Category: B

A genetic disorder, also known as osteogenesis imperfecta, that is characterized by bones that break easily, often with a minimum or total absence of physical trauma. The range in severity of this disorder is extreme; some affected individuals have a few broken bones, and others have experienced as many as several hundred fractures over the…

An alpha agonist drug used to treat open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension (high pressure inside the eye). Brimonidine (Alphagan) reduces the amount of the liquid produced inside the eyeball (aqueous humor) and increases the rate at which fluid flows out of the eyeball. It is given as eye drops.  

A group of abnormalities involving elongated openings located on the sides of the neck of a fetus in the embryo stage of development. Branchial cleft abnormalities are cysts or tube like tracts produced by remnants of tissue from gill-like grooves on the fetus’s neck. Surgical removal of the cyst or tract is the preferred treatment.…

Neck or arm pain, including radiating pain from the shoulder or upper arm and difficulty moving the affected area. Brachialgia is caused by cervical disk syndrome, which may be due to trauma to the neck or disk abnormalities. Treatment generally consists of bed rest, traction, limiting physical activity for a period of 2 weeks, and…

Loud, rumbling, gurgling noises produced by the intestines. Borborygmi are sometimes referred to as a growling stomach. They occur during hyperactive intestinal peristalsis (the wavelike muscle movement that moves food through the digestive tract). This increased activity may be the result of gastroenteritis, diarrhea, Or hunger. when they are high-pitched and accompanied by other symptoms,…

Microscopic examination of a piece of bone and bone marrow. The procedure can be performed in a doctor’s office, using a local anesthetic. A hollow needle is guided into the back area of the pelvic bones or the breastbone (sternum); a core sample of bone with marrow inside is removed. Bone marrow biopsy is used…

A soft, organic material rich in blood vessels, found in the cavities and the spongy bone layer of most bones; also known as myeloid tissue. There are two types of bone marrow. Red marrow is the primary production site for blood cells, particularly red blood cells (erythrocytes) and certain kinds of white blood cells (granular…

The emotional attachment that forms between parent and child. Bonding begins before the child is born, and it is enhanced by close physical contact between mother and child in the hours after birth. Fathers who spend time with their children, especially while they are very small, form a similar attachment. When parents and child are…

Methods of therapeutic manipulation of the body to reduce pain and improve patterns of movement. Bodywork includes more than 80 different types of massage therapy, most of which are used to release muscle tension, improve blood flow, and reduce pain associated with muscle spasm. Other forms of bodywork seek to organize and integrate the body…

Temporary and involuntary reddening of the skin. Blushing can be brought on by excitement, exercise, fever, or embarrassment. Blushing occurs when the nervous system causes the capillaries of the skin of the cheeks and neck to widen, thus increasing blood flow that causes reddening. Blushing refers to a transient reddening of the face, and occasionally…