Author: Glossary

Part or portion that is unused or left over; often used to refer to tissue from early development that is not completely absorbed during the growth process. Some feel that the appendix is a remnant of a structure that developmentally, may have served a useful function thousands of years ago. Something that remains or is…

Anesthesia of an area of the body through administration of a local anesthetic that blocks a group of sensory nerve fibers. Kinds of regional anesthesia include epidural anesthesia, paracervical block, pudendal block, saddle block anesthesia, and spinal anesthesia. The use of medication to make a portion of the body unable to feel pain. Regional anesthesia…

To break a bone that, having been broken before, mended in an abnormal way. Rebreaking of a fracture united in a malaligned position. The process of refracturing a broken bone to realign it into a more optimal position.  

Any of several straight muscles (e.g., rectus abdominis, pair of muscles extending the length of the ventral part of the abdomen). indicating a straight or almost straight body part.  

Normal response to the presence of feces m the rectum, allowing defecation; also called defecation reflex. The normal desire to evacuate feces present in the rectum. The process through which feces are expelled from the rectum involves the contraction of rectal muscles and the relaxation of the internal and external sphincter valves of the anus.…

Process where a gloved finger probes the internal portion of the rectum, approximately one to three inches within the anus. Important in screening for bowel cancer, the presence of blood in stools, and, in males, prostate cancer. A digital examination of the rectum to check for cancer. In the examination, the doctor inserts a gloved…

Condition in which the response to a stimulus increases to a maximum even though the strength of the original stimulus is unchanged. In neurology, this occurs because of activation of increasing numbers of nerve fibers. During generalized seizures, a few abnormal neurons fire at first. They rapidly recruit other neurons, causing them to fire and…

Pain elicited by the sudden release of a hand pressing on the abdomen; usually a sign of peritoneal inflammation. Reflexive, sharp pain induced by sudden release of fingers on the abdomen; indicative of peritonitis or appendicitis.  

To spring back (e.g., to recover from an illness). N. sudden contraction of a muscle following relaxation, occurring in cases where inhibitory reflexes are disturbed. A reflex response in which sudden withdrawal of a stimulus is followed by increased activity, such as an increase in heart rate or blood pressure when beta-blocking drugs or clonidine…

Either of two infectious diseases transmitted to humans by the bite of a rat or mouse; general symptoms include fever, headache, malaise, nausea, vomiting, and skin eruption. In the United States, the disease (also called Haverhill fever) is usually caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis and characterized by a rash on the palms and soles, painful joints,…