Terms Starting with Letter: A


aberrant - deviated from normal structure

ablation - removal

acetabulum - 1.point where ileum, ishium, and pubis fuse. Forms a deep hemispherical pocket. 2.called "vinegar cup in Latin"

acinus - saccular terminal division of a compound gland having a narrow lumen, in contrast to a alveoulus. Several acini combine to form a lobule.

acromial - point of shoulder

adenocarcinoma - A malignant neoplasm of epithelial cells in glandular or glandlike pattern. Also called glandular cancer, glandular carcinoma.

adenoma - 1.An ordinarily benign neoplasm of epithelial tissue in which the tumor cells form glands in the stroma. 2.An adenoma usually tends to compress than invade adjacent tissue

adenopathy - Swelling or morbid enlargement of the lymph nodes.

adrenergic - activated or transmitted by epinephrine. A term applied to those nerve fibers that liberate sympathin at a synapse when a nerve impulse passes (that is, the sympathetic fibers).

agglutination - mass formed by the joining together or aggregation of suspended particles.

anemia - Any condition in which the number of red blood cells are less than normal. It is manifested by a pallor of the skin and mucuous membranes, shortness of breath, palpitations of the heart, lethargy, and fatigue.

antebrachial - forearm region

antiserum - blood serum from an animal immunized against a specific antigen and therefore containing antibody to that antigen.

aplasia - developmental defect or congenital absence of a part.

arrhythmia - absence of rhythm.

arteriosclerosis - hardening of the arteries.

atelectasis - An absence of gas from a part or the whole of the lungs, due to failure of expansion or resorption of gas from the alveoli

atheroma - arteriosclerosis with significant degenerative changes.

autologous - 1.Occuring naturally and normally in a certain type of tissue or in a specific structure of the body. Sometimes used to denote a neoplasm derived from cells taht occur naturally at that site e.g., a squamous cell carcinoma in the upper esophagus 2.in transplantation, referring to a graft in which the donor and recipient areas are in the same individual

avidity - represents the energy of binding between and antibody and its specific antigen.

axial - makes up the main axis of the body: the head, neck, and trunk.

axillary - armpit region

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