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Dictionary of

Medical Terms

  

fourth edition

A & C Black 앫 London

  

While every effort has been made to be as accurate as possible, the author,

advisers, editors and publishers of this book cannot be held liable for any errors

and omissions, or actions that may be taken as a consequence of using it.

  

First published in Great Britain in1987

as English Medical Dictionary

Second edition published 1993

Third edition published 2000

  

Fourth edition published 2004

Reprinted 2005, 2007

A & C Black Publishers Ltd

  

37 Soho Square, London W1D 3QZ

© P. H. Collin 1987, 1993, 2000

© Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2004

© A & C Black Publishers Ltd 2005

  

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced

in any form or by any means without the permission of the publishers

A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library

eISBN-13: 978-1-4081-0209-1

Text Production and Proofreading

  

Heather Bateman, Ruth Hillmore, Daisy Jackson, Sarah Lusznat,

Katy McAdam, Charlotte Regan

This book is produced using paper that is made from wood grown in managed,

sustainable forests. It is natural, renewable and recyclable. The logging and

manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country

of origin.

  

Text computer typeset by A & C Black

Printed in Spain by Graphycems

Preface

  

This dictionary provides the user with the basic vocabulary currently being

used in a wide range of healthcare situations. The areas covered include the

technical language used in diagnosis, patient care, surgery, pathology, general practice, pharmacy, dentistry and other specialisations, as well as anatomical and physiological terms. Informal, everyday and sometimes

euphemistic terms commonly used by people in discussing their condition

with healthcare professionals are also included, as are common words used

in reading or writing reports, articles or guidelines.

  The dictionary is designed for anyone who needs to check the meaning or pronunciation of medical terms, but especially for those working in

health-related areas who may not be healthcare professionals or for whom

English is an additional language. Each headword is explained in clear,

straightforward English. Pronunciations, uncommon plurals and uncommon

verb forms are provided. Illustrations of some basic anatomical terms are also included.

Very many people have helped or advised on the compilation and checking

of the dictionary in its various editions. In particular, thanks are due to Dr Judith Harvey for her helpful comments and advice on this fourth edition

and to Dr Marie Condon for some revisions and clarification. Also to Lesley

Bennun, Lesley Brown and Margaret Baker who copy-edited the text and Dinah Jackson who revised the pronunciations.

Pronunciation Guide

  The following symbols have been used to show the pronunciation of the main words in the dictionary.

Stress is indicated by a main stress mark ( ) and a secondary stress mark ( ) . Note

that these are only guides, as the stress of the word changes according to its position

in the sentence.

  Vowels Consonants back b buck

  ɑ harm d dead

  ɒ stop ð other a type dȢ jump aυ how f fare aə hire DZ gold aυə hour h head

  ɔ course j yellow

  ɔ annoy k cab e head l leave eə fair m mix e make n nil eυ go

  ŋ sing word p print i keep r rest i happy s save

  ə about

  ʃ shop

   fit t take

  ə near tʃ change u annual

  θ theft u pool v value

  υ book w work

  υə tour x loch ' shut

  Ȣ measure z zone

  

A

_A A /

  adjective referring to the abdomen and perineum _{abdominoperineal excision}

  fetus in the uterus, where the fetus’s abdomen is facing the mother’s back _{abdominoscopy}

  / adjective referring to a position of a

  b Ơ dɒmnəυpɒ Ơ stəriə

  abdominoposterior /

  b Ơ dɒ Ơ mnəυper Ơ ni əl k Ơ sȢ(ə)n / noun a surgical operation that involves cutting out tissue in both the abdomen and the perineum _{abdominoposterior}

  abdominoperineal excision /

  /

  b Ơ dɒm Ơ nɒskəpi

  b ^Ơ dɒmnəυper ^Ơ ni əl

  abdominoperineal /

  ad- jective referring to the abdomen and pelvis _{abdominoperineal}

  /

  b ^Ơ dɒmnəυ ^Ơ pelvk

  abdominopelvic /

  the abdomen _{abdominopelvic}

  abdominoscopy /

  / noun

  b Ơ dɒmn(ə)l wɔ l / noun muscular tissue which surrounds the abdomen _abdomino-

  abducent nerve /

  / verb ( of a muscle ) to pull a

  b Ơ d"kt

  abduct /

  same as abducens nerve _abduct

  / noun

  b Ơ dju sənt n! v

  b Ơ dju s(ə)nt / adjective referring to a muscle which brings parts of the body away from each other or moves them away from the central line of the body or a limb. Compare adducent _{abducent nerve}

  an internal examination of the abdomen, usu- ally with an endoscope _{abdominothoracic}

  abducent /

  b ^Ơ dju s(ə)nz n! v / noun the sixth cranial nerve, which controls the muscle which makes the eyeball turn out- wards _abducent

  abducens nerve /

  dju s / verb same as abduct _{abducens nerve}

  abduce / b ^Ơ

  dɒmnəυθɔ ^Ơ r sk / adjective referring to the abdomen and thorax _abduce

  abdominothoracic / b ^Ơ

  abdomino- / bdɒmnəυ / prefix referring to

  abdominal wall /

  e

  i d Ơ pɑ tmənt

  / ^Ơ

  e bi si / noun the basic initial checks of a casualty’s condition. Full form airway,

  : Someone with type AB can donate to people of the same group and receive blood from people with type O, A, AB or B.) _ab- ab- /

  b Ơ dɒmn(ə)l vsərə / plural noun the organs which are contained in the abdomen, e.g. the stomach, liver and intes- tines _{abdominal wall}

  ( NOTE

  ABO system, containing the A and B antigens

  AB / ^{Ơ e bi} / noun a human blood type of the

  e ənd i med(ə)sn / noun the medical procedures used in A & E de- partments _AB

  / noun same as accident and emergency department _{A & E medicine} A & E medicine / ^Ơ

  A & E / ^{ƠƠ e ənd i} / , A & E department / ^{Ơ e ənd}

  b

  _{A & E} abbr Alcoholics Anonymous

  NOTE : Some- one with type A can donate to people of the same group or of the AB group, and can receive blood from people with type A or type O.) _AA AA

  system, containing the A antigen (

  / noun a human blood type of the ABO

  abdominal distension /

  b ^Ơ dɒmn(ə)l ds ^Ơ tenʃ(ə)n / noun a condition in which the abdo- men is stretched because of gas or fluid _{abdominal pain}

  abdominal pain /

  b ^Ơ dɒmn(ə)l pen / noun pain in the abdomen caused by indigestion or more serious disorders _{abdominal viscera}

  abdominal viscera /

  / prefix away from _ABC

ABC

  breathing and circulation _abdomen abdomen / ^{Ơ bdəmən} / noun a space inside

  쑗 pain in the abdomen (

  NOTE : For other terms referring to the abdomen, see words be- ginning with coeli-, coelio-.)

  COMMENT : The abdomen is divided for medi- cal purposes into nine regions: at the top, the right and left hypochondriac regions with the epigastrium between them; in the centre, the right and left lumbar regions with the umbilical between them; and at the bottom, the right and left iliac regions with the hypogastrium between them. _abdomin- abdomin-

  / bdɒmn / prefix same as abdom- ino- ( used before vowels ) _abdominal abdominal /

  b Ơ dɒmn(ə)l / adjective located in the abdomen, or relating to the abdomen _{abdominal aorta}

  abdominal aorta /

  b ^Ơ dɒmn(ə)l e ^Ơ ɔ tə

  /

  noun the part of the aorta which lies between the diaphragm and the point where the aorta divides into the iliac arteries. See illustration at

  KIDNEY in Supplement _{abdominal cavity} abdominal cavity /

  b Ơ dɒmn(ə)l k vti / ^{abdominal distension}

  the body below the diaphragm, above the pel- vis and in front of the spine, containing the stomach, intestines, liver and other vital or- gans the centre line of the body, or to pull a toe or finger away from the central line of a leg or arm. Compare adduct _abduction

  abduction / b ^Ơ

  / noun

  e bi əυ sstəm / noun a system of classifying blood groups.

  brucellosis _{ABO system} ABO system / ^Ơ

  bɔ təs fi və / noun same as

  abortus fever / ə ^Ơ

  noun a fetus which is ex- pelled during an abortion or miscarriage _{abortus fever}

  /

  ə ^Ơ bɔ təs

  abortus /

  a mild form of polio which only affects the throat and intestines _abortus

  ə ^Ơ bɔ tv pəυliəυ ^Ơ maə ^Ơ lats

  ə Ơ breȢ(ə)n / noun a condition in which the surface of the skin has been rubbed off by a rough surface and bleeds

  / adjective not successful 쑗 an abortive attempt _{abortive poliomyelitis} abortive poliomyelitis /

  ə Ơ bɔ tv

  abortive /

  sometimes experienced in the period after an abortion including guilt, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, eating and sleeping disorders and suicidal thoughts _abortive

  / noun a set of symptoms

  ə Ơ bɔ ʃ(ə)n trɔ mə sndrəυm

  abortion trauma syndrome /

  ə Ơ bɔ ʃ(ə)n pl / noun a drug that causes an abortion to occur very early in pregnancy _{abortion trauma syndrome}

  abortion pill /

  쒁 blood group _abrasion abrasion /

  COMMENT : As the intact skin is an efficient bar- rier to bacteria, even minor abrasions can al- low infection to enter the body and thus should be cleaned and treated with an anti- septic. _abreact abreact / ^{Ơ bri Ơ kt} / verb to release uncon-

  / noun a person

  쑗 She had an abscess under a tooth.

  쑗 Cotton wads are used to absorb the discharge from the wound. _{absorbable suture} absorbable suture /

  zɔ b / verb to take up or soak up something, especially a liquid, into a solid

  absorb / əb ^Ơ

  bsəlu t lkəhɒl / noun alcohol which contains no water _absorb

  / ^Ơ

  COMMENT : An acute abscess can be dealt with by opening and draining when it has reached the stage where sufficient pus has been formed. A chronic abscess is usually treated with drugs. _{absolute alcohol} absolute alcohol

  : The formation of an abscess is often accompanied by a high temperature. The plural is abscesses.)

  ( NOTE

  쑗 The doctor decided to lance the abscess.

  noun a painful swollen area where pus forms

  scious psychological tension by talking about or regularly remembering the events that caused it _abreaction

  /

  bses

  abscess / ^Ơ

  noun an occasion when the placenta suddenly comes away from the uterus earlier than it should, often causing shock and bleeding _abscess

  /

  ə ^Ơ br"ptiəυ plə ^Ơ senti

  abruptio placentae /

  ment of a person with a neurosis by making him or her think again about past bad experi- ences _{abruptio placentae}

  abreaction / ^{Ơ bri Ơ kʃən} / noun the treat-

  who helps a woman abort, usually a person who performs an illegal abortion _{abortion pill}

  bɔ ʃ(ə)nst

  d"kʃən / noun the movement of a part of the body away from the centre line of the body or away from a neighbouring part. Opposite adduction . See illustration at

  ablation / ^Ơ

  bnɔ ^Ơ m lti

  ‘…the synovium produces an excess of synovial flu- id, which is abnormal and becomes thickened. This causes pain, swelling and immobility of the affected joint.’ [Nursing Times] _abnormality abnormality / ^Ơ

  쑗 an abnormal move- ment

  / adjective not usual 쑗 abnormal behaviour

  nɔ m(ə)l

  abnormal / b ^Ơ

  an organ or of a part of the body by surgery _abnormal

  / noun the removal of

  bleʃ(ə)n

  reʃ(ə)n / noun an action or growth which is not usual or expected _ablation

  noun a form or condition which is not usual

  aberration / ^{Ơ bə Ơ}

  pected _aberration

   adductor _aberrant aberrant / ^{Ơ berənt} / adjective not usual or ex-

  b ^Ơ d"ktə m"s(ə)l / noun a muscle which pulls a part of the body away from the centre line of the body or away from a neighbouring part. Opposite

  / , abductor muscle /

  b ^Ơ d"ktə

  ‘Mary was nursed in a position of not more than 90° upright with her legs in abduction.’ [British Journal of Nursing ] _abductor abductor /

  in Supplement

  ANA - TOMICAL TERMS

  /

  ( NOTE

  / ə ^Ơ

  ə ^Ơ bɔ t

  COMMENT : In the UK, an abortion can be car- ried out legally if two doctors agree that the mother’s life is in danger, that she risks grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of herself or her children, or that the fe- ^abortionist abortionist

  to have an abortion to have an op- eration to make a fetus leave the uterus during the first period of pregnancy

  왍

  ə Ơ bɔ ʃ(ə)n / noun a situation where a fetus leaves the uterus before it is fully devel- oped, especially during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy, or a procedure which causes this to happen

  abortion /

  ə Ơ bɔ t Ơ feʃ(ə)nt / noun a drug or instrument which provokes an abortion _abortion

  abortifacient /

  to eject an embryo or fetus, or to cause an embryo or fetus to be ejected, and so end a pregnancy before the fetus is fully developed _{abortifacient}

  / verb

  abort /

  : For other terms referring to abnormality, see words begin- ning with terat-, terato-.)

  situated away from or opposite the mouth _abort

  / adjective

  b ^Ơ ɔ rəl

  aboral /

  tion in which the teeth in the top and bottom jaws do not touch _aboral

  / noun a condi-

  bɒ ^Ơ klu Ȣ(ə)n

  / ^Ơ

  ‘Even children with the milder forms of sickle-cell disease have an increased frequency of pneumococ- cal infection. The reason for this susceptibility is a profound abnormality of the immune system in chil- dren with SCD.’ [Lancet] _abocclusion abocclusion

  əb Ơ zɔ bəb(ə)l su tʃə / sorbed into the body, and does not need to be removed _{absorbent cotton}

  absorbent cotton /

  ə ^Ơ kri ʃ(ə)n / noun a gradual in- crease in size, as through growth or external addition

  쑗 I met her by accident at the bus stop. _{accidental injury} accidental injury / ^Ơ

  by chance

  쑗 Three peo- ple were killed in the accident on the motor- way. 2. chance, or something which happens

  쑗 She had an accident in the kitchen and had to go to hospital.

  event which happens suddenly and harms someone’s health

  / noun 1. an unpleasant

  ksd(ə)nt

  accident / ^Ơ

  noun the time when a woman is being looked after because her baby is being born, or has just been born _accretion

  accretion /

  쑗 an accretion of calcium around the joint _ACE ACE / ^{Ơ es} / noun an enzyme that increases

  accident and emergency department / ^Ơ

  blood pressure _acebutolol

  acebutolol / ^Ơ

  əb Ơ zɔ bənt kɒt(ə)n / noun a soft white material used as a dressing to put on wounds _absorption

  s ^Ơ bju təlɒl / noun a drug which reduces both the heart rate and how strongly the heart muscles contract, used in the treatment of high blood pressure and irregular _{ACE inhibitor} heart rhythms

  / ^Ơ

  es n ^Ơ hbtə / noun same as

  condition which results in a lack of catalase in all tissue _accessory

  / noun an inherited

  e Ơ k tə Ơ leziə

  acatalasia /

  ksdent(ə)l ndȢəri / noun an injury that happens to someone in an accident _{accident and emergency department}

  ksd(ə)nt ənd  ^{Ơ m! dȢənsi d Ơ pɑ tmənt}

  acarophobia / ^Ơ

  accident ward / ^Ơ

  accouchement /

  ə Ơ kɒmədetv skwnt / noun a squint when the eye is trying to focus on an object which is very close _accouchement

  accommodative squint /

  ity to focus on objects at different distances, using the ciliary muscle _{accommodative squint}

  / noun ( of the lens of the eye ) the abil-

  ə Ơ kɒmə Ơ deʃ(ə)n ri fleks

  commodation reflex /

  ə Ơ kɒmə Ơ deʃ(ə)n / , ac-

  casualty ward _{accommodation} accommodation /

  ksd(ə)nt wɔ d / noun a ward for urgent accident victims. Also called

  noun the work of taking action or changing procedures to prevent accidents from happening _{accident ward}

  /

  /

  ksd(ə)nt pr ^Ơ venʃən

  accident prevention / ^Ơ

  form to be filled in with details of an accident _{accident prevention}

  / noun a

  ksd(ə)nt r ^{Ơ pɔ t fɔ m}

  / , accident report form / ^Ơ

  ksd(ə)nt fɔ m

  accident form / ^Ơ

  noun the part of a hospital which deals with people who need urgent treatment because they have had accidents or are in sudden seri- ous pain. Abbr A & E _{accident form}

  kərə ^Ơ fəυbiə / noun an unu- sual fear of mites or ticks _acatalasia

  which kills mites or ticks _acarophobia

  /

  stenə / noun a person who does not drink alcohol _abstinence

  thing wrongly

   1. the act of using some-

  noun / ə ^Ơ bju s /

  abuse

  a lack of willpower _abuse

  / noun

  ə ^Ơ bu liə

  쑗 absti- nence from alcohol _abulia abulia /

  act of not doing something over a period of time, especially not eating or drinking

  abstinence / ^{Ơ bstnəns} / noun a deliberate

  abstainer / əb ^Ơ

  illegal use of a drug or overuse of alcohol

  solid _abstainer

  rate the rate at which a liquid is absorbed by a

  absorption

  왍

  process of taking into the body substances such as proteins or fats which have been di- gested from food and enter the bloodstream from the stomach and intestines

   2. the

  the process by which a liquid is taken into a solid

  / noun 1.

  əb ^Ơ zɔ pʃən

  absorption /

  쑗 the abuse of a privilege 2. the

  쑗 substance abuse 3. same as child abuse 4. bad

  / noun a substance

  food. Full form ante cibum _acanthosis

  ə Ơ k rsad

  acaricide /

  of mites or ticks on the skin _acaricide

  acariasis / ^{Ơ kə Ơ raəss} / noun the presence

  k pniə / noun the condition of not having enough carbon dioxide in the blood and tissues _acariasis

  acapnia / e ^Ơ

  a disease of the prickle cell layer of the skin, where warts appear on the skin or inside the mouth _acapnia

  / noun

  ə ^Ơ k n ^Ơ θəυss

  acanthosis /

  쑗 He had physically abused his wife and child. _a.c. a.c. adverb ( used on prescriptions ) before

  treatment of a person

   2. to treat someone badly 쑗 sexu- ally abused children

  harmful way

  authority to use one’s powers in an illegal or

  to abuse one’s

  왍

  쑗 Heroin and cocaine are drugs which are commonly abused.

  wrongly

   1. to use something

  bju z /

  쑗 sex- ual abuse 쐽 verb / ə ^Ơ

  쑗 physical abuse

  ə ^Ơ ku ʃmɒŋ

ACE inhibitor

  sesəri ɔ DZən / noun an organ which has a function which is con- ^accident

  e ^Ơ sefələs

  NOTE : The

  of the pelvic bone, shaped like a cup, into which the head of the femur fits to form the hip joint. Also called cotyloid cavity (

  acetabulum / ^{Ơ s Ơ t bjυləm} / noun the part

  noun a surgical operation to repair or rebuild the acetabulum _acetabulum

  acetabuloplasty / ^{Ơ s Ơ t bjυləυ Ơ pl sti} /

  a fetus born without a head _{acetabuloplasty}

  / noun

  angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor _acephalus acephalus /

  accessory organ / ək ^Ơ

  accessory /

  ək Ơ sesəri

  / noun something acetaminophen acetaminophen /

  accessory nerve /

  ək ^Ơ sesəri n! v

  /

  noun the eleventh cranial nerve which supplies the mus- cles in the neck and shoulders _{accessory organ}

  which helps something else to happen or oper- ate, but may not be very important in itself 쐽 adjective helping something else to happen or operate _{accessory nerve}

  ə ^Ơ si tə ^Ơ mnəfən

  aciclovir / e ^Ơ

  / noun 1. the level of acid in a

  ə Ơ sdti

  acidity /

  sd bes b ləns / noun the balance between acid and base, i.e. the pH level, in plasma _acidity

  acid–base balance / ^Ơ

  s ^Ơ di miə / noun a state in which the blood has too much acid in it. It is a feature of untreated severe diabetes. _{acid–base balance}

  acidaemia / ^Ơ

  taining hydrogen, which reacts with an alkali to form a salt and water _acidaemia

  acyclovir _acid acid / ^{Ơ sd} / noun a chemical compound con-

  sakləυvə / noun a drug that is effective against herpesviruses. Also called

  eki / adjective feeling aches all over the body ( informal ) _aciclovir

  쑗 The alkaline solution may help to re- duce acidity. 2. same as hyperacidity _acidosis acidosis / ^Ơ

  achy / ^Ơ

  ekrəυmə ^Ơ tɒpsiə / noun a rare condition in which a person cannot see any colours, but only black, white and shades of grey _achy

  achromatopsia / ^Ơ

  ekɒndrə ^Ơ pleziə / noun an inherited condition in which the long bones in the arms and legs do not grow fully while the rest of the bones in the body grow as usual, resulting in dwarfism _{achromatopsia}

  achondroplasia / ^Ơ

  Also called hereditary spherocytosis _{achondroplasia}

  ekəlu rk dȢɔ nds / noun a disease where unusually round red larged spleen and the formation of gallstones.

  acholuric jaundice / ^Ơ

  the absence of bile colouring in the urine _{acholuric jaundice}

  / noun

  ekɒ ^Ơ lu riə

  liquid

  s ^Ơ dəυss / noun

  ure of the secretion of bile _acholuria

  lung (

  acoustic nerve / ə ^Ơ

  sound or hearing _{acoustic nerve}

  / adjective relating to

  ə Ơ ku stk

  acoustic /

  as acne _acoustic

  acne vulgaris / ^{Ơ kni vυl Ơ DZɑ rs} / noun same

  kni rəυ ^Ơ zeʃə / noun same as rosacea _{acne vulgaris}

  쑗 She is using a cream to clear up her acne. _{acne rosacea} acne rosacea / ^Ơ

  baceous glands during puberty which makes blackheads appear on the skin, usually on the face, neck and shoulders. These blackheads often then become infected.

  NOTE : The plural is acini.) _acne acne / ^{Ơ kni} / noun an inflammation of the se-

   2. part of a lobule in the

   1. a condition

  forms part of a gland

  acinus / ^{Ơ snəs} / noun 1. a tiny sac which

  s ^Ơ djυəriə / noun a condition in which there is a higher level of acidity of the urine than is desirable _acinus

  aciduria / ^Ơ

  as hyperacidity _aciduria

  acid stomach / ^{Ơ sd st"mək} / noun same

  caused by a faulty muscle in the oesophagus allowing the acid in the stomach to pass into the oesophagus _{acid stomach}

  acid reflux / ^{Ơ sd ri fl"ks} / noun a condition

  s ^Ơ dɒtk / adjective relating to ac- idosis _{acid reflux}

   2. same as acidity _acidotic acidotic / ^Ơ

  when there are more acid waste products such as urea than usual in the blood because of a lack of alkali

  acholuria / ^Ơ

  / noun the absence or fail-

  /

  ə ^Ơ si təυ ^Ơ nju riə

  sd

  acetylsalicylic acid / ^{Ơ stal Ơ s ləslk}

  a compound produced in the metab- olism of carbohydrates, fatty acids and amino acids _{acetylsalicylic acid}

  / noun

  stalkəυ ^Ơ enzam e

  COMMENT : Acetylcholine receptors are of two types, muscarinic, found in parasympathetic post-ganglionic nerve junctions, and nicotinic, found at neuromuscular junctions and in auto- nomic ganglia. Acetylcholine acts on both types of receptors, but other drugs act on one or the other. _{acetylcoenzyme A} acetylcoenzyme A / ^Ơ

  stance released from nerve endings, which al- lows nerve impulses to move from one nerve to another or from a nerve to the organ it con- trols

  acetylcholine / ^{Ơ stal Ơ kəυli n} / noun a sub-

  the pres- ence of acetone in the urine, shown by the fact that the urine gives off a sweet smell _{acetylcholine}

  / noun

  쒁 ketone _acetonuria acetonuria /

  kə ^Ơ leziə

  substance formed in the body after vomiting or during diabetes.

  onaemia _acetone acetone / ^{Ơ stəυn} / noun a colourless volatile

  same as ket-

  /

  ə ^Ơ si təυ ^Ơ ni miə

  acetonaemia /

  drug which helps a person to produce more urine, used in the treatment of oedema, glauco- ma and epilepsy _acetonaemia

  / noun a

  ə Ơ si tə Ơ zɒləmad

   paracetamol _{acetazolamide} acetazolamide /

  noun US same as

  / noun 쏡 aspirin _achalasia achalasia / ^Ơ

  /

  e Ơ kəυliə

  cal operation to stitch a torn Achilles tendon _achillotomy

  acholia /

  a condi- tion in which the gastric juices do not contain hydrochloric acid, a symptom of stomach can- cer or pernicious anaemia _acholia

  / noun

  eklɔ ^Ơ hadriə

  쑗 aching legs _achlorhydria achlorhydria / ^Ơ

  continuous mild pain

  aching / ^{Ơ ekŋ} / adjective causing someone a

  a surgical operation to divide the Achilles tendon _aching

  / noun

  k ^Ơ lɒtəmi

  achillotomy / ^Ơ

  achillorrhaphy / ^{Ơ k Ơ lɔ rəfi} / noun a surgi-

  noun the condition of being unable to relax the muscles _ache

  a tendon at the back of the ankle which connects the calf muscles to the heel and which acts to pull up the heel when the calf muscle is con- tracted _{achillorrhaphy}

  / noun

  ə ^Ơ kli z tendən

  Achilles tendon /

  쑗 His tooth ached so much he went to the dentist. _{Achilles tendon}

  pain in part of the body

  쑗 He complained of various aches and pains. 쐽 verb to have a

  time, but is not very severe

  / noun a pain which goes on for a

  ek

  ache /

  ku stk n! v / noun the eighth cranial nerve which governs hearing acoustic neurofibroma acoustic neurofibroma /

  ə ^Ơ ku stk njυərəυfa ^Ơ brəυmə

  쑗 Although she is over eighty she is still very active. Opposite passive 2. ( of

  noun movement made by a person using his or her own willpower and muscles _{active principle}

  /

  ktv mu vmənt

  active movement / ^Ơ

  ktv n ^Ơ DZri diənt / noun the main medicinal ingredient of an oint- ment or lotion, as opposed to the base _{active movement}

  active ingredient / ^Ơ

  ktv  ^Ơ mju nti / noun immunity which is acquired by catching and surviving an infectious disease or by vaccina- tion with a weakened form of the disease, which makes the body form antibodies _{active ingredient}

  active immunity / ^Ơ

  medicinal effect _{active immunity}

  쑗 ex- perienced two years of active rheumatoid dis- ease Compare dormant 3. ( of a drug ) having

  a disease ) having an effect on a patient

  and energetic

  ktv prnsp(ə)l / noun the main medicinal ingredient of a drug which makes it have the required effect on a person _{activities of daily living}

  active / ^{Ơ ktv} / adjective 1. ( of a person ) lively

  a temporary change in electrical potential which occurs between the inside and the outside of a nerve or muscle fibre when a nerve impulse is sent _active

  / noun

  kʃən pə ^Ơ tenʃəl

  action potential / ^Ơ

  ktnəυma ^Ơ kəυss / noun a fungal disease transmitted to humans from cattle, causing abscesses in the mouth and lungs (pulmonary actinomycosis) or in the ile- um (intestinal actinomycosis) _{action potential}

  actinomycosis / ^Ơ

  ktnəυ ^Ơ masn / noun an an- tibiotic used in the treatment of children with cancer _{actinomycosis}

  ACTH abbr adrenocorticotrophic hormone _actinomycin actinomycin / ^Ơ

  _ACTH sclerosis which affects the extremities

  / noun

  active principle / ^Ơ

  activities of daily living /

  acrosclerosis / ^Ơ

  kt ɒn

  ə Ơ kju ti

  acuity /

  feelings by behaving in a socially unaccepta- ble way _acuity

  쑗 The antibi- otic acted quickly on the infection. _{act out} act out / ^{Ơ kt aυt} / verb to express negative

  to have an effect on someone or something

   2.

  쑗 He acted on his doc- tor’s advice and gave up smoking.

  to do something as the result of something which has been said

  / verb 1.

  kt ə ^Ơ pɒn

  / , act upon / ^Ơ

  act on / ^Ơ

  k Ơ tvtiz əv deli lvŋ

  antibacterial activity ef- fective action against bacteria _{act on}

  왍

  쑗 The drug’s activity only lasts a few hours.

  iour of a chemical

   2. the characteristic behav-

  쑗 difficulty with activities such as walk- ing and dressing

  does

   1. what someone

  tvti / noun

  activity / k ^Ơ

  and occupational therapists to assess the ca- pacity of elderly or disabled people to live in- dependently. Abbr ADLs _activity

  / noun a scale used by geriatricians

  krəυsklə ^Ơ rəυss

  krə ^Ơ fəυbiə / noun a fear of heights _{acrosclerosis}

  / , acoustic neuroma /

  noun an immunity which a body acquires from having caught a disease or from immunisation, not one which is congenital _{acquired immunodeficiency syndrome}

  acro- /

  which reduces the amount of histamine pro- duced by the body. It is used in the treatment of rhinitis, urticaria and eczema. _acro-

  / noun a drug

  ə Ơ krvə sti n

  acrivastine /

  noun a viral infection which breaks down the body’s immune system. Abbr AIDS _acrivastine

  /

  kwaəd m ^Ơ ju n d ^Ơ fʃ(ə)nsi sndrəυm

  / , acquired immune deficiency syndrome / ə ^Ơ

  kwaəd mjυnəυd ^Ơ fʃ(ə)nsi sndrəυm

  acquired immunodeficiency syndrome / ə ^Ơ

  /

  / prefix

  ə ^Ơ kwaəd  ^Ơ mju nti

  acquired immunity /

  condition which is neither congenital nor he- reditary and which a person develops after birth in reaction to his or her environment _{acquired immunity}

  / adjective referring to a

  ə Ơ kwaəd

  acquired /

  ku stk trɔ mə / noun physical damage caused by sound waves, e.g. hearing loss, disorientation, motion sickness or dizziness _acquired

  acoustic trauma / ə ^Ơ

  a tumour in the sheath of the auditory nerve, causing deafness _{acoustic trauma}

  / noun

  ə ^Ơ ku stk njυə ^Ơ rəυmə

  krəυ

  referring to a point or tip _acrocephalia

  acrophobia / ^Ơ

  acromioclavicular / ^{Ơ krəυmaəυklə Ơ}

  noun a condition in which the patient experi- ences sharp pains in the arms and numbness in ^acrophobia

  acroparaesthesia / ^{Ơ krəυp rs Ơ θi ziə} /

  noun a condition in which a nail grows into the flesh _{acroparaesthesia}

  /

  krɒnks, ^Ơ ekrɒnks

  acronyx / ^Ơ

  of the scapula, which forms the tip of the shoulder _acronyx

  / noun the pointed top

  ə Ơ krəυmiən

  acromion /

  vkjυlə / adjective relating to the acromion and the clavicle _acromion

  adjective referring to the acromion _{acromioclavicular}

  acrocephalia / ^Ơ

  /

  ə ^Ơ krəυmiəl

  acromial /

  caused by excessive quantities of growth hor- mone produced by the pituitary gland, causing a slow enlargement of the hands, feet and jaws in adults _acromial