|
BAEP |
See brainstem
auditory evoked potential. |
|
basal cell carcinoma |
most common
skin cancer, derived from the basal cell |
|
basal cells |
cells that
form the bottom layer of the epidermis |
|
basal ganglia |
series of
structures located deep in the brain that are responsible for motor
movements |
|
behavioral modification
techniques |
See
biofeedback, bladder training, habit training, pelvic muscle exercises. |
|
Bell's palsy |
paralysis of
the facial nerve producing distortion on one side of the face |
|
benign prostatic
hyperplasia |
enlargement
of the prostate associated with aging |
|
benign |
not cancerous |
|
beta2 agonists |
quick-relief
medications that cause muscle relaxation and bronchoexpansion to relieve
acute asthma symptoms |
|
beta-blockers |
drugs that
relieve stress on the heart by "blocking" the stimulating effect of
adrenaline |
|
bifurcation |
division of a
single structure (usually vascular) into two paired structures, e.g.,
carotid bifurcation in the neck, where the common carotid arteries
divide into the internal and external carotid arteries |
|
bilateral |
affecting
both sides of the body or two paired organs, e.g., the kidneys
|
|
biofeedback |
therapeutic
training in which participants learn to control their involuntary
nervous system through response to electric stimuli |
|
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|
biologic therapy |
systemic
therapy utilizing interferon or interleukin |
|
biopsy |
(v.) to
remove a sample of tissue for diagnostic evaluation; (n.) tissue
specimen |
|
bisexual |
attracted to
both sexes |
|
bladder training |
behavioral
modification technique used to resist or inhibit the urge to urinate
unpredictably |
|
bladder |
hollow,
muscular, balloon-shaped organ that stores urine until it is excreted |
|
blanch |
to make white
or pale; to take color out |
|
blepharospasm |
involuntary
closure of the eyes and lids |
|
blood clot |
insoluble
mass of blood |
|
blood culture |
laboratory
examination of a blood sample to detect the presence of disease-causing
microorganisms |
|
blood pressure
measurement |
measure of
the force of blood flow against artery walls taken with an inflatable
cuff, inflating bulb, and a pressure gauge |
|
blood thinners |
drugs that
inhibit blood clotting |
|
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|
bone |
hard type of
connective tissue, primarily made up of osteoblasts, osteocytes, and
collagen, that supports and protects the body |
|
bone scan |
nuclear
medicine study used for detecting the presence of boney metastasis |
|
bone survey |
radiologic
study used to detect fractures and/or areas of boney destruction |
|
brachymetatarsia |
condition in
which one of the metatarsals (the five long bones of the foot) is
abnormally short, making the toe short as well |
|
brachytherapy |
radioactive
pellets applied to the body area being treated; used to treat some
cancers |
|
bradykinesia |
slowing of
motor movements due to dysfunction of the basal ganglia and related
structures |
|
brain attack |
See stroke. |
|
brain injury |
(1) closed
head injury (CHI), which is caused by rapid acceleration and
deceleration of the head during which the brain bounces off the inside
of the skull; (2) open head injury (OHI), caused by car accident,
gunshot wound, or other external factor |
|
brainstem auditory
evoked potential |
test that
measures how much auditory stimulus is required to cause a response from
the brainstem |
|
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|
breast |
modified
sweat gland that produces milk during pregnancy |
|
bronchial provocation |
test used to
diagnose asthma; also bronchoprovocation, bronchial challenge |
|
bronchitis |
inflammation
of the bronchi (lung airways) that causes a persistent cough and sputum
(phlegm) production; especially common in smokers and in areas with
atmospheric pollution |
|
bronchoconstriction |
constriction
of the bronchial airways in the lungs, causing shortness of breath,
tightness in the chest, coughing, and wheezing |
|
bronchodilator drugs |
group of
drugs that widen the airways in the lungs |
|
bronchus
(pl., bronchi) |
any of the
larger air passages connecting the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs |
|
bulla (pl., bullae) |
sharply
circumscribed, elevated, fluid-filled lesions in the skin that is over
0.5 centimeters in diameter; blister |
|
bunion |
bulge or bump
that develops on the inner side of the foot, near the base of the first
toe, caused by poor alignment of the metatarsal-phalangeal joint of the
big toe, or hallux |
|
bursa |
sac of fluid
typically found in areas where muscles or tendons tend to rub against
bone, such as the hip, knee, and ankle |
|
bursitis |
condition in
which a bursal sac becomes inflamed due to irritation |
|
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