MOSBY’S POCKET DICTIONARY
of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions
Editor
Marie T. O’Toole, EdD, RN, FAAN
Senior Associate Dean & Professor
School of Nursing—Camden
Rutgers University Camden, New Jersey
3251 Riverport Lane
St. Louis, Missouri 63043
MOSBY’S POCKET DICTIONARY OF MEDICINE, NURSING & HEALTH PROFESSIONS, EIGHTH EDITION
Copyright © 2017 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-323-41432-6
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Notices
Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treatment may become necessary.
Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.
With respect to any drug or pharmaceutical products identified, readers are advised to check the most current information provided (i) on procedures featured or (ii) by the manufacturer of each product to be administered, to verify the recommended dose or formula, the method and duration of administration, and contraindications. It is the responsibility of practitioners, relying on their own experience and knowledge of their patients, to make diagnoses, to determine dosages and the best treatment for each individual patient, and to take all appropriate safety precautions.
To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or editors, assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein.
Previous editions copyrighted 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002, 1998, 1994, and 1990.
International Standard Book Number 978-0-323-41432-6
Content Strategist: Tamara Myers
Content Development Manager: Billie Sharp
Content Development Specialist: Sarah Vora
Publishing Services Manager: Jeff Patterson
Senior Project Manager: Jodi M. Willard
Design Direction: Paula Catalano
Cover Illustrations:
Diabetic retinopathy: (Goldman and Shafer, 2012)
Giemsa’s stain: (Conlon and Snydman, 2000)
Osteoarthritis: (Sueki and Bretcher, 2010)
Printed in the United States of America
Last digit is the print number: 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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EDITOR
Marie T. O’Toole, EdD, RN, FAAN
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Charles R.B. Beckmann, MD, MHPE
Anne Brittain, PhD, RT(R)(M)(QM), CPHQ, FASRT
Boyd H. Davis, PhD
Melodie Hull, RPN, MSC, MEd
Florence Lambolez, PhD
Janice Neil, PhD, RN, CNE
CONSULTANTS
Donna Adkins, PharmD, CGP, FASCP
Kassem Taha Al Sara, MD
Margaret E. Barnes, RN, MSN
Sarah Barnes, RN, DNP
Juliana Basko-Plluska, MD
Anuj Bhardwaj, MS
William O. Brant, MD, FACS, FECSM
Amanda Buckallew, PharmD
Karen Ann V. Cameron, PhD, OTD, MEd, OTR/L
Leslie Cantrell, BSDH, MSDH, PhD
Michele T. Cimino, MSN, RN
Jamie Collins, RDH, CDA
Richard J. Crowell Jr., DPT
Nancy Wilson Darland, RN, BC, MSN, CNS, APRN
Dominick DeMichele, MSEd, RT(R)(CT)
Susan Denham, EdD, OTR/L, CHT
Gautam J. Desai, DO, FACOFP
Kathy J. Dusthimer, RN, MSN, FNP-BC
Tammie Ferguson, MSN
Janet Fitts, RN, BSN, CEN, TNS, EMT-P
Marnita Guinn, AASN, BSN, MSN, PhD
Sandra Hertkorn
Alice Hildenbrand, RN, MSN, CNE
Marjorie “Meg” Holloway, MS, RN, APRN
Melissa Humfleet, EdS, MSN, RN
Kari Inda, PhD, OTR
Alireza Hamidian Jahromi, MD
Tamara Kear, PhD, RN, CNS, CNN
Amy Lankford, RN, MSN
Amanda Lorinc, MD
Christine M. Malik, BA, MFA
Laura Mallett, MSN
Nelly Mangarova, MD
Dan McGuire, PhD
Janis McMillan, RN, MSN, CNE
Cheryl Miller, MBA, HCM, BSEd
Anne Moscony, OTR/L, MA, CHT
Jane Clifford O’Brien, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Marcel Pop, PhD
Raymond Scarpa, DNP, APN, C, AOCN
Allan Schwartz, DDS, CRNA
Rachel Spiering, PhD
Frances Munet-Vilaro, PhD, RN
Mimi Myers, RDH, MAEd
Dawn Nelms, BS
Edmond F. O’Donnell, DVM
Krishan K. Pandey, PhD
Valinda Pearson, PhD, MS, BSN
Wendy Pentland, BSc (OT), MEd, PCC, PhD
Rosalynde Peterson, DNP, RN
Stephen M. Picca, MD
Kevin Pierce, MBA, NCBTMB
Nancy Powell, PhD, CNM, RNC-OB
Katherine Soss Prihoda, DNP, APN
Rhonda Priola, BA
David Rhode, PhD
Joseph William Robertson, DDS, BS
Krista Lee Rompolski, MS, PhD
Tyshaneka Saffold, BSN, MSN
Allan Schwartz, DDS, CRNA
Deborah Selm-Orr, BSN, MS, DNP
Sabine Marie Simmons, EdD, MSM, RHIA, CHOS, CPAR
Nicole Smirl, BS, BSN
Rachel Spiering, PhD
Jennifer Michelle Stevenson, MS
Matt Stewart, MD, PhD
Gary Thibodeau, PhD
Megan Varellas, MMSc, CAA
Anup Amit Vora, MD
Kajal Pandya Vora, FNP-C, MSN, APRN
Nirav Amit Vora, MD
Karen S. Ward, PhD, MSN
Patti Ward, RN, PhD
Paige Wimberley, BSN, MSN, PhD(c), APN, RNP, RN-CS, CNE
Nancee Wozney, RN, PhD
Nancy H. Wright, RN, BS, CNOR(R)
Alan H.B. Wu, PhD
Nicole Zeller, MSN, RN, CNE
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This edition is dedicated to my students—past, present, and future—who understand the importance of communication in a complex health care system and who inspire me;
To my colleagues, who understand the critical nature of using language appropriately to improve health care and who assist me; And to my understanding and patient family, who understand and support me.
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FOREWORD
The complexity and continuing evolution of health science vocabularies require that students and professionals alike have an affordable, compact, and thorough quick reference to the language of their fields. Mosby’s Pocket Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions provides students and practitioners of the health sciences with a succinct and portable abridgement of Mosby’s Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions, which has been used by hundreds of thousands of nurses, health professionals, and physicians in their education and practice. Mosby’s Pocket Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions was the first pocket dictionary to address the broad spectrum of health science terminology in the medical, nursing, and health professions.
To reflect new developments in many facets of health care, all new and former entries were reviewed by experts from disciplines spanning the spectrum of health science today. This extensive review process resulted in a revision that accurately reflects current knowledge and practice.
To assist our readers in recognizing alternate spellings, selected British spellings have been added where appropriate. In addition, we have provided a list of abbreviations commonly used in health care on the inside of the front and back covers.
The extensive vocabulary of the larger dictionary has been retained by restructuring and condensing its many encyclopedic entries while retaining the essential content of the definitions. The pocket dictionary shares a tradition of excellence with the parent dictionary, Mosby’s Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions, by providing a portable, usable reference for the clinical area. The user will continue to find many of the valuable features from our larger dictionary, including clear pronunciations and etymologies for thousands of terms.
Development of this eighth edition of Mosby’s Pocket Dictionary has taken the effort of many people. I appreciatively acknowledge the work of all who have participated. The valuable contributions by all who were involved in the parent work and in particular the authors whose works were consulted are also gratefully acknowledged. I have been involved with several dictionaries published by Elsevier. The care that is taken with the vocabulary of health care is admirable. In particular, the team that worked on this dictionary, led by Tamara Myers, is exemplary. Sarah Vora and Jodi Willard are enthusiastic colleagues with excellent attention to detail. I am grateful for their expertise and commitment to excellence. Babette Morgan has extraordinary skills in assisting in the presentation of complex topics in concise, meaningful entries. My colleagues and students at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, provide a rich and collaborative environment in which to explore vocabularies. I would like to acknowledge the contributions of all of my students, past and present, but in particular Steven Hale and Dzianis Sulkouski. The faculty and colleagues at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, are also resources that can be consistently depended upon for consultation and advice. Over the years, students and colleagues who use the language of health care to better understand or improve practice have been generous with suggestions. Those suggestions are incorporated.
The extremely positive response to the first seven editions leads me to believe that Mosby’s Pocket Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions will remain an eminently useful and usable resource. I welcome your comments and suggestions for improving future editions.
— Marie T. O’Toole, Editor
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Guide
/y/ yes
/z/ zeal
/zh/ azure, vision /kh/ as in (Scottish) loch /loch/; (German) Rorschach /rôr′ shokh/ /nyə/ Occurring at the end of French words, this symbol is not truly a separate syllable but an /n/ with a slight /y/ (similar to the sound in “onion”) plus a near-silent /ə/, as in Bois de Boulogne (boo/lō′ nyə/)
ACCENTS: Pronunciation is shown with primary and secondary accents. A raised dot shows that two vowels (or occasionally, two consonants) are pronounced separately.
Many of the numerous Latin terms in this dictionary are not given with pronunciation, mainly because there are different ways (all
of them understood) in which Latin is pronounced by the English speaker and may be pronounced by speakers elsewhere. However, guidance is given in many cases, often to reflect common usage.
LATIN AND GREEK PLURALS: The spelling of Latin and Greek plurals is shown in most instances. However, when the plural formation is regular according to Latin and Greek rules, the pronunciation is usually not included.
NOTE: Notwithstanding the listing of Latin and Greek plurals in this dictionary, and the rules of Latin and Greek pluralization, in most instances it is acceptable or even preferable to pluralize Latin and Greek words according to the rules of English words. (For certain kinds of entries, both the English and the foreign plurals are given in this dictionary, usually showing the English form first, as, for example, in nearly all-oma nouns: hematoma, pl. hematomas, hematomata.)
AÅ, symbol for angstrom, a unit for distance. 1Å = 10 10 m.
A68, symbol for a protein found in the brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
AA, 1. abbreviation for achievement age. 2. abbreviation for Alcoholics Anonymous. 3. abbreviation for amplitude of accommodation. 4. abbreviation for anesthesiologist assistant. 5. abbreviation for amino acid. 6. abbreviation for anterior apical. 7. abbreviation for aortic arch. 8. abbreviation for arm-ankle (pulse rate).
AAA, 1. abbreviation for American Association of Anatomists. 2. abbreviation for acquired aplastic anemia. 3. abbreviation for abdominal aortic aneurysm.
āa, aa, AA, (in prescriptions) indicating an equal amount of each ingredient to be compounded. Abbreviation for ana.
AAAAI, abbreviation for American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
AACE, 1. abbreviation for American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. 2. abbreviation for Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.
AACN, 1. abbreviation for American Association of Colleges of Nursing. 2. abbreviation for American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
AAFP, abbreviation for American Academy of Family Physicians.
AAI, abbreviation for ankle-arm index.
AAIN, abbreviation for American Association of Industrial Nurses.
AAL, abbreviation for anterior axillary line.
AAMC, abbreviation for American Association of Medical Colleges.
AAMI, abbreviation for Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation.
AAN, abbreviation for American Academy of Nursing.
AANA, abbreviation for American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
AAO–HNS, abbreviation for American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
AAOMS, abbreviation for American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
AAPA, abbreviation for American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Aaron’s sign /ˈ a-rəns ˈsīn/ [Charles D. Aaron, American physician, 1866–1951], a clinical sign in acute appendicitis indicated by referred pain or feeling of distress in the epigastric or precordial region when continuous firm pressure is applied over McBurney’s point.
AARP, a non-profit U.S. organization of older persons, who may or may not be retired, with the goal of improving the welfare of persons over 50 years of age. The AARP advocates for older individuals on legislative, consumer, education, and legal issues.
Aarskog’s syndrome /ärs′kog/ [Dagfinn Charles Aarskog, Norwegian pediatrician, 1928–2014], an X-linked syndrome characterized by wide-set eyes, nostrils that are tipped upward, a broad upper lip, a scrotal shawl, and small hands.
Aase’s syndrome /äz/ [Jon Morton Aase, American pediatrician, b. 1936], a familial syndrome characterized by mild delayed growth, hypoplastic anemia, heart defects, variable leukocytopenia, triphalangeal thumbs, narrow shoulders, and late closure of fontanels, and occasionally by cleft lip, cleft palate, retinopathy, and web neck. Autosomaldominant transmission has been suggested.
AAUP, abbreviation for American Association of University Professors.
AAV, abbreviation for adenoassociated virus.
Ab, abbreviation for antibody.
abacavir /a-BAK-a-vir/, an antiviral that is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor.
abacterial /ab′aktir″ē·əl/, any atmosphere or condition free of bacteria; literally, without bacteria.
Abadie’s sign /āb’ə-dēz’/, 1. [Jean Marie Charles Abadie, French physician, 1842–1932] spasm of the muscle that raises the upper eyelid, seen in patients with exophthalmic goiter. 2. [Jean Abadie, French physician, 1873–1934] loss of feeling in the Achilles tendon, associated with the progressive loss of deep tendon reflexes, as seen in diabetes mellitus or syphilis.
abaissement /ä′bāsmäN″/ [Fr, a lowering], 1. a falling or depressing. 2. (in ophthalmology) the displacement of a lens.
Ab amyloid 2
Ab amyloid, an abnormal peptide varying from 40 to 43 amino acids in length and found in aggregates in the cerebrovascular walls and the cores of the plaques in Alzheimer’s disease.
A band, in muscle tissue, the dark area between two I bands of a sarcomere. It is marked by partial overlapping of actin and myosin filaments and extends the entire length of the myosin filaments.
abandonment of care /əban″dənment/, (in law) wrongful cessation of the provision of care to a patient, usually by a physician or a nurse.
abapical /abap″əkəl/, opposite the apex. abarelix, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist used in the palliative treatment of prostate cancer.
abarognosis /aber′agnō″sis/ [Gk, a, not, baros, weight, gnosis, knowledge], an inability to judge or compare the weight of objects, particularly those held in the hand.
abarticular /ab′ärtik″yoolər/ [L, ab, away from, articulus, joint], 1. pertaining to a condition that does not affect a joint. 2. pertaining to a site or structure remote from a joint.
abarticular gout, extraarticular gout that affects structures other than joints, such as ligaments.
abarticulation /ab′ärtik′yəlā″shən/, 1. dislocation of a joint. 2. a synovial joint. abasia /əbā″zhə/ [Gk, a, basis, not step], the inability to walk, caused by lack of motor coordination. −abasic, abatic, adj.
abatacept, an antirheumatic agent used to treat acute or chronic rheumatoid arthritis that has not responded to other diseasemodifying agents.
abate /əbāt″/ [ME, abaten, to beat down], to decrease or reduce in severity or degree.
abatement /əbāt″mənt/, a decrease or lessening in severity of symptoms. −abate, v. abatic, pertaining to an inability to walk. abaxial /abak″sē·əl/ [L, ab, axis, from axle], 1. pertaining to a position outside the axis of a body or structure. 2. pertaining to a position at the opposite extremity of a structure.
Abbe-Estlander flap /ab″ē·est″landər/ [Robert Abbe, American surgeon, 1851–1928; Jakob A. Estlander, Finnish surgeon, 1831–1881], a surgical procedure that transfers a full-thickness section of one lip of the oral cavity to the other lip, using an arterial pedicle for ensuring survival of a graft.
Abbokinase, a plasminogen activator. Brand name for urokinase.
ABC, a mnemonic for airway, breathing, circulation or compression. Now known as CAB, for circulation, airway, breathing.
abciximab /ab-sik′si-mab/, a humanmurine monoclonal antibody Fab fragment that inhibits the aggregation of platelets, used in the prevention of thrombosis in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, administered by intravenous infusion.
Abdellah, Faye Glenn [b. 1919], a nursing theorist who introduced a typology of 21 nursing problems in 1960 in PatientCentered Approaches to Nursing. abdomen /ab″dəmən, abdō″mən/ [L, abdominis, belly], the portion of the body between the thorax and the pelvis. The abdominal cavity is lined by the peritoneum; contains the inferior portion of the esophagus, the stomach, the intestines, the liver, the spleen, the pancreas, and other organs; and is bounded by the diaphragm and the pelvic cavity. −abdominal, adj. abdominal adhesion /abdom″inəl/, the binding together of tissue surfaces of abdominal organs, usually involving the intestines and causing obstruction. The condition may be a response to surgery or result from trauma or chronic inflammation. The patient experiences abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and increased pulse rate. Surgery may be required. abdominal aorta, the portion of the descending aorta that passes from the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm into the abdomen, descending ventral to the vertebral column and ending at the fourth lumbar vertebra, where it divides into the two common iliac arteries. It supplies blood to abdominal structures such as the testes, ovaries, kidneys, and stomach. Its branches are the celiac, superior mesenteric, inferior mesenteric, middle suprarenal, renal, testicular, ovarian, inferior phrenic, lumbar, middle sacral, and common iliac arteries. abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), abnormal dilatation of the abdominal aorta, usually in an area of severe atherosclerosis. abdominal aortography, a radiographic study of the abdominal aorta after the introduction of a radiopaque contrast medium through a catheter. The catheter is usually inserted in the aorta through the femoral artery.
abdominal aponeurosis, the conjoined sheetlike tendons of the oblique and transverse muscles of the abdomen. abdominal arteries, the arteries that branch from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta to supply the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The celiac artery supplies the foregut, the superior mesenteric artery supplies the midgut, and the inferior mesenteric artery supplies the hindgut. abdominal binder, a bandage or elasticized wrap that is applied around the lower
abdominal breathing 3
part of the torso to support the abdominal musculature or to hold dressings in place. abdominal breathing, a pattern of inspiration and expiration in which most of the ventilatory work is done with the abdominal muscles. The contractile force of the abdomen is used to elevate the diaphragm. abdominal cavity, the space within the abdominal walls lying anterior to the vertebrae, between the diaphragm and the pelvic area, containing the liver, stomach, small intestine, colon, spleen, gallbladder, kidneys, and associated tissues and blood and lymphatic vessels, surrounded by the abdominal fascia.
abdominal decompression, 1. paracentesis or laparotomy to relieve the intraabdominal pressure associated with abdominal compartment syndrome. 2. an obsolete obstetric technique in which the abdomen was enclosed in a chamber that permitted surrounding pressure to be controlled during the first stage of labor.
abdominal examination, the physical assessment of a patient’s abdomen by visual inspection and the use of auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Visual inspection of the normally oval shape of the abdominal surface while the patient is supine may reveal abnormal surface features indicating effects of disease, surgery, or injury. Subsurface tumors, fluid accumulation, or hypertrophy of the liver or spleen may be observed as an abnormal surface feature. Auscultation may reveal vascular sounds that provide information about arterial disorders such as aortic aneurysms and bowel sounds that indicate intestinal function. In pregnancy, auscultation can detect fetal heartbeat and blood circulation in the placenta. Percussion helps to detect the condition of internal organs. Palpation is used to detect areas of tenderness or rigidity, muscle tone and skin condition, and shapes and sizes of subsurface organs or masses.
abdominal fascia, an inclusive term for the fascia that forms part of the general layer lining the walls of the abdominal cavity and surrounding the abdominal organs.
abdominal fistula, an abnormal passage or tract leading from an abdominal organ to the external surface of the abdomen.
abdominalgia /abdom′ənal″jə/ [L, abdomen, belly; Gk, algos, pain], a pain in the abdomen.
abdominal girth, the circumference of the abdomen, usually measured at the umbilicus.
abdominal hernia, a hernia in which a loop of bowel protrudes through a defect in or weakened portion of the abdominal musculature, often through the site of an old surgical scar or abdominal trauma.
abdominal pregnancy
abdominal hysterectomy, a surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed through an incision in the abdominal wall.
abdominal inguinal ring, an opening of the inguinal canal on the abdominal wall, through which the male spermatic cord or the female round ligament pass.
abdominal nephrectomy [L, abdominis, belly; Gk, nephr, kidney, ektomē, cutting out], the surgical removal of a kidney or kidneys through an abdominal incision. abdominal nerves, the network of nerve fibers passing through the posterior abdominal region anterolateral to the lumbar vertebral bodies, including the sympathetic trunks and associated splanchnic nerves, the abdominal prevertebral plexus and ganglia, and the lumbar plexus.
abdominal pain, acute or chronic, localized or diffuse pain in the abdominal cavity. Abdominal pain is a significant symptom because its cause may require immediate surgical or medical intervention. The most common causes of severe abdominal pain are inflammation, perforation of an intraabdominal structure, circulatory obstruction, intestinal or ureteral obstruction, intestinal cramping, or rupture of an organ located within the abdomen. Specific conditions include appendicitis, perforated peptic ulcer, strangulated hernia, superior mesenteric arterial thrombosis, diverticulitis, and small and large bowel obstruction. Gynecologic causes that may require surgery include PID, ruptured ovarian cyst, and ectopic pregnancy. Abdominal pain associated with pregnancy may be caused by the weight of the enlarged uterus; rotation, stretching, or compression of the round ligament; or squeezing or displacement of the bowel. In addition, uterine contractions associated with preterm labor may produce severe abdominal pain. Chronic abdominal pain may be functional or may result from overeating or aerophagy. When symptoms are recurrent, an organic cause is considered. Organic sources include peptic ulcer, hiatal hernia, gastritis, chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic carcinoma, chronic diverticulitis, intermittent low-grade intestinal obstruction, and functional indigestion. Some systemic conditions may cause abdominal pain.
abdominal paracentesis [L, abdominis, belly; Gk, para, near, kentesis, puncturing], a surgical procedure in which there is a puncture of the abdominal cavity for the removal of fluid for diagnosis or treatment.
abdominal pregnancy, an extrauterine pregnancy in which the conceptus develops in the abdominal cavity after being extruded from the fimbriated end of the fallopian tube
abdominal pressure 4 abdominoperineal or through a defect in the tube or uterus. The placenta may implant on the abdominal or visceral peritoneum. Abdominal pregnancy may be suspected when the abdomen has enlarged but the uterus has remained small for the length of gestation.
abdominal pressure, a sensation or application of pressure surrounding structures within the abdomen.
abdominal prevertebral plexus, the network of nerve fibers surrounding the abdominal aorta. It extends from the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm to the bifurcation of the aorta into the right and left common iliac arteries. Along its route, it is subdivided into the celiac plexus, the abdominal aortic plexus, and the superior hypogastric plexus. abdominal pulse, the rhythmic transmission of blood turbulence in the abdominal aorta.
abdominal quadrant, any of four topographic areas of the abdomen divided by two imaginary lines, one vertical and one horizontal, intersecting at the umbilicus. The divisions are the left upper quadrant (LUQ), the left lower quadrant (LLQ), the right upper quadrant (RUQ), and the right lower quadrant (RLQ).
abdominal reflex, a superficial neurological reflex obtained by firmly stroking the skin of the abdomen around the umbilicus. It normally results in a brisk contraction of abdominal muscles in which the umbilicus moves toward the site of the stimulus. This reflex is often lost in diseases of the pyramidal tract and can also be lost with age or abdominal surgery.
abdominal regions, the nine topographic subdivisions of the abdomen, determined by four imaginary lines imposed over the anterior surface in a tic-tac-toe pattern. The upper horizontal line passes along the level of the cartilages of the ninth rib, the lower along the iliac crests. The two vertical lines extend on each side of the body from the cartilage of the eighth rib to the center of the inguinal ligament. The lines divide the abdomen into three upper, three middle, and three lower zones: right hypochondriac, epigastric, and left hypochondriac regions (upper zones); right lateral (lumbar), umbilical, and left lateral (lumbar) regions (middle zones); right inguinal (iliac), pubic (hypogastric), and left inguinal (iliac) regions (lower zones).
abdominal salpingectomy, removal of the fallopian tube or tubes through a surgical incision in the abdomen.
abdominal splinting, a tensing or tightening of the abdominal wall muscles, usually occurring as an involuntary reaction to the pain of a visceral disease or disorder or to postoperative discomfort.
abdominal sponge, a special type of gauze pad used as an absorbent and sterile covering for the viscera.
abdominal surgery, any one of a number of procedures that involve the surgical management of the abdomen or abdominal organs. An open procedure requires a surgical incision that is closed with staples or sutures. Laparoscopic and robotic procedures require small incisions in which instruments are placed through long, hollow tubes attached to a camera.
abdominal testis, an undescended testicle located in the abdominal cavity that has not moved into its normal location in the scrotum.
abdominal thrust, quick, hard movements directed inward and upward toward the diaphragm to assist an adult to expel foreign objects in the airway.
abdominal ultrasound test, a diagnostic study that provides accurate visualization of the abdominal aorta, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, biliary ducts, kidneys, ureters, and bladder. This test is used to diagnose and locate cysts, tumors, calculi, and malformations; to document the progression of various diseases; and to guide the insertion of instruments during surgical procedures.
abdominal viscera, the internal organs enclosed within the abdominal cavity, including the stomach, liver, intestines, spleen, pancreas, and components of the urinary and reproductive tracts.
abdominal wall, the boundaries of the abdominal cavity that enclose the abdominal cavity and the viscera within. It is multilayered, beginning superficially with skin, followed by subcutaneous tissue and fat, superficial fascia, abdominal musculature and fascia, and most deep, the peritoneum.
abdominal wound, a break in the continuity of the abdominal wall. A wound that exposes or penetrates the viscera raises the danger of infection or peritonitis.
abdominocardiac reflex /-kär″dē·ək/, an immediate, involuntary response of the heart to stimulation of the abdominal viscera. The reflex is mediated through the vagus nerve.
abdominogenital /-jen″itəl/, pertaining to the abdomen and reproductive system.
abdominopelvic cavity /-pel″vik/, the space between the diaphragm and the pelvis. There is no structurally distinct separation between the abdomen and pelvic regions.
abdominoperineal /-per′inē″əl/, pertaining to the abdomen and the perineum, including the pelvic area, female vulva and anus, and male scrotum and anus.
abdominoplasty, a surgical procedure that removes excess fat and skin and tightens the abdominal muscles to create a smoother abdominal profile.
abdominoscopy /abdom′inos″kəpē/ [L, abdomen; Gk, skopein, to view], a procedure for examining the contents of the peritoneum in which an electrically illuminated tubular device is passed through a trocar into the abdominal cavity.
abdominoscrotal /-skrō″təl/, pertaining to the abdomen and scrotum.
abdominothoracic arch /-thôras″ik/, the boundary between the thorax and the abdomen.
abdominovaginal /-vaj″inəl/, pertaining to the abdomen and vagina. abdominovesical /-ves″ikəl/, pertaining to the abdomen and bladder.
ABD pad, a gauze pad, ranging in size from 5 × 9 to 12 × 16, with a filler for absorbency of wound drainage. abducens muscle, the extraocular lateral rectus muscle that moves the eyeball outward.
abducens nerve [L, abducere, to take away], either of the paired sixth cranial nerves. It arises in the pons near the fourth ventricle, leaves the brainstem between the medulla oblongata and pons, and passes through the cavernous sinus and the superior orbital fissure. It controls the lateral rectus muscle, turning the eye outward. abducent /abdoo″sənt/ [L, drawing away], pertaining to a movement away from the median line of the body.
abduction [L, abducere, to take away], movement of a limb away from the midline or axis of the body. −abduct, v.
abduction boots, an orthopedic cast or orthotic for the lower extremities, available in both short- and long-leg configurations, with a bar incorporated at ankle level to provide hip abduction.
abductor /abduk″tər/ [L, abducere], a muscle that draws a body part away from the midline or axis of the body, or one part from another.
abductor digiti minimi of the foot, a muscle on the lateral side of the foot that abducts the little toe at the metatarsophalangeal joint. It is innervated by the lateral plantar branch of the tibial nerve.
abductor digiti minimi of the hand, a muscle that is the principal abductor of the little finger.
abductor hallucis, a muscle that forms the medial margin of the foot and contributes to a soft tissue bulge on the medial side of the sole. It abducts and flexes the great toe at the metatarsophalangeal joint and is innervated by the medial plantar branch of the tibial nerve.
abductor pollicis brevis, one of the three thenar muscles. It abducts the thumb, principally at the metacarpophalangeal joints.
abductor pollicis longus, a muscle that originates from the proximal posterior surfaces of the radius and ulna and from the related interosseous membrane. It forms a tendon that passes into the thumb and inserts on the lateral side of the base of the first metacarpal. Its major function is to abduct the thumb at the joint between the first metacarpal and trapezium bones.
abembryonic /ab′embrē·on″ik/, the area of a blastocyst opposite the early embryo. Abernethy’s sarcoma /ab″ərnē′thēz/ [John Abernethy, British surgeon, 1764–1831], a malignant neoplasm of fat cells, usually occurring on the trunk.
aberrant, moving away from the usual standard, deviating from the natural type. aberrant goiter, an enlargement of a supernumerary or ectopic thyroid gland. aberrant ventricular conduction (AVC), the temporary abnormal intraventricular conduction of a supraventricular impulse.
aberration /ab′ərā″shən/ [L, aberrare, to wander], 1. any departure from the usual course or normal condition. 2. abnormal growth or development. 3. (in psychology) an illogical and unreasonable thought or belief, often leading to an unsound mental state. 4. (in genetics) any change in the number or structure of the chromosomes. 5. (in optics) any imperfect image formation or blurring caused by unequal refraction or focalization of light rays through a lens. 6. (in botany and zoology) pertaining to an abnormal individual, such as certain atypical members of a species. −aberrant, adj. abetalipoproteinemia (ABL) /əbā′təlīp′ ōprō′tinē″mē·ə/ [Gk, a + beta, not beta, lipos, fat, proteios, first rank, haima, blood], a group of rare inherited disorders of fat metabolism, characterized by the absence of apoprotein β-100 and manifested by acanthocytosis, low or absent serum beta-lipoprotein levels, and hypocholesterolemia. In severe cases, steatorrhea, ataxia, nystagmus, motor incoordination, and retinitis pigmentosa occur. abeyance /əbā″əns/ [Fr], a temporary state of inaction or temporary interruption of function.
ABG, abbreviation for arterial blood gas. ABI, abbreviation for ankle-brachial index.
abient /ab″ē·ənt/ [L, abire, to go away], characterized by a tendency to move away from stimuli. −abience, n. ability /əbil″itē/, the capacity to act in a specified way because of the possession of
appropriate sensory, motor, and life skills coupled with the mental or physical fitness necessary to become proficient.
AbioCor, an implantable artificial heart device for patients with end-stage heart failure. It is normally powered by an external console or battery packs but also has an internal battery to power the pump for approximately 20 minutes when the external power supply is disconnected.
abiogenesis /ab′ē·ōjen″əsis/ [Gk, a + bios, not life, genein, to produce], the theory that life can originate from inorganic, inanimate matter. −abiogenetic, adj. abiosis /ab′ē·ō″sis/ [Gk, a + bios not life], a nonviable condition or a situation that is incompatible with life. −abiotic, adj. abiotrophy /ab′ē·ot″rəfē/ [Gk, a + bios + trophe nutrition, growth], degeneration or loss of function that is not due to any apparent injury. −abiotrophic, adj. ablastemic /ab′lastem″ik/, nongerminal or not germinating.
ablation /ablā″shən/ [L, ab + latus, carried away], 1. vaporization or an excision of any part of the body, or removal of a growth or harmful substance. 2. (in cardiology) a procedure used in the management of rapid or irregular rhythms in which cardiac tissue is destroyed. −ablate, v. ABLB test, abbreviation for alternate binaural loudness balance test.
ablepharia /ab′ləfer″ēə/, a defect or congenital absence of the eyelids (partial or total).
ablepsia /əblep″sē·ə/ [Gk, a + blepein, not to see], the condition of being blind. ABLS, abbreviation for advanced burn life support.
ablution /abloo″shən/ [L, abluere, wash away], 1. the act of washing or bathing. 2. the act of cleaning the body.
ABMS, abbreviation for American Board of Medical Specialties. abnerval current /abnur″vəl/ [L, ab, from; Gk, neuron, nerve], an electrical current that passes from a nerve to and through muscle.
abneural /abnoor″əl/, away from the central nervous system or the neural axis.
abnormal behavior /abnôr″məl/ [L, ab + norma, away from rule], behavior that deviates from what is commonly accepted by a group or society.
abnormality /ab′nôrmal″itē/ [L, ab + norma, away from rule], a condition that differs from the usual cultural or scientifically accepted standards.
abnormal psychology, the study of emotional/behavioral, mental, or neuropsychological disorders.
abnormal tooth mobility, excessive movement of a tooth within its alveolus
(socket) as a result of injury or disease in the supporting peridontium.
ABO blood group, a system for classifying human blood on the basis of the antigenic components of red blood cells (RBCs) and their corresponding antibodies. The ABO blood group is identified by the presence or absence of two different antigens, A and B, on the surface of the RBC. The four blood types in this grouping, A, B, AB, and O, are determined by and named for these antigens. aboiement /ä′bô·ämäN″/, an involuntary making of abnormal, animal-like sounds, such as barking. Aboiement may be a clinical sign of Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome. abort /əbôrt″/ [L, ab, away from, oriri, to be born], 1. (Nontechnical) to deliver a nonviable fetus; to miscarry. 2. to terminate a pregnancy before the fetus has developed enough to be viable. 3. to terminate in the early stages or to discontinue before completion, as to arrest the usual course of a disease, to stop growth and development, or to halt a project.
abortifacient /əbôr′tifā″shənt/, 1. causing abortion. 2. an agent or medication that causes abortion.
abortion /əbor″shən/ [L, ab + oriri], the spontaneous or induced termination of pregnancy before the fetus has developed to the stage of viability, before 20 weeks of gestation or when the fetus weighs less than 500 grams.
abortionist, a person performing elective and/or therapeutic terminations of pregnancy by surgical or medical means.
abortion on demand, removal by medical or surgical methods of a normally implanted intrauterine pregnancy at maternal request regardless of reason when no restrictive legal statutes prohibit the request.
abortive infection /əbôr″tiv/, an infection in which some or all viral components have been synthesized but no infective virus is produced. The situation may result from an infection with defective viruses or because the host cell is nonpermissive and prohibits replication of the particular virus.
abortus /əbôr″təs/, a fetus of less than 500 grams in weight.
abortus fever, a form of brucellosis caused by Brucella abortus, an organism so named because it causes abortion in cows. Humans can become infected through broken skin by direct contact with tissue, blood, urine, vaginal secretions, aborted fetuses, or placentas of infected animals or by ingestion of infected raw dairy products.
abouchement /ä′booshmäN″/ [Fr, a tube connection], the junction of a small blood vessel with a large blood vessel.
above-elbow (AE) amputation 7
above-elbow (AE) amputation, (Obsolete) historical terminology for an amputation of the upper limb between the elbow and the shoulder.
ABP, abbreviation for arterial blood pressure.
ABR, 1. abbreviation for auditory brainstem response. 2. abbreviation for absolute bed rest.
abrachia /əbrā″kē·ə/ [Gk, a + brachion, without arm], the absence of arms.
abrachial, adj.
abrasion /əbrā″zhən/ [L, abradere, to scrape off], a scraping or rubbing away of a surface, such as skin or teeth, by a substance or surface with a hardness greater than that of the tissue being scraped or rubbed away. −abrasive, adj., abrade, v.
abrasion arthroplasty, reshaping of a joint by using a small tool or burr to grind down the surface inducing bleeding and fibrocartilaginous repair tissue to form a new articular surface that serves as a better joint covering.
abrasive, a substance used for grinding or polishing a surface.
abreaction /ab′rē·ak″shən/ [L, ab, from, re, again, agere, to act], an emotional release resulting from mentally reliving or bringing into consciousness, through the process of catharsis, a long-repressed, painful experience. −abreact, v. abruption [L, ab, away from, rumpere, rupture], a sudden breaking off or tearing apart.
abruptio placentae [L, ab, away from, rumpere, to rupture], abnormal separation of a normally implanted intrauterine pregnancy. There are three types: complete (entire placenta separates), partial (part of placenta separates), marginal (separation limited to placental edge).
abscess /ab″səs/ [L, abscedere, to go away], 1. a cavity containing pus and surrounded by inflamed tissue, formed as a result of suppuration in a localized infection, characteristically caused by staphylococci but also caused by parasites and foreign substances. Healing usually occurs when an abscess drains, is incised, or is surgically removed. 2. an abscess that develops anywhere along the root length of a tooth.
abscissa /absis″ə/ [L, ab, away; scindere, to cut], the horizontal coordinate in a graph along which are plotted the units of one of the variables considered in the study, as time in a time-temperature study. abscission /absish″ən/ [L, abscinere, to cut away], the process of cutting away, as in corneal abscission, removal of the prominence of the cornea.
absconsio /abskon″shō/ [L, ab, away from, condo, hidden], a cavity or fossa. abscopal /abskō″pəl/, pertaining to the effect of irradiated tissue on remote tissue not exposed to radiation.
absence seizure, an epileptic seizure characterized by a sudden, momentary loss of consciousness. Occasionally it is accompanied by minor myoclonus of the neck or upper extremities, frequent blinking, slight symmetric twitching of the face, or loss of tonus. Seizures usually occur many times a day without a warning aura and are most frequent in children and adolescents, especially at puberty. Children often outgrow them.
absenteeism /ab′səntē″izəm/, (for health or related reasons) absence from work, a location, or place where one is expected. The most common causes of absenteeism include influenza and occupationally related skin diseases, such as contact dermatitis from a latex allergy.
absent without leave (AWOL) /ā″wôl/ [L, absentia], a military term that is also used in the medical field to describe a patient who departs from a psychiatric, day-care, or medical facility without authorization.
abs feb, a rarely used, shortened form of a Latin phrase meaning “in the absence of fever.”
absolute /ab″səloot/, unconditional, unrestricted, or independent of arbitrary standards.
absolute agraphia [L, absolutus, set loose; Gk, a, not, graphein, to write], a complete inability to write caused by a central nervous system lesion. The person is unable to write even the letters of the alphabet.
absolute alcohol, a clear, colorless, highly hygroscopic liquid with a burning taste, containing at least 99.5% ethyl alcohol by volume.
absolute (A) temperature, temperature that is measured from a base of absolute zero on the Kelvin scale or the Rankine scale.
absolute bed rest [abbreviated ABR], restriction of a patient’s activities, either partially or completely. A person on absolute or strict bed rest must remain in bed at all times. Bed rest may be prescribed to maintain a pregnancy, in cases of severe pain associated with movement, or with orthopedic conditions in which it would be unsafe to be out of bed. It is associated with many hazards of immobility. Numerous research studies have demonstrated that bed rest is a greater stressor to the patient in many conditions than a less restrictive activity prescription would be.
absolute discharge [L, absolutus, set free], a final and complete termination of the patient’s relationship with a caregiving agency.
absolute glaucoma /ab′səloot/ [L, absolutus + Gk, cataract], complete blindness in which a glaucoma-induced increase in intraocular pressure results in permanent vision loss. The optic disc is white and deeply excavated, and the pupil is usually widely dilated and immobile. absolute growth, the total increase in size of an organism or a particular organ or part, such as the limbs, head, or trunk. absolute humidity, the actual mass or content of water in a measured volume of air. It is usually expressed in grams per cubic meter or pounds per cubic foot or cubic yard.
absolute neutrophil count (ANC), the number of neutrophils in a milliliter of blood. The ANC is a measure of a person’s immune status.
absolute threshold [L, absolutus, set loose; AS, therscold], 1. the lowest point at which a stimulus can be perceived. 2. pertaining to millivolts of electrical charge determined by ion fluctuations or movement across plasma membranes that result in nerve or muscle stimulation. absolute zero, the temperature at which all molecular activity except vibration ceases. It is a theoretical value derived by calculations and projections from experiments with the behavior of gases at extremely low temperatures. Absolute zero is estimated to be equal to −273° C or −460° F.
absorb, the act of reception or blending of space, situations, liquids, people’s emotions, or circumstances.
absorbable gauze /əbsôr″bəbəl/, a material produced from oxidized cellulose that can be absorbed. It is applied or sutured directly to tissue to stop bleeding. After a clot forms, the gauze turns into a gel. absorbable surgical suture [L, absorbere, to suck up; Gk, cheirourgos, surgery; L, sutura], a suture made from material that can be completely incorporated by the body, facilitating healing but eliminating the need for suture removal.
absorbance /əbsôr″bəns/, the degree of absorption of light or other radiant energy by a medium exposed to the energy. Absorbance varies with factors such as wavelength, solution concentration, and path length.
absorbed dose, the energy imparted by ionizing radiation per unit mass of irradiated material at the place of interest. The SI unit of absorbed dose is the gray (Gy); the non-SI (traditional) unit is referred to as
rad, radiation absorbed dose. 1 Gy equals 1 J/kg; and 1 Gy equals 100 rad.
absorbefacient /absôr′bifā″shənt/ [L, absorbere, to suck up, + facere, to make], 1. any agent that promotes or enhances the quality and ability to soak liquids more readily. 2. causing or enhancing absorption.
absorbent /absôr″bənt/ [L, absorbere, to suck up], 1. capable of attracting and incorporating substances into itself. 2. a product or substance that can absorb liquids or gases.
absorbent dressing, a clean or sterile covering applied to a wound or incision to suck secretions into itself. Kinds of absorbent dressings are Teflon-coated gauze squares, fluffed gauze, and abdominal bandages.
absorbent gauze, a fabric or pad with various forms, weights, and uses, primarily designed to take in fluid and/or excretions. It may be a rolled, single-layered fine fabric for spiral bandages, or it may be a thick, multilayered pad for a sterile pressure dressing. There may also be an adhesive backing.
absorption /absôrp″shən/ [L, absorptio], 1. the incorporation of matter by other matter through chemical, molecular, or physical action, such as the dissolution of a gas in a liquid or the taking up of a liquid by a porous solid. 2. (in physiology) the passage of nutrients and substances across and into tissues, such as the passage of digested food molecules into intestinal cells or the passage of liquids into kidney tubules. 3. (in radiology) the process of absorbing electromagnetic radiation in which a photon of energy is taken up by living or nonliving matter. absorb, v. absorption coefficient, the factor by which the intensity of electromagnetic energy decreases as it interacts with a unit thickness of an absorbing material. It is usually expressed per unit thickness. absorption rate constant, a value describing how much drug is absorbed per unit of time.
absorption spectrum, a plot of percent transmittance, absorbance, logarithm of absorbance, or absorptivity of a compound as a function of wavelength, wave number, or frequency of radiation.
absorptivity /ab′sôrptiv″itē/, absorbance at a particular wavelength divided by the product of the concentration of a substance and the sample path length.
abstinence /ab″stinəns/, voluntarily avoiding a substance, such as food or alcohol, or refraining from the performance of an act, such as sexual intercourse.
abstract /ab″strakt, abstrakt″/ [L, abstrahere, to drag away], 1. a condensed summary of a scientific article, literary piece, or address. 2. to collect data and extract files, including coding and billing information, from a medical record. 3. (in pharmacology) the base in which other components are mixed and dissolved. 4. difficult to understand because of lack of practicality. 5. the process of gathering theoretical information to develop ideas with reference to the main idea.
abstraction /abstrak″shən/ [L, abstrahere, to drag away], (in dentistry) a condition in which teeth or other maxillary and mandibular structures are inferior to their normal position, away from the occlusal plane.
abulia /əboo″lyə/ [Gk, a + boule, without will], a loss of the ability or a reduced capacity to exhibit initiative or to make decisions.
abuse /abyoos″/ [L, abuti, to waste, abusus, using up], 1. improper use of equipment, a substance, or a service, such as a drug or program, either intentionally or unintentionally. 2. Using words and/ or physical action to hurt, attack and do harm.
abused person [Fr, abuser, to disuse, L, persona, a role played], an individual who has been harmed or maltreated emotionally, verbally, sexually, or physically by another person or by a situation; a victim.
abutment /əbut″mənt/ [Fr, abouter to place end to end], a tooth, root, or implant that supports and provides retention for a fixed or removable dental prosthesis.
abutment tooth, a tooth selected to support a prosthesis.
ABVD, an anticancer drug combination of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine.
Ac, abbreviation for acetyl.
AC, 1. abbreviation for alternating current. 2. abbreviation for accommodative convergence.
a.c., (in prescriptions) denoting a Latin phrase meaning “before meals.”
A-C, abbreviation for alveolar capillary. acacia gum /ə-ˈkā-shə gəm/, a dried, gummy exudate of the acacia tree (Acacia senegal) used as a binding, suspending, or emulsifying agent in medicines.
academic ladder /ak′ədem″ik/ [Gk, akademeia, school], the hierarchy of faculty appointments in an academic setting (university, college, or community college) through which a faculty member advances from the rank of instructor to
assistant professor to associate professor to professor.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, an organization that advances the nutritional well-being of the American public. Membership is primarily registered dietitians.
acalculia /a′kalkoo″lyə/ [Gk, a, not; L, calculare, to reckon], the inability to perform simple mathematic calculations the patient previously knew. Commonly seen in neurological disorders, it is assessed by having a patient count forward or backward or do mental addition or subtraction.
acamprosate, an antialcoholic agent used for the maintenance of abstinence from alcohol.
acampsia /əkamp″sē·ə/ [Gk, a + kampsein, not to bend], a condition in which a joint is rigid.
acanthamebiasis /əkan′thəmēbī″əsis/, a potentially fatal meningoencephalitis infection caused by Acanthamoeba castellani, a free-living ameboflagellate. It is commonly acquired by swimming in water contaminated by the microorganism. Cleaning contact lenses in contaminated solution can also cause keratitis.
Acanthamoeba /əkan′thəmē″bə/, a genus of free-living ameboid protozoa typically found in moist soil and water. The organisms may enter the body through a break in the skin, causing a localized infection, or even through the nose or eyes, causing systemic infections of the lung, genitourinary system, brain, or CNS.
acanthesia /ak′anthē″zhə/, pinprick paresthesia; an abnormality of cutaneous sensory perception that causes a simple touch to be felt as a painful pinprick.
acanthiomeatal line /əkan′thē·ō′mē·ā″təl/, a hypothetical line extending from the external acoustic meatus to the acanthion. In dentistry, a full maxillary denture is constructed so that its occlusal plane is parallel with this line. The line is used for radiographic positioning of the skull.
acanthion, a craniometric point at the center of the base of the anterior nasal spine.
acanthocyte /əkan″thəsīt′/ [Gk, akantha + kytos, cell], an abnormal peripheral blood film erythrocyte with irregular spurlike projections. Predominant in abetalipoproteinemia; fewer occur in liver disease.
acanthocytosis /akan′thōsītō″sis/ [Gk, akantha + kytos + osis, condition], the presence of acanthocytes on a peripheral blood film.
acanthoid, resembling a spinous process. acanthoma /ak′anthō″mə/ [Gk, akantha + oma, tumor], hypertrophy that arises from the stratum spinosum and is localized
