Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «E»:
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Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy: A procedure in which an electric current is passed through the brain to produce controlled convulsions (seizures) to treat patients with depression, particularly for those who cannot take or are not responding to antidepressants, have severe depression, or are at high risk...
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Electrodesiccation
Electrodesiccation: Use of an electric current to destroy
cancerous tissue and control bleeding....
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Electroencephalogram
Electroencephalogram: A study of electrical
current within the brain. Electrodes are attached to the
scalp. Wires attach these electrodes to a machine which
records the electrical impulses. The results are either
printed out or displayed on a computer screen. Electroencephalogram is abbreviated ...
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Electrogastrogram
Electrogastrogram: An electrogastrogram is a study in which the electrical current generated by the muscle of the stomach is sensed and recorded. Thus, it is analogous to an electrocardiogram of the heart.
The electrogastrogram, like the electrocardiogram, is performed by taping electrodes to the...
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Electrolarynx
Electrolarynx: A battery-operated instrument that makes a humming sound to help people who have lost their larynx to talk....
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Electrolysis
Electrolysis: Permanent
removal of body hair, including the hair root, with an electronic device. While
it is billed as a permanent process, many people find that
hair does grow back (albeit slowly) after electrolysis.
Electrolysis may be done by a dermatologist, by an
electrolysis technician, ...
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Electrolyte
Electrolyte: An electrolyte is a substance that will dissociate into ions in
solution and acquire the capacity to conduct electricity. The electrolytes include sodium,
potassium, chloride, calcium and phosphate. Informally, called lytes. (The clue to the
word electrolyte is in the lyte which comes f...
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Electromagnetic field therapy
Electromagnetic field therapy: See: Magnet therapy....
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Electromyogram
Electromyogram: A test used to record the electrical activity of muscles. When muscles are active, they produce an electrical current that is usually proportional to the level of muscle activity. An electromyogram (EMG) is also called a myogram.
The EMG can detect abnormal muscle electrical activit...
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Electromyogram, surface
Electromyogram, surface: Surface EMG....
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Electron beam computerized tomography (EBCT)
Electron beam computerized tomography (EBCT): A new (and controversial) noninvasive test for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD).
EBCT, or Ultrafast CT (as the technique will be termed here) is designed to measure calcium deposits in the coronary arteries.
In patients with CAD, the plaqu...
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Electron microscope
Electron microscope: Abbreviated EM. A microscope in which an electron beam replaces light to form the image.
EM has its pluses (greater magnification and resolution than
optical microscopes) and minuses (you are not really
"seeing" objects, but rather you are looking at their electron densities,...
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Electron microscopy
Electron microscopy: Abbreviated EM. Microscopy in which an electron beam replaces light to form the image.
EM has its pluses (greater magnification and resolution than
optical microscopes) and minuses (you are not really
"seeing" objects, but rather you are looking at their electron densities, a...
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Electronystagmogram
Electronystagmogram: A recording of the eye movements, usually done to confirm the presence of nystagmus. Electronystagmogram may be done in cases of vertigo (dizziness) to determine if there is damage to the vestibular portion of the acoustic nerve. The test may be done in cases of possible acousti...
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Electrophoresis
Electrophoresis: A process by which molecules (such as
proteins, DNA, or RNA fragments) can be separated according to size and electrical charge by applying an electric current to them. Each kind of molecule travels through the medium at a different rate, depending on its electrical charge and mol...
