Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «F»:
-
Fibrosarcoma
Fibrosarcoma: A malignant tumor that begins in fibrous connective tissue at the ends of the arm or leg bones and may spread to surrounding soft tissue. Fibrosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma found in children under one year of age. It presents as a rapidly growing mass at birth or early...
-
Fibrosis, cystic
Fibrosis, cystic (CF): One of the most common grave genetic (inherited) diseases, CF affects the exocrine glands and is characterized by the production of abnormal secretions, leading to mucous build-up.
This accumulation of mucus can impair the pancreas and, secondarily, the intestine. Mucous bu...
-
Fibrosis, premacular
Fibrosis, premacular: See: Macular pucker....
-
Fibrosis, pulmonary
Fibrosis, pulmonary: See: Pulmonary fibrosis....
-
Fibrosis, radiation
Fibrosis, radiation: Scarring of the lungs from radiation.
Radiation fibrosis is a sequel of radiation pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs due to radiation), as from radiation therapy. Radiation pneumonitis typically occurs after radiation treatments for cancer within the chest or breast and us...
-
Fibrositis
Fibrositis: Also known as fibromyalgia. See: Fibromyalgia...
-
Fibrous dysplasia, monostotic
Fibrous dysplasia, monostotic: Excessive growth
of hard fibrous tissue that replaces normal bone tissue in
a single bone. Symptoms may include pain and fracture
of the bone. Most cases are diagnosed in adolescence and young adulthood and remain unchanged throughout life. The prognosis (outlook) is...
-
Fibrous dysplasia, polyostotic
Fibrous dysplasia, polyostotic: A genetic disorder of bones, skin pigmentation and hormonal problems with premature sexual development. Also called McCune-Albright syndrome or the Albright syndrome.
In the syndrome, there is bone disease with fractures and deformity of the legs, arms and skull; p...
-
Fibula
Fibula: The lateral (outside) and smaller of the two
long bones in the lower leg between the knee and ankle. (The other
bone in the lower leg is the tibia.)
The fibula is not weight bearing. It articulates (comes together
to form a joint) with the tibia above and with the tibia and the
talus bo...
-
Fibulin 3
Fibulin 3: A protein that belongs to a family of extracellular proteins expressed in the basement membranes of blood vessels. The gene that encodes fibulin 3 is FBLN3 (or EFEMP1). FBLN3 is located on chromosome 2 in band 2p16. A single mutation in FBLN3 is responsible for an autosomal dominant form ...
-
Fibulin 5
Fibulin 5: A protein that belongs to a family of extracellular proteins expressed in the basement membranes of blood vessels. Fibulin 5 may be essential for the polymerization of elastin. Missense mutations in FBLN5, the gene that encodes fibulin 5, appear responsible for 1-2% of cases of age-relate...
-
Field, visual
Field, visual: The entire area that can be seen when the eye is directed forward, including that which is seen with peripheral vision.
The visual field can be tested to measure the extent and distribution of the field of vision. The test may be done by a number of methods including what are termed ...
-
Fievre boutonneuse
Fièvre boutonneuse: African tick typhus, one of the
tick-borne rickettsial diseases of the eastern hemisphere, similar to Rocky Mountain
spotted fever, but less severe, with fever, a small ulcer (tache noire) at the site of the
tick bite, swollen glands nearby (satellite lymphadenopathy), and...
-
Fifth cranial nerve
Fifth cranial nerve: The fifth cranial nerve is the trigeminal nerve.
The trigeminal nerve is quite complex. It functions both as the chief nerve of sensation for the face and the motor nerve controlling the muscles of mastication (chewing).
Problems with the sensory part of the trigeminal nerve re...
-
Fifth disease
Fifth disease: An oddly named disease caused by a virus called parvovirus B 19. (In the pre-vaccination era, fifth disease was frequently the "fifth disease" that a child contracted.) . Symptoms include low-grade
fever, fatigue, a "slapped cheeks rash," and a rash over the whole ...
