Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

The feeding of a person by a nasogastric tube or by the infusion of liquid food directly into the intestine. Feeding by way of a tube inserted through the nose to the stomach. In severely ill patients, the metabolic responses to tissue damage may be sufficient to cause a reduction of muscle mass and of…

An amoeba that lives in the gums and tonsils, and causes gingivitis. A nonpathogenic species of ameba that inhabits the mouth.  

A harmless intestinal parasite. A species of ameba normally found in the human intestinal tract. This species is nonpathogenic to humans.  

Registered on an official list.  

Excessively filled with liquid, usually blood.  

General nervous weakness. A surgical operation to remove a nerve.  

The stage of kidney disease at which uraemia occurs and dialysis needs to start. Final phase of kidney disease marked by the inability to filter the body’s blood. Renal (kidney) disease in which the kidneys no longer function enough to sustain life, a condition known as renal insufficiency. Life may be sustained by kidney transplant…

The end of a motor nerve, where it joins muscle fibre. The area of muscle cell membrane immediately beneath the motor nerve ending at a ‘neuromuscular junction. Special receptors in this area trigger muscular contraction when the nerve ending releases its neurotransmitter. The widened tip of a nerve fiber that connects to a muscle.  

A tube passed down the trachea, through either the nose or mouth, in anaesthesia or to help a person breathe. Catheter inserted through the mouth or nose into the trachea to maintain an open airway (e.g., in severe inflammation and swelling of the pharynx), to deliver oxygen, to permit suctioning of mucus, or to prevent…

A malignant tumour originating inside the endothelium. Any tumor arising from or resembling endothelium. It may arise from the linings of blood or lymph vessels (hemangioendothelioma and lymphan-gioendothelioma respectively); from the linings of the pleural or peritoneal cavities; or from the meninges (see meningioma). A malignant growth of lining cells of the blood vessels. A…