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P
pacemaker - an electronic device that is surgically implanted
into the patient's heart and chest to regulate heartbeat.
pain threshold - the point at which a stimulus causes
a feeling of pain.
palliative treatment - therapy that relieves symptoms,
such as pain, but does not alter the course of the disease; its primary
purpose is to improve the quality of life.
pallidotomy - a surgical procedure in which a part of
the brain, called the globus pallidus, is lesioned in order to improve
symptoms of tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia.
palming - an imaging technique involving the visualization
of color.
palpitation - sensation of rapid heartbeats.
palsy - paralysis of a muscle or group of muscles.
pancreas - long gland that lies behind the stomach; manufactures
insulin and digestive enzymes.
papillary stenosis - condition in which the openings
of the bile ducts and pancreatic ducts narrow.
parietal cells - cells in the stomach wall that make
hydrochloric acid.
parkinsonism - the name given to a group of disorders
with similar features including four primary symptoms: tremor, rigidity,
postural instability, and bradykinesia, that are the result of the loss
of dopamine-producing brain cells.
parosmia - any disease or perversion of the sense of
smell, especially the subjective perception of odors that do not exist.
partial colectomy - the removal of part of the large
intestine.
partial mastectomy - surgery to remove a portion of the
breast.
passive accessory intervertebral movements (PAIVMs) -
investigation of accessory gliding movements occurring in a joint.
passive physiological intervertebral movements (PPIVMs)
- investigation of passive physiological movements, passively, to confirm
restrictions seen on active movement testing.
patellar tendonitis - inflammatory condition of the patellar
ligament, usually due to overuse.
pathologist - physician who identifies diseases by studying
cells and tissues under a microscope.
pathology - the study of diseases.
peak flow meter - a portable, inexpensive, hand-held
device used to measure how air flows from lungs in one "fast blast"
to measure the ability to push air out of the lungs.
peak torque - measure of isokinetic performance.
pediatric dentist - a specialist in the field of dentristy
- dealing particularly with the oral health care of children, from infancy
through the teenage years.
pelvic exam - a physician examination of the uterus,
vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum.
pelvic lymph node dissection - removal of some lymph
nodes from the pelvis.
pepsin - enzyme made in the stomach that breaks down
proteins.
peptic - related to the stomach and the duodenum, where
pepsin is present.
peptic ulcer - sore in the lining of the esophagus, stomach,
or duodenum, usually caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. An ulcer
in the stomach is a gastric ulcer; an ulcer in the duodenum is a duodenal
ulcer.
perception - process of knowing or being aware of information
through the ear.
perfusion - flow.
perianal - area around the anus.
pericardium - the membrane that surrounds the heart.
perilymph fistula - leakage of inner ear fluid to the
middle ear that occurs without apparent cause or is associated with head
trauma, physical exertion, or barotrauma.
perineal - related to the perineum.
perineum - area between the anus and the sex organs.
periodontal diseases (Also called gum diseases.) - serious
bacterial infections that destroy the gums and the surrounding tissues
of the mouth.
periodontist - a specialist in the field of dentristy
responsible for the care and prevention of gum-related diseases, guided
bone regeneration, and dental implants.
periostitis (Also called shin splints.) - inflammatory
condition of the covering of the bones.
peripheral stem cell transplantation - a process in which
the stem cells (immature cells from which blood cells develop) are removed,
treated with anticancer drugs, and frozen until they are returned to the
patient.
peritoneal adhesions - the peritoneum is a two-layered
membrane that lines the wall of the abdominal cavity and covers abdominal
organs. Sometimes organs begin to adhere to the peritoneum, requiring
surgery to free the organs again.
peritoneum - lining of the abdominal cavity.
pessary - rubber or plastic device that is inserted through
the vagina to help hold the uterus in place in women who have prolapse
of the uterus.
Phalen's test - test for carpal tunnel syndrome in which
the wrists are flexed for one minute.
pharynx - space behind the mouth that serves as a passage
for food from the mouth to the esophagus and for air from the nose and
mouth to the larynx.
phonology - study of speech sounds.
photophobia - sensitivity to light.
photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) - surgical procedure
using an excimer laser to change the shape of the cornea.
physiatrist - the physician who specializes in physical
medicine and rehabilitation.
pituitary gland - gland at the base of the brain that
secretes hormones and regulates and controls other hormone-secreting glands
and many body processes, including reproduction.
placenta - organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy;
links the blood supplies of a pregnant woman to the fetus to provide nutrients
and remove waste products.
placental abruption - premature detachment of the placenta
from the wall of the uterus causing severe bleeding that is life threatening
to both a pregnant woman and fetus.
plantar warts - warts that occur on the sole of the foot
and look like calluses; often a result of an infection or a specific virus.
plaque, dental - film of mucus that traps bacteria on
the surface of the teeth.
plasma - the watery, straw-colored fluid which carries
the cellular elements of the blood through circulation.
platelets - cells found in the blood.
pneumonectomy - removal of an entire lung, for cancer,
lung abscesses, bronchiectasis, or extensive tuberculosis.
polyp - a growth that projects from the lining of mucous
membrane, such as the intestine.
polyposis - presence of many polyps.
polyunsaturated fat - a type of fat
found in vegetable oils and margarines that does not appear to raise blood
cholesterol levels.
pontic tooth - false tooth.
porcelain veneers - a ceramic material
that is bonded to the front of teeth to change the tooth's color, size,
and/or shape.
portal hypertension - abnormally high
blood pressure in the portal vein, which supplies the liver with blood
from the intestine.
portal vein - large vein that carries
blood from the intestines and spleen to the liver.
portosystemic shunt - operation to create
an opening between the portal vein and other veins around the liver.
positron emission tomography
(PET) - a nuclear scanning procedure that gives a three-dimensional picture
of the heart to provide information about the flow of blood through the
coronary arteries to the heart muscle.
post-anesthesia care unit (Also called recovery room.)
- the area a patient is brought to after surgery to recover.
postcholecystectomy syndrome (Also called
biliary dyskinesia.) - condition that occurs after a gallbladder removal
in which the muscle between the gallbladder and the small intestine does
not work properly, causing pain, nausea, and indigestion.
posterior chamber of the eye - the back section of the
eye's interior.
posterior optical segment - portion of the eye located
behind the crystalline lens; includes the vitreous, choroid retina, and
optic nerve.
posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) - the separation
of the vitreous from the retina.
postgastrectomy syndrome - condition
that occurs after an operation to remove the stomach (gastrectomy). (See
also dumping syndrome.)
postlingually deafened - individual who becomes deaf
after having learned language.
postvagotomy stasis - delayed stomach emptying; often
occurs after surgery on the vagus nerve.
predisposition - tendency to develop a certain disease.
prednisolone - one type of corticosteroid medication,
usually used for inflammation.
preeclampsia - A condition of hypertension occurring
in pregnancy, typically accompanied by edema and proteinuria.
prelingually deafened - individual who is either born
deaf or who has lost hearing early in childhood, before learning language.
presbycusis - loss of hearing that gradually occurs because
of changes in the inner or middle ear in individuals as they grow older.
preterm labor - labor that begins before the 37th week
of pregnancy.
prevalence - statistic that equals the total number of
people in a population with a certain disease at a given time.
prick skin test - a test to determine if a person is
allergic to certain substances. A physician places a drop of the substance
being tested on the persons forearm or back and pricks the skin with a
needle, allowing a tiny amount to enter the skin. If the person is allergi
primary sclerosing cholangitis - inflammation, scarring,
and narrowing of the bile ducts inside and outside the liver.
proctalgia fugax - intense pain in the rectum that occasionally
happens at night; caused by muscle spasms around the anus.
proctectomy - operation to remove the rectum.
proctocolectomy (Also called coloproctectomy.) - operation
to remove the colon and rectum.
proctocolitis - inflammation of the colon and rectum.
proctologist - physician who specializes in disorders
of the anus and rectum.
proctoscope - short, rigid metal tube used to look into
the rectum and anus.
proctoscopy - looking into the rectum and anus with a
proctoscope.
proctosigmoiditis - inflammation of the rectum and the
sigmoid colon.
proctosigmoidoscopy - endoscopic examination of the rectum
and sigmoid colon. (See also endoscopy.)
progestin - synthetic form of the female sex hormone
progesterone.
prognosis - a prediction of the course of the disease.
prolapse - condition that occurs when a body part slips
from its normal position.
prolapse of the uterus - displacement of the uterus down
into the vagina; caused by a weakening of supporting tissues in the pelvis.
proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) - techniques
used to improve motor skills through positive motor transfer, using the
principles of facilitation/inhibition; irradiation/reinforcement; reciprocal
innervation.
prostatalgia - pain in the prostate gland.
prostate acid phosphatase (PAP) - an enzyme produced
by the prostate that is elevated in some patients when prostate cancer
has spread beyond the prostate.
prostatectomy - surgical procedure for the partial or
complete removal of the prostate.
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) - an antigen made by
the prostate gland and found in the blood; may indicate cancer in the
prostate gland.
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test - a blood
test used to help detect prostate cancer by measuring a substance called
prostate-specific antigen produced by the prostate.
prostatism - any condition of the prostate that causes
interference with the flow of urine from the bladder.
prostatitis - an inflamed condition of the prostate gland
that may be accompanied by discomfort, pain, frequent urination, infrequent
urination, and, sometimes, fever.
prosthodontist - a dental specialist who has undergone
additional training and certification in the restoration and replacement
of broken teeth with crowns, bridges, or removable prosthetics (dentures).
proteinuria - The presence of excessive amounts of protein
in the urine.
proton pump inhibitors - medications that stop the stomach's
acid pump.
pruritus ani - itching around the anus.
pubic symphysis - anterior joint of the pelvis.
pudendal block - pain-relieving procedure used during
childbirth in which an anesthetic is injected into tissues surrounding
the pudendal nerves on either side of the vagina; blocks pain in the tissues
between the vagina and anus.
pulmonary - pertains to lungs and respiratory system.
pulmonary artery - blood vessel delivering oxygen-poor
blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
pulmonary hypertension - abnormally high blood pressure
in the arteries of the lungs.
pulmonary vein - the vessel that carries newly oxygenated
blood to the heart from the lungs.
pupil - the dark center in the middle of the iris through
which light passes to the back of the eye.
pupillary response - the constriction or dilation of
the pupil as stimulated by light.
pyloric sphincter - muscle between the stomach and the
small intestine.
pylorus - opening from the stomach into the top of the
small intestine (duodenum).
pyramidal pathway - a collection of nerve tracts that
travel from the cerebral cortex through the pyramid of the medulla oblongata
in the brainstem to the spinal cord. Within the pyramid of the medulla,
fibers cross from one side of the brain to the opposite side of the spin
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