Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «S»:
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Spit
Spit: 1. As a noun: Popular term for sputum.
2. As a verb: To eject sputum; to expectorate.See: Sputum....
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Spitz-Holter valve
Spitz-Holter valve: A pioneering one-way valve created by John Holter to treat hydrocephalus. In 1955 Mr. Holter, , a hydraulics technician, and his wife had a son with hydrocephalus for which there was then no effective treatment. Mr. Holter designed a device with a tiny one-way valve that released...
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Spleen
Spleen: An organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen near the stomach. The spleen produces lymphocytes; it is the largest
lymphatic organ in the body. The spleen also filters the blood, serves as a
major reservoir for blood and destroys blood cells that are aged.
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Spleen, ruptured
Spleen, ruptured: Rupture of the capsule of the
spleen is a potential catastrophe that requires immediate medical and
surgical attention. Splenic rupture permits large amounts of blood to
leak into the abdominal cavity, which is severely painful and life-
threatening. Shock, and ultimately death,...
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Splenectomy
Splenectomy: An operation to remove the spleen....
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Splenic artery
Splenic artery: A large artery within the abdomen that
arises from an arterial vessel called the celiac trunk, which emerges
from the aorta. The splenic artery supplies blood not only to the
spleen, but also to the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, liver, and
pancreas....
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Splenic fever
Splenic fever: Known also as anthrax, splenic fever is
a serious bacterial infection. It is not primarily a human disease but rather an infection
of animals. Cattle, sheep, horses, mules, and some wild animals are highly susceptible.
Humans (and swine) are generally resistant to anthrax. Anthrax can...
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Splenic vein
Splenic vein: A vein formed by the union of several small veins that return blood from the stomach, pancreas and spleen. The splenic vein is a major contributor to the portal vein which goes to the liver....
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Splenomegaly
Splenomegaly: Enlargement of the spleen.
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Splicing, alternative
Splicing, alternative: See Alternative splicing....
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Split personality
Split personality: Multiple personality disorder, a neurosis in which the personality becomes dissociated into two or more distinct parts each of which becomes dominant and controls behavior from time to time to the exclusion of the other parts....
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Split-hand/split-foot malformation
Split-hand/split-foot malformation: A genetic malformation syndrome of the limbs with syndactyly, median clefts of the hands and feet, and aplasia (failure of development) and/or hypoplasia (underdevelopment) of the phalanges (the digits), the metacarpals (the bones leading up to the fingers), and t...
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Spock, Benjamin
Spock, Benjamin: (1903-1998) American pediatrician whose book on "Baby and Child Care" which first appeared in 1946 was one of the biggest best-sellers of all time. It sold some 50 million copies. Its revolutionary message to parents was that "you know more than you think you do." Spock gently coach...
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Spondylitis
Spondylitis: Inflammation of one or more of the vertebrae of the spine. Diffuse inflammation of the spine is seen in the disease ankylosing spondylitis. Localized spondylitis is seen with infections of a certain area of the spine, such as in Pott's disease....
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Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis: Forward movement of one of the building
blocks (vertebrae) of the spine in relation to an adjacent vertebra. Spondylolisthesis differs in children and adults. In children it is usually of the fifth lumbar vertebra (L5) over the body of the sacrum (S1) due to a congenital malformat...
