Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «C»:
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Cataplasm
Cataplasm: A poultice or plaster. A soft moist mass, often warm and medicated, that is spread over the skin to treat an inflamed, aching or painful area, to improve the circulation, etc. From the Greek kataplasma, poultice, from kataplasso, to spread over. See also: Mustard plaster; Poultice....
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Cataplexy
Cataplexy: A debilitating medical condition in which a person suddenly feels weak and collapses at moments of strong emotion such as laughter, anger, fear or surprise. In so collapsing, people with cataplexy may injure themselves.
Laughter and other emotions trigger a reflex in persons that can brin...
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Cataract
Cataract: A clouding or loss of transparency of the lens in the eye
as a result of tissue breakdown and protein clumping. There are many causes of
cataracts, including aging, cortisone medication, trauma, diabetes, and other
diseases. Cataracts affect most people who live into an old age. Sympt...
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Cataract surgery
Cataract surgery: Removal of the clouded lens (the cataract) in its entirety by surgery, usually followed by replacement of the lens with an intraocular lens (IOL) made of plastic, silicone, acrylic or other material. The operation typically takes about an hour, is done under local anesthetic only, ...
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Cataract with poikiloderma atrophicans
Cataract with poikiloderma atrophicans: Also known as
the Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, this is an hereditary disease
characterized by progressive degeneration (atrophy), scarring and
abnormal pigmentation of the skin together with stunting of growth,
baldness, cataracts, depressed nasal bridge, ...
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Cataract, nuclear
Cataract, nuclear: A cataract that occurs in the center (the nucleus) of the lens. See: Cataract....
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Cataract, primary
Cataract, primary: A cataract that develops independently of other diseases. A primary cataract is in contrast to a secondary cataract, one that is secondary to another disease....
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Cataract, secondary
Cataract, secondary: A cataract that develops secondary to another disease or surgery. The other disease may, for example, be glaucoma or retinal detachment. A secondary cataract is in contrast to a primary cataract, one that develops independently of any other disease....
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Cataract, supranuclear
Cataract, supranuclear: A cataract just above the center (the nucleus) of the lens. See: Cataract....
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Catatonic
Catatonic: 1. Characterized by marked motor abnormalities including immobility (catalepsy or stupor), excessive motor activity (purposeless agitation), extreme negativism, mutism, posturing or stereotyped movements,
echolalia, and/or echopraxia.
2. A person with catatonia or catatonic schizophrenia...
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Catechol-O-methyltransferase
Catechol-O-methyltransferase: COMT. An enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of catecholamines, including the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. COMT is also important in the metabolism of catechol drugs used in the treatment of hypertension, asthma, and Parkinson disease. ...
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Catecholamine
Catecholamine: Pronounced cat·e·chol·amine. An amine derived from the
amino acid tyrosine -- examples include epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine
(noradrenaline), and dopamine -- that act as hormones or neurotransmitters.
There are a number of disorders involving catecho...
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Category 1 storm
Category 1 storm: See: Category one hurricane....
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Category 2 storm
Category 2 storm: See: Category two hurricane....
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Category 3 storm
Category 3 storm: See: Category three hurricane....
