əm/ noun a liquid
used in the extract of active principles from an Mental Health Review TribunalMental Health Review Tribunal /
unrefined drug
ment(ə)l helθ r vju tra bju n(ə)l/ noun a
mentalmental / ment(ə)l/ adjective 1. referring to
the mind 2. referring to the chin committee which makes decisions about
mentalmental aberration aberration / ment(ə)l bə reʃ(ə)n/ whether people who have been detained under
noun slight forgetfulness or confusion (often
humorous) ć I thought the meeting was at 11 – the Mental Health Acts should be released. It
I must have had a mental aberration.
consists of medical members, legal experts
mentalmental age age / ment(ə)l ed / noun a meas-
urement based on intelligence tests that shows and lay members, who include people with ex-
perience in social services. Abbr MHRT
mentalmental hospital hospital / ment(ə)l hɒspt(ə)l/
noun a psychiatric hospital (NOTE: This term is
regarded as offensive.)
mentalmental illness illness / ment(ə)l lnəs/ noun any
disorder which affects the mind
mentalmental impairment impairment / ment(ə)l m
peəmənt/ noun a temporary or permanent
condition which affects a person’s mental
state, making them function less effectively
than they would usually, or than the average
person would be expected to function
mentalismentalis muscle muscle /men tels m s(ə)l/
noun a muscle attached to the front of the low-
er jaw and the skin of the chin
mentallymentally / ment(ə)li/ adverb in the mind ć
Mentally, she is very advanced for her age.
mentallymentally handicapped / ment(ə)li
h ndik pt/ adjective a former term for
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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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