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saccharides
A group of carbohydrates, including sugars
and starches.
sacroiliac joints
The pair of joints located
in the pelvis between the sacrum
and the hipbones.
sacroiliitis
Inflammation of the sacroiliac
joints, which causes pain in the lower body.
sacrum
The triangular bone
located at the bottom of the spine that is connected to the tailbone,
the hipbones near the sacroilial
joints, and the rest of the spine.
SADS
See seasonal
affective disorder syndrome.
safe
sex
Measures taken to reduce
the risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease, such as the use of
a condom.
saline
A salt solution or any
substance that contains salt.
salivary glands
A group of glands
that secrete saliva into the mouth.
salmonella
A group of bacteria;
includes a species that causes food poisoning and another responsible
for typhoid fever.
salmonellosis
Infection by salmonella bacteria.
salpingectomy
Surgical removal of one or
both fallopian tubes.
salpingitis
Inflammation of a fallopian tube.
salpingography
X-ray examination of the fallopian tubes.
salpingolysis
Removal of abnormal scar
tissue between a fallopian tube
and nearby tissue.
salpingo-oophorectomy
The surgical removal of
one or both of the fallopian tubes and one or both
of the ovaries.
salpingostomy
Surgical opening of a fallopian tube for drainage or
removal of an obstruction.
sarcoidosis
A rare disease with no
known cause that leads to inflammation in tissues
throughout the body, including the lymph
nodes, lungs, liver, skin, and
eyes.
sarcoma
A cancer
in connective tissue, fibrous tissue, or blood vessels.
saturated
fat
Fats that contain the
maximum amount of hydrogen possible, such as those found in meats and
dairy products; can contribute to coronary heart disease
and the development of some cancers.
saturday night palsy
Temporary paralysis of the arm after extended
pressure on a nerve in the armpit.
scabies
A highly contagious skin
disorder caused by a mite that burrows into the skin and produces an
intense, itchy rash.
scarlet
fever
An infectious childhood
disease, caused by a streptococcus bacteria, that leads to a sore
throat, fever, and rash.
schistosomiasis
Infestation by a parasitic
blood worm that can damage the liver, bladder, and intestines.
schizophrenia
A group of mental
disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, moods, and actions;
sufferers have a distorted sense of reality, and a split personality
(thoughts do not logically fit together).
Schönlein-Henoch purpura
Inflammation and leakage
of blood vessels, causing a rash.
sciatica
Pain along the sciatic
nerve, which runs down the length of the leg to the foot; usually caused
by pressure on the nerve due to disk
prolapse or a tumor, abscess, or blood clot.
sclera
The tough, white coating
that covers and protects the inner structures of the eye.
scleroderma
An immune system disorder of
varying degree that can affect many areas of the body.
sclerotherapy
Treatment of varicose veins by injection of
a solution that destroys them.
scoliosis
A condition in which the
spine curves to one side and usually curves toward the opposite side in
another section to compensate, producing a characteristic S shape.
screening
The testing of an
otherwise healthy person in order to diagnose disorders at an early
stage.
scrotum
The sac containing the testicles.
scurvy
A disease caused by a lack
of vitamin C, characterized by
weakness, bleeding and pain in joints and muscles, bleeding gums, and
abnormal bone and tooth growth.
seasonal
affective disorder syndrome
A type of depression that seems to be linked
to shorter periods of daylight during the fall and winter.
sebaceous
cyst
A swelling that occurs
under the skin, most commonly on the scalp, face, ears, and genitals;
although usually harmless, can grow very large and become painful if
infected.
seborrhea
Excessive oiliness of the
face and scalp.
sebum
The oily, lubricating
substance that is secreted by glands in the skin.
secondary
Describes a disease or
disorder that follows or is caused by another one.
sedatives
A group of drugs that have
a calming effect; used to treat anxiety and pain, bring on sleep, and
help relax a person before surgery.
seizure
Sudden uncontrolled waves
of electrical activity in the brain, causing involuntary movement or
loss of consciousness.
selenium
An element needed by the
body only in very small amounts that helps maintain tissue elasticity.
semen
Fluid released during
ejaculation that contains sperm along
with fluids produced by the prostate gland and the seminal vesicles.
semen
analysis
A procedure in which a
semen sample is examined to determine the amount of sperm present, along
with their shape and ability to move; commonly used in the treatment of
male infertility.
seminal vesicles
Two saclike glands
in men that produce part of the fluid in semen.
seminiferous tubules
Coiled tubes inside of the
testicle that are the site of
sperm production.
seminoma
A type of testicular cancer that is made up of only a
single type of cell.
senile
plaques
Abnormal deposits of a
protein called amyloid in the brain; characteristic of Alzheimer disease.
sensorineural hearing loss
Deafness caused by damage
to the inner ear or the nerve that conducts signals from the ear to the
brain.
sensory
nerve
Nerves that carry
information about the body’s senses toward the brain.
sensory
organ
An organ that receives and
relays information about the body’s senses to the brain.
sepsis
The infection of a wound
or tissue with bacteria, causing the spread of the bacteria into the
bloodstream; now also known as systemic inflammatory
response syndrome caused by a microbe.
septal
defect
A birth defect in which a hole is
present in the wall that separates the left and right sides of the
heart.
septic
arthritis
Joint inflammation caused
by a bacterial infection.
septicemia
A life-threatening
condition in which bacteria multiply in the blood and produce toxic
materials; commonly known as blood poisoning; now also known as systemic
inflammatory response syndrome..
septic
shock
A life-threatening
condition in which tissues become damaged and blood pressure drops due to
bacteria multiplying and producing poisons in the blood.
serotonin
A chemical that transmits nerve impulses in the brain, causes
blood vessels to constrict (narrow) at sites of bleeding, and stimulates
smooth muscle movement in the intestines.
serum
The clear, watery fluid
that separates from clotted blood.
sex chromosomes
The X and Y chromosomes
that determine a person’s gender; women normally have two X
chromosomes and men normally have one X and one Y.
sex hormones
Hormones responsible for producing
sex characteristics and controlling sexual functions.
sex-linked disorder
A disorder that is caused
by genes located on the sex chromosomes.
sexually
transmitted disease
Infections that are most
commonly spread through sexual intercourse or genital contact.
shigellosis
A bacterial infection of the intestines, causing abdominal pain
and diarrhea.
shingles
A nerve infection
caused by the chickenpox virus,
causing areas of painful rash covered with blisters.
shin
splints
Pain and tenderness
experienced in the lower leg as a result of damage or strain to leg
muscles and tendons; usually caused
by exercise.
shock
A reduced flow of blood
throughout the body, usually caused by severe bleeding or a weak heart;
without treatment, can lead to a collapse, coma, and death.
shunt
An artificially
constructed or an abnormal passage connecting two usually separate
structures in the body.
sickle cell anemia
A genetic disorder in which
the red blood cells are
abnormal and deformed, causing anemia (reduced ability to transport oxygen in the blood) and clogging of
blood vessels; bouts of fever, headache, and weakness result.
sickle
cell trait
A less serious form of sickle cell anemia.
sick sinus syndrome
Abnormal functioning of
the structure that regulates the heartbeat, causing episodes of abnormal
heart rhythm.
SIDS
See sudden
infant death syndrome.
sigmoidoscopy
An examination of the rectum
and the lowest part of the large
intestine using a flexible viewing tube inserted through the anus.
silicone
A group of compounds of
silicon and oxygen; commonly used as implants in cosmetic surgery
because they resist body fluids and are not rejected by the body.
silicosis
A respiratory disease
caused by inhalation of dust containing the mineral silica.
single
photon emission computed tomography
An imaging technique in
which a radioactive substance is introduced into the body and the radiation
emitted by the substance is detected by a camera and is transformed into
cross-sectional images by a computer.
sinoatrial
node
The structure that
regulates the heartbeat; a natural "pacemaker".
sinus
A cavity within bone or a
channel that contains blood; also refers to an abnormal tract in the
body.
sinus
bradycardia
A regular heart rate of
less than 60 beats per minute.
sinusitis
Inflammation of the lining of
the cavities in the bone surrounding the nose (the sinuses), usually as
a result of a bacterial infection
spreading from the nose .
sinus
rhythm
Normal heart rhythm.
sinus
tachycardia
A regular heart rate of
over 100 beats per minute.
Sjögren's syndrome
A condition characterized
by dryness of the eyes, mouth, and vagina
that tends to occur along with certain disorders of the immune system.
skin
graft
A method of treating
damaged or lost skin in which a piece of skin is taken from another area
of the body and transplanted in a damaged or missing section.
skin
patch
A sticky patch attached to
the surface of the skin that releases drugs into the bloodstream.
skin
patch test
A diagnostic test in which
different allergens are taped to
the skin to determine which causes an allergic reaction.
skin
prick test
A test performed to
determine a person’s sensitivity to a certain allergen by applying it to a small
needle and using that needle to pierce the skin.
skull
The bones that form the
framework of the head and enclose and protect the brain and other
sensory organs.
sleep
apnea
A condition in which
breathing stops for very short periods of time during sleep.
sleeping sickness
An infectious disease in
Africa spread by the bite of a tsetse fly that causes a fever and
weakness.
slipped
disk
The common term for disk prolapse.
small-cell
carcinoma
The most serious form of
lung cancer.
small intestine
The long tube running from
the stomach to the large intestine that is
involved in digestion of foods and absorption of nutrients.
smallpox
A highly contagious and
often fatal viral infection that has been completely
eradicated by immunization.
smear
A sample of cells spread across a glass slide to be
examined through a microscope.
sodium
A mineral
that plays a role in the body's water balance, heart rhythm, nerve
impulses, and muscle contraction; present in table salt (sodium
chloride).
sodium bicarbonate
A substance used as an antacid.
solar
plexus
The largest network of nerves in the body, located behind the
stomach.
somatic
Pertaining to the body.
spasm
An involuntary muscle
contraction; can sometimes be powerful and painful.
spasticity
Muscle stiffness caused by
an increase in contractions of the muscle fibers.
spastic paralysis
Spasticity
involving partial paralysis.
SPECT
See single
photon emission computed tomography.
speculum
An instrument that holds
an opening of the body open so that an examination can be performed or a
sample can be taken.
speech
therapy
Treatment to help someone
overcome a problem communicating verbally.
sperm
The male sex cell produced
in the testicles.
sperm
antibody
An antibody against sperm that can be
produced by a woman’s immune
system.
spermatocele
A harmless cyst
containing fluid and sperm that occurs in the tube through which sperm
travel from the testicles.
sperm
count
The amount of normally
functioning sperm per some unit of semen; used to
determine a man's fertility.
spermicide
A contraceptive substance
that kills sperm.
sphincter
A ring of muscle fibers
located around a naturally occurring passage or opening in the body that
opens and closes to regulate passage of substances.
sphygmomanometer
An instrument used to
measure blood pressure.
spider
nevus
A collection of dilated
(widened) capillaries on the
skin that creates a patch resembling a spider.
spina
bifida
A birth defect in which a section
of the baby's spine fails to develop completely, leaving the spinal cord exposed in that section.
spina bifida occulta
The least dangerous form
of spina bifida, in which bones in the spine
fail to close but there is no protrusion of the spinal
cord or its fluid cushion out of the body.
spinal
cord
A long tube of nerve
tissue inside the spinal column, running from the brain down the length
of the back inside of the spine.
spinal
fusion
The surgical joining of
two or more adjacent vertebrae
using bone fragments; used to help severe back pain or prevent damage to
the spinal cord.
spinal
tap
Another term for a lumbar puncture.
spine
The column of bones and cartilage
running along the midline of the back that surrounds and protects the spinal cord and supports the head.
spiral
fracture
A coiled break in a bone,
resembling a corkscrew.
spirometry
A test of lung condition;
a person breathes into a machine called a spirometer that measures the
volume of air exhaled.
spleen
An organ located in the
upper left abdomen behind the ribs that removes and destroys old red blood cells and helps fight infection.
splenectomy
Surgical removal of the spleen.
splint
A device that is used to
immobilize a part of the body.
splinter hemorrhage
A splinter-shaped area of
bleeding under a fingernail or toenail.
spondylitis
Inflammation of the joints
between the bones of the spine.
spondylolisthesis
The slipping of a vertebra in the spine
over the one below it.
spondylolysis
A disorder in which the
lower part of the spine is weakened by an
abnormally soft vertebra.
sporotrichosis
An infection with a fungus acquired through a skin wound;
causes an ulcer at the site of
infection and small, rounded masses of tissue near it.
sprain
The tearing or stretching
of the ligaments in a joint,
characterized by pain, swelling, and an inability to move the joint.
sprue
A digestive disorder in
which nutrients cannot be
properly absorbed from food, causing weakness and loss of weight.
sputum
Mucus and other material produced by
the lining of the respiratory tract; also called phlegm.
squamous cell carcinoma
A type of skin cancer
arising from flat cells of the epithelium;
can also affect the lungs, cervix,
and esophagus.
stapedectomy
Surgical removal of a
stapes (a sound-conducting bone in the middle ear) that cannot move to
transmit sound; performed to treat hearing loss caused by otosclerosis.
staphylococci
Common bacteria that cause
skin infections and a number of
other disorders.
status asthmaticus
A life-threatening asthma attack requiring immediate
treatment.
status epilepticus
A life-threatening
succession of epileptic seizures.
STD
See sexually
transmitted disease.
stein-Leventhal syndrome
See polycystic ovary
syndrome.
stem
cells
Cells that give rise to
the different types of blood cells.
stenosis
Narrowing of a body
passageway.
stent
A device used to hold
tissues in place, such as to support a skin graft.
stereotaxic surgery
Brain surgery done through
a small opening in the skull and guided by X-rays or computer-aided
imaging techniques.
sterilization
A surgery performed to
make a person incapable of reproducing; also refers to the process of
killing microorganisms on objects such
as surgical instruments.
sternum
The long, flat bone
located at the center of the chest.
steroids
A group of drugs that
includes corticosteroids, which
resemble hormones produced by the adrenal glands, and anabolic steroids, which are
similar to the hormones produced by the male sex organs.
stillbirth
A baby that is born dead
after the 28th week of pregnancy; also called late fetal
death.
stoma
A surgically formed
opening on a body surface.
stomach
bypass
A surgical procedure to
treat an obstructed stomach or severe obesity
in which the passage of food is diverted around the stomach and directly
into the small intestine.
stomach stapling
A procedure in which the
stomach is made smaller by partitioning it off using metal staples; used
as an extreme treatment of severe obesity.
stool
Another term for feces.
strabismus
A condition in which the
eyes are not aligned correctly, such as cross-eye (one eye points
inward) and walleye (one eye points outward).
straight-leg raising
A simple test performed in
a doctor’s office to check for disk
prolapse.
strain
Muscle damage resulting
from excessive stretching or forceful contraction.
strangulated hernia
A hernia in which the protruding organ
or tissue loses its blood supply, requiring emergency surgery.
strawberry
nevus
A bright red, raised birthmark that usually disappears
without treatment.
strep
throat
A throat infection
caused by streptococcus bacteria; characterized by a sore throat, fever,
and enlarged lymph nodes in the
neck.
streptococci
Bacteria that cause a
variety of diseases, including pneumonia
and strep throat.
stress
fracture
A bone break resulting
from repeated pressure on the bone.
stretch
marks
Lines on the skin that
occur when the inner skin layer is stretched thin and loses its
elasticity.
stroke
Damage to part of the
brain because of a lack of blood supply (due to a blockage in an artery)
or the rupturing of a blood vessel; leads to complete or partial loss of
function in the area of the body that is controlled by the damaged part
of the brain.
stye
A pus-filled abscess
in the follicle of an eyelash; caused by a bacterial infection.
subcutaneous
A medical term meaning
"beneath the skin".
submucosa
The layer of connective tissue under a mucous membrane.
suction
lipectomy
See liposuction.
sudden
infant death syndrome
The unexpected, sudden
death of an apparently healthy baby, the cause of which cannot be found;
also called crib death.
suppository
A solid cone or
bullet-shaped object made up of a chemically inactive substance and a
drug that is inserted into the rectum
or vagina; used to administer a
drug.
suppuration
The production of pus.
surfactant
A mixture of substances
secreted by the air sacs of the lungs that prevents the air sacs from
collapsing during exhalation.
surrogate
A woman who agrees to
become pregnant and give her baby to someone else when the child is
born.
suture
A surgical stitch that
helps close an incision or wound so that it can heal properly.
sweat
glands
Tiny structures in the
skin that secrete sweat.
sweat
test
A measure of the saltiness
of sweat to help diagnose cystic
fibrosis.
swimmer's
ear
See otitis externa.
sycosis
barbae
A bacterial infection of the hair follicles in
the beard area.
sympathetic nervous system
The part of the autonomic nervous system
that raises blood pressure
and heart rate in response to stress.
syndactyly
A condition in which
fingers or toes are fused together.
syndrome
A group of symptoms that
indicate a certain disorder when they occur together.
synovectomy
Surgical removal of the synovial membrane.
synovial
fluid
A lubricating fluid
secreted by the synovial membrane.
synovial membrane
The thin membrane that
lines the inside of a joint capsule.
synovitus
Inflammation of the membrane
lining a joint capsule as a result of injury or infection or due to a
chronic illness such as rheumatoid
arthritis; characterized by redness, swelling, stiffness, and pain.
syphilis
A sexually transmitted
disease; initially causes only painless sores on the genitals but
can be life-threatening if untreated.
systemic
Affecting the whole body.
systemic
inflammatory response syndrome
A condition characterized
by having two of the following four clinical criteria: fever, rapid
breathing, increased heart rate, and abnormal white blood cell count.
systemic lupus erythematosus
A disease of the immune system that causes
inflammation of connective
tissue in many areas of the body, including the skin, lungs, heart,
joints, and kidneys.
systolic
pressure
The blood pressure
measured while the heart is contracting.
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