Medical Terms
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ice therapy
cooling of deeper tissues
idiopathic
of unknown origin
ileal
related to the ileum, the lowest end of the small intestine.
ileitis
see Crohn's Disease
ileocolitis
irritation of the lower part of the small intestine (ileum) and colon
ileostomy
operation that makes it possible for stool to leave the body, after the colon and rectum are removed, in which an opening is made in the abdomen and the bottom of the small intestine (ileum) attaches to it.
ileum
lower end of the small intestine
imaging
tests or evaluation procedures that produce pictures of areas inside the body.
immobilization
preventing movement to allow for natural healing to take place.
immune system
complex network of specialized cells and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by "foreign" invaders such as bacteria and viruses.
immunoglobulin E (IgE)
a type of antibody, formed to protect the body from infection, which attaches to mast cells in the respiratory and intestinal tracts and may cause allergic rhinitis, asthma, or eczema.
immunoglobulins
antibodies or proteins found in blood and tissue fluids produced by cells of the immune system to bind to substances in the body that are recognized as foreign antigens. Immunoglobulins sometimes bind to antigens that are not necessarily a threat to healt
immunology
the study of the body’s immune system - its functions and disorders.
immunosuppresive medications
medications that suppress the body's immune system; often used to minimize rejection of transplanted organs.
immunotherapy
treatment of allergy to substances such as pollens, house dust mites, fungi, and stinging insect venom by giving gradually increasing doses of the substance, or allergen, to which the person is allergic.
immunotherapy (Also called biological therapy.)
treatment that uses the body’s natural defenses to fight disease.
impaction
trapping of an object in a body passage, such as stones in the bile duct or hardened stool in the colon
impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but are not high enough to be classified as diabetes; a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
impedance plethysmography
a test to evaluate blood flow through the leg.
in vitro fertilization
treatment for infertility in which a woman's egg is fertilized, outside her body, with her partner's sperm or sperm from a donor.
Infection
Invasion and multiplication of germs in the body. Infections can occur in any part of the body, and can be localized or systemic (spread throughout the body). The germs may be bacteria, viruses, yeast, or fungi. They can cause a fever and other problems, depending on the site of the infection. When the body's natural defense system is strong, it can often fight the germs and prevent infection.
inferior vena cava
the large blood vessel (vein) that returns blood from the legs and abdomen to the heart
inflammation
characteristic reaction of tissues to injury or disease marked by four signs: swelling, redness, heat, and pain.
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
long-lasting problems that cause irritation and ulcers in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract - the most common disorders are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
informed consent form
a form signed by the patient prior to surgery which explains everything involved in the surgery, including its risks
inner ear
part of the ear that contains both the organ of hearing (the cochlea) and the organ of balance (the labyrinth).
inotropic medications
medications that increase strength of the contractions in the heart.
inspiration
inhaling; taking in oxygen
insulin
a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin affects the amount of glucose absorbed by the liver.
insulin-dependent diabetes
see type 1 diabetes.
insulin-resistance
partial blocking of the effect of insulin.
intercostal muscles
muscles lying between ribs; often injured by rotary stress of the thorax.
interferon
a biological response modifier that stimulates the growth of certain disease-fighting blood cells in the immune system; used to treat cancer and other diseases.
interleukin-2
a biological response modifier that stimulates the growth of certain blood cells in the immune system that can fight cancer and other diseases.
internal derangement of the joint
a dislocated jaw or displaced disc, or injury to the condyle (the rounded edges of the jaw).
intervertebral disc
disc that forms a cartilaginous joint between the vertebral bodies, to provide shock absorption
intestinal flora
bacteria, yeasts, and fungi that grow normally in the intestines.
intestinal mucosa
surface lining of the intestines where the cells absorb nutrients.
intestines
see large intestine and small intestine.
intolerance
allergy or sensitivity to a food, drug, or other substance.
intra-articular
within the joint
Intrathecal Pump
An intrathecal pump is a medical device used to delivery very small quantities of medications directly to the spinal fluid of a human being. Medications such as baclofen, morphine, or ziconotide may be delivered in this manner to minimize the side effects often associated with the higher dosages commonly found in oral medications of the same type. People with spastic diplegia or other forms of spasticity, or people in intolerable pain and nociception, who cannot tolerate side effects of the higher-dose oral medications of the same medication type, are potential candidates for that medication being administered via an intrathecal pump.
intrauterine insemination
treatment for infertility in which semen is introduced into the uterus via a slim tube inserted through the vagina
intravenous line
a thin plastic tube inserted into a vein (usually in the patient’s forearm) through which a volume of fluid is injected into the bloodstream.
invasive cancer
cancer that begins an one area and then spreads deeper into the tissues of that area.
investigational new drug
a drug allowed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in clinical trials, but not approved for sale to the general public.
ischemia
decreased flow of oxygenated blood to an organ due to obstruction in an artery.
ischemic heart disease
coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries and decreased blood flow to the heart.
isometric
muscle contraction without movement at the joint.
isthmus
tissue that connects the two lobes of the thyroid.
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