Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «N»:
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Neck
Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constricted part of a bone or organ that joins its parts as, for example, the neck of the femur bone....
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Neck dissection
Neck dissection: A surgical procedure in which the neck is opened -- to "dissect" means to "cut apart" -- in order to identify, examine, and sometimes remove structures such as lymph nodes or other tissue for diagnosis and/or treatment. See also: Radical neck dissection....
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Neck pain
Neck pain: Neck pain is the
sensation of discomfort in the neck area. Neck pain can result from disorders of any of the structures in the neck, including the cervical vertebrae and intervertebral discs, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, esophagus, larynx, trachea, lymphatic organs, thyroid gland, or ...
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Neck, chronic stiff
Neck, chronic stiff: Also called torticollis or spasmodic torticollis, this is the most common of the focal dystonias: a state of abnormal -- either excessive of inadequate -- muscle tone.
In this disorder, the muscles in the neck that control the position of the head are affected, causing the hea...
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Neck, wry
Neck, wry: Medically called spasmodic torticollis, or
torticollis. The most common of the focal dystonias. In torticollis, the muscles in the
neck that control the position of the head are affected, causing the head to twist and
turn to one side. In addition, the head may be pulled forward or backwa...
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Necrobiosis
Necrobiosis: See: Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum....
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Necrobiosis lipoidica
Necrobiosis lipoidica: See: Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum....
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Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum
Necrobiosis lipoidica
diabeticorum: A dull red raised area on the skin that evolves into a shiny
scar with a violet border, most often on the shin. There is telangiectasia with
blood vessels easily visible under the skin. The area be itchy and painful and
crack open. Treatment may include whirlp...
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Necropsy
Necropsy: A postmortem examination or autopsy.
Necropsies have been done for more than 2,000 years but during most of this time they were rarely done, and then only for legal purposes. The Roman physician Antistius performed one of the earliest necropsies on record. In 44 B.C., he examined Julius ...
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Necrosis
Necrosis: The death of living cells or tissues. Necrosis can be due, for example, to ischemia (lack of blood flow). From the Greek "nekros" (dead body). ...
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Necrosis, coagulation
Necrosis, coagulation: Tissue death due to clots
in the bloodstream, which block the flow of blood to the
affected area....
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Necrotic
Necrotic: Synonymous with dead. Necrotic tissue is dead tissue. ...
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Necrotizing fasciitis
Necrotizing fasciitis: A dangerous infection of soft-tissue that starts in the subcutaneous tissue (just below the skin) and spreads along the flat layers of fibrous tissue that separate different layers of tissue (fascial planes). It most commonly occurs in the arms, legs and abdominal wall. The de...
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Necrotizing gingivitis
Necrotizing gingivitis: This is trench mouth, a
progressive painful infection with ulceration, swelling
and sloughing off of dead tissue from the mouth and throat
due to the spread of infection from the gums.
Certain germs (including fusiform bacteria and spirochetes) have
been thought to be i...
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Needle biopsy, stereotactic
Needle biopsy, stereotactic: See: Stereotactic needle biopsy....
