Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «D»:
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Duct, ejaculatory
Duct, ejaculatory: See: Ejaculatory duct....
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Duct, hepatic
Duct, hepatic: See: Hepatic duct....
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Ductal carcinoma in situ
Ductal carcinoma in situ: See: DCIS....
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Ductal carcinoma of the breast, infiltrating
Ductal carcinoma of the breast, infiltrating: Infiltrating ductal carcinoma is one of several recognized specific patterns of cancer of the breast. It is so named because it begins in the cells forming the ducts of the breast. It is the most common form of breast cancer, comprising 65-85% of all cas...
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Ductular hypoplasia, syndromatic hepatic
Ductular hypoplasia, syndromatic hepatic:
Also called Alagille syndrome or arteriohepatic dysplasia, this is a genetic disorder characterized by jaundice in the newborn period, liver disease with cholestasis, peripheral pulmonic stenosis and unusual face. Children with Alagille syndrome usually pre...
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Ductus
Ductus: A duct or walled passageway suitable for the conveyance of air or, more often in the body, liquids.
The term "ductus" also refers a key arterial shunt (ductus) in fetal
life. Before birth, blood pumped from the heart through the pulmonary artery
toward the lungs is shunted into the aorta....
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Ductus arteriosus
Ductus arteriosus: A key arterial shunt (ductus) in fetal life. Before birth, blood pumped from the heart through the pulmonary artery toward the lungs is shunted into the aorta. This arterial shunt is a short vessel called the ductus arteriosus. When the
shunt is open, it is said to be patent.
Th...
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Ductus, patent
Ductus, patent: Failure for the ductus arteriosus, an arterial shunt in fetal life, to close on schedule.
Before birth, blood pumped from the heart through the pulmonary artery toward the lungs is shunted into the aorta. This arterial shunt is a short vessel called the ductus arteriosus. When the
sh...
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Due date
Due date: The estimated calendar date when a baby will be born, the
date the baby is due to be born. It is also called the estimated date of confinement
(EDC)....
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Duloxetine
Duloxetine: See: Cymbalta....
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Dumdum fever
Dumdum fever: Also called kala-azar, a chronic, potentially fatal parasitic disease of the viscera (the internal organs) due to infection by an agent called Leishmania donovani.
Leishmania donovani is transmitted by sandfly bites in parts of Asia (primarily India), Africa (primarily Sudan) and South...
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Dummy
Dummy: In science experiments, a substance without any active ingredient, a placebo. In the UK, a pacifier: an artificial nipple, usually made of plastic, upon which an infant can suck to gain some solace and quiet down.
Dummies have been claimed to cause early weaning. However, a study (JAMA, July...
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Dumping syndrome
Dumping syndrome: A group of symptoms that occur when food or
liquid enters the small intestine too rapidly. These symptoms include cramps, nausea,
diarrhea, and dizziness....
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Duodenal
Duodenal: Pertaining to the duodenum, part of the small intestine. As in duodenal ulcer or duodenal biliary drainage....
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Duodenal biliary drainage
Duodenal biliary drainage: A procedure
used to diagnose gallstones when suspicion is high but other tests are negative. A thin tube is passed through a nostril down the throat, through the esophagus and stomach, into the duodenum. Once the tube is in
place, a synthetic hormone related to cholecyst...
