bacillus
Any bacteria that is
rod-shaped; responsible for diphtheria, dysentery, tetanus, and tuberculosis, as well as other
diseases.
bacteremia
A condition in which
bacteria are present in the bloodstream; may occur after minor surgery
or infection and may be dangerous for people with a weakened immune system or abnormal heart valves.
bacteriostatic
Term used to describe a
substance that stops the growth of bacteria (such as an antibiotic).
bacterium
A tiny, single-celled microorganism, commonly known
as a germ; some bacteria, called pathogens,
cause disease.
bacteriuria
Bacteria in the urine;
large amounts can indicate bladder, urethra, or kidney infection.
ball-and-socket joint
A joint consisting of a
ball-shaped bone that fits into a cup-shaped bone, making the joint free
to rotate; examples include the hip and shoulder.
balloon angioplasty
A technique that uses a
balloon catheter to open arteries
clogged with fatty deposits.
balloon catheter
A hollow tube with a
small, inflatable balloon at the tip; used to open a narrowed artery
or organ that has become blocked.
barbiturates
A group of sedatives that reduce activity in
the brain; are habit-forming and are possibly fatal when taken with
alcohol.
barium
enema
A technique in which
barium is placed into the large intestine
and rectum and then X-rays are
taken to check for possible disorders of these organs.
barrier
method of contraception
A birth-control
technique using a condom, diaphragm, or another similar device to block
the path of sperm to an egg.
bartholin's glands
Two pea-sized glands
that, when sexually aroused, release a fluid that lubricates the vagina.
basal
cell carcinoma
A type of skin cancer
that is caused by exposure to large amounts of sunlight; commonly found
on the neck, face, and arms.
basal metabolic rate
The lowest rate at which a
person can possibly use energy and remain alive; at this rate, only
absolutely necessary functions such as breathing are maintained.
B
cell
A white blood cell that makes antibodies to fight infections
caused by foreign proteins.
BCG
vaccine
A vaccine
used to protect against tuberculosis.
Beckers muscular dystrophy
A hereditary disease in which the
muscles weaken and waste away; similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy but
starts later in life and advances more slowly.
bell's
palsy
Another name for facial
palsy, the usually one-sided, temporary numbing of the facial muscles,
caused by an inflamed nerve.
bends
See Decompression sickness.
benign
tumor
A tumor that is not
cancerous, which means it does not spread through the body, but may grow
and become dangerous.
beta
blocker
A type of drug used to
treat high blood pressure and heart disorders by reducing the strength
and rate of the pumping by the heart.
beta
carotene
A pigment found in orange
vegetables and fruits, which the body converts to vitamin
A; possibly protects against cancer.
bifocal
A lens that corrects both
near and distant vision by having two parts with different focusing
strengths.
bilateral
A term describing a
condition that affects both sides of the body or two paired organs, such
as bilateral deafness (deafness in both ears).
bile
A yellow-green liquid
produced in the liver whose function is to remove waste from the liver
and break down fats as food is digested.
bile
duct
A tube that carries bile
from the liver to the gallbladder and then to the small
intestine.
biliary atresia
A birth defect in which
the bile ducts are not completely developed; often a
liver transplant is necessary.
biliary
colic
A severe pain in the upper
right section of the abdomen, usually caused by a gallstone
passing out of the bladder or through the bile ducts.
biliary
tract
The system of organs and
ducts through which bile is made
and transported from the liver to
the small intestine.
bilirubin
The orange-yellow pigment
in bile,
causing jaundice if it builds up
in the blood and skin; the levels of bilirubin in the blood are used to
diagnose liver disease.
binging and purging
Behavior characteristic of
the disorder bulimia in which a person overeats
then rids themselves of the food before it can be absorbed by the body,
either by forced vomiting or through the use of laxatives .
biochemistry
The science that studies
the chemistry of living organisms, including humans.
bioequivalent
A drug that has the same
effect on the body as another drug.
biofeedback
A technique used to gain
control over a function that is normally automatic (such as blood
pressure or pulse rate); the function is monitored and relaxation
techniques are used to change it to a desired level.
bipolar disorder
An illness in which the
patient goes back and forth between opposite extremes; the most notable
bipolar disorder is manic-depressive
disorder, which is characterized by extreme highs and lows in mood.
birth
canal
The passage that includes
the uterus and vagina through which the baby passes
at birth.
birth
control
The regulation of the
number of children born, referring either to the prevention of pregnancy
(by birth control pill, sterilization, etc) or the prevention of birth
(by abortion, etc).
birth defect
An abnormality that is
present when a baby is born.
birthmark
Any area of discolored
skin that is present when a baby is born.
bisexuality
Sexual interest in members
of both sexes.
bladder
An organ located in the
pelvis whose function is to collect and store urine until it is
expelled.
blepharitis
Inflammation of the eyelids.
blind
spot
A spot in the field of
vision that is not sensitive to light; it is a product of the entrance
of the optic nerve into the
eyeball, where no light receptors are present on the retina .
blood-brain barrier
A layer of tightly bound
cells that prevents certain substances carried in the bloodstream from
entering the brain.
blood
clot
A semisolid mass of blood
that forms to help seal and prevent bleeding from a damaged vessel.
blood poisoning
See Septicemia.
blood pressure
The tension in the main arteries
that is created by the beating of the heart and the resistance to flow
and elasticity of the blood vessels.
blood
transfusion
The transfer of blood or
any of its parts to a person who has lost blood due to an injury,
disease, or operation.
blood
type
A category used to
describe a person's blood according to the kinds of proteins
present on the surface of the red
blood cells.
b
lymphocyte
A type of white blood cell that makes antibodies and is an important part
of the immune response.
boil
An inflamed, raised area
of skin that is pus-filled; usually an
infected hair follicle.
bone
marrow
The fatty yellow or red
tissue inside bones that is responsible for producing blood cells.
bone marrow transplant
A surgical procedure in
which defective or cancerous bone marrow is replaced with healthy
marrow, either from the patient or a donor.
bone
spur
An abnormal growth of bone
out of another bone, often located on the heel and usually painful.
booster
An additional dose of a vaccine
taken after the first dose to maintain or renew the first one.
botulism
Poisoning from poorly
preserved food contaminated with a dangerous bacterial toxin that
results in paralysis.
bowel
See Intestine.
bradycardia
A slow heart rate, usually
below 60 beats per minute in adults.
brain
damage
Permanent death or damage
of brain cells resulting in decreased mental ability.
brain
death
The condition in which the
brain stops functioning while the heart continues to beat.
breech
birth
Childbirth in which the
baby is turned around in the uterus
and emerges head-last instead of head-first.
bronchiolitis
An infection caused by a virus in the bronchioles (the smallest
airways in the lungs), mainly affecting young children.
bronchitis
Inflammation of the
bronchial tubes, which connect the trachea
to the lungs.
bronchoconstrictor
A substance that causes
the lung airways to tighten up and
become more narrow.
bronchodilator
A drug that widens the airways
in the lungs to improve breathing; works by relieving muscle contraction
or buildup of mucus.
bronchospasm
The temporary narrowing of
the airways in the lungs, either as a
result of muscle contraction or inflammation; may be caused by asthma, infection, lung disease, or an
allergic reaction.
bruise
See Contusion.
bruxism
An unaware clenching or
grinding of the teeth, usually during sleep.
bubonic
plague
A form of plague in which lymph nodes in the groin and armpit
swell.
bulimia
A disorder in which a
person eats large amounts of food then forces vomiting or uses laxatives
to prevent weight gain (called binging and purging).
bunion
A hard, fluid-filled pad
along the inside joint of the big toe; may be caused by wearing
high-heeled shoes or a genetically weak joint.
Burkitt's lymphoma
A cancer of lymph tissue
that most frequently occurs in the abdomen, the ovaries, and the bones
of the face; it is associated with malaria.
bursa
A fluid-filled sac that
cushions and reduces friction in certain parts of the body.
bursitis
Inflammation of a bursa due to
excessive pressure or friction, or from injury.
butterfly
bandage
A butterfly-shaped bandage
that can help close a minor cut for proper healing.
bypass
A surgical technique in
which the flow of blood or another body fluid is redirected around a
blockage.
