Glossary

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Calcification - the depositing of calcium salts in the body, which occurs normally in teeth and bones but abnormally in injured muscles and narrowed arteries

Calcitonin - a hormone made in the thyroid gland that controls calcium levels in the blood by slowing the loss of calcium from bones; used to treat hypercalcemia (excess calcium in the blood)

Calcium - a plentiful mineral in the body and the basic component of teeth and bones; essential for cell function, muscle contraction, transmission of nerve impulses, and blood clotting

Calcium channel blocker - a drug used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat by preventing the movement of calcium into the muscle

Calorie - a unit that is used to measure the energy content in food

Canal - a tunnel-like passage

Cancer - a group of diseases in which cells grow unrestrained in an organ or tissue in the body; can spread to tissues around it and destroy them or be transported through blood or lymph pathways to other parts of the body

Cancer staging - a method to determine how much a cancer has developed

Candidiasis - a yeast infection caused by the fungus Candida albicans; occurs most often in the vagina, but also in the mouth, on moist skin, or on the penis

Canker sore - small, painful sore that usually occurs on the inside of the lip or cheek, or sometimes under the tongue; caused by bacteria, irritation of the area, stress, or allergies

Capillary - a tiny blood vessel that connects the smallest arteries to the smallest veins and allows exchange of oxygen and other materials between blood cells and body tissue cells

Carbohydrate - a substance, mainly sugar and starch, that is a main source of energy for the body and is found in sources such as cereals, breads, pastas, grains, and vegetables

Carcinogen - anything that can cause cancer

Carcinoma - a cancer that occurs on the surface or lining of an organ

Cardiomegaly - a condition marked by enlargement of the heart, either because of a thickened heart muscle or an enlarged heart chamber; usually a result of the heart having to work harder than normal, as occurs with high blood pressure

Cardiomyopathy - a disease of the heart muscle that results in decreased output and reduced blood flow

Cardiovascular system - the heart and blood vessels that are responsible for circulating blood throughout the body

Carpal tunnel syndrome - a condition in which pressure on the median nerve in the wrist causes soreness, tingling, and numbness in the thumb and index and middle fingers

Cartilage - a connective tissue (softer than bone) that is part of the skeletal system, including the joints

Catheter - a hollow, flexible tube inserted into the body to put in or take out fluid, or to open up or close blood vessels

Catheterization - a technique in which a hollow, flexible tube is used to drain body fluids (such as urine), to introduce fluids into the body, or to examine or widen a narrowed vein or artery

CAT scanning - see Computed tomography scanning

Cauterization - the use of heat, an electric current, or a chemical to destroy tissue or stop bleeding

Cecum - the beginning of the large intestine, which is connected to the appendix at its lower end

Cell - the tiny structures that make up all the tissues of the body and carry out all of its functions

Cellulitis - a skin infection caused by bacteria (usually streptococci); can lead to tissue damage and blood poisoning if untreated; characterized by fever, chills, heat, tenderness, and redness

Central nervous system - the brain and spinal cord

Cerebellum - a region of the brain located at the back; responsible for coordination of movement and maintaining balance

Cerebral palsy - a group of disorders of movement and posture resulting from damage to the brain early in a child's development; causes muscle weakness, difficulty coordinating voluntary movements, and sometimes complete loss of motion

Cerebrospinal fluid - a clear, watery fluid circulating in and around the brain and spinal column, which contains glucose, proteins, and salts for nutrition

Cerebrovascular disease - a disease affecting any artery supplying blood to the brain; may cause blockage or rupture of a blood vessel, leading to a stroke

Cerebrum - the largest part of the brain and the site of most of its activity, including sensory and motor functions

Cervical cap - a small rubber cup that is placed tightly over the cervix to prevent pregnancy

Cervical dysplasia - changes that occur in the cells on the surface of the cervix that usually precede the stages of cancer

Cervical incompetence - a weakness of the neck of the uterus, which can lead to spontaneous abortion due to an inability to support the weight of the fetus

Cervical smear - a procedure in which cells are scraped off of the cervix and examined to detect changes that might precede the stages of cancer; also called a Pap smear

Cervicitis - inflammation of the cervix

Cervix - a small, round organ making up the neck of the uterus and separating it from the vagina

Cesarean section - an operation performed to remove a fetus by cutting into the uterus, usually through the abdominal wall

Chancre - a painless sore that has a thick, rubbery base and a defined edge; usually occurs on the genitals after the contraction of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis

Chemotherapy - the treatment of infections or cancer with drugs that act on disease-producing organisms or cancerous tissue; may also affect normal cells

Chickenpox - a contagious disease that causes a rash and a fever; most commonly occurs during childhood

Chlamydia - microorganisms that cause several human infections and can be transmitted sexually

Cholecystectomy - the surgical removal of the gallbladder

Cholesterol - a substance in body cells that plays a role in the production of hormones and bile salts and in the transport of fats in the bloodstream

Chorionic villus sampling - a method of diagnosing fetal defects in which a small amount of tissue is taken from the placenta and analyzed for abnormalities

Chromosome analysis - examination of a person's chromosomes either to determine if that person has an abnormality or to investigate one

Chronic - describes a disorder that continues for a long period of time

Cilia - tiny, hairlike structures on the outside of some cells, providing mobility

Circumcision - the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis

Cleft lip - a birth defect in which the upper lip is split vertically, extending into one or both nostrils

Cleft palate - a birth defect in which the roof of the mouth is split, extending from behind the teeth to the nasal cavity; often occurs with other birth defects such as cleft lip and partial deafness

Clitoris - a small female organ located near the opening of the vagina that swells when sexually aroused

Clotting factor - a substance in the blood that is needed for blood to harden and stop a wound from bleeding

Clubfoot - a genetic disorder in which the foot is twisted and misshapen

Cluster headache - severe pain that occurs suddenly and affects one side of the head, including the face and neck

CNS - see Central nervous system

Coagulation - a process that plays a large role in the hardening and thickening of blood to form a clot

Coccyx - four fused bones that form a triangular shape at the base of the spine (also known as the tailbone)

Coitus - sexual intercourse

Cold sore - a small blister anywhere around the mouth that is caused by the herpes simplex virus

Colectomy - the complete or partial surgical removal of the large intestine (the colon), usually as treatment of a cancerous tumor or a narrowing and blockage of the intestine

Colic - waves of pain in the abdomen that increase in strength, disappear, and return; usually caused by a stone blocking a bile or urine passageway or an intestinal infection

Colitis - inflammation of the large intestine (the colon), which usually leads to abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea with blood and mucus

Colon - the main part of the large intestine, between the cecum and the rectum

Colonoscopy - investigation of the inside of the colon using a long, flexible fiberoptic tube

Colostomy - a surgical procedure in which some part of the colon is cut and moved to the surface of the abdomen so that feces can be passed into a bag worn outside of the body

Computed tomography scanning - a technique for producing cross-sectional images of the body in which X-rays are passed through the body at different angles and analyzed by a computer; also called CT scanning or CAT scanning

Concussion - disturbance of electrical activity in the brain due to a blow to the head or neck, causing temporary loss of consciousness

Congenital - present or existing at the time of birth

Connective tissue - strong tissue that connects and supports body structures

Constipation - difficult or infrequent bowel movements of hard, dry feces

Contraindication - an aspect of a patient's condition that makes the use of a certain drug or therapy an unwise or dangerous decision

Coronary - describes structures that encircle another structure (such as the coronary arteries, which circle the heart); commonly used to refer to a coronary thrombosis or a heart attack

Coronary arteries - the arteries that branch off from the aorta and supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle

Corticosteroids - synthetic drugs that are used to replace natural hormones or to suppress the immune system and help prevent inflammation

CPR - see Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CT scanning - a procedure that uses X-rays and computers to create cross-sectional images of the body to diagnose and monitor disease

Curettage - the use of a sharp, spoonlike instrument (a curet) to scrape away tissue that is abnormal or to obtain a sample that can be analyzed

CVS - see Chorionic villus sampling

Cyanosis - a bluish discoloration of the skin, caused by low levels of oxygen in the blood

Cyst - a lump filled with either fluid or soft material, occurring in any organ or tissue; may occur for a number of reasons but is usually harmless unless its presence disrupts organ or tissue function

Cystectomy - surgical removal of the bladder; the bladder is often replaced with a short length of small intestine

Cystic fibrosis - an inherited disorder in which the lungs are prone to infection, and fats and other nutrients cannot be absorbed into the body

Cystoscopy - examination of the urethra and bladder using a long, thin, fiberoptic tube

Cystostomy - the surgical placement of a drainage opening in the bladder

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