Dictionary of Medical Terms 4th Ed

severe acute respiratory disorder /sv ə ə kju t r sp rət(ə)ri d s ɔ də/ noun full

form of SARS

severely /s v əli/ adverb very badly or dangerously Her breathing was severely affected.

‘…many severely confused patients, particularly those in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, do not respond to verbal communication’ [Nursing Times]

severity /s ver ti/ noun the degree to which something is bad or dangerous Treatment depends on the severity of the attack.

sex /seks/ noun 1. one of two groups, male and female, into which animals and plants can be divided The sex of a baby can be identified before birth. 2. same as sexual intercourse

sex act / seks kt/ noun an act of sexual intercourse

sexarche / seksɑ ki/ noun the age when a person first has sexual intercourse

sex change / seks tʃe nd / noun a surgical operation accompanied by hormone treatment to change someone’s physical sex-linked characteristics from female to male or from male to female

sex chromosome / seks krəυməsəυm/ noun a chromosome which determines if a person is male or female

COMMENT: Out of the twenty-three pairs of chromosomes in each human cell, two are sex chromosomes, which are known as X and Y. Females have a pair of X chromosomes and males have a pair consisting of one X and one Y chromosome. The sex of a baby is determined by the father’s sperm. While the mother’s ovum only carries X chromosomes, the father’s sperm can carry either an X or a Y chromosome. If the ovum is fertilised by a sperm carrying an X chromosome, the embryo will contain the XX pair and so be female. Disordered chromosomes affect sexual development: a person with an XO chromosome pair (i.e. one X chromosome alone) has Turner’s syndrome; a person with an extra X chromosome (making an XXY set) has Klinefelter’s syndrome. Haemophilia is a disorder linked to the X chromosome.

sex determination / seks d t mne ʃ(ə)n/ noun the way in which the sex of an individual organism is fixed by the number of chromosomes which make up its cell structure sex hormone /seks hɔ məυn/ noun an oestrogen or androgen which promotes the growth of secondary sexual characteristics sex-linkage / seks l ŋk d / noun the existence of characteristics which are transmitted through the X chromosomes

sex-linked / seks l ŋkt/ adjective 1. referring to genes which are linked to X chromosomes 2. referring to characteristics such as colour-blindness which are transmitted through the X chromosomes

sexology /sek sɒləd i/ noun the study of sex and sexual behaviour

sex organ / seks ɔ ən/ noun an organ which is associated with reproduction and sexual intercourse, e.g. the testes and penis in men, and the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, vagina and vulva in women

sex selection / seks s lekʃ(ə)n/ noun the determination of a baby’s sex before conception by separating the spermatozoa carrying Y chromosomes from those carrying X chromosomes

sextuplet / sekstjυplət/ noun one of six babies born to a mother at the same time sexual / sekʃuəl/ adjective referring to sex sexual act / sekʃuəl kt/ noun an act of sexual intercourse

sexual attraction / sekʃuəl ə tr kʃ(ə)n/ noun a feeling of wanting to have sexual intercourse with someone

sexual deviation / sekʃuəl di vi e ʃ(ə)n/ noun any sexual behaviour which is not accepted as usual in the society in which you live. Examples in Western society are sadism and voyeurism.

sexual intercourse / sekʃuəl ntəkɔ s/ noun physical contact between people which involves stimulation of the genitals, especially the insertion of a man’s erect penis into a woman’s vagina with release of spermatozoa from the penis by ejaculation, which may fertilise ova from the woman’s ovaries. Also

called sex, coitus, copulation

sexually transmitted disease / sekʃuəli tr ns m t d d zi z/, sexually transmitted infection / sekʃuəli tr ns m t d n

fekʃ(ə)n/ noun a disease or infection transmitted from an infected person to another person during sexual intercourse. Abbr STD, STI

COMMENT: Among the commonest STDs are non-specific urethritis, genital herpes, hepatitis B and gonorrhoea; AIDS is also a sexually transmitted disease. The spread of sexually transmitted diseases can be limited by use of condoms. Other forms of contraceptive offer no protection against the spread of disease.

sexual reproduction / sekʃuəl ri prəd#kʃən/ noun reproduction in which gametes

from two individuals fuse together SFD abbr small for dates

SGOT abbr serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase

SGPT abbr serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase

shaft /ʃɑ ft/ noun 1. the long central section of a long bone 2. main central section of the erect penis

shake /ʃe k/ verb to move, or make something move, with short quick movements

(NOTE: shaking – shook – shaken)

shaken baby syndrome / ʃe kən be bis ndrəυm/, shaken infant syndrome /

ʃe kən nfənt s ndrəυm/ noun a series of internal head injuries in a very young child, caused by being shaken violently. It can result in brain damage leading to speech and learning disabilities, paralysis, seizures and hearing loss, and may be life-threatening.

shaky / ʃe ki/ adjective feeling weak and unsteady

share /ʃeə/ verb 1. to use or do something together with others 2. to divide something and give parts of it to different people or groups

(NOTE: [all verb senses] shares – sharing – shared) noun a single part of something divided among different people or groups

shared care / ʃeəd keə/ noun antenatal care given jointly by an obstetrician in a hospital together with a general practitioner or a midwife working in the community

sharp /ʃɑ p/ adjective 1. able to cut easily A surgeon’s knife has to be kept sharp. 2. hurting in a sudden and intense way She felt a sharp pain in her shoulder.

sharply / ʃɑ pli/ adverb suddenly and to a significant extent His condition deteriorated sharply during the night.

sharps /ʃɑ ps/ plural noun objects with points, e.g. syringes (informal)

shave /ʃe v/ noun the removal of hair by cutting it off at skin level with a razor verb to remove hair with a razor (NOTE: shaving – shaved)

sheath /ʃi θ/ noun 1. a layer of tissue which surrounds a muscle or a bundle of nerve fibres

2. same as condom

shed /ʃed/ verb to lose blood or tissue The lining of the uterus is shed at each menstrual period. He was given a transfusion because he had shed a lot of blood. (NOTE: shedding – shed)

sheet /ʃi t/ noun a large piece of cloth which is put on a bed The sheets must be changed each day. The soiled sheets were sent to the hospital laundry. draw-sheet

shelf operation / ʃelf ɒpəre ʃ(ə)n/ noun a surgical operation to treat congenital dislocation of the hip in children, in which bone tissue is grafted onto the acetabulum

sheltered accommodation / ʃeltəd əkɒmə de ʃ(ə)n/, sheltered housing / ʃeltəd

haυz ŋ/ noun rooms or small flats provided for elderly people, with a resident supervisor or nurse

shiatsu /ʃi tsu / noun a form of healing massage in which the hands are used to apply pressure at acupuncture points on the body in order to stimulate and redistribute energy shift /ʃ ft/ noun 1. a way of working in which one group of workers work for a period and are then replaced by another group She is working on the night shift. The day shift comes on duty at 6.30 in the morning. 2. the period of

time worked by a group of workers 3. a movement

Shigella /ʃ &elə/ noun a genus of bacteria which causes dysentery

shigellosis / ʃ &e ləυs s/ noun infestation of the digestive tract with Shigella, causing bacillary dysentery

shin /ʃ n/ noun the front part of the lower leg shinbone / ʃ nbəυn/ noun same as tibia

shiner / ʃa nə/ noun same as black eye

(informal)

shingles / ʃ ŋ&əlz/ noun same as herpes

zoster

shin splints / ʃ n spl nts/ plural noun extremely sharp pains in the front of the lower leg, felt by athletes

Shirodkar’s operation /ʃ rɒdkɑ z ɒpə re*

ʃ(ə)n/, Shirodkar pursestring /ʃ rɒdkɑ p! sstr ŋ/ noun a surgical operation to narrow the cervix of the uterus in a woman who experiences habitual abortion in order to prevent another miscarriage, the suture being removed before labour starts. Also called pursestring operation [After N. V. Shirodkar (1900–

71), Indian obstetrician.]

Shirodkar suture /ʃ rɒdkɑ su tʃə/ noun a type of suture which is placed around a cervix to tighten it during pregnancy and prevent miscarriage. Also called pursestring stitch shiver / ʃ və/ verb to tremble or shake all over the body because of cold or a fever, caused by the involuntary rapid contraction and relaxation of the muscles

shivering / ʃ vər ŋ/ noun the condition of trembling or shaking all over the body because of cold or a fever, caused by the involuntary rapid contraction and relaxation of the muscles shivery / ʃ vəri/ adjective trembling from cold, fear or a medical condition

shock /ʃɒk/ noun a state of weakness caused by illness or injury that suddenly reduces the blood pressure The patient went into shock.Several of the passengers were treated for shock. traumatic shock a state of shock caused by an injury which leads to loss of blood verb to give someone an unpleasant surprise, and so put him or her in a state of shock She was still shocked several hours after the accident. (NOTE: You say that someone is in shock, in a state of shock or that they went into shock.)

shock lung /ʃɒk l"ŋ/ noun a serious condition in which a person’s lungs fail to work following a trauma

shock syndrome / ʃɒk s ndrəυm/ noun a group of symptoms, a pale face, cold skin, low blood pressure and rapid and irregular pulse, which show that someone is in a state of shock.

anaphylactic shock

shock therapy / ʃɒk θerəpi/, shock treatment / ʃɒk tri tmənt/ noun a method of treat-

ing some mental disorders by giving an anaesthetised patient an electric shock to induce an epileptic convulsion

shoot /ʃu t/ verb (of pain) to seem to move suddenly through the body with a piercing feeling The pain shot down his arm. shooting / ʃu t ŋ/ adjective (of pain) sudden and intense

short /ʃɔ t/ adjective 1. not having enough of something 2. not very tall or long short-acting / ʃɔ t kt ŋ/ adjective effec-

tive only for a short period

shortness of breath / ʃɔ tnəs əv breθ/ noun the inability to breathe quickly enough to

supply the oxygen needed

short of breath / ʃɔ t əv breθ/ adjective unable to breathe quickly enough to supply the oxygen needed After running up the stairs he was short of breath.

shortsighted /ʃɔ t sa t d/ adjective same as myopic

shortsightedness / ʃɔ t sa t dnəs/ noun same as myopia

shot /ʃɒt/ noun same as injection (informal)

The doctor gave her a tetanus shot. He need-

ed a shot of morphine to relieve the pain. shoulder / ʃəυldə/ noun a joint where the top

of the arm joins the main part of the body He dislocated his shoulder. She was complaining of pains in her shoulder or of shoulder

pains.

shoulder blade / ʃəυldə ble d/ noun same

as scapula

shoulder girdle / ʃəυldə &! d(ə)l/ noun

same as pectoral girdle

shoulder joint / ʃəυldə d ɔ nt/ noun a ball and socket joint which allows the arm to rotate

and move in any direction

shoulder lift / ʃəυldə l ft/ noun a way of carrying a heavy person, in which the upper part of his or her body rests on the shoulders of two

carriers

shoulder presentation / ʃəυldə prez(ə)nte ʃ(ə)n/ noun a position of a baby in the uterus, in which the shoulder will first appear show /ʃəυ/ noun the first discharge of blood at the beginning of childbirth verb 1. to cause or allow something to be visible 2. to provide convincing evidence of something

shrivel / ʃr v(ə)l/ verb to become dry and wrinkled (NOTE: shrivelling – shrivelled. The US spellings are shriveling – shriveled.)

shuffling walk / ʃ"f(ə)l ŋ wɔ k/, shuffling gait / ʃ"f(ə)l ŋ &e t/ noun a way of walking

in which the feet are not lifted off the ground, e.g. in Parkinson’s disease

shunt /ʃ"nt/ noun 1. the passing of fluid through a channel which is not the usual one 2. a channel which links two different blood vessels and carries blood from one to the other verb (of blood) to pass through a channel which

is not the usual one As much as 5% of venous blood can be shunted unoxygenated back to the arteries.

shunting / ʃ"nt ŋ/ noun a condition in which some of the deoxygenated blood in the lungs does not come into contact with air, and full gas exchange does not take place

SI abbreviation the international system of metric measurements. Full form Système International

sial- /sa əl/ prefix same as sialo- (used before vowels)

sialadenitis / sa əl d na t s/ noun inflammation of a salivary gland. Also called

sialoadenitis, sialitis

sialagogue /sa lə&ɒ&/ noun a substance which increases the production of saliva sialitis / sa əl a t s/ noun same as sialadenitis

sialo- /sa ələυ/ prefix 1. referring to saliva 2. referring to a salivary gland

sialoadenitis / sa ələυ d na t s/ noun

same as sialadenitis

sialogogue /sa lə&ɒ&/ noun same as sial-

agogue

sialography / sa ə lɒ&rəfi/ noun X-ray examination of a salivary gland. Also called ptyalography

sialolith /sa ləυl θ/ noun a stone in a salivary gland. Also called ptyalith sialorrhoea / sa ələυ ri ə/ noun the production of an excessive amount of saliva (NOTE:

The US spelling is sialorrhea.)

Siamese twins / sa əmi z tw nz/ plural noun same as conjoined twins

sib /s b/ noun same as sibling (informal) sibilant / s b lənt/ adjective referring to a sound which whistles

sibling / s bl ŋ/ noun a brother or sister

Sichuan flu / s tʃwɑ n flu / noun a virulent type of flu which has the same symptoms as those of ordinary flu (e.g. fever, sore throat and aching muscles) but they are more pronounced

(informal) (NOTE: The virus was first discovered in 1987 in Sichuan, a southwestern province of China.)

sick /s k/ adjective 1. having an illness He was sick for two weeks. to report or call in sick to say officially that you are unwell and cannot work 2. about to vomit The patient got up this morning and felt sick. to be sick to vomit The child was sick all over the floor.

to make someone sick to cause someone to vomit He was given something to make him sick.

sickbay / s kbe / noun a room in a factory or on a ship where people can visit a doctor for treatment

sickbed / s kbed/ noun a bed where a person is lying sick She sat for hours beside her daughter’s sickbed.

sick building syndrome / s k b ld ŋ s n drəυm/ noun a condition in which many peo-

ple working in a building feel ill or have headaches, caused by blocked air-conditioning ducts in which stale air is recycled round the building, often carrying allergenic substances or bacteria (informal)

sicken for / s kən fɔ / verb to feel the first symptoms of an illness (informal) She’s looking pale – she must be sickening for something. sickle cell / s k(ə)l sel/ noun a red blood cell shaped like a sickle, formed as a result of the presence of an unusual form of haemoglobin.

Also called drepanocyte

sickle-cell anaemia / s k(ə)l sel ə ni miə/ noun an inherited condition in which someone develops sickle cells which block the circulation, causing anaemia and pains in the joints and abdomen. Also called drepanocytosis, sickle cell disease

‘…children with sickle-cell anaemia are susceptible to severe bacterial infection. Even children with the milder forms of sickle-cell disease have an increased frequency of pneumococcal infection’ [Lancet]

COMMENT: Sickle-cell anaemia is a hereditary condition which is mainly found in people from Africa and the West Indies.

sickle-cell chest syndrome / s k(ə)l sel tʃest s ndrəυm/ noun a common complica-

tion of sickle-cell disease, with chest pain, fe-

ver and leucocytosis

sickle-cell disease / s k(ə)l sel d zi z/

noun same as sickle-cell anaemia. Abbr SCD. sickle-cell trait / s k(ə)l sel tre t/ noun a

hereditary condition of the blood in which some red cells become sickle-shaped, but there are not enough affected cells to cause anaemia sicklist / s kl st/ noun a list of people who are sick, e.g. children in a school or workers in a factory We have five members of staff on the sicklist.

sickly / s kli/ adjective (usually of children) subject to frequent sickness He was a sickly child, but now is a strong and healthy man. sickness / s knəs/ noun 1. a state of having an illness There is a lot of sickness in the winter months. Many children are staying away from school because of sickness. seasickness, motion sickness 2. a feeling of wanting to vomit

sickroom / s kru m/ noun a room where someone is ill Visitors are not allowed into the sickroom.

side /sa d/ noun 1. the part of the body between the hips and the shoulder She was lying on her side. 2. the part of an object which is not the front, back, top or bottom The

nurse wheeled the trolley to the side of the bed. side-effect / sa d fekt/ noun an effect pro-

duced by a drug or treatment which is not the main effect intended One of the side-effects of chemotherapy is that the patient’s hair falls out.

‘…the treatment is not without possible side-effects, some of which can be particularly serious. The sideeffects may include middle ear discomfort, claustrophobia, increased risk of epilepsy’ [New Zealand Medical Journal]

side rail / sa d re l/ noun a rail at the side of a bed which can be lifted to prevent the person

falling out

sidero- /sa dərəυ/ prefix referring to iron sideropenia / sa dərəυ pi niə/ noun a lack

of iron in the blood usually caused by insuffi-

cient iron in the diet

siderophilin /sa də rɒfəl n/ noun same as transferrin

siderosis / sa də rəυs s/ noun 1. a condition in which iron deposits form in tissue 2. inflammation of the lungs caused by inhaling dust containing iron

SIDS abbr sudden infant death syndrome sight /sa t/ noun one of the five senses, the ability to see His sight is beginning to fail. to lose your sight to become blind

sighted / sa t d/ adjective able to see, as opposed to visually impaired

sigmoid / s &mɔ d/ adjective 1. shaped like the letter S 2. referring to the sigmoid colon

noun same as sigmoid colon

sigmoid colon / s &mɔ d kəυlɒn/ noun the fourth section of the colon which continues as the rectum. See illustration at

TEM in Supplement. Also called pelvic colon,

sigmoid, sigmoid flexure

sigmoidectomy / s &mɔ dektəmi/ noun a surgical operation to remove the sigmoid colon (NOTE: The plural is sigmoidectomies.) sigmoid flexure noun same as sigmoid co-

lon

sigmoidoscope /s & mɔ dəskəυp/ noun a surgical instrument with a light at the end which can be passed into the rectum so that the

sigmoid colon can be examined sigmoidoscopy / s &mɔ dɒskəpi/ noun a

procedure in which the rectum and sigmoid

colon are examined with a sigmoidoscope sigmoidostomy / s &mɔ dɒstəmi/ noun a

surgical operation to bring the sigmoid colon out through a hole in the abdominal wall

(NOTE: The plural is sigmoidostomies.)

sign /sa n/ noun a movement, mark, colouring or change which has a meaning and can be recognised by a doctor as indicating a condition (NOTE: A change in function which is also noticed by the patient is a symptom.) verb to write your name on a document such as a form or cheque, or at the end of a letter The doctor signed the death certificate.

significant /s & n f kənt/ adjective important or worth noting No significant inflammatory responses were observed. significantly /s & n f kəntli/ adverb in an important or noteworthy manner He was not significantly better on the following day.

sign language / sa n l ŋ&w d / noun a set of agreed signs made with the fingers and hands, used to indicate words by or for people

who cannot hear or speak

sildenafil citrate / s ldənəf l sa tre t/ noun an enzyme-inhibiting drug used in the

treatment of male impotence

silent / sa lənt/ adjective 1. not making any noise or talking 2. not visible or showing no symptoms Genital herpes may be silent in women. Graft occlusion is often silent with 80% of patients.

silica / s l kə/ noun a compound of silicon, the mineral which forms quartz and sand. Also called silicon dioxide

silicon / s l kən/ noun a non-metallic chemi-

cal element (NOTE: The chemical symbol is Si.) silicon dioxide / s l kən da ɒksa d/ noun

same as silica

silicosis / s l kəυs s/ noun a disease of the lungs caused by inhaling silica dust from mining or stone-crushing operations

COMMENT: This is a serious disease which makes breathing difficult and can lead to emphysema and bronchitis.

silver / s lvə/ noun a white-coloured metallic

element (NOTE: The chemical symbol is Ag.) silver nitrate / s lvə na tre t/ noun a salt of

silver that is mixed with a cream or solution

and used, e.g., to disinfect burns or to kill warts

Silvester method /s l vestə meθəd/ noun a method of giving artificial respiration. The person lies on his or her back, then the firstaider brings the person’s hands together on the chest and moves them above the person’s

head. Holger-Nielsen method

Simmonds’ disease / s məndz d zi z/ noun a condition of women due to postpartum haemorrhage, in which there is lack of activity in the pituitary gland, resulting in wasting of tissue, brittle bones and premature senility

[Described 1914. After Morris Simmonds (1855– 1925), German physician and pathologist.] simple / s mpəl/ adjective 1. ordinary 2. not

very complicated

simple epithelium / s mpəl ep θi liəm/ noun an epithelium formed of a single layer of

cells

simple fracture / s mpəl fr ktʃə/ noun a fracture where the skin surface around the damaged bone has not been broken and the broken ends of the bone are close together.

Also called closed fracture

simple tachycardia / s mpəl t ki kɑ diə/ noun same as sinus tachycardia

simplex / s mpleks/ herpes simplex

Sims’ position / s mz pə z ʃ(ə)n/ noun a position of the body in which the person lies on his or her left side with their left arm behind their back and their right knee and thigh flexed. It is used to allow the anal or vaginal area to be examined easily.

simvastatin /s m v st n/ noun a drug which lowers lipid levels in the blood, used in the treatment of high cholesterol

sinciput / s ns p"t/ noun the part of the skull that includes the forehead and the area above it

sinew / s nju / noun same as tendon singer’s nodule / s ŋəz nɒdju l/ noun a small white polyp which can develop in the larynx of people who use their voice too much or too loudly

single parent family / s ŋ&(ə)l peərənt f m(ə)li/ noun a family which consists of a child or children and only one parent, e.g. because of death, divorce or separation

single photon emission computed tomography / s ŋ&(ə)l fəυtɒn m ʃ(ə)n kəmpju t d tə mɒ&rəfi/ noun a scan to study

brain blood flow in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease

singultus /s ŋ &"ltəs/ noun same as hiccup sinistral / s n strəl/ adjective relating to or located on the left side, especially the left side of the body

sino- /sa nəυ/ prefix referring to a sinus

sinoatrial / sa nəυ e triəl/ adjective relating to the sinus venosus and the right atrium of the heart

sinoatrial node / sa nəυ e triəl nəυd/ noun a node in the heart at the junction of the superior vena cava and the right atrium, which regulates the heartbeat. Also called SA node, si-

nus node

sinogram / sa nəυ&r m/ noun an X-ray photograph of a sinus

sinography /sa nɒ&rəfi/ noun examination of a sinus by taking an X-ray photograph

sinu- /sa nə/ prefix same as sino- sinuatrial adjective same as sinoatrial

sinus / sa nəs/ noun 1. a cavity inside the body, including the cavities inside the head behind the cheekbone, forehead and nose The doctor diagnosed a sinus infection. 2. a tract or passage which develops between an infected place where pus has gathered and the surface of the skin 3. a wide venous blood space sinusitis / sa nə sa t s/ noun inflammation of the mucous membrane in the sinuses, especially the maxillary sinuses

sinus nerve / sa nəs n! v/ noun a nerve which branches from the glossopharyngeal nerve

sinus node / sa nəs nəυd/ noun same as sinoatrial node

sinusoid / sa nəsɔ d/ noun a specially shaped small blood vessel in the liver, adrenal glands and other organs

sinus tachycardia / sa nəs t ki kɑ diə/ noun rapid beating of the heart caused by stimulation of the sinoatrial node. Also called simple tachycardia

sinus venosus / sa nəs və nəυs s/ noun a cavity in the heart of an embryo, part of which develops into the coronary sinus and part of which is absorbed into the right atrium siphonage / sa fən d / noun the removal of liquid from one place to another with a tube, as used to empty the stomach of its contents Sippy diet / s pi da ət/ noun US an alkaline diet of milk and dry biscuits as a treatment for peptic ulcers [After Bertram Welton Sippy (1866–1924), physician in Chicago, USA] sister / s stə/ noun 1. a female who has the same father and mother as someone He has three sisters. Her sister works in a children’s clinic. 2. a senior nurse sister in charge a senior nurse in charge of a hospital ward

sit /s t/ verb 1. to rest with your weight largely supported by the buttocks 2. to cause a person to sit somewhere (NOTE: [all senses] sitting – sat)

site /sa t/ noun 1. the position of something

The X-ray showed the site of the infection. 2. the place where something happened 3. the place where an incision is to be made in a surgical operation verb to put something in a particular place, or be in a particular place

The infection is sited in the right lung. (NOTE: siting – sited)

‘…arterial thrombi have a characteristic structure: platelets adhere at sites of endothelial damage and attract other platelets to form a dense aggregate’ [British Journal of Hospital Medicine]

‘…the sublingual site is probably the most acceptable and convenient for taking temperature’ [Nursing Times]

‘…with the anaesthetist’s permission, the scrub nurse and surgeon began the process of cleaning up the skin round the operation site’ [NATNews]

situated / s tʃue t d/ adjective in a particular place The tumour is situated in the bowel. The atlas bone is situated above the axis.

sit up / s t "p/ verb 1. to sit with your back straight The patient is sitting up in bed. 2. to move from a lying to a sitting position (NOTE: sitting up – sat up)

situs / sa təs/ noun the position of an organ or part of the body, especially the usual posi-

tion (NOTE: The plural is situs.)

situs inversus / sa təs n v! səs/, situs inversus viscerum / sa təs n v! səs v sərəm/ noun a congenital condition, in

which the organs are not on the usual side of the body, i.e. where the heart is on the right side and not the left

sitz bath / s ts bɑ θ/ noun a small low bath where someone can sit, but not lie down

SI units / es a ju n ts/ plural noun the units used in an international system of units for measuring physical properties such as weight,

speed and light

Sjögren’s syndrome / ʃ! &renz s n drəυm/ noun a chronic autoimmune disease in which the lacrimal and salivary glands become

infiltrated with lymphocytes and plasma cells, and the mouth and eyes become dry

skatole / sk təυl/ noun another spelling of

scatole

skeletal / skel t(ə)l/ adjective referring to the

skeleton

skeletal muscle / skel t(ə)l m"s(ə)l/ noun a muscle attached to a bone, which makes a

limb move

skeleton / skel t(ə)n/ noun all the bones

which make up a body

Skene’s glands / ski nz &l ndz/ noun small mucous glands in the urethra in women

[Described 1880. After Alexander Johnston Chalmers Skene (1838–1900), Scottish-born New York gynaecologist.]

skia- /ska ə/ prefix referring to shadow skiagram / ska ə&r m/ noun an old term for X-ray photograph

skier’s thumb / ski əz θ"m/ noun an injury to the thumb caused by falling directly onto it when it is outstretched, resulting in tearing or stretching of the ligaments of the main thumb joint

skill /sk l/ noun an ability to do difficult work, which is acquired by training You need special skills to become a doctor.

skilled /sk ld/ adjective having acquired a particular skill by training He’s a skilled plastic surgeon.

skill mix / sk l m ks/ noun the range of different skills possessed by the members of a group or required for a particular job

skin /sk n/ noun the tissue which forms the outside surface of the body His skin turned brown in the sun. Skin problems in adolescents may be caused by diet. (NOTE: For other terms referring to skin, see words beginning with cut-, derm-, derma-, dermato-, dermo-.)

COMMENT: The skin is the largest organ in the human body. It is formed of two layers: the epidermis is the outer layer, and includes the top layer of particles of dead skin which are continuously flaking off. Beneath the epidermis is the dermis, which is the main layer of living skin. Hairs and nails are produced by the skin, and pores in the skin secrete sweat from the sweat glands underneath the dermis. The skin is sensitive to touch and heat and cold, which are sensed by the nerve endings in the skin. The skin is a major source of vitamin D which it produces when exposed to sunlight.

skin graft / sk n &rɑ ft/ noun a layer of skin transplanted from one part of the body to cover an area where the skin has been destroyed

After the operation she had to have a skin graft.

skinny / sk ni/ adjective very thin (informal) skin test / sk n test/ noun a test for allergy, in which a substance is applied to the skin to see if a reaction occurs

skull /sk"l/ noun the eight bones which are fused or connected together to form the head,

along with the fourteen bones which form the face. Also called cranium skull fracture a condition in which one of the bones in the skull has been fractured

slash /sl ʃ/ noun a long cut with a knife He had bruises on his face and slashes on his hands. The slash on her leg needs three stitches. verb 1. to cut something with a knife or sharp edge to slash your wrists to try to kill yourself by cutting the blood vessels in the wrists 2. to cut costs or spending sharply

(informal)

SLE abbr systemic lupus erythematosus

sleep /sli p/ noun the state or a period of resting, usually at night, when the eyes are closed and you are not conscious of what is happening You need to get a good night’s sleep if you have a lot of work to do tomorrow. He had a short sleep in the middle of the afternoon. to get to sleep or go to sleep to start sleeping verb to be in a state of sleep (NOTE: sleeping – slept)

COMMENT: Sleep is a period when the body rests and rebuilds tissue, especially protein. Most adults need eight hours’ sleep each night. Children require more (ten to twelve hours) but older people need less, possibly only four to six hours. Sleep forms a regular pattern of stages: during the first stage the person is still conscious of his or her surroundings, and will wake on hearing a noise; afterwards the sleeper goes into very deep sleep (slow-wave sleep), where the eyes are tightly closed, the pulse is regular and the sleeper breathes deeply. During this stage the pituitary gland produces the growth hormone somatotrophin. It is difficult to wake someone from deep sleep. This stage is followed by rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep), in which the sleeper’s eyes are half open and move about, he or she makes facial movements, the blood pressure rises and he or she has dreams. After this stage the sleeper relapses into the first sleep stage again.

sleep apnoea / sli p p ni ə/ noun a condition related to heavy snoring, with prolonged respiratory pauses leading to cerebral hypoxia and subsequent daytime drowsiness

sleeping pill / sli p ŋ p l/ noun a pill containing a drug, usually a barbiturate, which makes a person sleep She died of an overdose of sleeping pills.

sleeping sickness / sli p ŋ s knəs/ noun an African disease, spread by the tsetse fly, where trypanosomes infest the blood. Also called African trypanosomiasis

COMMENT: Symptoms are headaches, lethargy and long periods of sleep. The disease is fatal if not treated.

sleeping tablet noun a tablet containing a drug, usually a barbiturate, which makes a person sleep

sleeplessness / sli pləsnəs/ noun insomnia

sleep off / sli p ɒf/ verb to recover from a mild illness or hangover by sleeping (NOTE:

sleeping off – slept off)

sleep terror disorder / sli p terə d s ɔ də/ noun a condition in which a person regularly wakes from sleep in a state of terror and confusion but remembers nothing about it in the morning

sleepwalker / sli pwɔ kə/ noun same as somnambulist

sleepwalking / sli pwɔ k ŋ/ noun same as somnambulism

sleepy / sli pi/ adjective feeling ready to go to sleep (NOTE: sleepier – sleepiest)

sleepy sickness / sli pi s knəs/ noun same as lethargic encephalitis

slice /sla s/ noun a thin flat piece of tissue which has been cut off He examined the slice of brain tissue under the microscope. slide /sla d/ noun a piece of glass, on which a tissue sample is placed, to be examined under a microscope verb to move along smoothly

The plunger slides up and down the syringe.

(NOTE: sliding – slid)

sliding traction / sla d ŋ tr kʃ(ə)n/ noun traction for a fracture of a femur, in which weights are attached to pull the leg

slight /sla t/ adjective not very serious He has a slight fever. She had a slight accident. slim /sl m/ adjective pleasantly thin She has become slim again after being pregnant. verb to try to become thinner or weigh less

She is trying to slim before she goes on holiday. (NOTE: slimming – slimmed)

slimming / sl m ŋ/ noun the use of a special diet or special food which is low in calories and which is supposed to stop a person getting fat

sling /sl ŋ/ noun a triangular bandage attached round the neck, used to support an injured arm and prevent it from moving She had her left arm in a sling.

slipped disc / sl pt d sk/ noun same as displaced intervertebral disc, prolapsed intervertebral disc

slit lamp / sl t l mp/ noun a piece of equipment which provides a narrow beam of light and is connected to a special microscope, used to examine the eye

slough /slaυ/ noun dead tissue, especially dead skin, which has separated from healthy tissue verb to lose dead skin which falls off

slow-release vitamin tablet /sləυ r li s v təm n t blət/ noun a vitamin tablet which

will dissolve slowly in the body and give a

longer and more constant effect

slow-wave sleep / sləυ we v sli p/ noun a period of sleep during which the sleeper sleeps deeply and the eyes do not move

COMMENT: During slow-wave sleep, the pituitary gland secretes the hormone somatotrophin.

small /smɔ l/ adjective 1. not large His chest was covered with small red spots. She has a small cyst in the colon. 2. young He had chickenpox when he was small.

small children / smɔ l tʃ ldrən/ noun young children, between about 1 and 10 years of age

small for dates / smɔ l fə de ts/ adjective referring to an unborn baby which is small in comparison to the average size for that number of weeks. Abbr SFD

small intestine / smɔ l n test n/ noun a section of the intestine from the stomach to the caecum, consisting of the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum

small of the back / smɔ l əv ðə b k/ noun the middle part of the back between and below the shoulder blades

smallpox / smɔ lpɒks/ noun a very serious, usually fatal, contagious disease caused by the pox virus, with a severe rash, leaving masses of small scars on the skin. Also called variola

COMMENT: It is more than 200 years since the first smallpox vaccine experiments and vaccination has proved effective in eradicating smallpox.

small stomach / smɔ l st"mək/ noun a stomach which is reduced in size after an operation, making the person unable to eat large meals

smear /sm ə/ noun a sample of soft tissue, e.g. blood or mucus, taken from a person and spread over a glass slide to be examined under a microscope

smear test / sm ə test/ noun same as Papanicolaou test

smegma / sme&mə/ noun an oily secretion with an unpleasant smell which collects on and under the foreskin of the penis

smell /smel/ noun one of the five senses, the sense which is experienced through the nose verb 1. to notice the smell of something through the nose I can smell smoke. He can’t smell anything because he’s got a cold. 2. to produce a smell The room smells of disinfectant. (NOTE: smelling – smelled or smelt)

COMMENT: The senses of smell and taste are closely connected, and together give the real taste of food. Smells are sensed by receptors in the nasal cavity which transmit impulses to the brain. When food is eaten, the smell is sensed at the same time as the taste is sensed by the taste buds, and most of what we think of as taste is in fact smell, which explains why food loses its taste when someone has a cold and a blocked nose.

smelling salts / smel ŋ sɔ lts/ noun crystals of an ammonia compound which give off a strong smell and can revive someone who has fainted

Smith-Petersen nail / sm θ pi təs(ə)n ne l/ noun a metal nail used to attach the fractured neck of a femur [Described 1931. After

Marius Nygaard Smith-Petersen (1886–1953), Norwegian-born Boston orthopaedic surgeon.]

Smith’s fracture / sm θs fr ktʃə/ noun a fracture of the radius just above the wrist

smog /smɒ&/ noun pollution of the atmosphere in towns, caused by warm damp air combining with smoke and exhaust fumes from cars

smoke /sməυk/ noun a white, grey or black product made of small particles, given off by something which is burning verb to breathe in smoke from a cigarette, cigar or pipe which is held in the lips Doctors are trying to persuade people to stop smoking. (NOTE: smoking

–smoked)

COMMENT: The connection between smoking tobacco, especially cigarettes, and lung cancer has been proved to the satisfaction of the British government, which prints a health warning on all packets of cigarettes. Smoke from burning tobacco contains nicotine and other substances which stick in the lungs, and can in the long run cause cancer and heart disease.

smoke inhalation / sməυk nhə le ʃ(ə)n/ noun the breathing in of smoke, as in a fire smoker / sməυkə/ noun a person who smokes cigarettes

smoker’s cough / sməυkəz kɒf/ noun a dry asthmatic cough, often found in people who smoke large numbers of cigarettes smoking / sməυk ŋ/ noun the action of smoking a cigarette, pipe or cigar Smoking can injure your health.

‘…three quarters of patients aged 35–64 on GPs’ lists have at least one major risk factor: high cholesterol, high blood pressure or addiction to tobacco. Of the three risk factors, smoking causes a quarter of heart disease deaths’ [Health Services Journal]

smooth /smu ð/ adjective flat, not rough verb to make something smooth She smoothed down the sheets on the bed. smooth muscle /smu ð m"s(ə)l/ noun a type of muscle found in involuntary muscles. Also called unstriated muscle

SMR abbr submucous resection

snare /sneə/ noun a surgical instrument made of a loop of wire, used to remove growths without the need of an incision

sneeze /sni z/ noun a reflex action to blow air suddenly out of the nose and mouth because of irritation in the nasal passages She gave a loud sneeze. verb to blow air suddenly out of the nose and mouth because of irritation in the nasal passages The smell of flowers makes her sneeze. He was coughing and sneezing and decided to stay in bed. (NOTE: sneezing – sneezed)

COMMENT: A sneeze sends out a spray of droplets of liquid, which, if infectious, can then infect anyone who happens to inhale them.

sneezing fit / sni z ŋ f t/ noun a sudden attack when someone sneezes many times

Snellen chart / snelən tʃɑ t/ noun a chart commonly used by opticians to test eyesight

[Described 1862. After Hermann Snellen (1834– 1908), Dutch ophthalmologist.]

COMMENT: The Snellen chart has rows of letters, the top row being very large, and the bottom very small, with the result that the more rows a person can read, the better his or her eyesight.

Snellen type / snelən ta p/ noun different type sizes used on a Snellen chart

sniff /sn f/ noun an act of breathing in air or smelling through the nose They gave her a sniff of smelling salts to revive her. verb to breathe in air or to smell through the nose

He was sniffing because he had a cold. She sniffed and said that she could smell smoke. sniffle / sn f(ə)l/ verb to keep on sniffing because you have a cold or are crying (NOTE: sniffling – sniffled)

sniffles / sn f(ə)lz/ plural noun a slight head cold, or an allergy that causes a running nose

(informal; used to children) Don’t go out into the cold when you have the sniffles.

snore /snɔ / noun a loud noise produced in the nose and throat when a person is asleep verb to make a loud noise in the nose and throat when asleep (NOTE: snoring – snored)

COMMENT: A snore is produced by the vibration of the soft palate at the back of the mouth, and occurs when a sleeping person breathes through both mouth and nose.

snoring / snɔ r ŋ/ noun noisy breathing while asleep

snot /snɒt/ noun mucus in the nose (informal) snow blindness / snəυ bla ndnəs/ noun temporary painful blindness caused by bright sunlight shining on snow

snuffles / sn"f(ə)lz/ plural noun the condition of breathing noisily through a nose which is blocked with mucus, which is usually a symptom of the common cold, but can sometimes be a sign of congenital syphilis (informal; used to children)

soak /səυk/ verb to put something in liquid so that it absorbs some of it Use a compress made of cloth soaked in warm water.

social / səυʃ(ə)l/ adjective referring to society or to groups of people

social disease / səυʃ(ə)l d zi z/ noun US sexually transmitted disease

socialisation / səυʃ(ə)la ze ʃ(ə)n/, socialization noun the process involved when young children are becoming aware of society and learning how they are expected to behave social medicine / səυʃ(ə)l med(ə)s(ə)n/ noun medicine as applied to treatment of diseases which occur in particular social groups social services / səυʃ(ə)l s! v s z/ plural noun the special facilities which the government or local authorities provide to people in the community who need help, such as the eld-

erly, children whose parents have died or the unemployed

social worker / səυʃ(ə)l w! kə/ noun a government employee who works to provide social services to people in need and improve their living standards

society /sə sa əti/ noun 1. the community of people who live in a particular country and share its institutions and customs 2. an organisation of people who have a shared interest sociopath / səυsiəp θ/ noun same as psychopath

socket / sɒk t/ noun a hollow part in a bone, into which another bone or organ fits The tip of the femur fits into a socket in the pelvis. sodium / səυdiəm/ noun a chemical element which is the basic substance in salt (NOTE: The chemical symbol is Na.)

COMMENT: Sodium is an essential mineral and exists in the extracellular fluid of the body. Sweat and tears also contain a high proportion of sodium chloride.

sodium balance / səυdiəm b ləns/ noun the balance maintained in the body between salt lost in sweat and urine and salt taken in from food. The balance is regulated by aldosterone.

sodium bicarbonate / səυdiəm ba kɑ bənət/ noun sodium salt used in cooking,

and also as a relief for indigestion and acidity. Also called bicarbonate of soda

sodium chloride / səυdiəm klɔ ra d/ noun common salt

sodium fusidate / səυdiəm fju s de t/ noun an antibiotic used mainly to treat penicil- lin-resistant staphylococcal infections sodium pump / səυdiəm p"mp/ noun a cellular process in which sodium is immediately excreted from any cell which it enters and potassium is brought in

sodium valproate / səυdiəm v l prəυe t/ noun an anticonvulsant drug used especially to treat migraines, seizures and epilepsy

sodokosis / səυdəυ kəυs s/, sodoku / səυdəυku / noun a form of rat-bite fever, in

which swellings in the jaws do not occur sodomy / sɒdəmi/ noun anal sexual intercourse between men

soft /sɒft/ adjective not hard or not resistant to pressure

soft chancre /sɒft ʃ ŋkə/ noun same as soft sore

soften / sɒf(ə)n/ verb to make something soft, or become soft

soft palate /sɒft p lət/ noun the back part of the palate leading to the uvula. cleft palate soft sore /sɒft sɔ / noun a venereal sore with a soft base, situated in the groin or on the genitals and caused by the bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi. Also called chancroid, soft chancre

soft tissue /sɒft t ʃu / noun skin, muscles, ligaments or tendons

soil /sɔ l/ noun the earth in which plants growverb to make something dirty He soiled his sheets. Soiled bedclothes are sent to the hospital laundry.

solar plexus / səυlə pleksəs/ noun a nerve network situated at the back of the abdomen between the adrenal glands

solar retinopathy / səυlə ret nɒpəθi/ noun irreparable damage to the most sensitive part of the retina, the macula, caused by looking at the sun with no protection or inadequate protection, as when looking at an eclipse of the sun

sole /səυl/ noun the part under the foot The soles of the feet are very sensitive.

soleus / səυliəs/ noun a flat muscle which goes down the calf of the leg (NOTE: The plural is solei.)

solid / sɒl d/ adjective 1. not soft or yielding

2. hard and not liquid Water turns solid when it freezes.

solid food / sɒl d fu d/ noun food which is chewed and eaten, not drunk She is allowed some solid food. or She is allowed to eat solids.

COMMENT: Solid foods are introduced gradually to babies and to patients who have had intestinal operations.

solidify /sə l d fa / verb to become solid, or cause something to become solid Carbon dioxide solidifies at low temperatures.

solids noun solid food

soluble / sɒljυb(ə)l/ adjective able to dissolve a tablet of soluble aspirin

soluble fibre / sɒljυb(ə)l fa bə/ noun a fibre in vegetables, fruit and pulses and porridge oats which is partly digested in the intestine and reduces the absorption of fats and sugar into the body, so lowering the level of cholesterol

solute / sɒlju t/ noun a solid substance which is dissolved in a solvent to make a solution

solution /sə lu ʃ(ə)n/ noun a mixture of a solid substance dissolved in a liquid

solvent / sɒlv(ə)nt/ noun a liquid in which a solid substance can be dissolved

solvent abuse / sɒlvənt ə bju s/, solvent inhalation / sɒlvənt nhə le ʃ(ə)n/ noun a

type of drug abuse in which someone inhales the toxic fumes given off by particular types of volatile chemical. Also called glue-sniffing

‘…deaths among teenagers caused by solvent abuse have reached record levels’ [Health Visitor]

soma / səυmə/ noun the body, as opposed to the mind (NOTE: The plural is somata or somas.)

somat- /səυmət/ prefix same as somato-

(used before vowels)

somata / səυmətə/ plural of soma

somatic /səυ m t k/ adjective referring to the body, either as opposed to the mind, or as opposed to the intestines and inner organs. Compare psychosomatic

somatic nerve /səυ m t k n! v/ noun any of the sensory and motor nerves which control skeletal muscles

somatic nervous system /səυ m t k n! vəs s stəm/ noun the part of the nervous

system that serves the sense organs and muscles of the body wall and limbs, and brings about activity in the voluntary muscles somato- /səυmətəυ/ prefix 1. referring to the body 2. somatic

somatology / səυmə tɒləd i/ noun the study of both the physiology and anatomy of the body

somatostatin / səυmətəυ st t n/ noun a hormone produced in the hypothalamus which helps to prevent the release of the growth hormone

somatotrophic hormone / səυmətə trɒf k hɔ məυn/, somatotrophin / səυmətə trəυf n/

noun a growth hormone, secreted by the pituitary gland, which stimulates the growth of long bones (NOTE: The US term for somatotrophin is somatotropin.)

somatropin / səυmətəυ trəυf n/ noun same as growth hormone

-some /səυm/ suffix tiny cell bodies somnambulism /sɒm n mbjυl z(ə)m/ noun a condition especially affecting children where the person gets up and walks about while still asleep. Also called sleepwalking somnambulist /sɒm n mbjυl st/ noun a person who walks in his or her sleep. Also called sleepwalker

somnambulistic /sɒmn mbjυ l st k/ adjective referring to somnambulism somnolent / sɒmnələnt/ adjective sleepy somnolism / sɒmnəl z(ə)m/ noun a trance which is induced by hypnotism

Somogyi effect / ʃɒmɒd i fekt/, Somogyi phenomenon / ʃɒmɒd i f nɒmənən/

noun in diabetes mellitus, a swing to a high level of glucose in the blood from an extremely low level, usually occurring after an untreated insulin reaction during the night. It is caused by the release of stress hormones to counter low glucose levels.

-somy /səυmi/ suffix the presence of chromosomes

son /s"n/ noun a male child of a parent They have two sons and one daughter.

Sonne dysentery / sɒnə d səntri/ noun a common form of mild dysentery in the UK, caused by Shigella sonnei [Described 1915. After Carl Olaf Sonne (1882–1948), Danish bacteriologist and physician.]