General Glossary

pachy-

in botany, thick

PAF antagonist

platelet activating factor inhibitor.  PAF activates platelets to secrete serotonin and other mediators to cause smooth-muscle contraction and vascular permeability, involved in asthma; a PAF antagonist counters these effects

pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas

papaverine-like

mildly analgesic, powerfully antispasmodic

paracrine

hormonal response from cell to cell near a secretory site

parametritis

inflammation of the tissues adjacent to the uterus

parasympathetic nervous system

portion of the autonomic nervous system that is generally associated with increasing digestion and intestinal muscle activity; decreasing blood circulation and respiration

parasympatholytic

agent, such as atropine, that annuls or antagonizes the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system

parasympathomimetic

drugs or chemicals having an action resembling that caused by stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, e.g., acetylcholine

parenteral administration

administration by means other than the digestive tract, such as intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intramedullary injection

paresthesia

abnormal sensation, such as burning or prickling

parvi-

in botany, small

pericarditis sicca

fibrinous inflammation of the external surface of the heart and its surrounding membrane without the accumulation of fluid

periodontitis

inflammation of the area around a tooth

periostitis

inflammation of the thick fibrous membrane surrounding a bone

peristalsis

movement characterized by alternate circular contraction and relaxation of the intestine or other tubular structure which propels the contents onward

peritoneum

serous sac lining the abdominal cavity and covering most of the organs inside it

phaeo-

in botany, dark

phagocytosis

process of ingestion and digestion by cells of solid substances such as other cells, bacteria, dead tissue, and foreign particles

phanero-

in botany, easily seen

pharmacokinetics

the study of the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs and other substances in living organisms

pharyngeal

related to the upper expanded portion of the digestive tube, between the esophagus below and the mouth and nasal cavities above and in front

pheochromocytoma

encapsulated tumor of the adrenal gland secreting epinephrine and norepinephrine

phlebectasia

dilation of the veins

phlebitis

inflammation of a vein

phospholipid

a phosphorus-containing lipid; an important constituent of cell membranes

photosensitization

process of increasing sensitivity to sunlight

picro-

in botany, bitter

podo-

in botany, of a foot

polydipsia

chronic excessive thirst

portal circulation

circulation in which the outflow from one organ goes directly to a second organ, most commonly used to refer to the venous circulation of the intestine which goes to the liver

poultice

soft mass prepared by moistening botanicals or other absorbent substances with oil or water, usually applied hot to the skin

proctitis

inflammation of the mucous membranes of the rectum

prodrug

a drug whose actions result from its conversion by metabolic processes within the body

prolactin

an anterior pituitary peptide hormone that initiates and maintains lactation

prostaglandin

any of a class of physiologically active substances present in many tissues, with effects such as vasodilation, vasoconstriction, stimulation of the smooth muscles of the bronchus or intestine, uterine stimulation; also involved in pain, inflammation, fever, allergic diarrhea, and dysmennorhea

prostatectomy

removal of the prostate gland

prothrombin

protein needed for clotting of the blood

pruritis ani

anal itching

pruritus

itching

pseudomelanosis coli

changes in the pigmentation of the colon

psoriasis

inherited condition characterized by the eruption of reddish, scaled papules on the skin of the elbows, knees, scalp, and trunk

psychoanaleptic drugs

central nervous system stimulants that reverse depression

psychogenic

of a psychological origin

ptycho-

in botany, pertaining to grooves or folds

pulmonary edema

accumulation of fluid in the lung

pungent principles

essential oils imparting odor

purpura

bleeding into the tissues directly beneath skin or mucous membranes

pustule

small elevation of the skin containing pus

pyelonephritis

inflammation of the renal pelvis

pylorospasm

abnormal contraction of the lower sphincter of the stomach

pyretic

fever-inducing agent

pyro-

in botany, fiery

pyrrho-

in botany, fire red, ruby red

rachis

in botany, axis

radiculitis

disorders of the roots of the nerves

radix

in botany, root

rami-

in botany, pertaining to branches

ramus

in botany, branch

ranunculus dermatitis

type of dermatitis resulting from contact of skin with plants of the genus Ranunculus

Raynaud's disease

neurovascular disorder characterized by local vascular contractions resulting in attacks of decreased blood flow to the extremities upon exposure to cold

rectification

purification, usually through repeated steam distillations

resin

amorphous brittle substance consisting of the hardened secretion of a various plants, typically derived from the oxidation of terpenes

retina

receptive field of the eye

retinal edema

accumulation of fluid in the retina

rhagades

chaps, cracks, or fissures

rheological

deformative flow of materials, usually blood

rheumatism

general term applied to conditions of pain, or inability to articulate, various elements of the musculoskeletal system

rhinitis

inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane

rhizome

in botany, underground stem

rhodo-

in botany, rose-colored

rickets

vitamin-D deficiency characterized by abnormal calcification of bone tissues

roborant

strengthening agent, tonic

Roemheld's syndrome

gastro-cardiac syndrome

root

an absorbing and anchoring organ of the plant, usually developed from the radicle and growing downward

roseus

in botany, rosy

rubefacient

reddening agent, usually in reference to a counter-irritant

saluretic

substance increasing elimination of salts into the urine

sapro-

in botany, rotten

sativus

in botany, cultivated

scabies

skin eruption due to a mite

scar tissue

fibrous tissue replacing normal tissues destroyed by injury or disease

schisto-

in botany, split, cleft

sciatica

pain in the lower back and hip radiating down the back of the thigh into the leg, often due to herniated lumbar disk

seborrhea, seborrheic skin disease

skin inflammation characterized by dry or moist, greasy, yellow crusts or scales

secretagogue

agent promoting secretion

secretolytic

agent breaking down secretions

secretomotory

stimulating secretion

sedative

calming, quieting; drug that quiets nervous excitement

seed

mature ovule of seed plants

semper-

in botany, always

sequalae

consequences, subsequent events

sexual neurasthenia

psychogenic inhibition of sexual performance

sitz bath

immersion bath

soporific

sleep-inducing agent

spasm

involuntary contraction of one or more muscle groups

spondylarthritis

intervertebral arthritis

spondylitis

inflammation of one or more vertebrae

static edema

fluid accumulation in condition of confinement

status lymphaticus

thymicolymphaticus, old term for a syndrome of supposed enlargement of the thymus and lymph nodes in infants and young children, formerly believed to be associated with unexplained sudden death

stem

a supporting and conducting organ usually developed initially from the epicotyl and growing upward

steno-

in botany, narrow

stenocardia

angina pectoris

stenosis(esophageal, GI tract)

narrowing

stipule

in botany, stalk

stolon

stem

stomachic

agent that improves appetite and digeston

stomach-strengthening remedy

stomachic

stomatitis

inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth

strobile

in botany, a conelike inflorescence, as in hops

strongyloid

nematode parasite

struma

goiter, any enlargement of a tissue

subsidence

sinking or settling in bone, as in the case of prosthetic component of an artificial joint

sunburn

reddening of the skin, with or without blistering, caused by exposure to ultraviolet light

sympathetic nervous system

portion of the autonomic nervous system that is generally associated with flight or fight reactions by increasing blood circulation and respiration and decreasing digestion

sympathomimetic effect

mimicking the action of the sympathetic nervous system

synergistic

having the property that the total combined effect of two or more factors exceeds the sum of their individual effects

syrup

a liquid preparation of medicinal substances in a concentrated aqueous solution of sucrose

systole

contraction of the heart

T4

thyroxine, thyroid hormone also prepared synthetically, for treatment of hypothyroidism and myxedema

tachycardia

excessively rapid heart rate

tachyphylaxis

progressive decrease in response following repetitive administration of a pharmacologically or physiologically active substance

tea

an infusion made by pouring boiling water over plant material and allowing to steep for a period of time

tendovaginitis

inflammation of a tendon and its sheath

tenesmus

painful spasm of the anal sphincter accompanied by an urgent desire to evacuate the bowel or bladder, involuntary straining, and the passage of little fecal matter or urine

tenui-

in botany, slender

teratogenic

causing abnormal embryonic growth processes

teratogenicity

property of an agent that causes physical defects in the developing embryo

testa

in botany, seed coat

thermolabile

altered or destroyed by heat

thiazide

a class of diuretics that increase the excretion of sodium and chloride and accompanying volume of water

thrombasthenia

platelet defect with impaired ability to form blood clots

thrombocyte

platelet

thrombocytopenia

condition of abnormally small number of platelets circulating in the blood, characterized by inability to properly clot blood and easy bruising

thrombophlebitis

venous inflammation with formation of clots

thrombosis

formation of blood clots causing vascular obstruction

thyrotoxicosis

state produced by excessive thyroid hormone

tincture

an alcohol or water-alcohol solution, usually referring to a preparation from herbal materials

tinnitus

ringing or roaring in the ear

T-lymphocyte

long-lived white blood cell responsible for cell-mediated immunity

tonic

remedy utilized to restore strength and vigor; typically taken for an extended period of time

tonic for the kidneys

diuretic

toniclonic

a muscle spasm which is both tonic, occurring over an extended period of time, and clonic, marked by contractions and relaxations of the muscle occurring in rapid succession

topical application

administration to the skin

tracheobronchitis

inflammation of the mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi

trigeminal neuralgia

pain in the trigeminus, chief sensory nerve of the face and the motor nerve enabling chewing

tuberculosis

a specific disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which may affect almost any tissue or organ of the body, most commonly the lungs

ulcer

lesion on the skin or mucous membrane

ulcus cruris

indolent leg ulcer, ulcer of the diaphragm

uremia

condition characterized by excessive urea and other nitrogen compounds in the blood due to renal insufficiency

uric acid diathesis

inherited tendency to gout

urinary calculi

concretions in the urethra

urticaria

hives, vascular reaction of upper layers of skin marked by wheals

-utus

in botany, possessing; e.g., cornutus, having horns

varicosis

unnatural and permanent distention of the veins

vascular dementia

mental incapacity due to inadequate blood flow to the brain

vasodilator

agent causing widening of the lumen (interior space) of blood vessels

vasomotor cephalalgia

migraine headache

vasomotor dysfunction

disorder involving blood vessel constriction

vasoneurosis

vascular abnormality without discernible physiological cause

vegetative dystonia

abnormal tissue tonicity resulting from autonomic nervous system dysfunction

vegetative nervous system

portion of the nervous system associated with involuntary functions; autonomic nervous system

venectasia

phlebectasia, dilation of the veins

venous tone

firmness of tension of vascular walls

ventricular tachycardia

excessively rapid heart beat due to uncontrolled ectopic focus in the ventricle

vermifuge

agent used to treat worm infestation

vernalis

in botany, of the spring

vertigo

dizziness

vesicle

small sac

villi

small processes protruding from absorptive or secretory surfaces

virens

in botany, green

virustatic

inhibiting viral action

viti-

in botany, pertaining to a vine

volatile oil

easily evaporated terpene derivatives found in plants which impart taste and aroma

vomit

to eject matter from the stomach through the mouth

vulgaris

in botany, common

whooping cough

cough characterized by spasm of the larynx; pertussis

xantho-

in botany, yellow

xylo-

in botany, woody

zygo-

in botany, joined