Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «I»:
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Inheritance, mitochondrial
Inheritance, mitochondrial: The pattern of transmission of a genetic trait
encoded in the mitochondrial genome.
The mitochondria are normal structures or organelles in cells. They are
located outside the nucleus in the cell's cytoplasm. The mitochondria are
responsible for energy production. They...
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Inheritance, multifactorial
Inheritance, multifactorial: The type of hereditary
pattern seen when there is more than one genetic factor involved and,
sometimes, when there are also environmental factors participating in the causation of a condition.
Many common traits are multifactorial. Skin color, for example, is multifact...
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Inheritance, Y-linked
Inheritance, Y-linked: Inheritance of genes on the Y chromosome. Since only males normally have a Y chromosome, Y-linked genes can only be transmitted from father to son. Y-linked inheritance is also called holandric inheritance.
It has often been said that little is known about genes that show Y-li...
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Inherited immunodeficiency disease
Inherited immunodeficiency disease: See: Primary immunodeficiency disease....
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Inherited metabolic diseases
Inherited metabolic diseases: Also called inborn errors of metabolism, these are heritable (genetic) disorders of biochemistry. Examples include albinism, cystinuria (a cause of kidney stones), phenylketonuria (PKU), and some forms of gout, sun sensitivity, and thyroid disease. These are only a very...
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Inhibin
Inhibin: One of two hormones (designated inhibin-A and inhibin-B) secreted by the gonads (by Sertoli cells in the male and the granulosa cells in the female) and that inhibit the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by the pituitary gland. The inhibins also figure in the control of gamet...
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Inhibition, orgasmic
Inhibition, orgasmic: See: Anorgasmia....
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Inhibitor, ACE
Inhibitor, ACE: See: ACE inhibitor....
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Inhibitor, protease
Inhibitor, protease: An agent that can keep a
protease from working and
splitting a protein into peptides. Protease inhibitors are
used in HIV/AIDS
treatment. The protease inhibitors represented a major
advance in treating
HIV
infection and AIDS. However, these drugs are not entirely
without si...
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Inhibitory RNA
Inhibitory RNA: See: RNA inactivation; and RNA interference....
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Iniencephaly
Iniencephaly: A rare neural tube defect that combines extreme retroflexion (backward bending) of the head with severe defects of the spine. The affected infant tends to be short, with a disproportionately large head.
The diagnosis can be made immediately after birth because the head is so severely...
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Injection snoreplasty
Injection snoreplasty: An injection of a chemical called sodium tetradecyl sulfate that promotes stiffening of the soft palate by creating scar tissue in order to relieve snoring. The soft palate is the area above your throat in the back of your mouth. Snoring is typically caused by the fluttering o...
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Injure
Injure: To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emotional sense. Treadmill machines may injure anyone who gets on one. Sexual molestation injures children. From the Latin injuria meaning injury....
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Injury
Injury: Harm or hurt. The term "injury" may be applied in medicine to damage inflicted upon oneself as in a hamstring injury or by an external agent on as in a cold injury. The injury may be accidental or deliberate, as with a needlestick injury.
The term "injury" may be synonymous (depending on t...
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Injury, cold
Injury, cold: Cold injuries include chilblains,
"trench foot," and frostbite.
Cold injuries occur with and without freezing of body tissues. The
young and the elderly are especially prone to cold injury. Alcohol
increases the risk of cold injury which can lead to loss of body
parts and even to de...
