American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [810]
minerals Chemicals in food, such as iron, calcium, and phosphorus, that are essential for good health.
ministroke See TIA.
molecule The smallest particle into which an element or compound can be divided without changing its chemical or physical properties.
monocyte A large white blood cell with a single nucleus found in lymph nodes, the spleen, and bone marrow.
monounsaturated fat A type of fat (found in high quantities in olive, canola, and peanut oils) that lowers harmful LDL cholesterol and raises beneficial HDL cholesterol.
mucous membrane The thin, skinlike lining of cavities and tubes in the body, such as the digestive tract, urinary tract, and respiratory tract.
mucus A thick, slimy fluid secreted by a mucous membrane to lubricate and protect the part of the body it lines.
mutation, genetic A change in the genetic material (DNA) within a living cell. Mutations can be harmless, harmful, or beneficial.
myocardial infarction See heart attack.
N
nebulizer A device that disperses a drug into a fine mist that can be inhaled through a face mask. Nebulizers are usually used to treat asthma.
neonatal Younger than 4 weeks old.
nephrons The basic filtering units of the kidneys.
neural tube defects Abnormalities in the development of a fetus’s spinal cord or brain. The most common neural tube defect is spina bifida, a disorder in which the bones of the spine fail to develop normally, leaving part of the spinal cord exposed.
neuron A nerve (brain) cell.
neurotransmitters Chemical messengers that enable neurons to communicate with each other.
neutrophil A type of white blood cell.
noninvasive Describes a medical procedure in which the body is not penetrated. May also be used to refer to cancer that has not spread.
noradrenaline See norepinephrine.
norepinephrine Also called noradrenaline. A hormone that helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure by narrowing blood vessels and increasing heart rate when blood pressure drops below the normal level.
nucleus, cell An oval or round mass inside cells that contains genetic material (DNA) and directs all the activities of the cell.
O
obesity A condition in which a person’s weight is 20 percent or more over the maximum desirable weight for his or her height or whose body mass index is 30 or greater.
occlusion Blockage of an opening or passage in the body (such as a blood vessel) by a clot or bubble.
occlusion, dental Also called bite. The way in which the upper and lower teeth come together when the mouth is closed.
occult blood Blood in body fluids or in feces that is not visible to the naked eye but can be detected by tests; occult blood tests are often used to detect colon and rectal cancer.
opportunistic infections Infections that rarely occur in healthy people but frequently occur in people who have an impaired immune system—such as people with AIDS. Examples of opportunistic infections include cytomegalovirus, Kaposi’s sarcoma (a type of skin cancer), and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
osteoarthritis Also called simply arthritis. Progressive, gradual thinning or destruction of cartilage in the joints, usually resulting from aging, injury, or overuse.
osteoma A noncancerous bone tumor.
osteoporosis A disorder in which bones become thin, brittle, and more susceptible to fracture; occurs most frequently in women.
oxidation A damaging chemical reaction in cells caused by the actions of free radicals; a major factor in disease and aging.
oxygen free radicals See free radicals.
P
pacemaker An electronic device implanted in the chest to regulate the heartbeat.
palpitations Heartbeats, usually more rapid or stronger than normal, that a person is aware of.
papillomaviruses A group of viruses that can cause warts including genital warts, which can lead to cervical cancer in women.
peak flow meter An