Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «P»:
-
Peritoneal
Peritoneal: Having to do with the peritoneum....
-
Peritoneal dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis: Technique that uses the
patient's own body tissues inside of the belly (abdominal cavity) to act as a filter.
The intestines lie in the abdominal cavity, the space between the abdominal wall and the
spine. A plastic tube called a "dialysis catheter" is placed through the
abdomin...
-
Peritoneum
Peritoneum: The membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and
covers most of the abdominal organs. (From the Greek peri- meaning around + tonos meaning
a stretching = a stretching around)....
-
Peritonitis
Peritonitis: Inflammation of the peritoneum (The
peritoneum is the tissue layer of cells lining the inner wall of the abdomen and pelvis).
Peritonitis can result from infection (such as bacteria or parasites), injury and
bleeding, or diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus)....
-
Peritonitis, acute
Peritonitis, acute: Sudden inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane lining the inner wall of the abdomen and pelvis, resulting in abrupt abdominal pain (an acute abdomen). The most serious causes of acute peritonitis include perforation of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, gallbladder, bile duc...
-
Peritonitis, chronic
Peritonitis, chronic: Longstanding inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane lining the inner wall of the abdomen and pelvis. Causes include repeated attacks of infection such as from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), foreign substances such as talc and chronic infections within the abdomen such...
-
Peritonsillar abscess
Peritonsillar abscess: A collection
of pus behind the tonsils that pushes one of the tonsils
toward the uvula (the prominent soft tissue dangling from the back of
the palate in the back of the mouth). A peritonsillar abscess is generally very painful and is usually associated with a decreased abil...
-
Periventricular leukomalacia, cystic
Periventricular leukomalacia, cystic: Softening of the white matter near the ventricles of the brain resulting in abnormal cysts.
Cystic periventricular leukomalacia is a major problem in very premature infants.
Treating the mother with a cortisone-like drug before the premature birth has been disco...
-
Permanent makeup
Permanent makeup: A form of tattooing (also known as micropigmentation). Some choose permanent makeup as a time saver or because they have physical difficulty applying regular, temporary makeup. For others, tattooing is an adjunct to reconstructive surgery, particularly of the face or breast, to sim...
-
Pernicious anemia
Pernicious anemia: A blood
disorder caused by inadequate vitamin B12 in the blood. Patients who
have this disorder do not produce the substance in the
stomach that allows the body to absorb vitamin B12. This
substance is called intrinsic factor (IF).
Pernicious anemia is characterized by the p...
-
Pernicious vomiting of pregnancy
Pernicious vomiting of pregnancy: Medically known as hyperemesis gravidarum, this is excessive vomiting in early pregnancy. By definition, hyperemesis gravidarum, leads to the loss of 5% or more of the body weight of the woman.
Hyperemesis gravidarum affects about one in every 300 pregnant women. I...
-
Peromyscus leucopus
Peromyscus leucopus: See: White-footed mouse....
-
Peromyscus maniculatus
Peromyscus maniculatus: See: Deer mouse....
-
Peroneal muscular atrophy
Peroneal muscular atrophy: See: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease....
-
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor: A member of the nuclear hormone receptor subfamily of transcription factors. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor is abbreviated as PPAR.
There are 3 known subtypes of PPARs -- PPAR-alpha, PPAR-delta, and PPAR-gamma. The gene for PPAR-gamma is in...
