Medical Vocabulary #11

A condition in which the stomach produces little or no acid. This can affect digestion, cause stomach pain, and keep the body from absorbing vitamins and nutrients.

A brain disorder that causes movement problems, including shaking, difficulty walking, and rigidity in muscles.

A richly colored compound (red, yellow, or orange) found in many plants, fruits, and vegetables that the body can convert into vitamin A.

Stomach growling; the rumbling noises caused by gas moving through the intestine.

A dangerous condition in which blood clots form in veins deep in the body, usually the legs. They may break off and block blood flow in the lungs, seriously damaging organs or causing death.

A dangerous type of high blood pressure marked by an unusually sudden rise in blood pressure to very high levels, often accompanied by headache, blurred vision, and seizures.

Inflammation of a tendon, usually caused by injury; may cause pain and restrict movement of the muscle attached to the tendon.

Blood pressure that is elevated in a doctor’s office but is normal at home.

The border between the cornea and the white of the eye.

Inflammation of blood vessels.

Any painkilling drug such as morphine or codeine derived from the opium poppy.

The perception of flashing lights or lines that sometimes occurs during the aura of a migraine headache.

Abnormal functioning of the anus and rectum, causing constipation or the inability to control bowel movements.

A multistage process by which sensation, perception, or thought is transformed into neural representations that can be stored in memory.

A chemical found in hot chili peppers that is used in some pain relief creams.

A condition causing pain and tender spots throughout the body.

An internationally accepted amount of a substance based on its biological activity or effect; used as a measurement for fat-soluble vitamins.

A surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea that involves removing the uvula, the tonsils, and a rim of loose tissue at the back of the soft palate.

Structures on the outside of a cell membrane that permit attachment of specific chemicals.

Clumps of sticky proteins found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Any narcotic, natural or synthetic, that behaves in the body like an opium-derived drug.

The vomiting of bright red blood, indicating bleeding in the upper digestive tract.

Medications that quickly open the bronchial tubes by relaxing the muscles surrounding these airways.

A copy of a brand-name drug whose patent has expired. These drugs are less expensive than brand-name drugs.