Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «A»:
-
Abiotrophy
Abiotrophy: Loss of function or degeneration for
reasons unknown. For example, cerebellar abiotrophy may affect coordination while cone-rod abiotrophy may cause blindness at birth....
-
Ablate
Ablate: To remove. A tumor may be ablated.
To ablate the thyroid gland is to
remove it. The word "ablation" came from the Latin "ablatum"
meaning to carry away.
In 1671 the ablation (removal) of a disease was
a
matter for
consideration. But by 1846 "ablation" had taken on a specifically
sur...
-
Ablation
Ablation:
Removal or excision. Ablation is usually
carried out surgically. For example, surgical removal of the thyroid
gland (a total
thyroidectomy) is ablation of the thyroid. The word ablation comes
from the Latin ablatum
meaning to carry away.
Historically, the word ablation once
had mainly a...
-
Ablation, endometrial
Ablation, endometrial: Removal of the lining of the womb. Removing the uterine lining decreases menstrual flow or stops it completely.
Ablation means removal or excision, usually surgically. The word comes from the Latin ablatum meaning to carry away.
The endometrium is the inner layer of the uterus...
-
Abnormal
Abnormal: Not normal. Deviating from the usual structure, position, condition, or behavior. In referring to a growth, abnormal may mean that it is cancerous or premalignant (likely to become cancer)....
-
ABO blood group
ABO blood group:
The major human blood group system. A person's ABO type depends upon the presence of absence of two genes --the A and B genes. These genes are encoded on chromosome 9 (in band 9q34.1). They determine part of the configuration of the red blood cell surface.
A person can be A, B, AB, ...
-
Abortifacient
Abortifacient: A substance that causes pregnancy to end prematurely and causes an abortion....
-
Abortion
Abortion: In medicine, an abortion is the
premature exit of the products of
conception (the fetus, fetal membranes, and placenta) from the
uterus. It is the loss of a pregnancy and does not refer to why that
pregnancy was lost. A spontaneous abortion is the same as
a miscarriage. The miscarriage...
-
Abortion, artificial
Abortion, artificial: An abortion that is brought about intentionally. Also called an induced or therapeutic abortion. As opposed to a spontaneous abortion (a miscarriage)....
-
Abortion, habitual
Abortion, habitual: The miscarriage of 3 or more consecutive pregnancies. The abortion of 3 or more
miscarriages (spontaneous abortions) with no intervening pregnancies is also termed recurrent abortion.
Habitual or recurrent abortion is a form of infertility. It is sometimes due to chromosome abno...
-
Abortion, induced
Abortion, induced: An abortion that is brought about intentionally. Also called an artificial or therapeutic abortion. As opposed to a spontaneous abortion (a miscarriage)....
-
Abortion, multiple
Abortion, multiple: Two or more
miscarriages (spontaneous abortions) by a woman. Couples who have had multiple abortions have about a 5% chance that one member of the couple is carrying a chromosome translocation responsible for the miscarriages....
-
Abortion, recurrent
Abortion, recurrent: The occurrence of 3 or more miscarriages (which are medically termed "spontaneous abortions") with no intervening
pregnancies.
Recurrent abortion (or, as it is sometimes called, habitual
abortion) is a form of infertility. It may be due to chromosome abnormalities....
-
Abortion, spontaneous
Abortion, spontaneous: A miscarriage, that is, any pregnancy
that is not viable (the fetus cannot survive) or in which the fetus is born before the 20th week of pregnancy. Spontaneous
abortion occurs in at least 15-20% of all recognized
pregnancies and usually takes place before the 13th week of ...
-
Abortion, therapeutic
Abortion, therapeutic: An abortion that is brought about intentionally. Also called an artificial or induced abortion. As opposed to a spontaneous abortion (a miscarriage)....
