Glossary

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Sacroiliac joints - the pair of joints located in the pelvis between the sacrum and the hipbones

Sacroiliitis - inflammation of the sacroiliac joints, which causes pain in the lower body

Sacrum - the triangular bone located at the bottom of the spine that is connected to the tailbone, the hipbones near the sacroilial joints, and the rest of the spine

Safe sex - measures taken to reduce the risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease, such as the use of a condom

Salpingectomy - surgical removal of one or both fallopian tubes

Salpingitis - inflammation of a fallopian tube

Salpingography - X-ray examination of the fallopian tubes

Salpingolysis - removal of abnormal scar tissue between a fallopian tube and nearby tissue

Salpingo-oophorectomy- the surgical removal of one or both of the fallopian tubes and one or both of the ovaries

Salpingostomy - surgical opening of a fallopian tube for drainage or removal of an obstruction

Screening - the testing of an otherwise healthy person in order to diagnose disorders at an early stage

Scrotum - the sac containing the testicles

Sebaceous cyst - a swelling that occurs under the skin, most commonly on the scalp, face, ears, and genitals; although usually harmless, can grow very large and become painful if infected

Seizure - sudden uncontrolled waves of electrical activity in the brain, causing involuntary movement or loss of consciousness

Semen - fluid released during ejaculation that contains sperm along with fluids produced by the prostate gland and the seminal vesicles

Semen analysis - a procedure in which a semen sample is examined to determine the amount of sperm present, along with their shape and ability to move; commonly used in the treatment of male infertility

Seminal vesicles - two saclike glands in men that produce part of the fluid in semen

Seminiferous tubules - coiled tubes inside of the testicle that are the site of sperm production

Sepsis - the infection of a wound or tissue with bacteria, causing the spread of the bacteria into the bloodstream; now also known as systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by a microbe

Septal defect - a birth defect in which a hole is present in the wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart

Septic shock - a life-threatening condition in which tissues become damaged and blood pressure drops due to bacteria multiplying and producing poisons in the blood

Serotonin - a chemical that transmits nerve impulses in the brain, causes blood vessels to constrict (narrow) at sites of bleeding, and stimulates smooth muscle movement in the intestines

Sex chromosomes - the X and Y chromosomes that determine a person's gender; women normally have two X chromosomes and men normally have one X and one Y

Sex hormones - hormones responsible for producing sex characteristics and controlling sexual functions

Sex-linked disorder - a disorder that is caused by genes located on the sex chromosomes

Sexually transmitted disease - infections that are most commonly spread through sexual intercourse or genital contact

Sickle cell anemia - a genetic disorder in which the red blood cells are abnormal and deformed, causing anemia (reduced ability to transport oxygen in the blood) and clogging of blood vessels; bouts of fever, headache, and weakness result

Sickle cell trait - a less serious form of sickle cell anemia

Speculum - an instrument that holds an opening of the body open so that an examination can be performed or a sample can be taken

Sperm - the male sex cell produced in the testicles

Sperm antibody - an antibody against sperm that can be produced by a woman's immune system

Spermatocele - a harmless cyst containing fluid and sperm that occurs in the tube through which sperm travel from the testicles

Sperm count - the amount of normally functioning sperm per some unit of semen; used to determine a man's fertility

Spermicide - a contraceptive substance that kills sperm

Sphincter - a ring of muscle fibers located around a naturally occurring passage or opening in the body that opens and closes to regulate passage of substances

Spider nevus - a collection of dilated (widened) capillaries on the skin that creates a patch resembling a spider

Spina bifida - a birth defect in which a section of the baby's spine fails to develop completely, leaving the spinal cord exposed in that section

Spina bifida occulta - the least dangerous form of spina bifida, in which bones in the spine fail to close but there is no protrusion of the spinal cord or its fluid cushion out of the body

Spinal cord - a long tube of nerve tissue inside the spinal column, running from the brain down the length of the back inside of the spine

Spine - the column of bones and cartilage running along the midline of the back that surrounds and protects the spinal cord and supports the head

Squamous cell carcinoma - a type of skin cancer arising from flat cells of the epithelium; can also affect the lungs, cervix, and esophagus

STD - see Sexually transmitted disease

Stein-Leventhal syndrome - see Polycystic ovary syndrome

Stent - a device used to hold tissues in place, such as to support a skin graft

Sterilization - a surgery performed to make a person incapable of reproducing; also refers to the process of killing microorganisms on objects such as surgical instruments

Steroids - a group of drugs that includes corticosteroids, which resemble hormones produced by the adrenal glands, and anabolic steroids, which are similar to the hormones produced by the male sex organs

Stillbirth - a baby that is born dead after the 28th week of pregnancy; also called late fetal death

Stool - another term for feces

Streptococci - bacteria that cause a variety of diseases, including pneumonia and strep throat

Stretch marks - lines on the skin that occur when the inner skin layer is stretched thin and loses its elasticity

Stroke - damage to part of the brain because of a lack of blood supply (due to a blockage in an artery) or the rupturing of a blood vessel; leads to complete or partial loss of function in the area of the body that is controlled by the damaged part of the brain

Subcutaneous - a medical term meaning "beneath the skin"

Submucosa - the layer of connective tissue under a mucous membrane

Sudden infant death syndrome - the unexpected, sudden death of an apparently healthy baby, the cause of which cannot be found; also called crib death

Surrogate - a woman who agrees to become pregnant and give her baby to someone else when the child is born

Syphilis - a sexually transmitted disease; initially causes only painless sores on the genitals but can be life-threatening if untreated

Systemic lupus erythematosus - a disease of the immune system that causes inflammation of connective tissue in many areas of the body, including the skin, lungs, heart, joints, and kidneys

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