Question | Answer |
diabetic neuropathy | A degenerative neurological disorder that may develop in people with diabetes mellitus. |
Horner's syndrome | A condition characterized by unilateral loss of sympathetic innervation to the face (i.e. leading to constriction of eye) |
audiogram | a graphical record of a subject's performance during a hearing test |
bone conduction test | a test for conductive deafness, usually involving placement of a vibrating tuning fork against the skull |
cataract | an abnormal lens that has lost its transparency |
cochlear implant | insertion of electrodes into the cochlear nerve to provide external stimulation that provides some sensititivity to sounds in the absence of a functional organ of Corti. |
conductive deafness | deafness resulting from conditions in the middle ear that block the transfer of vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the oval window |
mastoiditis | infection and inflammation of the mastoid air cells |
meniere's disease | acute vertigo caused by the rupture of the wall of the membranous labyrinth |
myringotomy | drainage of the middle ear througha surgical opening in the tympanum |
nerve deafness | deafness resulting from problems within the cochlea or along the auditory pathway |
nystagmus | short, jerk eye movements that sometimes appear after damage to the brain stem or inner ear |
referred pain | pain sensations from visceral organs, often perceived as originating in more superficial areas inervated by the same spinal nerves |
scotomas | abnormal blind spots that are fixed in position |
vertigo | an inappropriate sense of motion |
diabetes insipidus | a disorder that develops when the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland no longer releases adequate amounts of ADH |
diabetes mellitus | a disorder characterized by glucose concentrations high enough to overwhelm the kidney's reabsorption capabilities |
exophthalmos | protrusion of the yes, a symptom of hyperthyroidism |
goiter | a diffuse englargement of the thyroid gland |
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)/ type 1 diabetes/ juvenille-onset diabetes | a type of diabetes mellitus; the primary cause is inadequate insulin production by the beta cells of the pancreatic islets |
ketoacidosis | a condition in which large numbers of ketone bodies in the blood lead to a dangerously low blood pH |
myxedema | symptoms of severe hypothyroidism, which include subcutaneous swelling, dry skin, hair loss, low body temperature, muscular weakness, and slow reflexes |
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) ; type 2 diabetes or maturity-onset diabetes | a type of diabetes mellitus in which insulin levels are normal or elevated but peripheral tissues no longer respond normally |
thyrotoxic crisis | a period when a subject with acute hyperthyroidism experiences an extremely high fever, rapid heart rate, and the malfunctioning of a variety of physiological systems |
angina pectoris | a condition in which exertion or stress can produce severe chest pain, resulting from temporary circulatory insufficiency and ischemia when the heart's work load increases. |
bradycardia | a heart rate that is slower than normal |
cardiac arrhythmias | abnormal patterns of cardiac contraction |
cardiac tamponade | a condition resulting from pericardial irritation and inflammation, in which fluid collects in the pericardial sac and restricts cardiac output |
cardiomyopathies | a group of diseases characterized by the progressive, irreversible degeneration of the myocardium |
carditis | a general term indicating inflammation of the heart |
coronary artery disease (CAD) | degenerative changes in the coronary ciruclation |
coronary thrombosis | a blockage due to the formation of a clot (thrombus) at a plaque in a coronary artery |
heart failure | a condition i which the heart weakens and peripheral tissues suffer from oxygen and nutrient deprivation |
heart murmur | a rushing, gurgling sound caused by blood regurgitation back through faulty heart valves |
mitral valve prolapse | a condition in which the mitral valve cusps do not close properly because of abnormally long (or short) chordae tendineae or malfunctioning papillary muscles |
myocardial infarction | a condition in which the coronary circulation becomes blocked and the cardiac muscle cells die from oxygen starvation; also called a HEART ATTACK |
rheumatic heart disease (RHD) | a disorder in which the heart valves become thickened and stiffen into a partially closed position, affecting the efficiency of the pumping action of the heart |
tachycardia | a heart rate that is faster than normal |
valvular stenosis | a condition in which the opening between the heart valves is narrower than normal. |
aneurysm | a bulge in the weakened wall of a blood vessel, usually an artery |
arteriosclerosis | a thickening and toughening of arterial walls |
atherosclerosis | a type of artheriosclerosis characterized by changes in the endothelial lining and the formation of plaques |
hemorrhoids | varicose veins in the walls of the rectum and/or anus, often associated with pregnancy or frequent straining to force bowel movements |
pulmonary embolism | circulatory blockage caused by the trapping of a freed thrombus in a pulmonary artery |
thrombus | A stationary blood clot within a blood vessel |
varicose veins | sagging, swollen veins distorted by gravity and the failure of the venous valves |
asthma | a condition characterized by unusually sensitive, irritable, inflamed conducting passageways |
atelectasis | a partially or completely collapsed lung |
bronchitis | an inflammation of the bronchial lining |
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) | applying cycles of compression to the rib cage and mouth-to-mouth breathing to maintain circulatory and respiratory function |
cystic fibrosis (CF) | a relatively common, lethal inherited disease in which mucous secretions in the lungs become too thick to be transported easily. |
emphysema | a chronic, progressive condition characterized by shortness of breath and resulting from the destruction of respiratory exchange surfaces |
epistaxis | a nosebleed caused by trauma, infection, allergies, hypertension, or other factors |
Heimlich maneuver | a method of applying abdominal pressure to force the expulsion of foreign objects lodged in the trachea or larynx |
laryngitis | infection or inflammation of the larynx |
lung cancer | a class of aggressive malignancies originating in the bronchial passageways or aleveoli |
pleural effusion | an abnormal accumulation of fluid within the pleural cavities |
pneumonia | a condition caused by an infection of the lobules of the lung and characterized by a decline in respiratory function due to fluid leakage into the alveoli and/or swelling and contriction of the respiratory bronchioles |
pneumothorax | the entry of air into the pleural cavity |
pulmonary embolism | blockage of a pulmonary artery by a blood clot, fat mass, or air bubble |
respiratory distress syndrome (RDS0 | a condition resulting from inadequate surfactant production; characterized by collapse of the alveoli and an inability to maintain adequate levels of gas exchange at the lungs |
silicosis, abestosis and anthracosis | serious clinical conditions caused by the inhalation of dust or other particulate matter in sufficient quantities to overload the respiratory defense system, resulting in lung scarring and a reduction in respiratory function. |
thoracentesis | removal of a sample of pleural fluid for diagnostic evaluation |
tracheostomy | insertion of a tube through an incision in the anterior tracheal wall to bypass a foreign body or damaged laynx |
tuberculosis | infection of the lungs by the bacteria Myobacterium tuberculosis. Symptoms are variable but usuay include coughing and chest pain, with fever, night sweats, fatigue, and weight loss. |