| decompression: |
| | A surgical procedure to reduce pressure in an organ, part of the body or the pressure of tissues on a nerve. |
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| decreased bladder compliance: |
| | A failure to store urine in the bladder caused by the loss of bladder wall elasticity and of bladder accommodation. This condition may result from radiation cystitis or from inflammatory bladder conditions. |
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| defecate: |
| | The act of having a bowel movement. |
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| degradation products: |
| | Something made to decline to a lower condition, quality or level. |
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| dehydration: |
| | Dangerous lack of water in the body resulting from inadequate intake of fluids or excessive loss through sweating, vomiting or diarrhea. |
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| dehydroepiandrosterone: |
| | Also known as DHEA. A steroid hormone produced by adrenal glands and converted to other hormones like estrogen and testosterone. |
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| dementia: |
| | General loss of short- and long-term memory and mental deterioration. It may affect emotions, abstract thinking, judgement, impulse control and learning and can cause functional incontinence. |
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| deoxyribonucleic acid: |
| | Also known as DNA. A molecule in the form of a twisted double strand that is the major component of chromosomes and carries genetic information. |
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| depression: |
| | A disorder characterized by feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of death. |
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| dermatology: |
| | A branch of medicine that deals with the skin and diseases affecting the skin. |
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| descended: |
| | Lowered. |
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| desmoid: |
| | Relatively large mass of unusually firm scar-like connective tissue. |
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| detrusor hyperactivity with impaired bladder contractility: |
| | Also known as DHIC. A condition characterized by involuntary detrusor contractions in which patients either are unable to empty their bladder completely or can empty their bladder completely only with straining due to poor contractility of the detrusor. |
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| detrusor muscle: |
| | Contracting muscle in the bladder that helps to expel urine. |
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| detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia: |
| | Also known as DSD. Damage to the nervous system can create a lack of coordination between the bladder and the external sphincter muscle. As a result, the bladder cannot empty completely which creates buildup of urinary pressure. DSD is the combination of these two factors and can lead to severe urinary tract damage. |
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| DHEA: |
| | Also known as dehydroepiandrosterone. A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands and converted to other hormones like estrogen and testosterone. |
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| diabetes: |
| | A medical disorder of increased blood sugar levels that can cause bladder and kidney problems. |
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| diabetes insipidus: |
| | A condition characterized by frequent and heavy urination, excessive thirst and an overall feeling of weakness. This condition may be caused by a defect in the pituitary gland or in the kidney. In diabetes insipidus, blood sugar levels are normal. |
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| diabetes mellitus: |
| | A condition characterized by high blood sugar resulting from the body's inability to use sugar (glucose) as it should. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas is not able to make enough insulin; in type 2 diabetes, the body is resistant to using available insulin. |
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| diabetic: |
| | Having diabetes, a medical disorder that causes the body to produce an excessive amount or urine. |
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| diabetic neuropathy: |
| | A condition in which portions of the spinal cord and its nerves have degenerated as a result of diabetes. |
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| diagnosis: |
| | The process by which a doctor determines what disease or condition a patient has by studying the patient's symptoms and medical history, and analyzing any tests performed (e.g., blood tets, urine tests, brain scans, etc.). |
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| dialysate: |
| | A cleansing liquid used in the two major forms of dialysis--hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
|
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| dialysis: |
| | A technique to remove waste products from the blood and excess fluid from the body as a treatment for renal (kidney) failure. Restores electrolyte and water balance within the body. This job is normally done by the kidneys. The two major forms of dialysis are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. |
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| dialyzer: |
| | Artificial kidney machine used in hemodialysis to filter waste from the blood. |
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| diaphragm: |
| | A curved muscular membrane that separates the abdomen from the area around the lungs. |
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| digital rectal examination: |
| | Also known as DRE. Insertion of a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the prostate and check for any abnormalities. |
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| dilatation: |
| | Process of widening or being widened. |
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| dilate: |
| | Widen. |
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| dilated: |
| | Widened. |
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| dilation: |
| | The stretching or enlargement of a hollow organ or body cavity. |
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| dilator: |
| | An instrument to stretch body tissues and enlarge an opening, passage or canal. |
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| diminished: |
| | Made or became smaller |
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| dipstick test: |
| | A measuring rod is dipped into a container to test urine for chemicals that suggest whether blood might be present and whether white blood cells might be present. This test can also show the pH (acidity) of your urine and how concentrated your urine is.
|
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| direct vision internal urethrotomy: |
| | Also known as DVIU. Surgical procedure using a camera and endoscopic instrument to cut a urethral stricture and fix the abnormal narrowing of the urethra. |
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| disimpaction: |
| | The act of removing stool from the rectum which could not be eliminated normally. Enemas, suppositories, laxatives and finger extraction are all means of disimpacting stool. |
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| distal: |
| | Location of urethral opening between the middle or the penile shaft and the head of the penis (glans). |
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| distally: |
| | Far from the center; remote. |
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| distended: |
| | Swollen. |
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| diuretic: |
| | A drug that increases the amount of water in the urine, removing excess water from the body. |
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| diverticula: |
| | Plural of diverticulum. A pouch or sac in the lining of the mucous membrane of an organ. |
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| diverticulitis: |
| | Inflammation of the diverticula along the wall of the colon. |
| |
| diverticulum: |
| | A pouch or sac in the lining of the mucous membrane of an organ. |
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| DNA: |
| | Also known as deoxyribonucleic acid. A molecule in the form of a twisted double strand that is the major component of chromosomes and carries genetic information. |
| |
| dopamine: |
| | A chemical compound, found in the brain, that transmits nerve impulses and is involved in the formation of epinephrine.
|
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| doppler: |
| | Using radio waves to detect and measure blood flow. |
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| doppler imaging: |
| | Imaging technique that relies on radio waves. |
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| dorsal chordee: |
| | An upward bend in the penis when the penis is erect(rigid). |
| |
| dorsal hood: |
| | The incomplete foreskin leaves the head of the penis exposed on its under surface. |
| |
| dorsum: |
| | Back or posterior side of a structure. |
| |
| DRE: |
| | Also known as digital rectal examination. Insertion of a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the prostate and check for any abnormalities. |
| |
| DSD: |
| | Also known as detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. Damage to the nervous system can create a lack of coordination between the bladder and the external sphincter muscle. As a result, the bladder cannot empty completely which creates buildup of urinary pressure. DSD is the combination of these two factors and can lead to severe urinary tract damage. |
| |
| dupuytren's contracture: |
| | An inflammatory shortening of the tendons on the palm of the hand that leaves one or more fingers permanently bent. |
| |
| DVIU: |
| | Also known as direct vision internal urethrotomy. Surgical procedure using a camera and endoscopic instrument to cut a urethral stricture and fix the abnormal narrowing of the urethra. |
| |
| dwell time: |
| | In peritoneal dialysis, the amount of time a bag of dialysate remains in the patient's abdominal cavity during an exchange. |
| |
| dysgenetic pseudohermaphroditism: |
| | A classification of ambiguous genitalia where the embryonic gonad fails to fully develop into a testis. |
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| dyspareunia: |
| | Painful sexual intercourse. |
| |
| dysuria: |
| | Painful or difficult urination, most frequently caused by infection or inflammation but it can also be caused by certain drugs. |
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