Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «A»:
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Adoption medicine
Adoption medicine: Medicine for the adopted child, including pre-adoption counseling and evaluation based on a child's medical records as well as post-adoption consultations and, often, primary care of the adopted child.
The field of adoption medicine began to emerge toward the end of the 20th centu...
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ADR
ADR: Adverse drug reaction. See: Adverse reaction.....
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Adrenal cortex
Adrenal cortex: The outer portion of the adrenal gland located on top of each kidney. The adrenal cortex produces steroid hormones which regulate carbohydrate and fat metabolism and mineralocorticoid hormones which regulate salt and water balance in the body.
Underfunction of the adrenal cortex resu...
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Adrenal failure
Adrenal failure: A condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the adrenal hormones that control important functions such as blood pressure.
The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys. The adrenal is made up of an outer layer (the cortex) and an inner portion (the medulla). The ...
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Adrenal gland
Adrenal gland: One of a pair of small glands, each
of which sits on top of one of the kidneys. The adrenal is made up of
an outer wall (the cortex) and an inner portion (the medulla).
The adrenal glands produce hormones that help control the heart
rate, blood pressure, the way the body uses fo...
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Adrenal medulla
Adrenal medulla: The inner portion of adrenal gland. (The outer portion is the adrenal cortex).
The adrenal medulla makes epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Epinephrine is secreted in response to low blood levels of glucose as well as exercise and stress; it causes the brea...
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Adrenaline
Adrenaline: A substance produced by the medulla
(inside) of the adrenal gland, adrenaline (the official name in the British Pharmacopoeia)
is synonymous with epinephrine. Technically speaking, adrenaline is a sympathomimetic
catecholamine. It causes quickening of the heart beat, strengthens the forc...
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Adrenoleukodystrophy
Adrenoleukodystrophy: A rare genetic (inherited) disorder characterized by the breakdown or loss of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells in the brain and progressive dysfunction of the adrenal gland. Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is one of a group of genetic disorders called the leukodystrophies t...
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ADU
ADU: Accessory dwelling unit....
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Adult acne
Adult acne: Popular name for rosacea. For more information, see: Rosacea....
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Adult ADHD
Adult ADHD: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as found
in the adult population. ADHD is a well-known childhood disorder that is
characterized by varying degrees of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or
inattention that lead to difficulty in academic, emotional, and social
functioning....
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Adult primary liver cancer
Adult primary liver cancer: A tumor in which the cancer starts during adulthood in cells in the liver. Also called hepatocellular carcinoma.
Primary liver cancer is different from cancer that has metastasized (spread) from another place in the body to the liver.
The signs and symptoms may inclu...
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Adult respiratory distress syndrome
Adult respiratory distress syndrome: Better known as ARDS. See:
ARDS....
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Adult T-cell leukemia
Adult T-cell leukemia: Abbreviated ATL. A malignancy of mature T lymphocytes (T cells) with its onset in adulthood caused by infection with the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) and characterized by circulating malignant T-lymphocytes, skin lesions, lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes), hepatosple...
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Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma
Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma: See: Adult T-cell leukemia....
