Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «P»:
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Perineum
Perineum: The area between the anus and the scrotum in
the male and between the anus and the vulva (the labial opening to the vagina) in the
female. An episiotomy is a surgical procedure to widen the outlet of the birth canal to
facilitate delivery of the baby and avoid a jagged rip of the perineum....
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Period, gestation
Period, gestation: The period of development of the young from the time of conception until birth. For humans the full gestation period is normally 9 months.
The word "gestation" comes from the Latin "gestare" meaning "to carry or to bear."...
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Period, incubation
Period, incubation: In medicine, the time from the moment of exposure to an infectious agent until signs and symptoms of the disease appear. For example, the incubation period of chickenpox is 14-16 days.
In biology, the incubation period is the time needed for any particular process of developme...
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Periodic abstinence
Periodic abstinence: Also known as fertility awareness, natural family planning, and the rhythm method, this approach entails not having sexual intercourse on the days of a woman's menstrual cycle when she could become pregnant or using a barrier method (such as a condom, the diaphragm or a cervical...
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Periodic breathing
Periodic breathing: Clusters of breaths separated by intervals of apnea (no breathing) or near-apnea. As opposed to normal breathing which is usually regular.
Periodic breathing was originally thought to arise from serious neurologic or cardiovascular disease and therefore to carry a poor outlook. I...
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Periodic fever
Periodic fever: Recurrences of fever that last from a few days to a few weeks and are separated by symptom-free intervals of varying duration.
This pattern of fever can be caused by recurrent infection, malignancy or noninfectious inflammatory disorders.
Periodic fever that lasts for more than tw...
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Periodontal
Periodontal: The word "periodontal" literally means "around the tooth." Periodontal diseases are bacterial infections that destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold the teeth in the mouth. Left untreated, these diseases can lead to tooth loss. The main cause of periodontal disease ...
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Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease: A bacterial infection that
destroys the attachment fibers and supporting bone that
hold the teeth in the mouth. Left untreated, these diseases
can lead to tooth loss. The main cause of periodontal
disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that
constantly forms o...
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Periodontics
Periodontics: Periodontics
is the branch of dentistry concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. Periodontists are also expert in the placement and maintenance of dental implants.
The word "periodontal" literally m...
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Periodontitis
Periodontitis: Gum disease. The word "periodontitis"
literally means "inflammation around the tooth."
Periodontitis and all periodontal diseases are bacterial
infections that destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone
that hold the teeth in the mouth. Left untreated, these diseases can
l...
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Perionychia
Perionychia: An inflammation of the folds of tissue surrounding the nail due to infection. The infection may be bacterial (most commonly, staph or strep) or to fungal.
"Perionychia" is composed of "peri-" meaning around or surrounding + the Greek word "onyx" for nail = around the nail. The tissue a...
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Perionychium
Perionychium: The tissue surrounding the nail, whether it be a fingernail or a toenail, including the tissue bordering the root and sides of the nail.
The word is composed of "peri-" meaning around or surrounding + the Greek word "onyx" for nail = around the nail....
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Perioperative
Perioperative: Literally, around (the time of) surgery. More specifically, the period of time extending from when the patient goes into the hospital, clinic, or doctor's office for surgery until the time the patient is discharged home....
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Periosteal
Periosteal: Pertaining to the periosteum, a
dense membrane composed of
fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps (invests) all
bone, except the
bone of articulating surfaces in joints which are covered
by synovial
membranes. Peri- is a prefix borrowed from the Greek
meaning "around or
about"...
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Periosteoma
Periosteoma: A benign tumor arising from the
periosteum, the dense membrane
composed of fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps
(invests) all bone
(except the articular surfaces of bone in joints which are
covered by
synovial
membranes). Also called a periostoma....
