Medical Vocabulary #16

A drooping of the eyelid attributed to weakened muscles.

The wasting away of an organ or tissue due to undernourishment, disease, or aging.

The part of the brain (in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere) responsible for language comprehension and speech.

Any ingredient in a medicinal product (herb, supplement, or prescription drug), which dilutes the purity of the product and does not contribute to its therapeutic effects.

A piece of a herniated disc that has become detached from the main structure of the disc.

A substance such as tobacco, wood smoke, perfumes, and others that cause allergy-like symptoms, although the response is not an allergic reaction.

A neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep and appetite, mediate moods, and inhibit pain.

The surgical removal of a lesion or part or all of an organ or other body structure.

Twisted strands of proteins that are found inside the dead or dying nerve cells of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Related to or arising from a disease of the intestinal tract, esp. the small intestine

A procedure to see inside the large intestine, using a long, lighted flexible tube mounted with a tiny camera.

Slow brain activity that occurs when a person is in deep sleep.

Pain and swelling of the small fluid filled pads that act as cushions in or near the joints.

An illness caused by a fluid imbalance in the inner ear.

The basic building block of all living organisms.

An autoimmune disease that causes the thyroid gland to produce too much thyroid hormone. It is usually accompanied by an enlarged thyroid gland and swollen, bulging, red eyes that appear to stare, as well as occasional double vision and vision loss.

A buildup of fatty tissue.

Heart disease caused by a lack of selenium, an element that the body needs to function properly.

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

Talking in one’s sleep.

A process in which oxygen combines with a substance, altering its structure and changing or destroying its normal function.

A substance found in citrus fruits.

Low blood pressure.

A substance released by the immune system when it is exposed to an allergen, and the cause of many allergy symptoms.