Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «D»:
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Duodenal ulcer
Duodenal ulcer: An ulcer (a hole in the lining) of the duodenum (the
first portion of the small intestine). Ulcers can affect the stomach, duodenum, or
esophagus. Their formation is related to H. pyloridus bacteria in the stomach,
anti-inflammatory medications, and smoking cigarettes. Ulcer pain may...
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Duodenitis
Duodenitis: Inflammation of the duodenum. (The duodenum
is the first part of the small intestine.)...
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Duodenum
Duodenum: The first part of the small intestine. The duodenum extends from the pylorus at the bottom of the stomach to the jejunum, the second part of the small intestine. The duodenum is a common site for the formation of peptic ulcers. We often live with words without thinking where they come from...
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Duplication
Duplication: Part of a chromosome in duplicate, a particular kind of mutation (change) involving the production of one or more copies of any piece of DNA, including a gene or even an entire chromosome.
Duplications typically arise from an event termed unequal crossing-over (a kind of recombination)...
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Dupuytren contracture
Dupuytren contracture:
A localized formation of scar tissue in the palm of the hand within a tissue
(fascia) beneath the skin of the palm that normally covers the tendons that pull
the fingers into a grip. As Dupuytren's contracture progresses, more of the
fascia becomes thickened and shortened...
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Dupuytren, Guillaume
Dupuytren, Guillaume: (1777-1835) The leading French surgeon of the early part of the 19th century. Dupuytren reported the condition in 1832 that now bears his name: Dupuytren contracture. He was not the first to describe the condition but he was the first to recognize that this form of finger contr...
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Dura
Dura: The outermost, toughest, and most fibrous of the three membranes (meninges) covering the brain and the spinal cord. Dura is short for dura mater (from the Latin for hard mother). Also called the pachymeninx (singular) or pachymeniges (plural).
Epidural means outside the dura. An accumulation ...
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Dura mater
Dura mater: Literally, hard mother (in Latin). The outermost, toughest, and most fibrous of the three membranes (meninges) covering the brain and the spinal cord. See: Dura....
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Durable power of attorney
Durable power of attorney: This is a type of advance
medical directive in which legal documents provide the power of
attorney to another person in the case of an incapacitating medical
condition.
The durable power of attorney allows another person to make bank
transactions, sign Social Security...
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Dural
Dural: Pertaining to the dura....
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Dural sac
Dural sac: The membranous sac that encases the spinal cord within the bony structure of the vertebral column. Dural refers to the dura, the name of the membrane around the spinal cord (and brain, too)....
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Dursban
Dursban: An insecticide that has adverse neurological effects.
Known alternatively as chlorpyrifos.
Dursban causes weakness, vomiting, diarrhea and other ill
effects in children. It can also cause blurred vision and memory loss.
Anyone can be exposed when the chemical is applied in a backyard ...
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Dust mite
Dust mite: A tiny microscopic organism that is the primary cause of allergies related to house dust. The term "dust mite allergy" is a misnomer because it is the excretion of these mites to which people are allergic. Dust mites can therefore trigger allergic reactions even when dead....
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Dutch-Kentucky syndrome
Dutch-Kentucky syndrome: See: Hecht syndrome....
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DV
DV: Abbreviation for Daily Value....
