Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Oversized heart commonly found in professional athletes and those trained for endurance; it is believed to result from overexertion for an extended period. The heart’s increased pumping capacity delivers more oxygen to the skeletal muscles. Enlargement of the heart as a result of prolonged physical training (e.g., the aerobic exercise of running). This is not…

Procedure used to treat coronary artery disease in which a small catheter is passed into the involved artery by way of a percutaneous incision. The catheter contains a small blade that rotates and shaves away a portion of the obstructive atherosclerotic debris, which is collected in a chamber and discarded. Although used in several larger…

Mental calm esp. when consciousness is unimpaired.  

Tranquilizer; sedative drug that does not produce sleep.  

Antihistamine drug used in the treatment of allergy and rhinitis. Side effects include drowsiness; overdoses of this drug may result in severe cardiac arrhythmias.  

Fiberlike, fire-resistant mineral commonly used as an insulator and roofing material; now implicated in causing lung disease (asbestosis) (even when inhaled in small amounts and for a limited time) and as a carcinogen. A tough, nearly indestructible fiber composed of mineral silicates. There are four types of asbestos: crocidolite, amosite, chrysotile, and tremolite. Asbestos exists…

Synthetic (e.g., plastic, cowhide collagen, shark cartilage) two-layer covering used experimentally to treat bum victims.  

Synthetic device to replace a natural organ or to assist its function (e.g., artificial heart, artificial kidney, artificial pancreas).  

Device designed to replace the heart and to pump blood throughout the body. An artificial heart (the Jarvik heart) was implanted in a human for the first time in late 1982 and worked in the patient for over 110 days, before he died of complications. Work on these devices is continuing. A mechanical device that…

Fluid that can carry large amounts of oxygen and is being used as a temporary substitute for blood. The most common is known as Fluosol-DA; it is similar to Teflon and made up of inert perfluorochemicals. Most clinical studies have involved persons who are seriously in need of blood but refuse blood transfusions (e.g., on…