BestMedicalDictionary.com

K (potassium)

DrPhil — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:02:21 +0000

K is the symbol for potassium, the major positive ion (cation) found inside of cells. The chemical notation for potassium is K+.

The proper level of potassium is essential for normal cell function. An abnormal increase of potassium (hyperkalemia) or decrease of potassium (hypokalemia) can profoundly affect the nervous system and heart, and when extreme, can be fatal.

The normal blood potassium level is 3.5 – 5.0 milliEquivalents/liter (mEq/L), or in international units, 3.5 – 5.0 millimoles/liter (mmol/L).

Pulmonary embolisms

DrPhil — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:10:18 +0000

Plural for: Pulmonary embolism. See Pulmonary embolism

Terms: pulmonary embolism, P, pulmonary embolisms

X (drug caution code)

DrPhil — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:40:32 +0000

Abbreviation on a medication that indicates SOS — that the medication contains a substance such as acetaminophen that could cause problems — consult your pharmacist.

While not a part of the historical heritage of ancient prescription abbreviations, drug caution codes provide very valuable warnings.

If you see a caution code on a prescription, talk to your pharmacist about it before using the medicine.

Terms: X, prescription abbreviations, drug caution code

Glycosaminoglycans

DrPhil — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 06:44:11 +0000

Heteropolysaccharides hexosamine containing N-acetylated disaccharide units typical repeated. repeating structure of each disaccharide includes an alternate 1,4 – and 1,3-links, which are on-acetylgalactosamine or N-acetylglucosamine.

Terms: G

Fascia

DrPhil — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 06:27:10 +0000

In anatomy fascia means the flat-most layers of fibrous tissue that separate different portions of this tissue.

Terms: F, fibrous tissue

V. cholerae genome

DrPhil — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:38:50 +0000

See: Cholera genome.

Terms: V, Cholera genome

Honey

DrPhil — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:17:17 +0000

A sweet thick liquid food product in the honey-sacs that bees collected from the nectar of various flowers. Nectar is ripened into honey by inversion of sucrose into fructose and glucose as part of the processing stage. It is slightly acidic and has mild antiseptic applications, sometimes used to treat wounds of burn victims. Honey also has many other various health benefits.

Terms: inversion of sucrose, food product, health benefits, liquid food, H, burn victims

Organic chemistry

DrPhil — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 02:06:54 +0000

A branch of chemistry that relates specifically with the structure, synthesis and reactions of carbon compounds.

Terms: carbon compounds, O, structure synthesis, branch of chemistry, organic chemistry

Axon

DrPhil — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 03:16:31 +0000

A long strand off of a neuron which acts much like a wire that communicates messages. Its function is to send pulse messages to neighboring nerve cells.

Each healthy neuron contains a single axon which can extend very long in length considering that it comes from a microscopic neuron. The length of an axon has been measured to as long as a foot in some cases.

The axon is protected by what’s called a myelin sheath (MS in this case). The MS protects the axon like plastic over wire. When this weakens, the result can be seen as many debilitating disorders as the axon fiber no longer has its protective sheath over it and dies.

A long fiber of a nerve cell (neuron) that acts as a fiber optic cable carrying output (efferent) messages. The neuron sends electrical impulses from the cell body through the axon of target cells. Each nerve cell has one axon. An axon can be over 20 centimeters (one foot) long, that the human body is very long.

Terms: A, fiber optic cable, nerve cell, nerve cells, electrical impulses, target cells

T cell

DrPhil — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:23:48 +0000

A certain type of white blood cell known as a “Thymus” that is of key importance for the immune system and is at the heart of adaptive immunity, the system adjusts the body’s immune system response against specific infectious agents. T cells are like aggressive worker ants who search out and eliminate unwelcome guests.

Terms: immune system response, T, t cell, t cells, unwelcome guests, adaptive immunity