Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «I»:
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Interatrial septum
Interatrial septum: The partition separating the upper chambers (the
atria) of the heart....
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Intercellular
Intercellular: Between cells, as in an intercellular bridge....
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Intercellular junction
Intercellular junction: A specialized region of connection between two cells....
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Intercostal muscle
Intercostal muscle: Muscle tissue between two ribs.
This muscle is a type called skeletal muscle....
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Intercurrent disease
Intercurrent disease: A disease that intervenes during the course of another disease. A patient with AIDS may develop an intercurrent bout of pneumonia....
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Interferon
Interferon: A naturally occurring substance
that interferes with the ability of viruses to reproduce. Interferon
also boosts the immune system.
There are a number of different interferons. They fall into three
main classes : alpha, beta, and gamma. All are proteins (lymphokines)
normally produce...
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Interleukin-1
Interleukin-1: A protein produced by various
cells, including macrophages, interleukin-1 raises body
temperature, spurs the production of interferon, and
stimulates growth of disease-fighting cells, among other
functions. Abbreviated IL-1....
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Interleukin-10
Interleukin-10: Abbreviated IL-10. An antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive substance produced within the body. IL-10 plays a role in the regulation of immune responses. It is secreted by antigen-presenting cells, promotes the development of immunologic tolerance, and suppresses the production of i...
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Interleukin-2
Interleukin-2: A type of interleukin, a chemical
messenger, a substance that can improve the body's response to disease. It stimulates
the growth of certain disease-fighting blood cells in the immune system. Also called IL-2....
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Interleukin-3
Interleukin-3: A protein that stimulates the
immune system to develop mast cells and bone-marrow cells.
Abbreviated IL-3....
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Interleukin-4
Interleukin-4: A protein that stimulates the
immune system to
develop mast cells, resting T-cells, and activated B-cells. Abbreviated
IL-4....
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Interleukins
Interleukins: Substances used in biological therapy. Interleukins
stimulate the growth and activities of certain kinds of white blood cells....
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Intermediate-grade lymphoma
Intermediate-grade lymphoma: A lymphoma that is more aggressive (grows and spreads faster) than a low-grade lymphoma, but responds better to anticancer drugs. Intermediate-grade lymphomas include diffuse, small, cleaved cell lymphoma and diffuse, large, noncleaved cell lymphoma. Also called an aggre...
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Intermittent claudication
Intermittent claudication: An aching, crampy, tired, and sometimes burning pain in the legs that comes and goes -- it typically occurs with walking and goes away with rest -- due to poor circulation of blood in the arteries of the legs. In very severe claudication the pain is also felt ar rest. Inte...
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Intermittent insomnia
Intermittent insomnia: See Insomnia, intermittent....
