Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «D»:
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Dementia, hereditary multi-infarct
Dementia, hereditary multi-infarct: See CADASIL....
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Dementia, MELAS
Dementia, MELAS: MELAS is the acronym for Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Strokelike episodes.
MELAS is a form of dementia. It is caused by mutations in the genetic material (DNA) in the mitochondria. While most of our DNA is in the chromosomes in the cell nucleus, another importa...
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Dementia, multi-infarct
Dementia, multi-infarct: See Vascular dementia....
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Dementia, vascular
Dementia, vascular: See Vascular dementia....
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Demonophobia
Demonophobia: An abnormal and persistent fear of evil supernatural beings in persons who believe such beings exist and roam freely to cause harm. Those who suffer from this phobia realize their fear is excessive or irrational. Nevertheless, they become unduly anxious when discussing demons, when ven...
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Demulcent
Demulcent: Soothing. The word "demulcent" comes from the Latin verb, "demulcere" meaning "to caress." Something that is demulcent is caressing.
The term "demulcent" refers to an agent, such as an oil, that forms a soothing film when administered onto the surface of a mucous membrane. A demulcent is...
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Demyelination
Demyelination: A degenerative process that erodes
away the myelin sheath that normally protects nerve fibers.
Demyelination exposes these fibers and appears to cause
problems in nerve impulse conduction that may affect many
physical systems. Demyelinization is seen in a number of
diseases, part...
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Dendrite
Dendrite: A short arm-like protuberance from a nerve cell (a neuron). Dendrites from neurons next to one another are tipped by synapses (tiny transmitters and receivers for
chemical messages between the cells).
The word "dendrite" means "branched like a tree." It comes from the Greek "dendron" (tre...
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Dendritic
Dendritic: Referring to a dendrite, a short arm-like protuberance from a nerve cell (a neuron). Dendrites from neurons next to one another are tipped by synapses (tiny transmitters and receivers for chemical messages between the cells).
The word "dendritic" means "branched like a tree." It comes fro...
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Dendritic cell
Dendritic cell: A special type of cell that is a key regulator of the immune system, acting as a professional antigen-presenting cell (APC) capable of activating naïve T cells and stimulating the growth and differentiation of B cells.
Dendritic cells are found, for example, in the lymph nodes and ...
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Denervate
Denervate: To deprive of the nerve supply. Denervate is the opposite of innervate....
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Denervation
Denervation: Loss of nerve supply. There are many causes of denervation. Denervation may be due to a disease as, for example, in polio where the death of motor neurons causes the denervation of muscle fibers. Denervation may be due to a chemical (such as botox) or physical injury or interruption of ...
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Dengue
Dengue: Also known as Dengue fever, an acute mosquito-borne
viral illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign
course with headache, fever, prostration, severe joint and
muscle pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy) and rash. The
presence (the "dengue triad") of fever, rash, and headac...
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Dengue fever
Dengue fever: An acute mosquito-
borne viral illness of sudden onset that usually follows a
benign course with headache, fever, prostration, severe
joint and muscle pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy) and
rash. The presence (the "dengue triad") of fever, rash, and
headache (and other pains)...
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Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)
Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF): A
syndrome due to the dengue virus that tends to affect
children under 10, causing abdominal pain, hemorrhage
(bleeding) and circulatory collapse (shock). DHF starts
abruptly with high continuous fever and headache plus
respiratory and intestinal symptoms with so...
