Medical Terms
Results for H | Search again?
H2-blockers
medicines that reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces by blocking histamine2, which signals the stomach to make acid.
hair cells
sensory cells of the inner ear, which are topped with hair-like structures (stereocilia), which transform the mechanical energy of sound waves into nerve impulses.
halitosis
an oral health condition characterized by consistently odorous breath.
hallux rigidus
loss of range of the movement of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint of the first (great) toe.
hamstrings
muscles located in the posterior compartment of the thigh.
hay fever
see rhinitis
headache, primary
includes tension (muscular contraction), vascular (migraine), and cluster headaches not caused by other underlying medical conditions.
headache, secondary (Also called traction headaches or inflammatory headaches.)
includes headaches that result from other medical conditions.
hearing
series of events in which sound waves in the air are converted to electrical signals that are sent as nerve impulses to the brain where they are interpreted.
hearing aid
electronic device that brings amplified sound to the ear
hearing disorder
disruption in the normal hearing process; sound waves are not converted to electrical signals and nerve impulses are not transmitted to the brain to be interpreted.
heart valve prolapse
a condition of the heart valve in which it is partially open when it should be closed.
heartbeat
one complete contraction of the heart
heart-lung machine
a machine that performs for the heart during open heart surgery.
Heberden's nodes
bony swellings around the margins of joints, associated with degenerative changes of arthritis.
hematopathology
the study of blood, bone marrow and the organs and tissues that use blood cells to perform their functions
hemorrhage
the medical term for bleeding
hemorrhoidectomy
the surgical removal of hemorrhoids.
hepatitis E
virus spread mostly through unclean water. This type of hepatitis is common in developing countries and has not occurred in the United States.
hepatologist
physician who specializes in liver diseases.
hepatology
field of medicine concerned with the functions and disorders of the liver.
Herniated Disc
AKA a slipped disc, is a condition in which nucleus tissue is moved from the center of a disc into the spinal canal. Herniated discs cause great pain in the low back and leg or the neck and arm and they create pressure against one or more of the spinal nerves. Other names for herniated discs are prolapsed discs or ruptured discs.
high density lipoprotein (HDL)
the "good" cholesterol that promotes breakdown and removal of cholesterol from the body.
hip
the region on each side of the pelvis that is made up of three sections: ilium, ischium, and pubis; the upper part of the femur (upper leg bone) fits into the hip via a ball-and-socket joint; the socket is a cup-shaped bone of the pelvis called the acetab
histamine
a chemical present in cells throughout the body that is released during an allergic reaction.
hives
see urticaria
hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
use of the female hormones estrogen and progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone) to replace those the body no longer produces after menopause.
hormone therapy
the use of hormones, medications, or surgery to suppress (block) or mimic hormones and alter the growth of hormone-sensitive cancer.
hormones
chemical substances created by the body that control numerous body functions.
human chorionic gonadotropin
hormone produced by the placenta during early pregnancy
human papillomaviruses (HPVs)
a group of viruses that can cause warts. Some HPVs are sexually transmitted and cause wart-like growths on the genitals. HPV is a major risk factor for cervical cancer.
hyaloid canal
narrow passageway that allows blood to flow through the eye.
Hydrocephalus
An abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricles of the brain. Communicating hydrocephalus or increased pressure may be caused by obstruction to the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles or a failure of its reabsorption into the cerebral sinuses. It can be treated using a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
hydrocortisone
a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex which affects metabolism.
hydrogen breath test
test for lactose intolerance that measures breath samples for too much hydrogen.
hydrotherapy
use of water as a medical treatment
hyperextension
active or passive force which takes the joint into extension, but beyond its normal physiological range.
hyperglycemia
high levels of glucose in the blood.
hyperopia
farsightedness
hyperplasia, endometrial
excessive growth of cells in the endometrium.
hypertrophy
an increase in the size of tissue
hypogeusia
diminished sensitivity to taste
hypomobility
a decrease in the normal range of joint movement.
hyposmia
diminished sensitivity to smell
hypotension
abnormally low blood pressure
hypothalamus
small structure at the base of the brain that regulates many body functions, including appetite and body temperature.
hypoxia
depletion of oxygen in the cells and tissues
hysteroscope
visual examination of the canal of the cervix and the interior of the uterus using a viewing instrument (hysteroscope) inserted through the vagina.
Back to Medical Terms.