Medical Terminology
A decrease in the amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. This leads to a decrease in the amount of oxygen getting to the cells. Symptoms include fatigue and palor.
Immature blood cells usually found only in the bone marrow.
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Lymphoblasts Myeloblasts
In leukemias, precursor cells such as blasts are often found in the peripheral blood. It is important to differentiate these cells to help determine the type of leukemia and treatment. Most of the time the blast type can be accurately predicted based on morphology alone. The key features are the chromatin pattern and the character of the cytoplasm. Lymphoblasts and myeloblasts generally have round to oval nuclei with nucleoli; however, the chromatin of lymphoblasts is coarse with a tendency to aggregate into masses. In contrast, myeloblasts have fine, delicate chromatin.
Special characteristics of the capillary walls of the brain that prevent potentially harmful substances from moving out of the bloodstream into the brain or cerebrospinal fluid.
The removal or destruction of the healthy mylin sheath surrounding nerve tissue.
Direct Antigen Test
The direct antigen test uses immunologic laboratory procedures to detect the prescence of an antigen (in this case a specific component of the bacterial cell), in the spinal fluid of the patient. This test method has several advantages: One, it is generally very specific as to the type of organism present. Two, it is rapid and greatly assists the physician in making a diagnosis, and hence prescribing the correct therapy. For a more detailed explanation, click here.
Secretion and passage of large amounts of urine.
Difficult or labored breathing.
Swelling caused by fluid retention in the tissues of the body
Endemic (as applied to diseases)
As it refers to microbiological diseases, when an organism persists in a large population in a subclinical (asymptomatic) state, it is said to be endemic to that area. As with hepatitis A, regions where food and drink may be contaminated with human feces, large numbers of people have a high potential for exposure. Some will develop symptoms and some will be carriers without symptoms.
An increase in the severity of a disease. An increase in the signs and symptoms of a disease. In asthma, an exacerbation is an asthma attack.
Blood that has accumulated inside a joint due to hemorrhage from injury.
Severe bleeding, either internally or externally.
A process whereby bleeding is stopped
An increased number of cells in any location but especially in the bone marrow.
An abnormal increase in the volume of circulating blood.
An immune system unable to respond to pathogens or tissue damage. This may be due to disease, immunosuppressive drugs, or a genetic disorder.
Infectious Disease
Although many complex
factors surround the definition of
infectious disease, some generalizations can
be made. An infection can be defined as a
state in which microorganisms, bacteria,
viruses, fungi and parasites, survive and
reproduce in the host's tissues. In many
instances no noticeable changes (or
symptoms) are apparent. When the organism
produces sufficient tissue damage through
many different mechanisms, the definition of
infectious disease then applies. As in
hepatitis, liver cells are invaded and damaged by the virus. Symptoms then result
and the cause can
be determined through clinical examination and laboratory
tests. Immature lymphocytes usually found only in
the bone marrow.
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The three
membranes that cover the brain and spinal
cord. The membranes consist of the dura
mater (external), arachnoid (middle), and
pia mater (internal).
Click to
Enlarge Knee flexion (flekshun) The act of
bending the knee, in contrast to the act of
extending the knee. Surgical fixation of a testicle, usually to move an undescended testicle into the scrotum. The enlargement
of visceral organs.
The functional tissue of an organ Small, round to
oval discs (2-4 um) found in the blood.
Platelets respond to injuries to the vessel
wall by adhering to the injured site and
forming a plug. This platelet plug
initiates the clotting process which forms a
fibrin clot. An infection
that occurs when fluid and cells collect in
the lungs. Pneumonia can be caused by
bacteria, viruses, and other pathogenic
organisms. It can also be caused by
chemicals or other irritants. A thick
whitish-yellow fluid which results from the
accumulation of white blood cells (WBCs),
liquefied tissue and cellular debris. Pus is
commonly a site of infection or foreign
material in the body. Tiny red spots
in the skin which do not blanch when pressed
upon. They result from red blood leaking
from capillaries. Disappearance of
the signs and symptoms of cancer or other
disease. When this happens, the disease is
said to be "in remission." A remission can
be temporary or permanent. Rapid breathing. 12-20 breaths/minute is normal in an adult. Tachypnea is a faster than normal respiratory rate. Heart rate that is faster than normal. Generally, a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute is considered as tachycardia. A decrease in the number of thrombocytes (platelets) in the blood which may lead to bleeding, bruising, and decreased clotting time. In basic
terms, clearance tests measure the overall
effectiveness of the collective efforts of
the kidney to excrete waste products.
Several substances such as creatinine and a sugar polymer
called insulin can be used to measure the
kidney's clearance capacity. The test
measures the volume of plasma that is
cleared of the test substance per unit of
time, usually in milliliters per minute over
a 24 hour period. In this patient's case,
the test will be performed at least twice:
the first at the beginning of her hospital
stay as a baseline. Then again in the
recovery period to give the nephrologist
evidence the kidneys are regaining their
normal functional duties. Upper lobe infiltrate A penetration of infectious material in the
superior (upper) division (lobe) of the
lung. The distal position of a body part that is
bent outward. The distal position of a body part that is
bent inward.
