| abdomen: |
| | Also referred to as the belly. It is the part of the body that contains all of the internal structures between the chest and the pelvis. |
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| ablation: |
| | Removal of diseased or unwanted tissue from the body by surgery or other means. |
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| abnormality: |
| | A variation from a normal structure or function of the body. |
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| abscess: |
| | An accumulation of pus anywhere in the body. |
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| absorbent products: |
| | Pads and garments, either disposable or reusable, worn to contain urinary leakage. Absorbent products include shields, guards, undergarment pads, and combination pad-pant systems, diaper-like garments and bed pads. |
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| absorptive hypercalciuria: |
| | Causes unabsorbed fatty acids to combine with calcium. This causes too much oxalate to be absorbed by the intestines. |
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| acetylcholine: |
| | A substance that plays an important part in the transmission of nerve impulses in the parasympathetic nervous system. This system controls smooth muscles including those of the bladder and urethra. |
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| ACTH: |
| | Also known as adrenocorticotropic hormone or corticotrophin. Hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce steroid hormones. |
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| acute: |
| | Acute often means urgent. An acute disease happens suddenly. It lasts a short time. Acute is the opposite of chronic, or long lasting. |
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| acute bacterial prostatitis: |
| | The least common form of prostatitis caused by bacteria traveling up the urethra and the backward flow of infected urine into the prostatic ducts. |
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| acute incontinence: |
| | Urine leakage (incontinence) that comes on suddently, usually caused by a new illness or condition and can often be reversed with appropriate treatment of the condition that caused it. |
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| acute infectious prostatitis: |
| | Having sudden onset, and requiring immediate medical attention; caused by bacteria. |
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| acute renal failure: |
| | A condition in which the kidneys suddenly stop working. In most cases, kidneys can recover from almost complete loss of function.
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| acute tubular necrosis: |
| | Also referred to as ATN. A severe form of acute kidney (renal) failure that develops in people with severe illnesses or with low blood pressure. Patients may need dialysis. Kidney function often improves if the underlying disease is successfully treated. |
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| adenocarcinoma: |
| | A cancer that develops in the lining or inner surface of an organ. |
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| adenoma: |
| | A benign (non-cancerous) tumor that arises in or resembles glandular tissue. |
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| adenomectomy: |
| | Surgical removal of a gland. |
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| ADH: |
| | Also known as antidiuretic hormone. A natural body chemical that slows down the production of urine. Some children who wet their beds regularly may lack normal amounts of ADH. |
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| adjuvant: |
| | A drug or agent added to another drug or agent to enhance its medical effectiveness. |
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| adrenal: |
| | Glands that reside above the kidneys composed of an inner medulla and an outer cortex. |
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| adrenal adenoma: |
| | Common, benign (non-cancerous) tumor arising from the cortex (out layer) of the adrenal gland. |
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| adrenal cancer: |
| | Cancer of the adrenal glands. |
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| adrenal carcinoma: |
| | Cancer of the adrenal cortex. |
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| adrenal cortex: |
| | The outer layer of the adrenal gland. |
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| adrenal gland: |
| | One of a pair of small glands, each of which sits on top of one of the kidneys. These glands produce hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, the way the body uses food and other vital functions. |
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| adrenal medulla: |
| | Inner portion of the adrenal gland. |
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| adrenal tumor: |
| | Abnormal mass of tissue or growth of cells in the adrenal glands. |
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| adrenalectomy: |
| | Surgical removal of one or both adrenal glands. |
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| adrenaline: |
| | Also known as epinephrine. Hormone secreted in the adrenal gland that raises blood pressure, produces a rapid heartbeat and acts a neurotransmitter when the body is subjected to stress or danger. |
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| adrenocortical carcinoma: |
| | Cancerous tumor of the adrenal cortex. |
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| adrenocorticotropic hormone: |
| | Also known as ACTH. Hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce steroid hormones. |
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| afferent nerve pathway: |
| | Nerve pathways carrying sensory impulses. |
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| ailment: |
| | A mild illness or injury, especially a persistent one. |
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| albuminuria: |
| | More than normal amounts of a protein called albumin in the urine. Albuminuria may be a sign of kidney disease.
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| aldosterone: |
| | An adrenal hormone critical for salt (sodium) balance. Produced by the outer part of the adrenal cortex, its action causes a reabsorption of sodium and secretion of potassium and is critical for the maintenance of blood pressure.
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| alkaline phosphates: |
| | Enzymes released into the blood in various disorders. |
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| alkalinity: |
| | The concentration of alkali, an acid-neutralizing chemical substance, in a solution measured in terms of pH. |
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| allantois: |
| | A membranous sac that grows from the lower gut and it combines with the chorion to form the umbilical cord and placenta.
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| allograft: |
| | An organ or tissue transplant between two humans. |
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| alpha-adrenergic blockers: |
| | Also known as alpha-blockers. Drugs used to treat high blood pressure and other conditions like an enlarged prostate or stress urinary incontinence. |
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| alpha-blockers: |
| | Also known as alpha-adrenergic blockers. Drugs used to treat high blood pressure and other conditions like an enlarged prostate. |
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| alport syndrome: |
| | An inherited condition that results in kidney disease. It generally develops during early childhood and is more serious in boys than in girls. The condition can lead to end-stage renal disease as well as hearing and vision problems. The common symptoms of this condition are chronic blood and protein in the urine. |
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| ambiguous genitalia: |
| | External genitalia which have physical characteristics falling somewhere between normal male and female, either of which may predominate. |
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| amyloidosis: |
| | A condition in which a protein-like material builds up in one or more organs. This material cannot be broken down and interferes with the normal function of that organ. In kidneys, amyloidosis can lead to proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome and renal failure. |
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| analgesia: |
| | The inability to feel pain. |
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| analgesic: |
| | A drug intended to alleviate pain. |
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| analgesic-associated kidney disease: |
| | Loss of kidney function that results from long-term use of pain-relieving medications. |
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| anaplasia: |
| | Changes occurring among groups of cancerous cells or within an individual cancer cell. |
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| anaplastic: |
| | Relating to or characterized by the loss of distinctive cell features. |
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| anatomy: |
| | The physical structure of an internal structure of an organism or any of its parts. |
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| androgen: |
| | Male sex hormone. |
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| androgen suppression therapy: |
| | The goal of hormone therapy is to lower the levels of the male hormones, androgens, that can allow prostate cancer cells to grow. |
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| anemia: |
| | The condition of having too few red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. People with anemia may be tired and pale, experience shortness of breath and/or may feel their heartbeat change. Anemia is common in people with chronic renal failure or those on dialysis. |
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| anesthesia: |
| | Loss of sensation in any part of the body induced by a numbing or paralyzing agent. Often used during surgery to put a person to sleep. |
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| anesthesia, general: |
| | Person is put to sleep with muscle relaxation and no pain sensation over the entire body. |
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| anesthesia, local: |
| | Loss of sensation only in one part of the body induced by application of an anesthetic agent. |
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| anesthesiologist: |
| | A physician who supervises the administration of anesthesia during surgery. |
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| anesthetic: |
| | A substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness. |
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| anesthetic creams: |
| | Creams that contain a small amount of a numbing chemical, most often benzocaine. |
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| anesthetized: |
| | Administered an anesthetic. |
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| aneurysm: |
| | An abnormal widening of a portion of a blood vessel. |
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| angiogram: |
| | X-ray photograph of a blood vessel. |
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| angiography: |
| | An X-ray examination of your blood vessels and lymphatics, after the injection of dye. |
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| angiomyolipoma: |
| | Benign, non-cancerous kidney tumors containing smooth muscle. Often treated by nephrectomy. |
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| aniridia: |
| | Absence of the iris in the eye from birth or as a result of injury or surgery. |
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| anterior: |
| | At or near the front. |
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| anti-androgen: |
| | Hormonal therapy drug that works by attaching itself to proteins on the surface of the cancer cell and blocking testosterone from entering the cancer cell. |
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| antibiotic: |
| | Drug that kills bacteria or prevents them from multiplying. |
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| antibiotic prophylaxis: |
| | Daily treatment with antibiotics to prevent infection. |
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| antibodies: |
| | Proteins that fight infections. |
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| antibody: |
| | Protein that fights infections. |
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| anticholinergic: |
| | Blocking impulses from the part of the nervous system that controls heartbeat, blood pressure and other responses to stress. A drug that interferes with the effects of acetylcholine. These drugs assist with bladder storage by increasing bladder contractions and are used to treat urge incontinence. |
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| anticoagulant: |
| | A substance that hinders clotting of blood. |
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| antidepressants: |
| | Medications used to treat depression and other related conditions. |
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| antidiuretic hormone: |
| | Also known as ADH. A natural body chemical that slows down the production of urine. Some children who wet their beds regularly may lack normal amounts of ADH. |
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| antihistamine: |
| | Drug that blocks cell receptors for histamine, either to prevent allergic effects like sneezing and itching or to reduce the rate of certain secretions in the stomach. |
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| antihypertensive: |
| | Preventing or reducing abnormally high blood pressure. |
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| antimicrobial medications: |
| | An agent that kills microorganisms or suppresses their multiplication or growth. |
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| antispasmodics: |
| | Capable of preventing or relieving spasms. |
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| antiviral: |
| | Capable of eliminating or inactivating viruses.
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| anuria: |
| | A condition in which the body stops making urine. |
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| anus: |
| | Opening at the end of the digestive tract where feces (stool) leave the body. The final two inches of the rectum. |
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| anxiety: |
| | A feeling of apprehension, often characterized by feelings of stress. |
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| aorta: |
| | The largest artery in the body. |
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| aortoiliac occlusive disease: |
| | Refers to disorders of the two major blood vessels that feed the lower half of the body--the aorta and the iliac artery. |
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| aortorenal bypass grafts: |
| | Transplant tissues used in aortorenal bypass surgery as a treatment for renal artery disease. |
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| apical: |
| | Used to describe the top of something. |
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| appendicitis: |
| | Swelling of the appendix causing severe pain. |
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| appendix epididymis or testis: |
| | Small embryologic remnants that are attached to the upper pole of the epididymis and testicle. They serve no function but can twist causing pain and swelling in the scrotum. |
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| arterial: |
| | Relating to, affecting or used in arteries. |
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| arterial embolization: |
| | A blockage or obstruction of foreign substance or a blood clot, in an artery. |
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| arteries: |
| | Blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to various parts of the body.
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| arteriography: |
| | A test to examine the arteries. |
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| arteriovenous fistula: |
| | Surgical connection of an artery directly to a vein, usually in the forearm, created in patients who will need hemodialysis (see dialysis). The AV fistula causes the vein to grow thicker, allowing the repeated needle insertions required for hemodialysis. |
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| artery: |
| | Blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to various parts of the body.
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| artificial insemination: |
| | The clinical insertion of sperm in the woman's uterus. |
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| artificial sphincter: |
| | Device used for treatment of urinary incontinence. Consists of three components: a pump, balloon reservoir and a cuff that encircles the urethra and prevents urine from leaking out. |
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| AS-RAS: |
| | Also known as atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis. Abnormal narrowing of the renal artery caused by fat deposits in the inner lining. |
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| aspermia: |
| | The lack of sperm. |
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| asthenospermia: |
| | A defect in sperm motility. |
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| asymmetry: |
| | Lack of balance. |
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| asymptomatic prostatic inflammation: |
| | Inflammation of the prostate without any symptoms. This condition is usually diagnosed on biopsy and does not usually require treatment.
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| atherosclerosis: |
| | A process of progressive thickening and hardening of the walls of medium-sized and large arteries as a result of fat deposits on their inner lining. |
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| atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis: |
| | Also known as AS-RAS. Abnormal narrowing of the renal artery caused by fat deposits in the inner lining. |
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| ATN: |
| | Also known as acute tubular necrosis. A severe form of acute kidney (renal) failure that develops in people with severe illnesses or with low blood pressure. |
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| atrophy: |
| | When an organ diminishes in size. |
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| autoimmune: |
| | A condition in which the body produces antibodies to its own tissue. |
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| autoimmune disease: |
| | Any disorder in which the body is attacked by its own immune system. Examples are goodpasture syndrome and lupus erythematosus. |
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| autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: |
| | Genetic disorder that results in an enlarged organ with many cysts that overtake healthy tissue and eventually causes kidney failure. |
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| AV fistula: |
| | Also known as arteriovenous fistula. Surgical connection of an artery directly to a vein, usually in the forearm, created in patients who will need hemodialysis (see dialysis). The AV fistula causes the vein to grow thicker, allowing the repeated needle insertions required for hemodialysis. |
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| azoospermia: |
| | Absence of sperm in the ejaculate fluid. |
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| azotemia: |
| | Also referred to as azotemic. A higher than normal blood level of urea or other nitrogen-containing compounds in the blood. |
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