Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «M»:
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Mutism
Mutism: The inability or unwillingness to speak.
A person who is mute cannot
or does not care to talk. Someone who was mute was said to
be dumb, not in the sense of being stupid, but in the sense
of being devoid of the power of speech. The term "mutism"
is specifically applied to people who, du...
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Mutism, akinetic
Mutism, akinetic: A state in which a person is
unspeaking (mute) and unmoving (akinetic). A textbook on
clinical neurology observes that a person with
akinetic mutism has "sleep-waking cycles but, when
apparently awake, with eyes open, lies mute. immobile and
unresponsive." Akinetic mutism is of...
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Mutism, elective
Mutism, elective: Complete lack of speech (mutism) that is
believed to be volitional (willed) on the part of the patient.
True elective mutism may be a reaction to a traumatic event, the
aftermath of an injury to the mouth or throat, particularly if it is painful, or a symptom of extreme shyness....
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MUTYH
MUTYH: See: MYH....
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MVP
MVP: In medicine, not the most valuable player but mitral valve prolapse....
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Myalgia
Myalgia: Pain in a muscle; or pain in multiple muscles.
Myalgia means muscle pain. There are many specific causes of various
types of myalgia. Myalgia can be temporary or chronic. Myalgia can be a result of a mild conditions, such as a virus infection, or from a more serious illness. Examples inc...
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Myalgia, epidemic
Myalgia, epidemic: Also known as Bornholm disease, this is
a temporary illness that is a result of virus infection. The disease
features fever and intense abdominal and chest pains with headache.
The chest pain is typically worsened by breathing or coughing. The
illness usually lasts from 3 t...
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Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis: An autoimmune neuromuscular
disorder characterized by fatigue and exhaustion of muscles. Myasthenia gravis is
caused by a mistaken immune response to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR), which are found in junctions between muscles and the nervous system. The body produ...
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Myc-
Myc-: Prefix that denotes a relationship to fungus. From the Greek mykes, meaning fungus....
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Mycelia
Mycelia: The plural of mycelium....
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Mycelium
Mycelium: An array of fungal filaments which
was thought to resemble a display of decorative nails. From the Greek mykes,
meaning fungus + helos, meaning an ornamental nail or stud....
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Mycet-
Mycet-: Prefix that denotes a relationship to fungus. From the Greek mykes, meaning fungus....
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Myco-
Myco-: Prefix that denotes a relationship to fungus. From the Greek mykes, meaning fungus....
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Mycobacteria
Mycobacteria: Plural of mycobacterium....
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Mycobacterium
Mycobacterium: A large family of bacteria that have unusually waxy cell walls that are resistant to digestion.
The mycobacteria includes:
Mycobacterium avium -- which causes tuberculosis in birds and immunodeficient people;
Mycobacterium leprae -- which causes leprosy;
Mycobacterium marinum -- wh...
