|
dander |
minute scales
from hair, feathers, or skin that may be allergenic |
|
de novo |
in a new
manner or form |
|
deep tendon reflexes |
deep muscle
stretch reflexes that are triggered by tapping on the tendons; the "knee
jerk" |
|
deltoid ligament |
complex of
four ligaments (anterior tibiotalar, tibionavicular, tibiocalcalcaneal,
and posterior tibiotalar) that helps support the medial side of the
ankle joint |
|
dementia |
acquired loss
of cognitive function that may affect language, attention, memory,
personality, and abstract reasoning |
|
demyelination |
destruction
of myelin sheath that envelopes nervous system structures |
|
density |
densities on
plain x-rays vary from black to white, depending on the composition of
the material the x-rays pass through; black indicates the lowest x-ray
density (air) and white, the highest (bone) |
|
depigmentation |
loss of
pigment, especially melanin |
|
dermatitis |
inflammation
and irritation of the skin |
|
dermis |
second layer
of skin made up of a network of collagen and elastic fibers, blood
vessels, and nerves |
|
DESD |
See detrusor-external
sphincter dyssynergia. |
|
desiccate |
to dry up |
|
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|
detrusor-external
sphincter dyssynergia
(DESD) |
lack of
coordination between the bladder and the external sphincter muscle,
resulting in the inability to empty the bladder completely, which may
cause severe urinary tract damage and life-threatening consequences
|
|
diabetes mellitus |
common form
of diabetes in which the body cannot properly store or use glucose
(sugar), the body's main source of energy |
|
diastolic pressure |
arterial
pressure measured while the heart rests between beats |
|
digoxin or digitalis |
drug used to
treat congestive heart failure by increasing the force of contraction;
used to treat atrial fibrillation by slowing transmission of atrial
electrical impulses (i.e., slowing the heart rate) and restoring normal
heart rate |
|
disease-free survival |
percentage of
disease survivors still alive after a specified period of time
|
|
diuretic |
drug used to
treat high blood pressure and fluid retention by increasing the
elimination of salt and water by the kidneys |
|
diverticulum |
small
outpouching of the lining of various tubular structures in the body |
|
DNA |
deoxyribonucleic acid, the genetic blueprint in all of our cells
|
|
dorsiflex |
upward motion
of a body part |
|
duodenum |
first segment
of the small bowel |
|
dust mites |
microscopic
organisms that feed on dead skin, whose feces are a common environmental
allergen that can trigger asthma |
|
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