Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «S»:
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Score, Apgar
Score, Apgar: A practical method to assess a newborn
infant, the Apgar score is a number arrived at by scoring the heart
rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, skin color, and response to a
catheter in the nostril. Each of these objective signs can
receive 0, 1, or 2 points.
A perfect Apgar sco...
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Score, Gleason
Score, Gleason: A grading system for prostate carcinoma. See Gleason score....
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Scorpion venom
Scorpion venom: The potent poison of the scorpion, an insect that has an elongated body and a segmented, curved tail tipped with a venomous stinger. A sting can be fatal to a person who is allergic to it.
The toxicity of scorpion venom varies by species. A given species' venom may contain many chemi...
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Scrape
Scrape: An abrasion or cut caused by something
rubbing roughly against the skin. To treat scrape, wash the area with
soap and water, and keeping it clean and dry. Alcohol, hydrogen
peroxide, and iodine can delay healing and should be avoided. Seek
medical care if you think that you might need st...
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Scratch test for allergy
Scratch test for allergy: Test done on the skin to identify the allergy substance (the allergen) that is the trigger for an allergic reaction.
A small amount of the suspected allergy-provoking substance is placed on the skin. The skin is then gently scratched through the small drop with a special s...
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Screening mammogram
Screening mammogram: A mammogram (an X-ray of the breast) in women who have no signs of breast cancer. It usually involves two X-rays of each breast. The aim of a screening mammogram is to detect a tumor that cannot be felt.
A screening mammogram is different from a diagnostic mammogram which invol...
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Screening, kidney disease
Screening, kidney disease: Screening (looking) for early kidney disease in people who are not already known to have it. Kidney disease is common and is commonly insidious in onset. The burden of kidney disease in its earlier stages lies not only in the risk of progression but in the complications of...
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Screening, newborn hearing
Screening, newborn hearing: Testing of the newborn baby's ability to hear. Newborn screening of hearing is done with automated auditory brainstem response tests or, less often, with what are called otoacoustic emission or conventional auditory brainstem response tests. The aim is to detect those bab...
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Script
Script: An informal colloquial term for a prescription. Derived from prescription by removing both its beginning and ending to save a little bit of time and effort....
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Scrofula
Scrofula: An old term for tuberculosis of the lymph nodes in the neck. Also known as the King's evil....
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Scrofulous
Scrofulous: 1. Literally, relating to scrofula (tuberculosis of the lymph nodes, particularly of the neck). 2. Figuratively, morally contaminated and corrupt....
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Scrotum
Scrotum: A pouch of skin which contains the testes, epididymides,
and lower portions of the spermatic cords. ...
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Scrub
Scrub: 1. As a verb, to wash the hands and forearms very thoroughly, as before engaging in surgery. To scrub implies the use of a brush (and often an implement to clean under the nails). To scrub, to scrub in (on a surgical procedure), and to scrub up are synonymous.
2. As a noun, a person who scru...
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Scrub in
Scrub in: To wash the hands and forearms very thoroughly, as for surgery. To scrub in implies the use of a brush (and often an implement to clean under the nails). To scrub in, to scrub up, and to scrub are synonymous....
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Scrub typhus
Scrub typhus: A mite-borne infectious disease caused by
a microorganism, Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, characteristically with fever, headache, a
raised (macular) rash, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy) and a dark crusted ulcer (called
an eschar or tache noire) at the site of the chigger (mite larva) bit...
