| Term | Description |
| Abcess |
An inflamed cavity in the tissue where pus accumulates.
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| Absorption |
The movement of a substance from the site of administration into the bloodstream.
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| Accommodation |
The ability of the bladder wall to stretch as the bladder fills.
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| Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIDS |
A syndrome caused by infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
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| Acquired immunity |
Mechanisms that an individual develops after birth that defend against foreign substances.
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| Acute |
Short-lived.
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| Adjuvant |
Assisting in the prevention, improvement, or cure of disease.
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| Adrenaline (epinephrine) |
A substance released into the bloodstream by the adrenal glands that cause the heart to beat faster.
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| Adverse event |
Any negative medical occurrence in a patient which does not necessarily relate to treatment.
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| Aerobic |
Using oxygen for metabolism.
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| Aerosol |
Fine particles dispersed in a gas or air.
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| Affective disorder |
A mood disorder.
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| Afferent |
Towards the centre.
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| Agent |
A force or substance that causes a change.
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| Air hunger |
Sensation of breathlessness or suffocation; common sensation experienced by asthma patients.
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| Alimentary |
Related to food or nourishment.
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| Alimentary canal |
The passageway from the mouth to the anus.
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| Alkaline |
The opposite of acid.
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| Allergen |
A trigger that induces the immune response.
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| Allergic reaction |
The process by which a substance triggers an immune response.
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| Allergist |
A physician who treats allergic diseases.
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| Allergy |
A general term describing the immune response to certain substances, which leads to inflammation and the other effects common to this affliction.
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| Alveoli |
Bubble-like air sacs in the lungs.
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| Anaemia Anemia |
A lack of oxygen in the blood due to a shortage of red blood cells. Results in fatigue and breathlessness.
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| Anaerobic |
Not using oxygen for metabolism.
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| Anaesthesia Anesthesia |
1. Total or partial loss of sensation. 2. A drug given to cause same.
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| Analgesic |
A medication that relieves pain.
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| Anergy |
Lack of energy.
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| Aneurysm |
An expansion or bulging of an artery wall due to thinning of the wall.
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| Anorexia |
Diminished appetite or aversion to food.
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| Anoxia |
Reduced oxygen levels in the tissues.
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| Anterior |
Situated nearer to the front part of the body.
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| Anthrax |
An infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium bacillus anthracis. It can occur in three forms.
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| Antibiotics |
Anti-bacterial drugs.
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| Antibodies Antibody |
A protein that is involved in the destruction of disease-causing agents. The human body is capable of generating over a trillion different antibodies.
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| Antigen |
Any substance capable of stimulating the production of antibodies.
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| Aorta |
The main artery supplying oxygen-rich blood to the body; largest artery in the body.
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| Apnea Apnoea |
Temporary cessation of breathing.
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| Areola |
The pigmented area surrounding the nipple.
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| Arrhythmia |
Abnormal heart rhythm.
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| Artery |
Any of the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
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| Asthma |
A respiratory condition characterised by difficulty in breathing, constriction in the chest and often coughing or gasping.
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| Atria |
The first chamber on either side of the heart which receives blood from the veins.
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| Atypia |
An abnormality of a cell.
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| Aura |
The second stage of a migraine. Symptoms include visual disturbances, speech problems, numbness or tingling on one side.
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| Autonomic |
The part of the nervous system responsible for the control of automatic bodily functions.
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| Axon |
The primary fibre of a nerve cell; the axon is the main route of transmission of impulses along a nerve.
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