Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «S»:
-
Steatohepatitis
Steatohepatitis: Fatty inflammation of the liver, usually in alcoholics. Steato- refers to fat and -hepatitis to inflammation of the liver....
-
Steele-Richardson-Olszewksi syndrome
Steele-Richardson-Olszewksi syndrome: Eponym for progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurologic disorder of unknown origin that gradually destroys cells in many areas of the brain, leading to serious and permanent problems with the control of gait and balance. The most obvious sign of the disease is a...
-
Stein-Leventhal syndrome
Stein-Leventhal syndrome: A hormonal problem that
causes women to have various symptoms, including irregular or no
menstruation, acne, obesity, and excess hair growth. Women with PCO
do not ovulate (release an egg for fertilization) every month. They
are at a higher risk for high blood pressure,...
-
Stem cell
Stem cell: One of the human body's master cells, with the ability to grow into any one of the body's more than 200 cell types.
All stem cells are unspecialized (undifferentiated) cells that are characteristically of the same family type (lineage). They retain the ability to divide throughout life...
-
Stem cell harvest
Stem cell harvest: The taking of stem cells for
use in cancer or other treatment. Usually these cells are
taken from the patient's own bone marrow. The procedure
usually involves use of a general anesthetic and an
overnight hospital stay. Small cuts are made over the
hipbones to allow entrance...
-
Stem cell harvest, peripheral blood
Stem cell harvest, peripheral blood: A technique
for obtaining stem cells from the patient's blood for use
in bone marrow transplantation. They are lured out of the
bone marrow by a special regimen of drugs. The blood is
then filtered through a machine, and the stem cells are
skimmed off. They...
-
Stem cell transplantation
Stem cell transplantation: The use of stem cells
as a treatment for cancer or other diseases:
The stem cells are removed (or obtained) from a donor.
Before a transplant is done for cancer, the patient receives high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation to destroy the malignant cells.
The stem cell...
-
Stem cell, sperm
Stem cell, sperm: See: Sperm stem cell....
-
Stem cell, spermatogonial
Stem cell, spermatogonial: See: Sperm stem cell....
-
Stem cells
Stem cells: One of the human body's master cells, with the ability to grow into any one of the body's more than 200 cell types.
All stem cells are unspecialized (undifferentiated) cells that are characteristically of the same family type (lineage). They retain the ability to divide throughout lif...
-
Stenosis
Stenosis: A narrowing, as in:
aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve of the heart),
pulmonary stenosis (narrowing of the pulmonary
valve of the heart),
pyloric stenosis (narrowing of the outlet of the stomach), and
spinal stenosis (narrowing of the vertebral canal).
From the Greek "ste...
-
Stenosis, aortic
Stenosis, aortic: Narrowing
(stenosis) of the heart valve between the left ventricle of
the heart and the aorta. This narrowing impedes the
delivery of blood through the aorta to the body and makes
it tough for the heart to carry out this Herculean task.
A normal aortic valve has three leaf...
-
Stenosis, carotid
Stenosis, carotid: See: Carotid stenosis....
-
Stenosis, carotid-artery
Stenosis, carotid-artery: See: Carotid stenosis....
-
Stenosis, pulmonary
Stenosis, pulmonary: The
pulmonary valve is too tight so that the flow of blood from
the right ventricle of the heart into the pulmonary artery
is impeded. This means the right ventricle must pump harder
than normal to overcome the obstruction. If the stenosis is
severe, babies may become b...