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L
labyrinth - organ of balance located in the inner ear;
consists of three semicircular canals and the vestibule.
labyrinthine hydrops - excessive fluid in the organ of
balance (labyrinth) that can cause pressure or fullness in the ears, hearing
loss, dizziness, and loss of balance.
lactase - enzyme in the small intestine needed to digest
milk sugar (lactose).
lactase deficiency - lack of the lactase enzyme.
lactose - sugar found in milk, which the body breaks
down into galactose and glucose.
laminectomy - surgical procedure which includes removal
of a portion of the lamina, to provide more room in the vertebral canal;
usually performed to treat disc herniation or spinal canal stenosis.
Landau-Kleffner syndrome - a childhood disorder of unknown
origin that can be identified by gradual or sudden loss of the ability
to understand and use spoken language.
language - system for communicating ideas and feelings
using sounds, gestures, signs, or marks.
laparoscope - thin tube with a tiny video camera attached,
used to look inside the body and see the surface of organs. (See also
endoscope.)
laparoscopic cholecystectomy - an operation to remove
the gallbladder.
laparoscopic lymph node sampling - lymph nodes are removed
through a viewing tube called a laparoscope, which is inserted through
a small incision in the abdomen.
laparoscopic lymphadenectomy - the removal of pelvic
lymph nodes with a laparoscope through small incisions in the lower abdominal
region.
laparotomy - a surgical procedure that involves an incision
into the abdominal cavity; often used when making a diagnosis when less
invasive tests are difficult or not possible.
large intestine - part of the intestine that goes from
the cecum to the rectum.
laryngeal neoplasms - abnormal growths in the larynx
(voice box) that can be cancerous or noncancerous.
laryngeal nodules - noncancerous, callous-like growths
on the inner parts of the vocal folds (vocal cords).
laryngeal paralysis - loss of function or feeling of
one or both of the vocal folds.
laryngectomy - surgery to remove part or all of the larynx
or voice box.
larynx - valve structure between the trachea (windpipe)
and the pharynx (the upper throat); the primary organ of voice production.
lavage - the process of washing (cleaning) of an organ
such as the bowel or stomach.
laxatives (Also called cathartics.) - medications to
relieve long-term constipation.
lens (Also called crystalline lens.) - the transparent
structure inside the eye that focuses light rays onto the retina.
lesion - an injury or wound.
levodopa (L-dopa) - an effective anti-Parkinson drug,
that is changed into dopamine in the brain.
Lewy body - a pink-staining sphere, found in the bodies
of dying cells, that is considered to be a marker for Parkinson's disease.
ligament - a flexible band of fibrous tissue that connects
the bones and bind the joints together.
lipid - a fatty substance in the blood.
lipoproteins - transporters of fatty substances in the
blood.
lithotripsy, extracorporeal shock wave (ESWL) - method
of breaking up bile stones and gallstones with a specialized tool and
shock waves.
liver - largest organ in the body; performs important
functions such as making bile, changing food into energy, and cleaning
alcohol and poisons from the blood.
liver enzyme tests (Also called liver function tests.)
- blood tests that indicate the functioning of the liver and biliary system.
living will - a legal document which states your medical
preferences for treatment and resuscitation in the event you can no longer
speak for yourself.
lobectomy - removal of a lobe of the lung, for cancer,
benign tumors, or infections.
lobule - a subdivision of a lobe or a small lobe.
local anesthesia - anesthetic medicine injected into
the site of the operation to temporarily numb that area.
loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) - procedure
for treating cervical dysplasia in which a fine wire loop and low-energy
current are used to remove abnormal tissue from the cervix.
loose body - name given to an object, located within
a joint, that has become detached.
low blood glucose - a condition that occurs in people
with diabetes when their blood glucose levels are too low.
low density lipoprotein (LDL) - a blood substance with
large amounts of cholesterol.
lower (gastrointestinal) GI series (Also called barium
enema x-ray.) - x-rays of the rectum, colon, and lower part of the small
intestine.
lower back (Also called lumbar spine.) - a complex structure
that connects the upper body to the lower body; consists of vertebrae,
disks, spinal cord, and nerves.
lower esophageal sphincter - muscle between the esophagus
and stomach.
lumen - the hollow area within a tube.
lumpectomy - a surgical procedure in which only the tumor
and a small area of surrounding tissue are removed.
lung volume - the amount of air the lungs hold.
luteinizing hormone (LH) - hormone secreted by the pituitary
gland in the brain that stimulates the growth and maturation of eggs in
females and sperm in males.
lymph nodes (Also called lymph glands.) - small glands
clustered in the neck, armpits, abdomen, and groin that supply infection-fighting
cells to the bloodstream and filter out bacteria and other antigens.
lymphadenectomy - a procedure in which lymph nodes are
taken from the body for purposes of diagnosing or staging cancer.
lymphatic system - tissues and organs, including bone
marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes, that produce, store, and carry
white blood cells to fight infection and disease.
lymphocyte - any one of a group of white blood cells
of crucial importance to the adaptive part of the body's immune system.
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