Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «B»:
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Bariatric surgery
Bariatric surgery: Surgery on
the stomach and/or intestines to help a person with extreme obesity lose weight.
Bariatric surgery is an option for
people who have a body mass index (BMI)
above 40. Surgery is also an option for people with a BMI between 35 and 40 who
have health problems like typ...
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Bariatrician
Bariatrician: A physician practicing bariatrics, the field of medicine concerned with weight loss. Also called a bariatric physician. The terms are used interchangeably. The American Society of Bariatric Physicians states that: "These guidelines provide suggestions for the work-up and follow-up of t...
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Bariatrics
Bariatrics: The field of medicine that offers treatment for the person who is overweight with a comprehensive program including diet and nutrition, exercise, behavior modification, lifestyle changes and, when indicated, the prescription of appetite suppressants and other appropriate medications. Bar...
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Barium
Barium: 1. A metallic element belonging to the alkaline earths with an atomic number of 56 and an atomic weight of 137.34. The symbol for barium is Ba.
2. In medicine, refers to a chalky solution of barium used to coat the inside of organs so that they will show up on an x-ray.
See also: Barium enem...
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Barium enema
Barium enema: A series of x-rays of the lower intestine (colon) and rectum that are taken after the patient is given an enema with a white, chalky solution that contains barium. The barium outlines the intestines on the x-rays. These x-rays permit the detection of colon and rectal abnormalities incl...
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Barium enema x-ray
Barium enema x-ray: See: Lower GI series....
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Barium solution
Barium solution: A liquid containing barium sulfate. The barium is radioopaque -- it shows up on x-rays. The barium outlines organs of the body such as the intestines so they can be seen on x-ray film. One use of a barium solution, for example, is for a barium enema....
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Barium swallow
Barium swallow: An upper gastrointestinal series
(barium swallow) is an X-ray test used to define the anatomy of the upper digestive tract.
Women who are or may be pregnant should notify the doctor requesting the procedure and the
radiology staff. The test involves filling the esophagus, stomach, an...
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Barker, Horace Albert
Barker, Horace Albert: (1907-2000) American biochemist who, among other things, discovered the biologically active forms of vitamin B12. Horace Albert Barker, informally called "Nook," was educated at Stanford University and earned a PhD in chemistry in 1933. His research interest then turned to soi...
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Barlow syndrome
Barlow syndrome: Barlow syndrome is
mitral valve prolapse (also known as "click murmur
syndrome"), the most common
heart valve abnormality, affecting 5-10% of the world population.
Most patients have no
symptoms and require no treatment. However, the condition can be
associated with fa...
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Baroparesis
Baroparesis: Reversible paralysis of the facial nerve due to pressure in the middle ear going up in a plane or surfacing in scuba diving. The excessive pressure in the middle ear compresses the facial nerve and causes temporary paralysis. After landing in a plane or surfacing in scuba diving, the ea...
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Barosinusitis
Barosinusitis: Sinus troubles, particularly with pain, due to
changing atmospheric pressures, as when going up or down in a plane. Also called
aerosinusitis or sinus barotrauma....
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Barotitis
Barotitis: Middle ear problems due to changing atmospheric pressures,
as when a plane descends to land. The problems include ear pain, ringing, diminished
hearing and, sometimes, dizziness. The word barotitis (pronounced bar-o-tit-is) is
compounded from bar- as in barometer + otitis meaning inflamma...
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Barotrauma
Barotrauma: Trauma caused by rapid or extreme changes in air pressure, especially affecting enclosed cavities within the body such as the middle ear (otic barotrauma), the sinuses (sinus barotrauma), and the lungs (pulmonary barotrauma).
See also: Otic barotrauma; Sinus barotrauma; and Pulmonary b...
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Barotrauma, otic
Barotrauma, otic: See: Otic barotrauma....
