|
idiopathic |
without a
known cause |
|
idiopathic pericarditis |
inflammation
of the tissues of the pericardium, with no known or detectable cause
|
|
immune cells |
cells
produced in our bodies that protect us from disease-causing agents by
producing antibodies |
|
immune system |
collection of
cells, proteins, and lymphatic tissues that help protect the body from
potentially harmful, infectious microorganisms |
|
immunity |
insusceptibility that usually results from previous exposure to an
infectious agent, either naturally or by vaccination |
|
immunoglobulins |
proteins
found in blood and in tissue fluids that are produced by B-lymphocyte
cells in the immune system and which bind to foreign substances in the
body in order to destroy them; antibodies |
|
immunotherapy |
preventive,
incrementally progressive, anti-inflammatory treatment for allergies to
substances such as pollens, dust mites, fungi, and insect venom; allergy
shots |
|
incisional biopsy |
surgical
removal of tumor tissue through a small incision |
|
inflammation |
redness,
swelling, heat, and pain in a tissue caused by injury, infection, or
hypersensitivity to an allergen |
|
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insemination |
deposition of
semen into the uterus, cervix, or vagina |
|
in-situ |
confined to
the top layer or epidermis; cancer that has not spread to deeper tissues
and has minimal propensity to metastasize |
|
interstim continence control therapy |
therapy used
to treat urge incontinence |
|
interstitial laser |
laser probe
used to destroy prostatic tissue and to allow easier urination |
|
intrinsic asthma |
asthma that
has no apparent external cause |
|
intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) |
weakening of
the urethra sphincter muscles |
|
intussusception |
when one
section of intestine slips over the next, like a sheath |
|
invasive procedure |
medical
examination that invades the body either by incision or by insertion of
an instrument through the skin |
|
inversion |
motion of a
body part as it tilts toward the midline |
|
iris |
colored part
of the eye that contains the muscles that adjust the size of the pupil
to control the amount of light entering the eye |
|
irritable bladder |
involuntary
contractions of muscles in the bladder that cause uncontrolled urination
|
|
irritant contact dermatitis |
dermatitis
caused by irritating chemicals that come into contact with the skin |
|
ischemia |
lack of blood
flow to a part, often caused by constriction or obstruction of a blood
vessel |
|
isolated systolic hypertension |
condition
usually found in the elderly in which only the systolic blood pressure
is elevated |
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