|
SA node (sinoatrial node) |
small area of
specialized heart tissue located in the right atrium that conducts
impulses through the right and left atria, signaling these chambers to
contract and pump blood into the ventricles |
|
scales |
layers of
skin cells (fine and barely visible, thick and silvery, waxy, or large
and adherent) accumulated on top of the skin due to abnormal formation
and shedding of the top layers |
|
scar |
permanent
fibrous skin changes, often elevated and thickened, that follow some
sort of damage; pink to purple in hue, eventually fading to shiny white |
|
sciatic nerve |
large nerve
in the lumbar-sacral spinal region that is composed of multiple nerve
roots that supply the lower extremities |
|
sclera |
tough white
tissue that encases the entire eyeball, except for the part covered by
the cornea |
|
seizure |
abnormal
electrical discharge of brain cells (neurons) that results in a
transient disturbance in brain function |
|
SEP (somatosensory evoked response) |
measures
function of the central nervous system, including pathways from the
extremities |
|
serotonin |
important
neurotransmitter (communicates information chemically between brain
cells) that is involved in pain sensation and emotional perceptions |
|
sesamoiditis |
inflammation
of the sesamoid bones |
|
sesamoids |
bones
contained within a ligament that provide strength and leverage to the
ligament; two in the foot, located under the ball |
|
sexually transmitted disease (STD) |
infection
spread through sexual intercourse or genital contact |
|
shinsplints |
injury or
inflammation of the posterior tibial muscle and tendon caused by
overstretching or improper/excessive use |
|
silhouette sign |
observance of
one type of tissue over another; x-ray |
|
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|
sling procedures |
surgical
methods for treating urinary incontinence involving the placement of a
sling, made of either a synthetic material or tissue obtained from the
person undergoing the procedure |
|
small bowel |
fourteen-foot
section of the gastrointestinal tract, consisting of the duodenum, the
jejunum, and the ileum, which empties into the beginning of the large
bowel (the cecum) at the ileocecal valve |
|
spasticity |
stiffness of
the body involving the limbs that results from dysfunction of the
corticospinal tracts |
|
spermatic cord |
bundle of
testicular arteries and ducts protected by woven tissue |
|
s-phase |
laboratory
study to determine the percentage of cells preparing to divide, where
low s-phase suggests less activity and biological aggressiveness, and
high s-phase suggests increased activity and biological aggressiveness |
|
sphincter |
ring of
muscle fibers located around an opening in the body that regulates the
passage of substances through the opening |
|
spinal stenosis |
narrowing of
the spinal canal due to disc disease, bony changes, ligamentous
thickening, and congenital factors |
|
spirometry |
medical
testing procedure which measures the amount of air entering and leaving
the lungs |
|
squamous cell carcinoma |
second most
common skin cancer that originates in the squamous cell |
|
squamous cells |
flat cells
that make up most of the epidermis |
|
statins |
drugs that
inhibit the manufacture of cholesterol by the liver; used to treat high
cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia |
|
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|
status epilepticus |
seizures that
continue for more than 20 minutes without an intervening period of
responsiveness |
|
stenosis |
condition
that develops when any of the four major valves that regulate blood flow
through the heart and lungs thickens, becomes damaged, or is diseased |
|
stereotactic biopsy |
biopsy
technique that relies on computer guidance to exactly locate and biopsy
the tumor |
|
straight |
slang;
heterosexual orientation |
|
stress test |
test that
monitors the heart during exercise in order to identify the presence of
heart disease or the risk of developing cardiac problems during
strenuous activity; also, diagnostic test that requires patients to lift
something or perform an exercise to determine if there is urine loss
when stress is placed on bladder muscles |
|
stress urinary incontinence |
involuntary
loss of urine during periods of increased abdominal pressure, such as
laughing, sneezing, coughing, or lifting |
|
stroke |
medical event
that occurs when a blood clot blocks the blood and oxygen supply to the
brain; brain attack |
|
subarachnoid hemorrhage |
bleeding in
the area surrounding the brain, usually caused by a ruptured cerebral
aneurysm |
|
subcutaneous fat |
third layer
of skin, located below the dermis and composed mainly of fat cells and
blood vessels |
|
suprapubic prostatectomy |
incising the
bladder to remove obstructing prostatic tissue through a suprapubic
incision below the navel |
|
surgeon |
physician who
has been educated and trained in diagnosis and preoperative, operative,
and postoperative management |
|
suture |
(n.) a
stitch; (v.) to stitch |
|
synovial fluid |
viscous
substance that lubricates joints in the body and allows two adjacent
cartilage caps to glide upon one another with minimal friction |
|
systemic |
involving the
entire body or multiple body systems |
|
systolic pressure |
arterial
pressure measured as the heart contracts |
|
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