General Glossary

hallucination

perception of objects or events that are not actually present

hallux valgus

twisting of the big toe toward the outer side of the foot

helminthiasis

diseased state due to intestinal parasites such as nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, and acanthocephalans

hematoma

localized blood clot within an organ or tissue

hematuria

blood in the urine

hemodialysis

process of separating water and small soluble substances from the blood

hemolysis

breaking down of red blood cells

hemolytic icterus

jaundice due to hemolysis

hemorrhage

profuse blood flow

hemorrhagic nephritis

acute glomerulonephritis accompanied by hematuria (blood in the urine)

hemorrhoids

varicose disorder causing painful swellings at the anus; piles

hemostatic

stopping blood flow; antihemorrhagic agent

hepatitis

liver inflammation, typically due to a virus or toxic substance

hepatotoxic

poisonous to the liver

herpes simplex

infection, often recurrent, caused by herpes virus type 1 and 2 and typically found on the the lip or genetalia

hetero-

in botany, different

hippocampus

brain structure that forms the edge of the cortical mantle of the cerebral hemisphere

HIV

abbreviation for human immunodeficiency virus

holo-

in botany, entire

homeopathic

a product containing infinitesimal doses of a drug that would, in normal doses, produce symptoms of the disease that it is intended to treat

homo-

in botany, like, same

HPLC

high performance liquid chromatography

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

a retrovirus associated with onset of advanced immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

hybrid

an individual (plant or animal) whose parents are different varieties of the same species or belong to different but closely allied species

hydrops (dropsy)

an excessive accumulation of clear, watery fluid in any of the tissues or cavities of the body; edema, ascites, anasarca

hypercalcemia

excess calcium in the blood

hypercholesterolemia

excess cholesterol in the blood

hypercrinia

excessive secretion of mucus

hyperemia

condition of increased blood accumulation in a portion of the body, due to inflammation, obstruction to blood flow, or local relaxation of arterioles

hyperemic

causing increased blood accumulation in a portion of the body; relating to hyperemia

hyperhidrosis

excessive sweating

hypertension

high blood pressure

hyperthyroidism

an abnormal condition of the thyroid gland resulting in excessive secretion of thyroid hormones characterized by an increased metabolism and weight loss

hypertonia

excessive concentration of salts in the blood; condition of having a greater osmotic pressure than a reference solution (blood or interstitial fluid), having a fluid in which cells shrink

hypertrophy

increase in the size of an organ due to enlargement of its cells; frequently with a corresponding increase in functional capacity

hypokalemia

abnormally low blood potassium

hypothermia

abnormally low body temperature

hypothrombinemia

abnormally low amounts of thrombin circulating in the blood, resulting in an increased tendency to bleed

hypothyroidism

diminished production of thyroid hormone, leading to low metabolic rate, tendency to gain weight, and somnolence

hypotonia

lessened tension; arterial relaxation

hypotonic-asthenic dyskinesia

condition characterized by weakened voluntary movements

hypoxic tolerance

ability to function despite below-normal availability of oxygen to tissue

ichthyosis

skin disease with extreme scaling

icterus

jaundice

ileus

bowel obstruction

in vitro

in an artificial environment, such as the test tube

in vivo

in a living animal

-ineus

in botany, color or material, stramineus, straw-colored

inotropic

affecting force of muscle contraction

intermittent claudication

symptom characterized by pain during walking

intestinal flora

bacteria living in the large intestine

intraperitoneal

in the peritoneal cavity underlying the abdomen, often referring to the location of experimental injections

involutional

reducing an enlarged organ to normal size

irrigation therapy

washing out a cavity or wound with a fluid; irrigation of the kidney parenchyma and the urinary tract by addition of increased amounts of liquid, usually a mild herbal teas with aquaretic or diuretic properties

ischialgia

hip pain

ischuria

retention or suppression of urine

iso-

in botany, equal

itch

irritating sensation of the skin that arouses the urge to scratch; pruritis

jaundice

increased blood plasma level of bile pigments causing yellowish staining of the integument, sclera, deeper tissues, and excreta

kali

pertaining to potassium

kaliuretic

substance increasing elimination of potassium into the urine

keloid

a nodular, firm, movable, nonencapsulated, often linear mass of scar tissue, tender and frequently painful, consisting of wide, irregularly distributed bands of collagen, usually occurring after trauma, surgery, a burn, or severe acne, more common among people of African orgin

kidney gravel

small concretions formed in the kidney

kyphosis

spinal deformity characterized by extensive flexion

lactation

production of milk; period after giving birth during which milk is secreted in the breasts

laevi-

in botany, smooth

lamina

in botany, blade

lanci-

in botany, spear-shaped

lani-

in botany, woolly

latex

milky emulsion or suspension formed by some seed plants; contains suspended particles of natural rubber or related compounds

lati-

in botany, broad

laxative

mild cathartic; agent having the property of loosening the bowels

leaf

a photosynthetic and transpiring organ, usually developed from leaf primordium in the bud; an expanded, usually green, organ borne on the stem of a plant

lepido-

in botany, scaly

lepto-

in botany, slender

leuco-, leuko-

in botany, white

leukopenia

low white blood cell count

leukoplakia

thickened, white patch on mucous membrane of the mouth, in some cases precancerous

leukorrhea

discharge from the vagina of a white or yellowish viscous fluid with pus and mucus cells

leukosis

abnormal proliferation of any of the tissues that produce white blood cells

lignum

in botany, wood

ligulate flowers

strap-shaped, as in the case of the flattened corolla in the ray florets of composites

limbic system

brain structures, including hippocampus, dentate gyrus, and amygdala

liniment

ointment

lipid

fat-soluble substances derived from animal or vegetable cells by nonpolar solvents (e.g.  ether); the term can include the following types of materials: fatty acids, glycerides, phospholipids, alcohols and waxes

lipid peroxidation

the introduction of a great number of oxygen molecules into unsaturated fatty acids

lipid-lowering

reducing levels of serum lipids in the circulation, usually refers to serum cholesterol

lipolytic

breaking down fat

lipophilic

agent that dissolves fats, e.g., alcohol

loop diuretic

fast-acting, highly effective agents increasing excretion of urine by acting on the loop of Henle in the kidney

lumbago

pain in the mid- and lower back

lumen

space in the interior of a tubular structure

luteinizing hormone

anterior pituitary hormone stimulating estrogen production by the ovary; promoting formation of progesterone by the corpus luteum in women and stimulating testosterone release in men

luteus

in botany, deep yellow

maceration

herb preparation softened by soaking

macro-

in botany, giant

manager disease

obesity and/or congestive heart failure associated with sedentary lifestyle and high emotional stress

MAO inhibitor

monoamine oxidase inhibitor

mastodynia

breast pain

medulla

in botany, pith

megacolon

massive dilation of the colon

melano-

in botany, black, very dark

Mnire's disease

affliction of the middle ear characterized by vertigo, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, and progressive deafness

menopause

permanent cessation of menstruation

menorrhagia

abnormally heavy menstrual period

mesenchyma

cells developing into the synovial membrane of a joint

mesenchymal

refers to connective tissue, blood, and lymphatics that originate from embryonic mesoderm

metabolite

any product (foodstuff, intermediate, waste product) of metabolism

meteorism

tympania; swelling of the abdomen from gas in the intestinal or peritoneal cavity

methemoglobinuria

excretion of methemoglobin, a transformation product of hemoglobin, into urine

metrorrhagia

any irregular, acyclic bleeding from the uterus between periods

micro-

in botany, small, little

micturition

urination

migraine

a symptom complex occurring periodically and characterized by pain in the head, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and visual disturbance

milk scall

seborrhea of the scalp in infants; cradle cap

mineralocorticoid

one of the steroids of the adrenal cortex that influences salt (sodium, potassium) metabolism

mitosis

cell division

monoamine oxidase (MAO)

enzyme catalyzing the removal of an amine group from a variety of substrates, including norepinephrine and dopamine

montanus

in botany, of the mountains

motility

capacity for spontaneous movement, frequently in reference to the intestine

mucilage

preparation consisting of a solution in water of the viscous principles of plants; used as a soothing application to mucous membranes

mucolytic

agent breaking down or dissolving mucus

mucosa

mucous tissue layer lining tubular structures (nasal passages, ear canal, etc.)

mucous

containing or producing mucus

mucus

the clear secretion of the muous membrane

multiple sclerosis

demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, causing patches of sclerosis (plaques) in the brain and spinal cord, manifested by loss of normal neurological functions, e.g., muscle weakness, loss of vision, and mood alterations

muscarine-like effect

having an effect similar to a muscarinic, cholinergic compound; e.g., causing vasodilation, salivation, bronchoconstriction, and gastrointestinal stimulation

muscarinergic cholinoceptors

parasympathetic receptors

musculotropic

affecting, attracted to, or acting upon muscle tissue

mutagenicity

production of genetic alterations

myalgia

diffuse muscle pain

mydriasis

dilation of the pupil

myocardium

heart muscle

myodegenenation

muscular degeneration

myogelosis

a localized hardened mass found in muscle tissue

myoglobinuria

excretion of the muscle's oxygen-transport protein, myoglobin, in the urine

myopathy

any disease or abnormal condition of the muscular tissues

myxedema

a condition arising from diminished thyroid function, characterized by hard swelling of subcutaneous tissue, hair loss, lower temperture, muscle debility, hoarseness and the slow return of a muscle to neutral position after a tendon jerk

native dry extract

an extract, typically hydroalcoholic, of plant material from which the solvent has evaporated to leave a solid residue

natriuretic

agent causing sodium to be excreted into the urine

nausea

symptoms resulting from an inclination to vomit

ne-

in botany, not, free from

necrosis

death of one or more cells, or of a portion of a tissue or organ

neonate

newborn

nephritis

kidney inflammation

nephro-

in botany, kidney-shaped

nephrolithiasis

presence of kidney stones or gravel

nephrosclerosis

hardening of the kidney from overgrowth and contraction of the interstitial connective tissue

nervous bladder

tendency to urinate in response to emotion stress

neuralgia/neuralgic ailment

pain of severe throbbing or stabbing nature along a nerve

neurasthenia

ill-defined condition, accompanying or following depression, characterized by vague fatigue believed to be brought about by psychological factors

neuritis

nerve inflammation

neuroleptic

a therapeutic agent which produces a state of altered awareness and tranquilization

neurotoxic

poisonous to the nerves

neurovegetative (neurovisceral)

referring to the innervation of the internal organs by the autonomic nervous system

nicotine-like effects

producing an effect which stimulates (small doses) and then depresses (large doses) autonomic nervous function

noradrenaline, norepinephrine

a catecholamine hormone secreted from the adrenal medulla and post-ganglionic adrenergic fibers in response to hypotension or emotional stress

NYHA guidelines

New York Heart Association guidelines specifying degrees of heart failure:

stage I -no effect on physical performance

stage II - performance of patient under major stress is decreased

stage III - performance affected even during normal activity but not during rest

stage IV - symptoms during rest, no physical stress is possible, patient must remain in bed

ochro-

in botany, yellowish

odonto-

in botany, toothlike

-oideus

in botany, resembling; e.g, helianthoides, resembling the genus Helianthus

ointment

semisolid preparation usually containing medicinal substances and intended for external therapeutic application

oral

by mouth or of the mouth

organ neurosis

dysfunction for which there is no apparent organic cause

ortho-

in botany, straight

orthostatic circulatory disturbance

changes in circulation upon assuming an upright position

osteochondritis

inflammation of a bone and its cartilage

-osus

in botany, abundance; e.g., foliosus, full of leaves

oxy-

in botany, sharp

oxytocin

a peptide hormone from the pituitary that stimulates lactation; used to induce labor, manage postpartum hemorrhage, and reduce painful breast engorgement

oxyurid

pin worm