Medical Terms
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DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery
debridement
the surgical removal of foreign material and/or dead, damaged, or infected tissue from a wound or burn.
decibel
unit that measures the intensity or loudness of sound.
deciduous teeth
also known as "baby" or primary teeth.
defecation
passage of bowel contents through the rectum and anus.
defecography
- x-ray of the anus and rectum to see how the muscles work to move stool.
defibrillator
an electronic device used to establish normal heartbeat
delayed gastric emptying
gastroparesis.
delusions
a condition in which the patient has lost touch with reality and experiences hallucinations and misperceptions.
dendrite
a thread-like extension from a nerve cell that serves as an antenna to receive messages from the axons of other nerve cells.
dental amalgams (Also called silver fillings.)
a mixture of mercury (45 to 50 percent) and an alloy of silver, tin, and copper (50 to 55 percent) used to repair decayed teeth.
dental fluorosis
a condition that results from drinking overly fluoridated water that often causes the teeth to become discolored and the enamel of the teeth to look spotted, pitted, or stained
dental implants
small dental appliances that are inserted into the upper and lower jaws to help restore a mouth that has little or no non-restorable teeth.
dental implants
small dental appliances that are inserted into the upper and lower jaws to help restore a mouth that has little or no non-restorable teeth.
dental pulp
the soft tissue around the tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue.
dental sealant
a thin, plastic film that is painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth - the molars and premolars - to prevent tooth decay.
depth perception
the ability to distinguish objects in a visual field.
dermatopathology
the study of the skin in diagnosing skin diseases.
descending colon
the middle part of the colon located on the left side of the abdomen.
diagnosis
identifying a disease by its signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings.
diaphragm
primary muscle used for respiration, located just below the lung bases.
diastolic blood pressure
the lowest blood pressure measure in the arteries, which occurs between heartbeats
diathermy machine
a piece of equipment used in the operating room to control bleeding.
digestants
medicines that aid or stimulate digestion.
digestion
process the body uses to break down food into simple substances for energy, growth, and cell repair.
digestive system
the group of organs that break down foods into chemical components that the body can absorb and use for energy, and for building and repairing cells and tissues.
digital rectal exam (DRE)
procedure in which the physician inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to examine the rectum and the prostate gland for signs of cancer.
dilate
relax; expand
dilation and curettage (D & C)
a common gynecological surgery which consists of widening the cervical canal with a dilator and scraping the uterine cavity with a curette.
diplopia
double vision.
disc herniation (Also called disc prolapse, disc bulge, or slipped disc.)
disruption to the normal integrity of the intervertebral disc
distention
bloating or swelling of the abdomen
diuretic
a medication that lowers blood pressure.
diverticulosis
condition that occurs when small pouches (diverticula) push outward through weak spots in the colon.
diverticulum
small pouch in the colon. These pouches are not painful or harmful unless they become infected or irritated.
DMD
Doctor of Dental Medicine
dopa decarboxylase
an enzyme present in the body that converts levodopa to dopamine.
dopamine
a chemical substance, a neurotransmitter, found in the brain that regulates movement, balance, and walking.
Dorsal Column
The main, normal sensory tract to the brain.
dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)
imaging technique that uses a very low dose of radiation to measure bone density for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.
dumping syndrome (Also called rapid gastric emptying.)
condition that occurs when food moves too fast from the stomach into the small intestine.
durable power of attorney
a legal document denoting a friend or family member as your legal guardian in case you are unable to make medical decisions for yourself.
dysarthia
group of speech disorders caused by disturbances in the strength or coordination of the muscles of the speech mechanism as a result of damage to the brain or nerves.
dysentery
infectious disease of the colon. Symptoms include bloody, mucus-filled diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and loss of fluids from the body.
dysequilibrium
any disturbance of balance
dysfluency
disruption in the smooth flow or expression of speech
dysgeusia
distortion or absence of the sense of taste
dyskinesia
an involuntary movement including athetosis and chorea
dysosmia
distortion or absence of the sense of smell.
dyspareunia
pain in the vagina or pelvis experienced during sexual intercourse.
dyspepsia
indigestion.
dysphagia
difficulty in swallowing.
dysphonia
any impairment of the voice or difficulty speaking.
dysplasia
an abnormality of growth.
dyspnea
shortness of breath
dyspraxia of speech
partial loss of the ability to consistently pronounce words in individuals with normal muscle tone and coordination of the speech muscles.
dysrhythmia
an abnormal heart rhythm
dystonia
a slow movement or extended spasm in a group of muscles
dystrophin
a protein found in normal muscle tissue
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