Category: S

Any opening into a cavity in the body. The mouth. Opening or pore on the surface, especially a surgically created opening of an internal organ on the surface of the body, as in colostomy or tracheostomy. An artificially created opening on the surface of the body, such as a colostomy or tracheostomy. A surgically created…

A loss of consciousness due to the stopping of the action of the heart because of asystole or fibrillation [After William Stokes (1804-78), Irish physician; Robert Adams (1791-1875), Irish surgeon]. Fainting, sometimes accompanied by a seizure, caused by a heart rhythm disorder. The heart rate falls so low that the body and brain receive insufficient…

A close-fitting piece of clothing to cover the leg. A snug covering for the foot and leg. A stocking made of elastic material that places firm, even pressure on an extremity, useful in managing edema, preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the leg, and in treating varicose veins. Pneumatic compression devices, which sequentially inflate and…

The basic culture of bacteria, from which other cultures can be taken.  

An abscess which forms at the site of a stitch or suture. An abscess that develops in the vicinity of a surgical suture.  

Pain caused by cramp in the side of the body after running. A sharp localized pain, commonly in the abdomen, associated with strenuous physical activity (such as running), especially shortly after eating. It is a form of cramp. A popular name for a sharp pain in the side. It is generally due to cramp following…

Referring to a sharp unpleasant feeling of pricking or burning.  

The piercing of the skin by an insect which passes a toxic substance into the bloodstream. A sharp, smarting sensation, as of a wound or astringent. Pointed formations, present on either plants or animals, which release venom or irritants, are referred to as stinging structures. Creatures that possess such structures include scorpions, certain insects, jellyfish,…

Arthritis affecting children, similar to rheumatoid arthritis in adults [Described 1896. After Sir George Frederic Still (1868-1941), British paediatrician and physician to the king.] form of rheumatoid arthritis, primarily affecting children, in which large joints become inflamed and bone growth may be affected, causing skeletal deformities. Treatment includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, analgesics, and rest; also…

Referring to a baby born dead.