Medical Terms
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labyrinth
organ of balance located in the inner ear; consists of three semicircular canals and the vestibule.
labyrinthine hydrops
excessive fluid in the organ of balance (labyrinth) that can cause pressure or fullness in the ears, hearing loss, dizziness, and loss of balance.
lactase
enzyme in the small intestine needed to digest milk sugar (lactose).
lactase deficiency
lack of the lactase enzyme
lactose
sugar found in milk, which the body breaks down into galactose and glucose.
laminectomy
surgical procedure which includes removal of a portion of the lamina, to provide more room in the vertebral canal; usually performed to treat disc herniation or spinal canal stenosis.
Landau-Kleffner syndrome
a childhood disorder of unknown origin that can be identified by gradual or sudden loss of the ability to understand and use spoken language.
language
system for communicating ideas and feelings using sounds, gestures, signs, or marks
laparoscope
thin tube with a tiny video camera attached, used to look inside the body and see the surface of organs. (See also endoscope.)
laparoscopic cholecystectomy
an operation to remove the gallbladder. The doctor inserts a laparoscope, and other surgical instruments, through small holes in the abdomen. The camera allows the doctor to see the gallbladder on a television screen.
laparoscopic lymph node sampling
lymph nodes are removed through a viewing tube called a laparoscope, which is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen.
laparoscopic lymphadenectomy
the removal of pelvic lymph nodes with a laparoscope through small incisions in the lower abdominal region.
laparotomy
a surgical procedure that involves an incision into the abdominal cavity; often used when making a diagnosis when less invasive tests are difficult or not possible.
large intestine
part of the intestine that goes from the cecum to the rectum.
laryngeal neoplasms
abnormal growths in the larynx (voice box) that can be cancerous or noncancerous.
laryngeal nodules
noncancerous, callous-like growths on the inner parts of the vocal folds (vocal cords).
laryngeal paralysis
loss of function or feeling of one or both of the vocal folds.
laryngectomy
surgery to remove part or all of the larynx or voice box.
larynx
valve structure between the trachea (windpipe) and the pharynx (the upper throat); the primary organ of voice production.
lavage
the process of washing (cleaning) of an organ such as the bowel or stomach.
laxatives (Also called cathartics.)
medications to relieve long-term constipation.
lens (Also called crystalline lens.)
the transparent structure inside the eye that focuses light rays onto the retina.
lesion
an injury or wound
levodopa (L-dopa)
an effective anti-Parkinson drug, that is changed into dopamine in the brain.
Lewy body
a pink-staining sphere, found in the bodies of dying cells, that is considered to be a marker for Parkinson's disease.
ligament
a flexible band of fibrous tissue that connects the bones and bind the joints together.
lipid
a fatty substance in the blood.
lipoproteins
transporters of fatty substances in the blood.
lithotripsy, extracorporeal shock wave (ESWL)
method of breaking up bile stones and gallstones with a specialized tool and shock waves.
liver
largest organ in the body; performs important functions such as making bile, changing food into energy, and cleaning alcohol and poisons from the blood.
liver enzyme tests (Also called liver function tests.)
blood tests that indicate the functioning of the liver and biliary system.
living will
a legal document which states your medical preferences for treatment and resuscitation in the event you can no longer speak for yourself.
lobectomy
removal of a lobe of the lung, for cancer, benign tumors, or infections.
lobule
a subdivision of a lobe or a small lobe.
local anesthesia
anesthetic medicine injected into the site of the operation to temporarily numb that area.
loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP)
procedure for treating cervical dysplasia in which a fine wire loop and low-energy current are used to remove abnormal tissue from the cervix.
loose body
name given to an object, located within a joint, that has become detached.
low blood glucose
a condition that occurs in people with diabetes when their blood glucose levels are too low.
low density lipoprotein (LDL)
a blood substance with large amounts of cholesterol.
lower (gastrointestinal) GI series (Also called barium enema x-ray.)
x-rays of the rectum, colon, and lower part of the small intestine.
lower back (Also called lumbar spine.)
- a complex structure that connects the upper body to the lower body; consists of vertebrae, disks, spinal cord, and nerves.
lower esophageal sphincter
muscle between the esophagus and stomach.
lumen
the hollow area within a tube.
lumpectomy
a surgical procedure in which only the tumor and a small area of surrounding tissue are removed.
lung volume
the amount of air the lungs hold.
luteinizing hormone (LH)
hormone secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain that stimulates the growth and maturation of eggs in females and sperm in males.
lymph nodes (Also called lymph glands.)
small glands clustered in the neck, armpits, abdomen, and groin that supply infection-fighting cells to the bloodstream and filter out bacteria and other antigens
lymphadenectomy
a procedure in which lymph nodes are taken from the body for purposes of diagnosing or staging cancer.
lymphatic system
tissues and organs, including bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes, that produce, store, and carry white blood cells to fight infection and disease.
lymphocyte
any one of a group of white blood cells of crucial importance to the adaptive part of the body's immune system.
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