A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V
A
| Adrenalin |
A hormone
produced by the adrenal medulla. |
| Aflatoxin |
A
carcinogenic metabolite |
| Allergen |
Which
produces an allergic reaction |
| Allograft |
Grafting or
transplanting an organ or tissue from one
person to another who does not share the
same transplantation on antigens. |
| Amenorrhoea |
Absence of
the menses. |
| Anaerobic |
A
micro-organism |
| Anorexia |
Loss of
appetite |
| Antigen |
Any
substance which under favourable
conditions, can stimulate the production
of antibodies |
| Aphthous Ulcers |
Type of
ulcers in the mouth |
| Arterioles |
A small
artery, joining an artery to a capillary. |
| Arterioselerosis |
A gradual
loss of elasticity in the walls of
arteries due to the thickening and
calcification. |
| Atheroma |
Hardening of
arteries |
| Atherosclerosis |
A form of
hardening of the arteries |
| Ascites |
Free fluid
in the peritoneal cavity. It is an
abnormal condition. |
| Asthma |
A condition
characterized by wheezing &
difficulty in expiration because of
muscular spasm in the bronchi. |
| Atrophy |
Wasting, emaciation,
diminution in size of normally developed
organ. |
| Azotaemia |
The accumulation of
urea in the blood. |
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B
| B-Carotene |
Precursor of
vitamin A |
| Bactericidal |
That which
kills bacteria |
| Bacterostatic |
That which
inhibits bacterial growth |
| Bile |
A bitter
alkaline, viscid, greenish yellow fluid
secreted by the liver and stored in the
gall bladder. It contains water, mucin,
lecithin, cholesterol, bile salts and the
pigments bilirubin and biliverdin. |
| Biotin |
A vitamin
belonging to the vitamin B group |
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C
| Caecum |
The blind,
pouch like commencement of the colon the
right lilac fossa |
| Calories |
A standard
unit of heat. Used to denote
physiological values of various food
substances |
| Carcinogens |
Substances
that cause cancerous changes in normal
cells |
| Caries |
Decay of
teeth |
| Casien |
The chief
protein of milk. It forms a curd from
which cheese is made |
| Choleithiasis |
The presence
of stones in the gall bladder or bile
ducts |
| Chlorophyll |
Green
colouring matter which assists in
photosynthesis in plants |
| Citric Acid |
The acid
present in lemons |
| Colostrum |
The
relatively clear fluid secreted in the
breasts during the first three days after
parturition, before the formation of true
milk is established |
| Collagen |
The main
protein constituent of white fibrous
tissue |
| Congenital |
Applied to
conditions existing at or before birth |
| Conjunctiva |
The delicate
transparent membrane which lines the
inner surface of the eyelids and reflects
over the front of the eyeballs. |
| Cornea |
The
outwardly convex transparent membrane
forming part of the anterior outer coat
of the eye. It is situated in front of
the iris & pupil and merges backward
into the sclera |
| Coronary |
The vessels
which supply blood to the heart muscles. |
| Convulsions |
Involuntary
contractions of muscles resulting from
abnormal cerebral stimulation which have
many causes. |
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D
| Dimineralisation |
Reduction in
the mineral content |
| Denaturation |
Change the
Nature |
| Desquamated |
Shedded off |
| Diverticula |
An abnormal
out pouching of tissue |
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E
| Ectopic |
Out of place |
| Eicosapentanoic Acid |
Type of
substance that inhibits platelet
aggregation. |
| Electrolytes |
A substance
which can be decomposed by electrolyses |
| Emaciation |
Excessive wasting of
body tissues |
| Embryo |
The fertilized ovum
in its earliest stages until it shows
human characteristics during the second
month. |
| Emphysema |
The abnormal
presence of air in tissues or cavities of
the body |
| Encephalins |
Neurotransmitters
responsible for certain functions of the
brain |
| Encephalopathy |
Disordered
brain functioning due to the metabolic or
other influences |
| Endemic |
The term
applied to any disease prevalent in a
particular locality |
| Endocrine |
Applied to
those glands whose secretion flow
directly into blood or Iymph and greatly
modify bodily development. |
| Endorphins |
Neurotransmitter
responsible for certain functions of the
brain |
| Endosperm |
Inner pan of
seeds |
| Enzymes |
Catalyst |
| Epiphysis |
The end of a
long bone developed separately but
attached by cartilage to the diaphysis,
with which it eventually unites |
| Epithelium |
The surface
layer of skin, lining tissues or cells |
| Ergometry |
Test to
assess muscle fatiguability |
| Eructations |
Belching |
| Erythema |
Superficial
redness of the skin |
| Estriol |
Estrone,
Estradiol—oestrogen—Female sex
hormones |
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F
| Ferritin |
Form of Iron |
| Foetus |
The name
given to the developing embryo between
8-40 weeks of pregnancy |
| Fibrosis |
Fibrous
tissue formation as occurs in scar tissue
or as a result of inflammation |
| Fissure-in-ano |
A cleft, a
painful crack in the mucous membrane of
the anus, generally caused by injury from
hard faeces. |
| Flatulence |
The presence
of gas in the stomach |
| Folate/Folic Acid |
A
constituent of the vitamin B complex
which influences red blood cell formation
|
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G
| Gall Bladder Stones |
A stone in
the gall bladder. A tissue sac which
stores and concentrates bile. Situated
just below the liver. |
| Genetics |
The study of
heredity and natural development |
| Geriatric |
The study
and treatment of the diseases of old age |
| Giardiasis |
An infection that
causes persistent mild diarrhoea |
| Globulin |
A protein
constituent of the blood and
cerebrospinal fluid |
| Glomerulonephritis |
Inflammation
of the glomeruli of the kidney following
a streptococcal infection |
| Glycogen |
The form in
which carbohydrate is stored in the liver
& muscle |
| Goitre |
Enlargement
of the thyroid gland causing a swelling
in the front of neck |
| Gout |
A metabolic
disorder associated with an excess of
uric acid in the blood |
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H
| Haemoglobin |
Compound in
red blood cells responsible for carrying
oxygen and carbon dioxide |
| Haemorrhoids |
Piles |
| Hepatitis |
Infection
and inflammation of the liver |
| Hiatus Hernia |
Herniation
of the intestinal contents through the
diaphragm into the thorax |
| Homeostatic |
Normalizing |
| 125-Hydroxycholecalciferol |
Vitamin D |
| Hyperacidity |
Heartburn,
excess of stomach acid |
| Hyperammonaemia |
Excess
ammonia in the blood |
| Hypercholestorolaemia |
High blood
cholesterol |
| Hyperglycemia |
High blood
sugar |
| Hyperphosphataemia |
High
phosphate levels in the blood |
| Hypersucrophagy |
Excessive
consumption of sweets |
| Hypertension |
High blood
pressure |
| Hypocalcaemia |
Low blood
calcium levels |
| Hypocalorie |
Low calorie
content |
| Hypoglycaemia |
Low blood
sugar |
| Hypothyroidism |
Low thyroid
functioning |
| Hysterical |
A
psychological condition |
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I
| Immunoglobins |
Protein
mediating immune function |
| Insulin |
Hormone
manufactured by the pancreas to lower
blood sugar and help in other metabolism |
| Irritable Bowel
Syndrome |
Disease
characterized by diarrhoea |
| Ischaemia |
Lack of
blood supply |
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K
| Kupffer's Cells |
Defense
cells in the liver |
| Kwashiorkor |
Protein
malnutrition characterized by generalized
swelling of the body |
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L
| Lacrimation |
Watering of
eyes |
| Lactalbumin |
Milk protein |
| Lactaglobulin |
Milk protein
|
| Lactation |
Production
of milk in the breast |
| Lactobacilli |
Bacilli
which act on milk to convert it to curd |
| Lactose Intolerance |
Deficiency
of the enzyme lactose causing
fermentation of lactose (milk sugar) in
the gut leading to flatulence and
diarrhoea |
| Leucoderma |
White
patches on the skin |
| Lignin |
A type of
dietary fibre |
| Lymph |
Extravascular
fluid derived from blood |
| Lymphatic |
Vessels
carrying Iymph |
| Lymphoid Tissue |
Site of
manufacture of Iymphocytes |
| Lymphocytes |
A type of
white blood cell involving in fighting
chronic infection |
| Lymphopoiesis |
The process
of producing Iymphocytes. |
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M
| Macrophagus |
Large
scanvenger cell in the blood |
| Marasmus |
Protein and
calorie malnutrition |
| Menarche |
The first
onset of menstrual period |
| Meninges |
Covering of
the brain |
| Mentation |
The activity
of thinking |
| Megaloblastic Anaemia |
An anaemia
caused by vit. B12 and Folic Acid
deficiency and characterized by
megaloblasts (large underdeveloped
cells). |
| Menopause |
Cessation of
menstrual periods |
| Metaplasia |
Abnormal
change in a cell which is characteristic
of premalignancy. |
| Micronutrients |
Nutrients
required in small amounts. |
| Migraine |
One sided
headaches associated with severe pain,
scintillations avoiding of light and
associated with nausea and sometimes
vomiting. |
| Mitochondria |
The
powerhouse of the cell. |
| Mitosis |
Cell
division |
| Mutogens |
Influence
that changes the character of a cell
making it malignant. |
| Myelin |
covering of
nerves. |
| Myelomeningocele |
Herniation
of the meninges and the spinal cord from
a defect in the spinal cord. |
| Myocardium |
Heart muscle |
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N
| Nausea |
A sensation
of sickness with inclination to vomit |
| Neonates |
Term applied
to a baby under one month old |
| Neoplastic |
(adj.) Neo-Plasia (N)
literally, the formation of new tissue. |
| Nephritis |
A term
embracing a group of conditions in which
there is either an inflammatory or an
inflammatory like reaction in the kidney |
| Neuralgia |
Pain in the
distribution of a nerve |
| Neuritis |
Inflammation
of a nerve |
| Neuropathy |
(N)
Neuro-Pathic (adj.) relating to disease
of the nervous system |
| Neurones |
The basic
structural unit of the nervous system
comprising fibres which convey impulses
to the nerve cell |
| Neutrophils |
A type of
white blood cells |
| Niacin / Nicotinic
Acid |
One of the
essential food factors of Vitamin B
Complex. |
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O
| Oedema |
Dropsy. An
effusion of fluid into the tissue. |
| Oesophagus |
The canal
that extends from the pharynx to the
stomach; it is about 23 cms (9 inches)
long. |
| Opsonisation |
(N)
Opsonin—an antibody which unites
with an antigen, usually part of the
intact cells, and renders the cells more
susceptible to phagocytosis. |
| Organic |
Pertaining
to an organ associated with life. Organic
disease—one in which there is
structural change |
| Osteoarthritis |
Degenerative stage in
which the articular surfaces become worn,
osteophytes form at the periphery of the
joint surface and loose bodies may result |
| Osteomalacia |
Deficiency
of vit D. causing softening of bones |
| Osteomalacia |
Loss of bone density
caused by excessive absorption of Calcium
& Phosphorus from the bone. |
| Ovulation |
The process
of rupture of the mature graafian
follicle when the ovum is shed from the
ovary |
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P
| Parkinson's disease |
A syndrome
of mask-like expression, shuffling gait
tremor of the limbs and pill rolling
movements of the fingers. |
| Pancreas |
Abdominal
organ which secretes the hormones—
insulin & glucagon and also
pancreatic juice which contains enzymes
that digest fats & proteins |
| Pantothenic Acid |
A
constituent of the vitamin B complex. |
| Paraplegia |
Paralysis of
the lower limbs usually including the
bladder and rectum |
| Pasteurisation |
A process
whereby pathogenic organisms in fluid
(especially milk) are killed by heat |
| Peptic Ulcer |
A
non-malignant ulcer in those parts of the
digestive tract which are exposed to the
gastric secretions. |
| Periodontal |
Commonly an
inflammatory disease of the peridontal
tissues resulting in the gradual loss of
the supporting membrane & bone around
the tooth |
| Periosteum |
The membrane
which covers a bone |
| Peyer's Patches |
Flat patches
of Iymphatic tissue situated in the small
intestine but mainly in the ileum; they
are the seat of infection in typhoid
fever |
| Pneumonia |
Invasion of
the lungs by micro-organisms causing
inflammation |
| Platelets |
Thrombocytes
(a type of blood cells). |
| Polyuria |
Excessive
increase in the discharge of urine |
| Prolactin |
A milk
producing hormone of the anterior lobe of
the pituitary body that stimulates the
mammary glands. |
| Proteolytic |
That which
is capable of reducing proteins to an
absorbable form |
| Pseudopodia |
Protrusion
of part of cell serving as a method of
locomotion or phagocytosis |
| Pteroylglutamic Acid |
Folic acid |
| Ptyalin |
The enzyme
(amylase) in saliva which splits starches
|
| Pyridoxine |
Vitamin B6 |
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R
| Renin |
A
proteolytic enzyme released into the
blood stream; when the kidney is
ischaemic it causes vaso-constriction . |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis |
Type of
joint swelling with pain. |
| Rheology |
Study of
flow mechanism |
| Riboflavin |
A chemical
factor in Vitamin B Complex |
| Rickets |
A deficiency
disease caused by lack of vitamin D |
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S
| Salmonella |
A genus of
bacteria that are parasites of the
intestinal tract of man and animals. |
| Saprophytic Bacilli |
Bacilli bred
in and living on putrefying matter |
| Scabies |
Contagious
skin disease caused by the itch mite |
| Sciatia |
Pain down
the back of the leg in the area supplied
by the sciatic nerve |
| Spina Bifida |
A congenital
defect of non-union of one or more
vertebral arches allowing protrusion of
meninges & possibly their contents |
| Spirochaeta |
Micro-organisms
in the form of a spiral. They are motile.
|
| Spleen |
A very
vascular Iymphoid organ situated in the
left hypochondrium under the border of
the stomach. It manufactures Iymphocytes
& breaks down red blood corpuscles |
| Spondylosis |
Ankylosis of
vertebral joints |
| Stroke |
Term used to
describe the sudden onset of symptoms
especially those of cerebral origin. |
| Syphilis |
A specific
contagious venereal disease transmitted
by sexual intercourse |
| Systolic |
Pertaining
to the contraction of the heart |
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T
| Tachycardia |
Abnormally
rapid action of the heart &
consequent increase in pulse rate |
| Taenia Saginata |
The common
type of tapeworm found in the human
intestine |
| Taenia Solium |
The pork
tapeworm that can also be parasitic in
man |
| Testosterone |
Hormone
produced by the testes which stimulates
the development of sex characteristics |
| Tetany |
An increased
excitability of the nerves due to the
lack of available calcium accompanied by
painful muscle spasm |
| Theine |
The alkaloid
found in tea |
| Theobromine |
The alkaloid
from Theobroma whose action is similar to
that of caffeine |
| Thermolabile |
One that can
be destroyed by heat |
| Thiamine |
Vitamin Bl |
| Thrombosis |
The
formation of a stationary blood clot
caused by coagulation of the blood
usually in a vein |
| Thymus |
A gland like
structure situated in the upper thorax
and neck |
| Trace Elements |
Elements
required in very minute quantities |
| Tranquillizers |
Drugs that
allay anxiety & have calming effect |
| Triglyceride |
Esters of
glycerol & the fatty acids, palmitic,
oleic & stearic |
| Trypsin |
A digestive
enzyme converting protein into amino
acids |
| Trypthophan/e |
One of the
essential amino acids |
| Tuberculin Test |
An
intradermal injection of old tuberculin
to determine susceptibility to
tuberculosis |
| Tyramine |
An enzyme
present in cheese, broad bean pods, yeast
extracts, wine and strong beer |
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U
| Ulcerative Colitis |
A condition
of inflammation & ulceration of the
colon of unknown cause |
| Uraemia |
A condition
of high blood urea, muscle weakness and
increasing drowsiness |
| Urea-Carbamide |
A white
crystalline substance which is the chief
nitro genous constituent of urine |
| Uric Acid |
Lithic
acid—a normal constituent of urine. |
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V
| Vascular |
Relating to
or consisting largely of vessel |
| Vasospastic |
Causing
spasm in an artery |
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|
