Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «B»:
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Barotrauma, sinus
Barotrauma, sinus: See: Sinus barotrauma....
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Barr body
Barr body: A microscopic feature of female cells due to the
presence of two X chromosomes in the female. One of these X chromosomes is inactive and is
crumpled up to form the Barr body....
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Barrett esophagus
Barrett esophagus: See: Barrett's esophagus....
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Barrett's esophagus
Barrett's esophagus: A complication of severe chronic
GERD (gastrointestinal reflux disease) involving changes in the cells of the tissue that line the bottom of the esophagus. These esophageal cells become irritated when the contents of the stomach back up (refluxes) and there is a small but defin...
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Bartholin's glands
Bartholin's glands: A pair of glands between the
vulva and the vagina that produce lubrication in response
to stimulation. With a second pair of nearby glands called
the lesser vestibular glands, they act to aid in sexual
intercourse. Also called the greater vestibular glands....
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Bartonella quintana
Bartonella quintana: Also called Rochalimaea quintana, this microorganism is an unusual rickettsia that can multiply within the gut of the body louse and then can be transmitted to humans. Transmission to people can occur by rubbing infected louse feces into
abraded (scuffed) skin or into the conj...
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Bartter syndrome
Bartter syndrome: A group of disorders that are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and are characterized by impaired salt reabsorption by the kidney with pronounced salt wasting, hypokalemia (low blood potassium), alkalosis (an alkaline body pH), and hypercalciuria (high urine calcium)....
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Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma: The most common type of skin cancer, a disease in which the cancer cells resemble the basal cells of the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin.
Basal cell carcinomas usually appear as the classic "sore that
doesn't heal." A bleeding or scabbing sore that seems to get
somewh...
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Basal cell nevus syndrome
Basal cell nevus syndrome: The Gorlin syndrome....
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Basal cells
Basal cells: Small, round cells found in the lower part, or base,
of the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin....
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Basal ganglia
Basal ganglia: A region consisting of 3 clusters of neurons (called the caudate nucleus, putamen, and the globus pallidus) located at the base of the brain that are responsible for involuntary movements such as tremors, athetosis, and chorea. The basal ganglia are abnormal in a number of important n...
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Basal metabolic rate
Basal metabolic rate: A measure of the rate of
metabolism. For example, someone with an overly active thyroid will have an elevated basal
metabolic rate....
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Basal nuclei
Basal nuclei: A region located at the base of the brain composed of 4 clusters of neurons, or nerve cells. This area of the brain is responsible for body movement and coordination.
The groups of neurons most prominently and consistently affected in Huntington disease -- the pallidum and striatum -...
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Basal temperature
Basal temperature: 1) Usually, a person's
temperature on awakening in the morning. As changes in
basal temperature accompany ovulation, it is often tracked
by women who wish to ensure or avoid pregnancy. 2) A crude
measure of thyroid function via taking and comparing basal
temperatures (also ca...
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Basal thermometer
Basal thermometer: Colloquially used as a synonym
for basal temperature. Any thermometer can be used to take
the basal temperature, although special digital
thermometers that are capable of storing and tracking basal
temperatures over a period of time are available....
