Category: W

Standard bronchoscopy, i.e., bronchoscopy in which tissues are illuminated with the normal light spectrum available for use in fiberoptic evaluation of tissues. The term “white light bronchoscopy” is used to distinguish standard bronchoscopy from bronchoscopy performed with other light wavelengths.  

The amount of effort used to expand the lungs. It is determined by lung and thoracic compliance, airway resistance, and the use of accessory muscles for inspiration or forced expiration. It is measured in joules/L, joules/min and sometimes kg/m/min.  

Botulism acquired when spores of the bacteria contaminate an anaerobic wound, germinate, and produce the neurotoxin.  

Embryonic or rapidly growing bone characterized microscopically by a prominent fibrous matrix.  

A therapeutic stainless steel, fiberglass, or plastic tank that uses turbines to agitate and aerate water into which the body, or part of it, is immersed. Tanks come in various sizes to accommodate treatment of different body parts (Hubbard and “low boy” tanks for full-body treatments or extremity tanks for arm or leg treatments). Water…

An IgG class autoantibody that is activated at a temperature of 37°C. These antibodies damage the membranes on the patient’s own red blood cells, which results in their destruction by the spleen, producing an autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The source of the autoantibodies is unclear in 50% of the cases. In the other 50% of patients,…

Astigmatism in which the eye has more refractive power in the vertical meridian than in the horizontal meridian.  

An animal whose body temperature remains constant regardless of the temperature of the environment; as opposed to a cold-blooded animal.  

An agglutinin effective only at body temperature, 98.6°F (37°C).  

The name given to the playing to crying babies of sounds comparable to those by which the unborn fetus is surrounded in the womb (uterus), such as the beating of the mother’s heart, the bowel sounds of the baby and the like. The claim is that the replaying of these brings back the ‘peaceful music…