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walleye
A condition in which one
eye turns outward.
wart
A contagious, harmless
growth caused by a virus that occurs on the skin or a mucous membrane.
Weber's
test
A test in which a
vibrating tuning fork is held against the forehead to help determine the
cause of hearing loss.
Wegener's granulomatosis
A disorder in which
nodules associated with inflammation of blood vessels develop in the
lungs, kidneys, and nasal passageways.
weight-bearing exercise
Exercise that puts stress
on bones, such as walking, which helps build up bone density and prevent
the bones from becoming brittle.
Wernicke's encephalopathy
A brain disorder
characterized by abnormal eye movements, difficulties with muscle
coordination, and confusion; usually the result of chronic alcoholism.
wheeze
A high-pitched sound
produced during breathing because of narrowing of the airways;
common sign of asthma.
whiplash
injury
Injury to the ligaments, joints, and soft tissues
of the neck region of the spine because of a sudden, violent jerking
motion of the head.
whipple's
disease
A rare disorder that has
widespread effects on the body, including impaired absorption of nutrients, weight loss, joint pain,
and anemia.
whipworm
A small, parasitic worm
that can live in the intestines
of a human and may cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and anemia.
white blood cell
A group of colorless blood
cells that are part of the immune system, helping prevent
and fight infection.
white
blood cell count
The number of white blood
cells present in a blood sample; useful in diagnosing and evaluating
various diseases and infections.
whitehead
A painless, small, white
bump; usually occurs in groups on the nose, cheeks, or around the eyes.
whitlow
An abscess on the end of a finger or a
toe that is caused by the herpes
simplex virus or a bacterial infection.
whooping
cough
See pertussis.
Wilm's
tumor
A type of kidney cancer that usually affects children
under the age of 5.
Wilson's
disease
A rare genetic disorder in which
copper builds up in the liver and is released into other parts of the
body, eventually causing damage to the liver
and brain.
withdrawal bleeding
Bleeding from the vagina
that occurs when hormone levels
drop, such as menstruation or
the bleeding that occurs at the end of each cycle of the combined oral contraceptive pill.
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