Dictionary of Medical Terms 4th Ed

the heart. See illustration at HEART in Supplement (NOTE: The pulmonary veins are the only

veins which carry oxygenated blood.) pulmonectomy / p"lmə nektəmi/ noun

same as pneumonectomy (NOTE: The plural is

pulmonectomies.)

pulmonology / p"lmən ɒləd i/ noun the branch of medicine that deals with the structure, physiology and diseases of the lungs pulp /p"lp/ noun soft tissue, especially when surrounded by hard tissue as in the inside of a

tooth

pulp cavity / p"lp k v ti/ noun the central

part of a tooth containing soft tissue

pulpy / p"lpi/ adjective made of pulp the pulpy tissue inside a tooth

pulsate /p"l se t/ verb to expand and contract with a strong regular beat (NOTE: pulsating – pulsated)

pulsation /p"l se ʃ(ə)n/ noun the action of beating regularly, e.g. the visible pulse which can be seen under the skin in some parts of the body

pulse /p"ls/ noun the regular expansion and contraction of an artery caused by the heart pumping blood through the body, which can be felt with the fingers especially where an artery is near the surface of the body, as in the wrist or neck Her pulse is very irregular. to take or feel a person’s pulse to measure a person’s pulse rate by pressing on the skin above an artery with the fingers Has the patient’s pulse been taken?

COMMENT: The standard adult pulse is about 72 beats per minute, but it is higher in children. The pulse is usually taken by placing the fingers on the patient’s wrist, at the point where the radial artery passes through the depression just below the thumb.

pulseless / p"lsləs/ adjective referring to a person who has no pulse because the heart is

beating very weakly

pulse oximetry / p"ls ɒk s mətri/ noun a method of measuring the oxygen content of ar-

terial blood

pulse point / p"ls pɔ nt/ noun a place on the

body where the pulse can be taken

pulse pressure / p"ls preʃə/ noun the difference between the diastolic and systolic

pressure. Corrigan’s pulse

pulse rate / p"ls re t/ noun the number of

times the pulse beats per minute pulsus / p"lsəs/ noun same as pulse

pulsus alternans / p"lsəs ɔ ltən nz/ noun a pulse with a beat which is alternately

strong and weak

pulsus bigeminus / p"lsəs ba &em nəs/

noun a double pulse, with an extra ectopic beat pulsus paradoxus / p"lsəs p rə dɒksəs/

noun a condition in which there is a sharp fall in the pulse when the person breathes in pulvis / p"lv s/ noun powder

pump /p"mp/ noun a machine which forces liquids or air into or out of something verb to force liquid or air along a tube The heart pumps blood round the body. The nurses tried to pump the poison out of the stomach. pumping chamber / p"mp ŋ tʃe mbə/ noun one of the sections of the heart where blood is pumped

punch drunk syndrome /p"ntʃ dr"ŋks ndrəυm/ noun a condition affecting a per-

son, usually a boxer, who has been hit on the head many times and develops impaired mental faculties, trembling limbs and speech disorders

puncta / p"ŋktə/ plural of punctum puncta lacrimalia / p"ŋktə l kr me liə/ plural noun small openings at the corners of the eyes through which tears drain into the nose

punctate / p"ŋkte t/ adjective referring to tissue or a surface which has tiny spots, holes or dents in it

punctum / p"ŋktəm/ noun a point (NOTE:

The plural is puncta.)

puncture / p"ŋktʃə/ noun 1. a neat hole made by a sharp instrument 2. the making of a hole in an organ or swelling to take a sample of the contents or to remove fluid verb to make a hole in tissue with a sharp instrument (NOTE: puncturing – punctured)

puncture wound / p"ŋktʃə wu nd/ noun a wound made by a sharp instrument which makes a hole in the tissue

pupil / pju p(ə)l/ noun the central opening in the iris of the eye, through which light enters the eye. See illustration at EYE in Supplement pupillary / pju p ləri/ adjective referring to the pupil

pupillary reaction / pju p ləri ri kʃən/ noun a reflex of the pupil of the eye which contracts when exposed to bright light. Also called light reflex

purchaser / p! tʃ sə/ noun a body, usually a PCG, which commissions health care and manages the budget to pay for the service. provider

pure /pjυə/ adjective 1. not mixed with other substances 2. very clean

pure alcohol / pjυə lkəhɒl/ noun alcohol BP, alcohol with 5% water

purgation /p! &e ʃ(ə)n/ noun the use of a drug to cause a bowel movement

purgative / p! &ət v/ noun a drug used to empty the bowels. laxative

purge /p! d / verb to induce evacuation of the bowels (NOTE: purging – purged)

purified protein derivative / pjυər fa d prəυti n d r vət v/ noun a pure form of tu-

berculin, used in tuberculin tests. Abbr PPD purify / pjυər fa / verb to make something

pure (NOTE: purifies – purifying – purified)

purine / pjυəri n/ noun 1. a nitrogen-contain- ing substance derived from uric acid which is the parent compound of several biologically important substances 2. a derivative of purine, especially either of the bases adenine and guanine, which are found in RNA and DNA

Purkinje cells /pə k nd i selz/ plural noun neurones in the cerebellar cortex [Described 1837. After Johannes Evangelista Purkinje (1787–1869), Professor of Physiology at Breslau, now in Poland, and then Prague, Czech Republic.]

Purkinje fibres /pə k nd i fa bəz/ plural noun a bundle of fibres which form the atrioventricular bundle and pass from the atrioventricular node to the septum [Described 1839. After Johannes Evangelista Purkinje (1787– 1869), Professor of Physiology at Breslau, now in Poland, and then Prague, Czech Republic.]

Purkinje shift /pə k nd i ʃ ft/ noun the change in colour sensitivity which takes place in the eye in low light when the eye starts using the rods in the retina because the light is too weak to stimulate the cones

purpura / p! pjυrə/ noun a purple colouring on the skin, similar to a bruise, caused by blood disease and not by trauma pursestring operation / p! sstr ŋ ɒpə re ʃ(ə)n/ same as Shirodkar’s operation

pursestring stitch / p! sstr ŋ st tʃ/ noun

same as Shirodkar suture

purulent / pjυərυlənt/ adjective containing or producing pus

pus /p"s/ noun a yellow liquid composed of blood serum, pieces of dead tissue, white blood cells and the remains of bacteria, formed by the body in reaction to infection (NOTE: For other terms referring to pus, see words beginning with py- or pyo-.)

pustular / p"stjυlə/ adjective 1. covered with or composed of pustules 2. referring to pustules

pustulate / p"stjυle t/ verb to become covered with pustules, or cause pustules to appear on the skin (NOTE: pustulating – pustulated) adjective covered with pustules

pustule / p"stju l/ noun a small pimple filled with pus

putrefaction / pju tr f kʃən/ noun the decomposition of organic substances by bacteria, making an unpleasant smell

putrefy / pju tr fa / verb to rot or decompose

(NOTE: putrefies – putrefying – putrefied)

put up / pυt "p/ verb to arrange something such as a drip (NOTE: putting up – put up)

p.v. adverb by way of the vagina. Full form per vaginam

PVS abbr persistent vegetative state

PWA / pi d"bljυ e / noun a person with Aids

py- /pa /, pyo- /pa əυ/ prefix same as pyo-

(used before vowels)

pyaemia /pa i miə/ noun invasion of blood with bacteria which then multiply and form many little abscesses in various parts of the body (NOTE: The US spelling is pyemia.) pyarthrosis / pa ɑ θrəυs s/ noun a condition in which a joint becomes infected with pyogenic organisms and fills with pus. Also called acute suppurative arthritis

pyel- /pa əl/ prefix same as pyelo- (used before vowels)

pyelitis / pa ə la t s/ noun inflammation of the central part of the kidney

pyelo- /pa ələυ/ prefix referring to the pelvis of the kidney

pyelocystitis / pa ələυs sta t s/ noun inflammation of the pelvis of the kidney and the urinary bladder

pyelogram / pa ələ&r m/ noun an X-ray photograph of a kidney and the urinary tract pyelography / pa ə lɒ&rəfi/ noun X-ray examination of a kidney after introduction of a contrast medium

pyelolithotomy / pa ələυl θɒtəmi/ noun a surgical operation to remove a stone from the pelvis of the kidney (NOTE: The plural is pyelolithotomies.)

pyelonephritis / pa ələυn fra t s/ noun inflammation of the kidney and the pelvis of the kidney

pyeloplasty / pa ələpl sti/ noun any surgical operation on the pelvis of the kidney (NOTE: The plural is pyeloplasties.)

pyelotomy / pa ə lɒtəmi/ noun a surgical operation to make an opening in the pelvis of the kidney (NOTE: The plural is pyelotomies.)

pyemia /pa i miə/ noun US same as pyaemia

pykno- /p knəυ/ prefix indicating thickness or density

pyknolepsy / p knə lepsi/ noun a former name for a type of frequent attack of petit mal epilepsy affecting children

pyl- /pa l/, pyle- / pa li/ prefix referring to the portal vein

pylephlebitis / pa liflə ba t s/ noun thrombosis of the portal vein

pylethrombosis / pa liθrɒm bəυs s/ noun a condition in which blood clots are present in the portal vein or any of its branches

pylor- /pa lɔ r/ prefix same as pyloro- (used before vowels)

pylorectomy / pa lə rektəmi/ noun a surgical operation to remove the pylorus and the antrum of the stomach (NOTE: The plural is pylorectomies.)

pylori /pa lɔ ri/ plural of pylorus

pyloric /pa lɒr k/ adjective referring to the pylorus

pyloric antrum /pa lɒr k ntrəm/ noun a space at the bottom of the stomach, before the pyloric sphincter

pyloric orifice /pa lɒr k ɒr f s/ noun an opening where the stomach joins the duodenum

pyloric sphincter /pa lɒr k sf ŋktə/ noun a muscle which surrounds the pylorus, makes it contract and separates it from the duodenum pyloric stenosis /pa lɒr k ste nəυs s/ noun a blockage of the pylorus, which prevents food from passing from the stomach into the duodenum

pyloro- /pa lɔ rəυ/ prefix the pylorus

pyloroplasty /pa lɔ rəpl sti/ noun a surgical operation to make the pylorus larger, sometimes combined with treatment for peptic ulcers (NOTE: The plural is pyloroplasties.) pylorospasm /pa lɔ rəsp z(ə)m/ noun a muscle spasm which closes the pylorus so that food cannot pass through into the duodenum pylorotomy / pa lə rɒtəmi/ noun a surgical operation to cut into the muscle surrounding the pylorus to relieve pyloric stenosis. Also called Ramstedt’s operation (NOTE: The plural is pylorotomies.)

pylorus /pa lɔ rəs/ noun an opening at the bottom of the stomach leading into the duodenum (NOTE: The plural is pylori.)

pyo- /pa əυ/ prefix referring to pus

pyocele / pa əsi l/ noun an enlargement of a tube or cavity due to accumulation of pus pyocolpos / pa ə kɒlpəs/ noun an accumulation of pus in the vagina

pyoderma / pa ə d! mə/ noun an eruption of pus in the skin

pyoderma gangrenosum / pa əd! mə& ŋ&r nəυsəm/ noun a serious ulcerating

disease of the skin, especially the legs, usually treated with steroid drugs

pyogenesis / pa ə d en s s/ noun the production or formation of pus

pyogenic / pa ə d en k/ adjective producing or forming pus

pyometra / pa ə mi trə/ noun an accumulation of pus in the uterus

pyomyositis / pa əυma ə sa t s/ noun inflammation of a muscle caused by staphylococci or streptococci

pyonephrosis / pa əυn frəυs s/ noun the distension of the kidney with pus pyopericarditis / pa əυperikɑ da t s/ noun an inflammation of the pericardium due to infection with staphylococci, streptococci or pneumococci

pyopneumothorax / pa əυ nju məυ θɔ r ks/ noun an accumulation of pus and gas or air in the pleural cavity

pyorrhoea / pa ə riə/ noun discharge of pus

(NOTE: The US spelling is pyorrhea.) pyorrhoea alveolaris / pa əriə lviəυ lɑ r s/ noun suppuration from the supporting tissues round the teeth

pyosalpinx / pa ə s lp ŋks/ noun inflammation and formation of pus in a Fallopian tube

pyothorax / pa ə θɔ r ks/ noun same as empyema

pyr- /pa r/ prefix same as pyro- (used before vowels)

pyramid / p rəm d/ noun a cone-shaped part of the body, especially a cone-shaped projection on the surface of the medulla oblongata or in the medulla of the kidney. See illustration at KIDNEY in Supplement

pyramidal /p r m d(ə)l/ adjective referring to a pyramid

pyramidal cell /p r m d(ə)l sel/ noun a cone-shaped cell in the cerebral cortex

pyramidal system /p r m d(ə)l s stəm/, pyramidal tract /p r m d(ə)l tr kt/ noun a

group of nerve fibres within the pyramid of the medulla oblongata in the brain. It is thought to be vital in controlling movement and speech.

pyretic /pa ret k/ adjective referring to fevernoun an agent that causes fever

pyrexia /pa reksiə/ noun same as fever pyrexic /pa reks k/ adjective having fever

pyridostigmine / p r dəυ st &mi n/ noun a drug which stops or delays the action of the enzyme cholinesterase, used to treat myasthenia gravis

pyridoxine / p r dɒks n/ noun same as Vitamin B6

pyrimidine /p r m di n/ noun 1. a strongsmelling nitrogenous based compound with a six-sided ring structure that is the parent compound of several biologically important substances 2. a derivative of pyrimidine, especially any of the bases cytosine, thymine, and uracil which are found in RNA and DNA

pyro- /pa rəυ/ prefix burning or fever

pyrogen / pa rəd en/ noun a substance which causes a fever

pyrogenic / pa rə d en k/ adjective causing a fever

pyromania / pa rəυ me niə/ noun an uncontrollable desire to start fires

pyrophobia / pa rəυ fəυbiə/ noun an unusual fear of fire

pyruvic acid /pa ru v k s d/ noun a substance formed from glycogen in the muscles when it is broken down to release energy pyuria /pa jυəriə/ noun pus in the urine

q.d.s. adverb (written on prescriptions) to be taken four times a day. Full form quater in die sumendus

Q fever / kju fi və/ noun an infectious rickettsial disease of sheep and cows caused by Coxiella burnetti transmitted to humans

COMMENT: Q fever mainly affects farm workers and workers in the meat industry. The symptoms are fever, cough and headaches.

q.i.d. adverb (written on prescriptions) four times a day. Full form quater in die

q.l. adverb (written on prescriptions) as much as you like. Full form quantum libet

q.m. adverb (written on prescriptions) every morning. Full form quaque mane

q.n. adverb (written on prescriptions) every night. Full form quaque nocte

QRS complex / kju ɑ r es kɒmpleks/ noun the deflections on an electrocardiogram, labelled Q, R, and S, which show ventricular contraction. PQRST complex

q.s. adverb (written on prescriptions) as much as necessary. Full form quantum sufficiat

Q-T interval / kju ti ntəv(ə)l/, Q-S2 interval / kju es tu ntəv(ə)l/ noun the

length of the QRS complex in an electrocardiogram. PQRST complex

quad /kwɒd/ noun same as quadruplet

(informal)

quadrant / kwɒdrənt/ noun one of four sectors of the body thought of as being divided by the sagittal plane and the intertubercular plane

tenderness in the right lower quadrant quadrantanopia / kwɒdr ntə nəυpiə/ noun blindness in a quarter of the field of vision

quadrate lobe / kwɒdre t ləυb/ noun a lobe on the lower side of the liver

quadratus /kwɒ dre təs/ noun any muscle with four sides

quadratus femoris /kwɒ dre təs femər s/ noun a muscle at the top of the fe-

mur which rotates the thigh quadri- /kwɒdri/ prefix four

quadriceps / kwɒdr seps/, quadriceps femoris / kwɒdr seps femɒr s/ noun a large

muscle in the front of the thigh, which extends to the leg

COMMENT: The quadriceps femoris is divided into four parts: the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and vastus intermedius. It is the sensory receptors in the quadriceps which react to give a knee jerk when the patellar tendon is tapped.

quadriplegia / kwɒdr pli d ə/ noun paralysis of all four limbs, both arms and both legs quadriplegic / kwɒdr pli d k/ adjective paralysed in both arms and both legs noun a person paralysed in both arms and both legs quadruple / kwɒdrυp(ə)l/ adjective 1. consisting of four times as much 2. having four parts

quadruplet / kwɒdrυplət/ noun one of four babies born to a mother at the same time. Also called quad

quadruple vaccine / kwɒdrυp(ə)l v ksi n/ noun a vaccine which immunises against four diseases, diphtheria, whooping cough, poliomyelitis and tetanus quadrupod / kwɒdrυpɒd/ noun a walking stick which ends in four little legs

qualification / kwɒl f ke ʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. a quality which makes a person suitable to do something 2. an official recognition of a standard of achievement, e.g. a degree or diploma

She has a qualification in pharmacy. Are his qualifications recognised in Great Britain? qualify / kwɒl fa / verb 1. to make a person suitable to do something 2. to pass a course of study and be accepted as being able to practise

He qualified as a doctor two years ago.

(NOTE: [all senses] qualifies – qualifying – qualified)

qualitative / kwɒl tət v/ adjective referring to a study in which descriptive information is collected. Compare quantitative

quality / kwɒl ti/ noun 1. a characteristic of somebody or something 2. the general standard or grade of something 3. the highest or finest standard

quality assurance / kwɒl ti ə ʃυərəns/ noun a set of criteria which are designed to check that people in an organisation maintain

a high standard in the products or services they supply

quality circle / kwɒləti s! k(ə)l/ noun a group of employees from different levels of an organisation who meet regularly to discuss ways of improving the quality of its products or services

Qualpacs / kwɒlp ks/, Quality Patient Care Scale / kwɒl ti pe ʃ(ə)nt keə ske l/

noun a method which guides nurses to evaluate their activity in terms of efficiency of cost, time, use of skill level and workload

quantitative / kwɒnt tət v/ adjective referring to a study in which numerical information is collected. Compare qualitative

quantitative digital radiography / kwɒn t tət v d d t(ə)l re di ɒ&rəfi/ noun the use

of digital X-ray scans to find out whether a person has a bone disease such as osteoporosis. The levels of calcium in the bones are measured, usually in the spine and hip. quarantine / kwɒrənti n/ noun 1. the situation in which a person, animal or ship just arrived in a country is kept isolated in case it carries a serious disease, to allow the disease time to develop and be detected 2. the period of such isolation to prevent the spread of disease

six months’ quarantine verb to put a person or animal in quarantine (NOTE: quarantining – quarantined)

COMMENT: People who are suspected of having an infectious disease can be kept in quarantine for a period which varies according to the incubation period of the disease. The main diseases concerned are cholera, yellow fever and typhus.

quartan / kwɔ t(ə)n/ adjective referring to a fever which occurs every fourth day, e.g. in some types of malaria

quartan fever / kwɔ t(ə)n fi və/ noun a form of malaria caused by Plasmodium malariae in which the fever returns every four days.

tertian fever

queasiness / kwi z nəs/ noun the feeling of being about to vomit

queasy / kwi zi/ adjective feeling as though about to vomit

Queckenstedt test / kwekənsted test/ noun a test done during a lumbar puncture in which pressure is applied to the jugular veins to see if the cerebrospinal fluid is flowing correctly [Described 1916. After Hans Heinrich George Queckenstedt (1876–1918), German physician.]

quickening / kw kn ŋ/ noun the first sign of life in an unborn baby, usually after about four months of pregnancy, when the mother can feel it moving in her uterus

Quick test / kw k test/, Quick’s test noun a test to identify the clotting factors in a blood sample [Described 1932. After Armand James Quick (1894–1978), Professor of Biochemistry, Marquette University, USA.]

quiescent /kwi es(ə)nt/ adjective referring to a disease with symptoms reduced either by treatment or in the usual course of the disease quin /kw n/ noun same as quintuplet

(informal) (NOTE: The US term is quint.) quinine /kw ni n/ noun an alkaloid drug made from the bark of cinchona, a South American tree

COMMENT: Quinine was formerly used to treat the fever symptoms of malaria, but is not often used now because of its side-effects. Small amounts of quinine have a tonic effect and are used in tonic water.

caused by taking too much quinine, leading to dizziness and noises in the head

quinolone /kw nə ləυn/ noun a drug used to treat Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial infections of the respiratory and urinary tracts and of the gastro-intestinal system

(NOTE: Quinolone drugs have names ending in - oxacin: ciprofloxacin)

COMMENT: Contraindications include use in pregnancy, renal disease and for use in children.

quinsy / kw nzi/ noun acute throat inflammation with an abscess round a tonsil. Also called peritonsillar abscess

quint /kw nt/ noun US same as quintuplet quintan / kw ntən/ adjective referring to a fe-

ver that occurs every fifth day

quintuplet / kw ntjυplət/ noun one of five babies born to a mother at the same time. Also called quin, quint

quotidian /kwəυ t diən/ adjective recurring

daily

quotidian fever /kwəυ t diən fi və/ noun a violent form of malaria in which the fever re-

turns at daily or even shorter intervals quotient / kwəυʃ(ə)nt/ noun the result when

one number is divided by another

Q wave / kju we v/ noun a negative deflection at the start of the QRS complex on an electrocardiogram, going downwards

R symbol roentgen

R/ abbreviation prescription. Full form recipe rabbit fever / r b t fi və/ noun same as tularaemia

rabid / r b d/ adjective referring to rabies, or affected by rabies She was bitten by a rabid dog.

rabid encephalitis / r b d en kefə la t s/ noun a fatal form of encephalitis resulting from the bite of a rabid animal

rabies / re bi z/ noun a frequently fatal viral disease transmitted to humans by infected animals The hospital ordered a batch of rabies vaccine. Also called hydrophobia

COMMENT: Rabies affects the mental balance, and the symptoms include difficulty in breathing or swallowing and an intense fear of water (hydrophobia) to the point of causing convulsions at the sight of water.

racemose / r s məυs/ adjective referring to glands which look like a bunch of grapes rachi- /re ki/ prefix same as rachio- (used before vowels)

rachianaesthesia / re ki nəs θi ziə/ same as spinal anaesthesia (NOTE: The US spelling is rachianesthesia.)

rachio- /re kiəυ/ prefix referring to the spine rachiotomy / re ki ɒtəmi/ noun same as

laminectomy (NOTE: The plural is rachiotomies.)

rachis / re k s/ noun same as backbone

(NOTE: The plural is rachises or rachides.) rachischisis /re k sk s s/ noun same as spina bifida

rachitic /rə k t k/ adjective referring to rickets

rachitis /rə ka t s/ noun same as rickets

rad /r d/ noun a unit of measurement of absorbed radiation dose. becquerel, gray

(NOTE: Gray is now used to mean one hundred rads.)

radial / re diəl/ adjective 1. referring to something which branches 2. referring to the radius bone in the arm

radial artery / re diəl ɑ təri/ noun an artery which branches from the brachial artery, run-

ning near the radius, from the elbow to the

palm of the hand

radial nerve / re diəl n! v/ noun the main motor nerve in the arm, running down the back of the upper arm and the outer side of the fore-

arm

radial pulse / re diəl p"ls/ noun the main pulse in the wrist, taken near the outer edge of

the forearm just above the wrist

radial recurrent / re diəl r k"rənt/ noun an artery in the arm which forms a loop beside

the brachial artery

radial reflex / re diəl ri fleks/ noun a jerk made by the forearm when the insertion in the radius of one of the muscles, the brachioradialis, is hit

radiate / re die t/ verb 1. to spread out in all directions from a central point The pain radiates from the site of the infection. 2. to send out rays Heat radiates from the body. (NOTE: radiating – radiated)

radiation / re di e ʃ(ə)n/ noun waves of energy which are given off by some substances, especially radioactive substances

COMMENT: Prolonged exposure to many types of radiation can be harmful. Nuclear radiation is the most obvious, but exposure to X-rays, either as a patient being treated or as a radiographer, can cause radiation sickness. First symptoms of the sickness are diarrhoea and vomiting, but radiation exposure can also be followed by skin burns and loss of hair. Massive exposure to radiation can kill quickly, and any person exposed to radiation is more likely to develop certain types of cancer than other members of the population.

radiation burn / re di e ʃ(ə)n b! n/ noun a burn on the skin caused by exposure to large

amounts of radiation

radiation enteritis / re die ʃ(ə)n entə

ra t s/ noun enteritis caused by X-rays radiation sickness / re di e ʃ(ə)n s knəs/

noun an illness caused by exposure to radiation

from radioactive substances

radiation treatment / re di e ʃ(ə)ntri tmənt/ noun same as radiotherapy

radical / r d k(ə)l/ adjective 1. aiming to deal with the root of a problem, taking thorough action to remove the source of a disease

rather than treat its symptoms 2. referring to an operation which removes the whole of a part or of an organ, together with its lymph system and other tissue

radical mastectomy / r d k(ə)l m stektəmi/ noun a surgical operation to re-

move a breast and the lymph nodes and muscles associated with it

radical mastoidectomy / r d k(ə)l m stɔ dektəmi/ noun a surgical operation to

remove all of the mastoid process

radical treatment / r d k(ə)l tri tmənt/ noun treatment which aims at complete eradication of a disease

radicle / r d k(ə)l/ noun 1. a small root or vein 2. a tiny fibre which forms the root of a

nerve

radicular /rə d kjυlə/ adjective referring to a radicle

radiculitis /rə d kjυ la t s/ noun inflammation of a radicle of a cranial or spinal nerve radio- /re diəυ/ prefix 1. referring to radiation 2. referring to radioactive substances 3. referring to the radius in the arm

radioactive / re diəυ kt v/ adjective with a nucleus which disintegrates and gives off energy in the form of radiation which can pass through other substances

COMMENT: The commonest naturally radioactive substances are radium and uranium. Other substances can be made radioactive for medical purposes by making their nuclei unstable, so forming radioactive isotopes. Radioactive iodine is used to treat conditions such as thyrotoxicosis. Radioactive isotopes of various chemicals are used to check the functioning of, or disease in, internal organs.

radioactive isotope / re diəυ kt v a sətəυp/ noun an isotope which sends out

radiation, used in radiotherapy and scanning radioactivity / re diəυ k t v ti/ noun energy in the form of radiation emitted by a radio-

active substance

radiobiologist / re diəυba ɒləd st/ noun

a doctor who specialises in radiobiology radiobiology / re diəυba ɒləd i/ noun the

scientific study of radiation and its effects on

living things

radiocarpal joint /re diəυ kɑ p(ə)l d ɔ nt/ noun the joint where the radius articulates with the scaphoid, one of the carpal bones. Also

called wrist joint

radiodermatitis / re diəυ d! mə ta t s/ noun inflammation of the skin caused by expo-

sure to radiation

radiodiagnosis / re diəυda ə& nəυs s/

noun an X-ray diagnosis

radiograph / re diə&rɑ f/ noun an image produced on film or another sensitive surface when radiation such as X-rays or gamma rays passes through an object verb to make a radiograph of something, especially a part of the body

radiographer / re di ɒ&rəfə/ noun 1. a person specially trained to operate a machine to take X-ray photographs or radiographs. Also called diagnostic radiographer 2. a person specially trained to use X-rays or radioactive isotopes in the treatment of patients. Also

called therapeutic radiographer radiography / re di ɒ&rəfi/ noun the work

of examining the internal parts of the body by taking X-ray photographs radioimmunoassay / re diəυ mjυnəυse / noun the use of radioactive tracers to investigate the presence of antibodies in blood samples, in order to measure the antibodies themselves or the amount of particular sub-

stances, such as hormones, in the blood radioisotope / re diəυ a sətəυp/ noun an

isotope of a chemical element which is radioactive

COMMENT: Radioisotopes are used in medicine to provide radiation for radiation treatment. Radioactive isotopes of various chemicals are used to check the way organs function or if they are diseased: for example, radioisotopes of iodine are used to investigate thyroid activity.

radiologist / re d ɒləd st/ noun a doctor who specialises in radiology

radiology / re di ɒləd i/ noun the use of radiation to diagnose disorders, e.g. through the use of X-rays or radioactive tracers, or to treat

diseases such as cancer

radiomimetic / re diəυm met k/ adjective referring to a drug or chemical which produces similar effects to those of radiation, e.g. the nitrogen mustard group of chemicals used in

chemotherapy

radionuclide / re diəυ nju kla d/ noun an element which gives out radiation radionuclide scan / re diəυ nju kla dsk n/ noun a scan, especially of the brain, where radionuclides are put in compounds which are concentrated in particular parts of

the body

radio-opaque / re diəυ əυ pe k/ adjective absorbing and blocking radiant energy, e.g. X- rays

COMMENT: Radio-opaque substances appear light or white on X-rays and are used to make it easier to have clear radiographs of certain organs.

radio-opaque dye / re diəυ əυ pe k da / noun a liquid which appears on an X-ray, and which is introduced into soft organs such as the kidney so that they show up clearly on an X-ray photograph

radiopaque / re diəυ pe k/ adjective same

as radio-opaque

radiopharmaceutical / re diəυ fɑ mə su t k(ə)l/ noun a radioisotope used in medical diagnosis or treatment

radio pill / re diəυ p l/ noun a tablet with a tiny radio transmitter

COMMENT: The person swallows the pill and as it passes through the body it gives off information about the digestive system.

radioscopy / re di ɒskəpi/ noun an examination of an X-ray photograph on a fluorescent screen

radiosensitive / re diəυ sens t v/ adjective referring to a cancer cell which is sensitive to

radiation and can be treated by radiotherapy radiosensitivity / re diəυsensə t v ti/

noun sensitivity of a cell to radiation radiotherapist / re diəυ θerəp st/ noun a

doctor who specialises in radiotherapy radiotherapy / re diəυ θerəpi/ noun the

treatment of diseases by exposing the affected part to radioactive rays such as X-rays or gamma rays

COMMENT: Many forms of cancer can be treated by directing radiation at the diseased part of the body.

radium / re diəm/ noun a radioactive metallic

element (NOTE: The chemical symbol is Ra.) radius / re diəs/ noun the shorter and outer of

the two bones in the forearm between the elbow and the wrist. See illustration at HAND in Supplement (NOTE: The plural is radii. The other bone in the forearm is the ulna.)

radix / re d ks/ noun same as root (NOTE: The plural is radices or radixes.)

radon / re dɒn/ noun a radioactive gas, formed from the radioactive decay of radium, and used in capsules called radon seeds to treat cancers inside the body (NOTE: The chemical symbol is Rn.)

COMMENT: Radon occurs naturally in soil, in construction materials and even in ground water. It can seep into houses and causes radiation sickness.

raise /re z/ verb 1. to lift something Lie with your legs raised above the level of your head. 2. to increase something Anaemia causes a raised level of white blood cells in the body.

rale /rɑ l/ noun same as crepitation

rally / r li/ verb to recover after a period of illness noun a sudden recovery after a period

of illness

Ramstedt’s operation / rɑ mstets ɒpəre ʃ(ə)n/ noun same as pylorotomy [Described 1912. After Wilhelm Conrad Ramstedt

(1867–1963), German surgeon.]

ramus / re məs/ noun 1. a branch of a nerve, artery or vein 2. the ascending part on each side of the mandible (NOTE: The plural is rami.) R & D / ɑ r ən di / abbr research and devel-

opment

randomised / r ndəma zd/, randomized adjective involving subjects which have been selected without a prearranged plan and in no particular pattern or order

range /re nd / noun 1. a series of different but similar things The drug offers protection against a wide range of diseases. Doctors

have a range of drugs which can be used to treat arthritis. 2. the difference between lowest and highest values in a series of data ranitidine /r n t di n/ noun a drug which reduces the amount of acid released by the stomach. It is used to treat peptic ulcers and

gastritis.

ranula / r njυlə/ noun a small cyst under the tongue, on the floor of the mouth, which forms when a salivary duct is blocked

Ranvier / rɑ nv e / node of Ranvier rape /re p/ noun the crime of forcing somebody to have sexual intercourse verb to force somebody to have sexual intercourse

raphe / re fi/ noun a long thin fold which looks like a seam, along a midline such as on the dorsal face of the tongue

rapid / r p d/ adjective fast

rapid-acting / r p d kt ŋ/ adjective referring to a drug or treatment which has an effect very quickly

rapid eye movement sleep / r p d a mu vmənt sli p/ noun same as REM sleep

rapport /r pɔ / noun an emotional bond or friendly relationship between people a psychiatrist who quickly establishes a rapport with his patients

rare /reə/ adjective referring to something such as a disease of which there are very few cases He is suffering from a rare blood disorder.

rarefaction / reər f kʃən/ noun a condition in which bone tissue becomes more porous

and less dense because of a lack of calcium rarefy / reər fa / verb 1. (of bones) to become

less dense 2. to make something less dense rash /r ʃ/ noun a mass of small spots which stays on the skin for a period of time, and then disappears to break out in a rash to have a rash which starts suddenly She had a high temperature and then broke out in a rash.

COMMENT: Many common diseases such as chickenpox and measles have a characteristic rash as their main symptom. Rashes can be very irritating, but the itching can be relieved by applying calamine lotion.

raspatory / r spət(ə)ri/ noun a surgical instrument like a file, which is used to scrape the

surface of a bone

ratbite fever / r tba t fi və/, ratbite disease / r tba t d zi z/ noun fever caused by

either of two bacteria Spirillum minor or

Streptobacillus moniliformis and transmitted to humans by rats

rate /re t/ noun 1. the amount or proportion of something compared with something else 2. the number of times something happens in a set time The heart was beating at a rate of only 59 per minute.

ratio / re ʃiəυ/ noun a number which shows a proportion or which is the result of one number divided by another An IQ is the ratio

of the person’s mental age to his or her chronological age.

rattle / r t(ə)l/ noun a harsh noise made in the throat, caused by a blockage to breathing and heard especially near death

Rauwolfia /rɔ wυlfiə/ noun a tranquillising drug extracted from the plant Rauwolfia serpentine, sometimes used to treat high blood pressure

raw /rɔ / adjective 1. not cooked 2. sensitive

The scab came off leaving the raw wound exposed to the air. 3. referring to skin scraped or partly removed

ray /re / noun a line of light, radiation or heat

Raynaud’s disease / re nəυz d zi z/, Raynaud’s phenomenon / re nəυz f nɒm nən/

noun a condition with various possible causes in which the blood supply to the fingers and toes is restricted and they become cold, white and numb. Also called dead man’s fingers, vasospasm [Described 1862. After Maurice Raynaud (1834–81), French physician.]

RBC abbr red blood cell

RCGP abbr Royal College of General Practitioners

RCN abbr Royal College of Nursing

RCOG abbr Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

RCP abbr Royal College of Physicians RCPsych / ɑ si sa k/ abbr Royal College of Psychiatrists

RCS abbr Royal College of Surgeons RCT abbr randomised controlled trial

reabsorb / ri əb zɔ b/ verb to absorb or take up something again Glucose is reabsorbed by the tubules in the kidney.

reabsorption / ri əb zɔ pʃ(ə)n/ noun the process of being reabsorbed Some substances which are filtered into the tubules of the kidney, then pass into the bloodstream by tubular reabsorption.

reach /ri tʃ/ noun 1. the distance which one can stretch to get hold of or touch something

Medicines should be kept out of the reach of children. 2. the distance which one can travel easily The hospital is in easy reach of the railway station. verb to arrive at a point

The infection has reached the lungs.

react /ri kt/ verb 1. to react to something to act because of something else, to act in response to something The tissues reacted to the cortisone injection. The patient reacted badly to the penicillin. She reacted positively to the Widal test. 2. to react with something (of a chemical substance) to change because of the presence of another substance reaction /ri kʃən/ noun 1. an action which takes place as a direct result of something which has happened earlier A rash appeared as a reaction to the penicillin injection. 2. an effect produced by a stimulus The patient

experienced an allergic reaction to oranges. 3. the particular response of someone to a test reactionary /ri kʃən(ə)ri/ adjective same

as reactive

reactionary haemorrhage /ri kʃən(ə)ri hem(ə)r d / noun bleeding which follows an operation

reactivate /ri kt ve t/ verb to make something active again His general physical weakness has reactivated the dormant virus. reactive /ri kt v/ adjective taking place as a

reaction to something else

reactive arthritis /ri kt v ɑ θra t s/ noun

arthritis caused by a reaction to something reactive hyperaemia /ri kt v ha pər

i miə/ noun congestion of blood vessels after an occlusion has been removed

reading / ri d ŋ/ noun a note taken of figures, especially of degrees on a scale The sphygmomanometer gave a diastolic reading of 70. reagent /ri e d ənt/ noun a chemical substance which reacts with another substance, especially one which is used to detect the presence of the second substance

reagin / r əd n/ noun an antibody which re-

acts against an allergen

real-time imaging / r əl ta m m d ŋ/ noun the use of ultrasound information to produce a series of images of a process or changing object almost instantly

reappear / ri ə p ə/ verb to appear again rear /r ə/, rear end /r ə end/ noun same as

buttock (informal)

reason / ri z(ə)n/ noun 1. something which explains why something happens What was the reason for the sudden drop in the patient’s pulse rate? 2. the fact of being mentally stable

Her reason was beginning to fail. reassurance / ri ə ʃυərəns/ noun an act of

reassuring

reassure / ri ə ʃυə/ verb to calm someone who is worried and give them hope The doctor reassured her that the drug had no unpleasant side-effects. He reassured the old lady that she should be able to walk again in a

few weeks.

Reaven’s Syndrome / ri vənz s ndrəυm/ noun a clinical syndrome characterised by Type 2 diabetes, abdominal obesity, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Insulin resistance may be a key factor. [Described 1988. After Gerald Reaven, US physician.]

rebore / ri bɔ / noun same as endarterectomy (informal)

rebuild /ri b ld/ verb to make good again a damaged structure or part of the body After the accident, she had several operations to re-

build her pelvis.

recalcitrant /r k ls trənt/ adjective not responding to treatment a recalcitrant condition

recall /r kɔ l/ noun the act of remembering something from the past verb to remember something which happened in the past

recanalisation /ri k nəla ze ʃ(ə)n/, recanalization noun surgery to unblock a vessel within the body or reconnect a tube or duct

receive /r si v/ verb to get something, especially a transplanted organ She received six pints of blood in a transfusion. He received a new kidney from his brother. receptaculum /ri sep t kjυləm/ noun part of a tube which is expanded to form a sac receptor /r septə/, receptor cell /r septə sel/ noun a nerve ending or cell which senses a change such as cold or heat in the surrounding environment or in the body and reacts to it by sending an impulse to the central nervous system

recess /r ses/ noun a hollow part in an organ

recessive /r ses v/ adjective (of an allele) having the characteristic that leads to the trait which it controls being suppressed by the presence of the corresponding dominant allele. Compare dominant

COMMENT: Since each physical characteristic is governed by two genes, if one is dominant and the other recessive, the resulting trait will be that of the dominant gene. Traits governed by recessive genes will appear if both genes are recessive.

recipient /r s piənt/ noun a person who receives something such as a transplant or a blood transfusion from a donor

‘…bone marrow from donors has to be carefully matched with the recipient or graft-versus-host disease will ensue’ [Hospital Update]

recognise / rekə&na z/, recognize verb 1. to see or sense something or someone and remember it from an earlier occasion She did not recognise her mother. 2. to approve of something officially The diploma is recognised by the Department of Health. recombinant DNA /r kɒmb nənt di en e / noun DNA extracted from two or more different sources and joined together to form a single molecule or fragment. This technology is used to produce molecules and organisms with new properties.

recommend / rekə mend/ verb to suggest that it would be a good thing if someone did something The doctor recommended that she should stay in bed. I would recommend following a diet to try to lose some weight. reconstruct / ri kən str"kt/ verb to repair and rebuild a damaged part of the body reconstruction / ri kən str"kʃən/ noun the process of repairing and rebuilding a damaged part of the body

reconstructive surgery / ri kənstr"kt v s! d əri/ noun surgery which rebuilds a damaged part of the body. plastic surgery

record / rekɔ d/ verb /r kɔ d/ to note information The chart records the variations in the patient’s blood pressure. You must take the patient’s temperature every hour and record it in this book. noun a piece of information about something

COMMENT: Patients now have a legal right to have access to their medical records.

recover /r k"və/ verb 1. to get better after an illness, operation or accident She recovered from her concussion in a few days. It will take him weeks to recover from the accident.

(NOTE: You recover from an illness.) 2. to get back something which has been lost Will he ever recover the use of his legs? She recovered her eyesight even though the doctors had thought she would be permanently blind. recovery /r k"v(ə)ri/ noun the process of returning to health after being ill or injured he is well on the way to recovery he is getting better she made only a partial recovery she is better, but is not completely well she has made a complete or splendid recovery she is

completely well

recovery position /r k"vəri pə z ʃ(ə)n/ noun a position in which someone is lying face downwards, with one knee and one arm bent forwards and the face turned to one side

COMMENT: It is called the recovery position because it is recommended for accident victims or for people who are suddenly ill, while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. The position prevents the person from swallowing and choking on blood or vomit.

recovery room /r k"v(ə)ri ru m/ noun a room in a hospital where patients are cared for after they have had a surgical operation and are recovering from the effects of the anaesthetic. Abbr RR

recreational drug / rekri e ʃ(ə)n(ə)l dr"&/ noun a drug that is taken for pleasure rather than because of medical need recrudescence / ri kru des(ə)ns/ noun the reappearance of symptoms of a disease which

seemed to have got better

recrudescent / ri kru des(ə)nt/ adjective referring to a symptom which has reappeared recruit /r kru t/ verb to get people to join the staff or a group We are trying to recruit more nursing staff.

‘…patients presenting with symptoms of urinary tract infection were recruited in a general practice surgery’ [Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners]

rect- /rekt/ prefix same as recto- (used before vowels)

recta / rektə/ plural of rectum

rectal / rekt(ə)l/ adjective referring to the rec-

tum

rectal fissure / rekt(ə)l f ʃə/ noun a crack

in the wall of the anal canal

rectally / rekt(ə)li/ adverb through the rectum The temperature was taken rectally.