| Term |
Description |
| Abcess |
An inflamed cavity in the
tissue where pus accumulates. |
| Absorption |
The movement of a substance
from the site of administration into the bloodstream. |
| Accommodation |
The ability of the bladder
wall to stretch as the bladder fills. |
| Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIDS |
A syndrome caused by infection
by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). |
| Acquired immunity |
Mechanisms that an individual
develops after birth that defend against foreign substances. |
| Acute |
Short-lived. |
| Adjuvant |
Assisting in the prevention,
improvement, or cure of disease. |
| Adrenaline (epinephrine) |
A substance released into
the bloodstream by the adrenal glands that cause the heart to beat
faster. |
| Adverse event |
Any negative medical occurrence
in a patient which does not necessarily relate to treatment. |
| Aerobic |
Using oxygen for metabolism.
|
| Aerosol |
Fine particles dispersed
in a gas or air. |
| Affective disorder |
A mood disorder. |
| Afferent |
Towards the centre. |
| Agent |
A force or substance that
causes a change. |
| Air hunger |
Sensation of breathlessness
or suffocation; common sensation experienced by asthma patients. |
| Alimentary |
Related to food or nourishment.
|
| Alimentary canal |
The passageway from the mouth
to the anus. |
| Alkaline |
The opposite of acid. |
| Allergen |
A trigger that induces the
immune response. |
| Allergic reaction |
The process by which a substance
triggers an immune response. |
| Allergist |
A physician who treats allergic
diseases. |
| Allergy |
A general term describing
the immune response to certain substances, which leads to inflammation
and the other effects common to this affliction. |
| Alveoli |
Bubble-like air sacs in the
lungs. |
| Anaemia Anemia |
A lack of oxygen in the blood
due to a shortage of red blood cells. Results in fatigue and breathlessness.
|
| Anaerobic |
Not using oxygen for metabolism.
|
| Anaesthesia Anesthesia |
1. Total or partial loss
of sensation. 2. A drug given to cause same. |
| Analgesic |
A medication that relieves
pain. |
| Anergy |
Lack of energy. |
| Aneurysm |
An expansion or bulging of
an artery wall due to thinning of the wall. |
| Anorexia |
Diminished appetite or aversion
to food. |
| Anoxia |
Reduced oxygen levels in
the tissues. |
| Anterior |
Situated nearer to the front
part of the body. |
| Anthrax |
An infectious disease caused
by the spore-forming bacterium bacillus anthracis. It can occur in
three forms. |
| Antibiotics |
Anti-bacterial drugs. |
| Antibodies Antibody |
A protein that is involved
in the destruction of disease-causing agents. The human body is capable
of generating over a trillion different antibodies. |
| Antigen |
Any substance capable of
stimulating the production of antibodies. |
| Aorta |
The main artery supplying
oxygen-rich blood to the body; largest artery in the body. |
| Apnea Apnoea |
Temporary cessation of breathing.
|
| Areola |
The pigmented area surrounding
the nipple. |
| Arrhythmia |
Abnormal heart rhythm. |
| Artery |
Any of the blood vessels
that carry blood away from the heart. |
| Asthma |
A respiratory condition characterised
by difficulty in breathing, constriction in the chest and often coughing
or gasping. |
| Atria |
The first chamber on either
side of the heart which receives blood from the veins. |
| Atypia |
An abnormality of a cell.
|
| Aura |
The second stage of a migraine.
Symptoms include visual disturbances, speech problems, numbness or
tingling on one side. |
| Autonomic |
The part of the nervous system
responsible for the control of automatic bodily functions. |
| Axon |
The primary fibre of a nerve
cell; the axon is the main route of transmission of impulses along
a nerve. |
