American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [804]
bilirubin A yellowish orange pigment in bile produced by the breakdown of red blood cells. An accumulation of bilirubin in the blood or skin is called jaundice.
biofeedback A relaxation technique in which a person learns to control involuntary body functions such as heart rate.
biopsy A diagnostic test in which a small sample of tissue is removed from the body and examined under a microscope. Biopsies are usually performed to determine if an abnormal growth is cancerous.
bite See occlusion, dental.
bite guard Also called a dental splint. A plastic dental appliance that fits over the biting surface of the upper or lower teeth and helps prevent a person from grinding his or her teeth.
blood clot A clump of coagulated blood. See also thrombus and embolus.
blood poisoning See septicemia.
blood pressure A measure of the amount of force that blood exerts against the walls of the arteries as it is pumped through the body by the heart.
blood type The classification of a person’s blood according to the presence of different marker proteins on the surface of red blood cells.
B lymphocyte See B cell.
BMI See body mass index.
board certified A term that refers to doctors who have had at least 7 years of medical training and have passed a comprehensive examination in a medical specialty (such as internal medicine, ophthalmology, or pediatrics).
body mass index Also called BMI. A measurement used to determine if a person’s body weight is in the healthy range.
bone density A measure of the amount of calcium and other minerals in bone in relation to the width of the bone. A person’s bone density is used to determine his or her risk of developing osteoporosis.
bone marrow The spongy tissue inside the large bones that contains stem cells, which produce all the different types of blood cells.
bone marrow transplant A procedure to replace diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow. In an autologous bone marrow transplant, some of a person’s own bone marrow is collected, treated with powerful anticancer drugs, and frozen until needed. His or her remaining bone marrow is destroyed with chemotherapy, and possibly with radiation therapy, and he or she is given the treated, stored bone marrow (injected through a needle into a vein). In an allogeneic bone marrow transplant, all of a person’s bone marrow is destroyed with chemotherapy, and possibly with radiation therapy, and then healthy bone marrow from a donor is injected into a vein.
botulism A serious but relatively rare type of food poisoning that results from eating improperly canned or preserved foods that contain a powerful bacterial toxin.
brachytherapy Also called internal radiation therapy. A type of radiation therapy in which a radioactive substance is inserted directly into a cancer site. Brachytherapy is performed to keep a cancer from spreading by destroying or slowing the growth of abnormal cells.
bradycardia A heart rate below 60 beats per minute.
bulimia nervosa Also called bulimia. An eating disorder characterized by binge overeating followed by self-induced vomiting or laxative abuse.
C
CA-125 A blood test in which a sample of a woman’s blood is examined in a laboratory for the presence of an antigen called CA-125. An elevated level of CA-125 can indicate ovarian cancer or noncancerous conditions such as fibroid tumors and pelvic infections.
calcium A mineral that is essential for strong bones and teeth and that also has an important role in muscle contraction, blood clotting, and nerve function.
calculus Also called a stone. A small, hard mass (such as a gallstone or a kidney stone), usually composed of mineral deposits, that forms in body tissues.
calculus, dental Also called tartar. A hard mineral deposit that forms on teeth.
calorie A measurement used in nutrition to represent the amount of energy contained in food.
capillaries The smallest blood vessels in the body. Capillary walls are only one cell thick.
carcinogen A substance that