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click on the virtual library icon to view a 3D animation of select terms
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| Intervertebral discs |  |
| Intervertebral Disks lie between vertebrae, or bones, in the spine and cushion movement of the vertebrae. There is one intervertebral disk between each pair of vertebrae, increasing in size with the largest located at the base of the spine. Intervertebral disks can be weakened through aging, injury or disease, and the jelly like center of the disk can herniate, or push out, causing a herniated disk. A herniated disk can also be called a slipped or ruptured disk, or even pinched nerve. Herniated disks can cause radiating pain, numbness, tingling, and diminished strength in the legs, arms, hands, feet shoulders, neck, face, and internal organs. |
| Laparoscopy | |
| Laparoscopy is a procedure used by physicians to explore the abdomen and reproductive organs. It may be used in cases of pelvic pain, tubal sterilization, ectopic pregnancies, and infertility. Laparoscopy can also be used to diagnose endometriosis, fibroids, and ovarian cysts. An instrument called a laproscope is attached to a video monitor allowing the physician to examine the abdomen through a small incision. This procedure is typically associated with less pain and faster recovery. |
| Laparoscopy Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy | |
| Laparoscopy Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy uses a laparoscope to visualize the pelvic organs and to assist in the hysterectomy procedure. This enables the physician to perform part of the surgery through a small incision. |
| Lipid (blood fats) | |
| Various substances (cholesterol, triglycerides and others) in the blood that, with proteins and carbohydrates, comprise the main components of living cells. Often used to refer to various forms of cholesterol. Having too much cholesterol in the blood is not a disease in itself, but can lead to the hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) in the major vascular systems. The lipid profile is a group of tests that are often ordered together to determine risk of coronary heart disease. |
| Lipoprotein (a) | |
| It is a lipoprotein particle found in the bloodstream, the function of which is unknown.
Elevated levels of this specific lipid-protein combination definitely indicate an elevated risk of developing atherosclerosis.
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| Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) | |
| Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure or LEEP is an outpatient procedure used to remove pre-cancerous cells in the cervix which is part of the uterus. Used to cut the tissue and reduce bleeding, the instrument is a fine metal loop with a small electrical current pulsing through it. |
| Low back pain | |
| Low Back Pain is caused mainly by a strain of the muscles or other soft structures, such as ligaments and tendons, which are connected to the vertebrae, or bones, of the spine. The pain may be coming from the spine, from muscles, nerves, or other structures in the lower back. Sometimes the cushion between the vertebrae, called an intervertebral disk, is compressed, bulges out, or herniates, and presses on nearby nerves. |
| Lung Cancer Prevention | |
| Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. As they grow, the abnormal cells can form tumors and impede the function of the lung, which is to provide oxygen to the body via the blood.
There are two main types of lung cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer.
There four types of non-small cell lung cancers and they account for about 80% of all lung cancers. Unfortunately, few lung cancers are found in the early stages when treatment is most effective.
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| Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosis or SLE) | |
| Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder (immune response against the body's own tissues). It may affect the skin, joints, kidneys, and other organs. The disease affects 9 times as many women as men. It may occur at any age, but appears most often in people between the ages of 10 and 50 years. The course of the disease may vary from a mild episodic illness to a severe fatal disease. |
| Luteinizing Hormone | |
| In both sexes, Lutenizing hormone (LH) stimulates secretion of sex steroids from the gonads. In the testes, LH stimulates synthesis and secretion of testosterone. Cells in the ovary respond to LH stimulation by secretion of testosterone, which is converted into estrogen. Progesterone is necessary for maintenance of pregnancy, and, in most mammals, LH is required for continued development and function of corpora lutea. The name luteinizing hormone derives from this effect of inducing luteinization of ovarian follicles. |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging | |
| An imaging system that uses a powerful magnetic field to produce images of the body. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radiofrequency waves and a strong magnetic field rather than x-rays to provide remarkably clear and detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues. The MRI system goes through the patient's body point by point, building up a 2-D or 3-D map of tissue types. It then integrates all of this information together to create 2-D images or 3-D models. |
| Mammogram | |
| An image of breast tissue used to detect breast cancer and other conditions. A mammogram is an x-ray test (mammography) that produces an image of the inner breast tissue on film. Mammography can help in identifying cysts, calcifications, and tumors within the breast. It is currently the most effective way to detect early breast cancer. |
| Murmur (heart murmur) | |
| Murmur or Heart Murmur is a sound produced as blood flows through the chambers and large blood vessels of the heart during the normal cardiac cycle of contraction and relaxation. Many murmurs are harmless and not associated with abnormalities of the heart or its vessels. Certain heart murmurs, however, are associated with a structural or functional abnormality of the heart. If blood flow is excessive or turbulent, or if blood flows through an abnormal opening, an atypical murmur may be present. Blood flowing through a tight valve or leaking across an improperly sealing valve also causes a murmur. |
| MyMedDrive ™ | |
| A powerful, keychain-sized digital storage device containing your medical records, images and other health information. It ensures that your records are always with you, and is updatable as you schedule future tests and imaging.
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| Myomectomy | |
| Myomectomy involves surgically removing fibroids from the uterine muscle. The procedure allows the uterus to be left in place and preserves fertility; it is the preferred fibroid treatment for women who want to become pregnant. |
| NMR Lipoprofile® | |
| A detailed measurement and comparison of levels of many different lipoprotein particles in the blood (like LDL “bad” cholesterol and HDL “good” cholesterol). The NMR LipoProfile® test is an advanced cardiovascular diagnostic test that uses nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to provide rapid, simultaneous and direct measurement of LDL particle number and size, as well as direct measurement of HDL and VLDL subclasses. This profile gives a good indication of presence of developing cardiovascular disease. |
| Non-invasive | |
| The term non-invasive can refer to procedures or diseases. Non-invasive procedures, refers to procedures that do not require opening the skin or insertion of instruments into the body. Non-invasive imaging systems like CT, MRI and ultrasound use x-rays, electromagnetic impulses and sound waves (respectively) to create pictures of internal organs. Non-invasive diseases usually do not spread to other organs and tissues or damage them. |
| Obesity | |
| Excessively overweight, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more. To determine if someone is obese, health care professionals often use a measurement called body mass index. A person's height and weight are measured, and then these numbers are used in a formula to calculate the BMI. Being obese and being overweight are not the same. An obese person has a large amount of extra body fat, not a few extra pounds. People who are obese are very overweight and at risk for serious health problems. |
| Operative Hysteroscopy | |
| Operative Hysteroscopy uses a small telescope the size of a pencil to inspect the inside of the uterus and remove uterine adhesions such as polyps or fibroids. The operative hysteroscope has ports allowing the physician to insert operating tools such as scissors, cautery devices or a laser fiber. These tools may be used to cut or cauterize specific abnormalities under direct visualization. |
| Osteoporosis | |
| A chronic disease characterized by a gradual loss of bone mass, creating a “porous” appearance, and resulting in a weakening of skeletal structure and increased risk of fracture.
Osteoporosis affects one in two women and one in five men over age 65 causing fractures due to osteoporosis. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. Any bone can be affected but breaks occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist.
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| Oximetry | |
| A measure of oxygen saturation (the level of oxygen in the blood), used as an indicator of heart-lung-vascular function. A non-invasive technique for measuring the oxygen saturation in the blood. Oximetry involves a sensor (probe) attached to a finger or earlobe and linked to a computerized unit that displays percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen and the pulse rate. |
| Oximetry (pulse oximetry) | |
| Oximetry or Pulse Oximetry is a non-invasive technique for measuring the oxygen saturation in the blood. A sensor is attached to a finger or earlobe and linked to a computerized unit. The unit displays the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen and the resulting pulse rate. |
| Pacemaker | |
| Pacemaker refers to the natural pacemaker of the heart, a small mass of cells called the sinoatrial node. The node is located in the right atrium and produces the electrical impulse that activates the left atrium and ventricular muscle causing the heart to contract. An artificial pacemaker is an electrical device that detects and overrides a defective natural pacemaker or conduction pathway. The artificial pacemaker connects to the heart by intravenous wires, or “leads”, and controls the hearts rhythm by emitting a series of electrical discharges. |
| Pap smear | |
| An important screening test for cervical cancer using cells collected from the cervix, a part of the uterus (womb), smeared on a slide and examined under a microscope. The cervix is cleaned with a cotton swab and then a sample of cells is collected with a small brush, a tiny spatula or a cotton swab. This sample is put on a glass slide and sent to a lab to be checked. |
| Pathology | |
| The study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them the anatomic and physiological deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease. Often refers to the evaluation of biological samples (cells and tissues) by a doctor (pathologist) for signs disease. |
| Peripherial Vascular Disease | |
| This condition indicates deterioration in the blood vessels in the limbs leading to poor circulation and increased risk of heart attack, stroke and amputation. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is caused by the same type of plaque that causes coronary artery disease. As the internal lining of the artery thickens from the atherosclerotic plaque, the blood vessel becomes increasingly narrowed and blood flow diminishes. Symptoms of peripheral vascular disease may manifest as a dull, cramping pain, numbness or tingling, or a change of skin color; depend on what artery is affected and how severely the blood flow is reduced. |
| PET Scan | |
| Positron Emission Tomography (PET), a non-invasive imaging technology that can reveal the biological functioning of body tissues before various disease processes result in anatomical changes. Often used in conjunction with Computed Tomography (CT) to identify heart disease, cancer and brain disorders. PET detects chemical and metabolic changes in disease states before anatomic and structural changes have time to develop. Therefore PET can detect diseases when anatomic imaging studies are still normal, and may be informative in differentiating benign (non cancerous) from malignant (cancerous) changes. |
| Pneumonia | |
| Pneumonia is most commonly caused by viruses, such as the influenza virus we call “flu” and adenovirus. Bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause pneumonia, although bacterial pneumonia is less common.
When a person has pneumonia, infected lung tissue can fill with pus and other fluid, making it difficult to breath and difficult for oxygen to reach the bloodstream.
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| Pre-symptomatic | |
| Finding chronic diseases at an early stage (before symptoms occur) at which relatively little damage has been done and treatment/preventive intervention can be most effective. See PET scan. |
| Preventive Medicine | |
| The process of caring for your health before you get sick. Involves early detection to find chronic disease at pre-symptomatic stages, and preventive strategies for building health and improving your chances for a long, vital life.
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| Prostate Specific Antigen | |
| PSA is a protein made in the prostate gland and released into the bloodstream. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures elevated levels of PSA and can indicate the possibility of prostate cancer, as well as benign enlargement (hyperplasia) or inflammation (prostatitis) of the prostate. Healthy men have low amounts of PSA in the blood. The amount of PSA in the blood normally increases as a man's prostate enlarges with age. |
| Repetitive trauma disorders | |
| Repetitive Trauma Disorders are a family of conditions affecting soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursa, and nerves. Repetitive motions performed consistently at work or during daily activities are most frequently the cause. Disorders occur most commonly in the hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders and are characterized by pain, tingling, numbness, loss of flexibility and strength, visible swelling or redness of the affected area. |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | |
| Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease in which joints in the body become inflamed. This often leads to swelling, pain, stiffness, possible deformity and loss of function.
Rheumatoid arthritis progresses in three stages. The first stage is the swelling of the joint lining, causing pain, warmth, stiffness, redness and swelling around the joint. Second is the rapid division and growth of cells, which causes the lining to thicken. In the third stage, the inflamed cells release enzymes that may digest bone and cartilage, often causing the involved joint to lose its shape and alignment, more pain, and loss of movement.
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