Glossary

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K

Kaposi's sarcoma - a skin cancer that is characterized by purple-red tumors that start at the feet and spread upward on the body; commonly occurs in people who have AIDS

Kawasaki disease - a childhood disease causing fever, rash, skin peeling, swollen lymph nodes, and possibly complications of the heart and brain

Keloid - a raised, firm, thick scar that forms as a result of a defect in the natural healing process

Keratin - a tough protein found in skin, nails, and hair

Ketoacidosis - the dangerous accumulation of chemicals called ketones in the blood, sometimes occurring as a complication of diabetes mellitus; also called ketosis

Kidney - one of two organs that are part of the urinary tract; responsible for filtering the blood and removing waste products and excess water as urine

Kidney stone - a hard mass composed of substances from the urine that form in the kidneys

Killer T cells - white blood cells that are part of the immune system and destroy microorganisms and cancer cells

Kilocalorie - a unit of energy; equal to a nutritional calorie

Klinefelter's syndrome - a genetic disorder in which a man has at least 1 extra X chromosome in his cells, causing infertility and female characteristics

Knee-jerk reflex - a test for a reflexive extension of the leg to check the functioning of the nervous system; tapping the knee just below the kneecap should cause the lower part of the leg to jerk upward

Kyphosis - excessive curvature of the spine, which usually affects the top part of the spine and causes a hump

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