| labium: |
| | Any of the four skin folds that surround the genital organs of a woman or girl. |
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| lamina propria: |
| | In the bladder, a layer of loose connective tissue between the urothelium and bladder muscle (separated by a membrane from the urothelium). |
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| laparoscope: |
| | An instrument in the shape of a tube that is inserted through the abdominal wall to give an examining doctor a view of the internal organs.
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| laparoscopic: |
| | Using an instrument in the shape of a tube that is inserted through the abdominal wall to give an examining doctor a view of the internal organs. |
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| laparoscopic laparotomy: |
| | A minimally invasive outpatient procedure performed under general or local anesthesia. A small incision is made in the abdomen. The laparoscope is inserted into the incision and the tumor is removed. |
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| laparoscopic nephrectomy: |
| | Removal of a kidney by using a laparoscope, an instrument in the shape of a tube that is inserted through the abdominal wall to give an examining doctor a view of the internal organs. |
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| laparoscopic pyeloplasty: |
| | Repairing kidney blockage by using a laparoscope, an instrument in the shape of a tube that is inserted through the abdominal wall to give an examining doctor a view of the internal organs. |
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| laparoscopic surgery: |
| | Surgery performed with an instrument in the shape of a tube that is inserted through small cuts. Using a small video camera and a few customized instruments, the surgeon can work in many body cavities without dividing skin from muscle thus reducing recovery time and complications. |
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| laparoscopically: |
| | With the use of a laparoscope, an instrument in the shape of a tube that is inserted through the abdominal wall to give an examining doctor a view of the internal organs. |
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| laparoscopy: |
| | Surgery using an instrument in the shape of a tube that is inserted through the abdominal wall to give an examining doctor a view of the internal organs. |
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| laparotomy: |
| | An operation in which the abdominal cavity is opened and inspected directly. |
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| large-bore catheter: |
| | A thin flexible tube that is inserted into a part of the body to drain an abscess of thick fluid.
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| laser: |
| | Device that utilizes the ability of certain substances to absorb electromagnetic energy and re-radiates as a highly focused beam of synchronized single wave-length radiation. |
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| laser coagulation: |
| | The coagulation (clotting) of tissue using a laser. A coagulation laser produces light in the visible green wavelength that is selectively absorbed by hemoglobin, the pigment in red blood cells, in order to seal off bleeding blood vessels.
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| lesion: |
| | A zone of tissue with impaired function as a result of damage by disease or wounding. Examples are scars, abscesses, tumors and ulcers.
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| leukemia: |
| | A type of cancer in which white blood cells displace normal blood. This leads to infection, shortage of red blood cells (anemia), bleeding, and other disorders, and often proves fatal. |
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| LH-RH: |
| | Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone. A drug that blocks the production of testosterone by the testicles. |
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| libido: |
| | Sexual desire. |
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| lipids: |
| | Group of organic compounds consisting of fats, oils, and related substances that, along with proteins and carbohydrates, are the structural components of living cells. |
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| lithotripsy: |
| | A method of breaking up kidney stones using shock waves or other means. |
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| Lithotripter: |
| | A machine used to perform lithotripsy. |
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| liver: |
| | A large, vital organ that secretes bile, stores and filters blood, and takes part in many metabolic functions, for example, the conversion of sugars into glycogen. The liver is reddish-brown, multilobed, and in humans is located in the upper right part of the abdominal cavity.
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| local anesthesia: |
| | Loss of sensation only in one part of the body induced by application of an anesthetic agent. |
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| lupus nephritis: |
| | Inflammation of the kidneys caused by an autoimmune disease called systemic lupus erythematosus. The condition can cause hematuria and proteinuria and it may progress to end-stage renal disease. |
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| lymph: |
| | Fluid containing white cells. It can transport bacteria, viruses and cancer cells. |
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| lymph nodes: |
| | Small rounded masses of tissue distributed along the lymphatic system most prominently in the armpit, neck and groin areas. Lymph nodes produce special cells that help fight off foreign agents invading the body. Lymph nodes also act as traps for infectious agents. |
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| lymphadenectomy: |
| | Removal of adjacent lymph nodes. |
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| lymphadenopathy: |
| | Any disease, disorder or enlargement of the lymph nodes. |
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| lymphatics: |
| | Relating to the lymph system. A vessel that transports or contains lymph, a fluid containing white blood cells.
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| lymphocytes: |
| | Important cells in the immune system that produces antibodies to attack infected and cancerous cells, and is responsible for rejecting foreign tissue. It is a kind of white blood cell.
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| lymphoma: |
| | A cancerous tumor originating in a lymph node. |
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