Term | Meaning |
adrenal glands | endocrine glands located above each kidney |
antibiotic | destroys or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria |
antigen | a substance, usually foreign to the body that stimulates the production of antibodies |
antibodies | protein substances made by WBCs in response to foreign antigens |
congenital anomalies | irregularity in a structure or organ an infant is born with |
contralateral | oppposite side |
ipsilateral | same side |
dialysis | complete separation (of harmful waste products from the blood) |
ectopic pregnancy | when the embryo implants outside the uterus |
parathyroid glands | 4 glands located on the dorsal side of the thyroid; responsible for blood calcium levels |
prolapse | when an organ or tissue slides (sags, or falls) forward or downward |
recombinant DNA | process of taking a gene from one organism and inserting it (recombining it) into the DNA of another organism |
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) | a method of producing multiple copies of a single gene |
syndrome | a group of signs or symptoms that commonly occur together and indicate a particular disease or abnormal condition |
symbiosis | 2 organisms living together in close association, either for mutual benefit or not |
parasitism | another example of symbiosis when one organism benefits and the other does not |
symphysis | a joint in which the bony surfaces are firmly united by a layer of fibrocartilage |
transurethral resection of prostate gland (TURP) | removal of a portion of the prostate gland with an instrument passed through (trans-) the urethra |
ultrasonography | diagnostic technique using ultrasound waves to produce an image of an organ or tissue |
echocardiograms | ultrasound images of the heart |
sonogram | fetal ultrasound image |