Medical Glossary

This glossary contains:
19186
medical terms

AP




AP

AP is a versatile abbreviation. It serves in cardiology to abbreviate angina pectoris (AP) and arterial pressure (AP). In endocrinology, it stands for the anterior pituitary (AP). And in anatomy, AP means anteroposterior, i.e., from front-to-back.

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Cardiology
The clinical study and practice of treating the heart.

Angina
A recurring pain or discomfort in the chest that happens when some part of the heart does not receive enough blood. It is a common symptom of coronary heart disease, which occurs when vessels that carry blood to the heart become narrowed and blocked due to atherosclerosis. Angina feels like a pressing or squeezing pain, usually in the chest under the breast bone, but sometimes in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaws, or back. Angina is usually is brought on by exertion, and relieved within a few minutes by resting or by taking prescribed angina medicine. Commonly called chest pain, heart pain or angina pectoris.

Endocrinology
The study of hormones. A more inclusive definition would be the study of biological communications.

Anterior
The front, as opposed to the posterior. The anterior surface of the heart is toward the breast bone (the sternum).

Pituitary
The gland from which a number of hormones are released into the bloodstream. These hormones include growth hormone, ACTH, B-lipocortin (the precursor to B-endorphorin), FSH, LH, and TSH.

Anatomy
The study of form. Gross anatomy involves structures that can be seen with the naked eye. It is as opposed to microscopic anatomy (or histology) which involves structures seen under the microscope.

Anteroposterior
From front to back. When a chest x-ray is taken with the back against the film plate and the x-ray machine in front of the patient it is called an anteroposterior (AP) view. As opposed to from back to front (which is called posteroanterior).



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Aortic insufficiency
Incomplete closure of the aortic valve resulting in aortic regurgitation, the return of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle of the heart.

Aortic regurgitation
The return of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle of the heart due to aortic insufficiency, incomplete closure of the aortic valve.

Aortic stenosis
Narrowing (stenosis) of the heart valve between the left ventricle of the heart and the aorta. This narrowing impedes the delivery of blood through the aorta to the body and makes it tough for the heart to carry out this Herculean task. A normal aortic valve has three leaflets or cusps, but a stenotic valve may have only one cusp (unicuspid) or two cusps (bicuspid), which are thick. stiff and stenotic. Some children with aortic stenosis have chest pain, unusual fatigue, dizziness or fainting. Many children have few or no symptoms. The need for surgery depends on the degree of stenosis. Although surgery may enlarge the stenotic valve the valve remains deformed and eventually may need to be replaced with an artificial one. A procedure called balloon valvuloplasty has been used in some children with aortic stenosis. Persons with aortic stenosis need medical follow-up all their lives since even mild stenosis may worsen over time and need treatment.

Aortic valve, bicuspid
Whereas the normal aortic valve in the heart has three flaps (cusps) that open and close, a bicuspid valve has only two. There may be no symptoms in childhood, but in time the valve may become stenotic (narrowed), making it harder for blood to pass through it, or the valve may start to let blood leak backwards through the valve (regurgitate). Treatment depends on how the valve is working and overall condition of the affected individual.

Aortitis
Inflammation of the aorta. The causes of aortitis include syphilis or rheumatic fever.

AP

AP (anteroposterior)
In anatomy, AP stands for anteroposterior: from front-to-back. For example, an AP X-ray of the chest is taken from front-to-back. AP in this respect is the opposite of PA, which stands for posteroanterior: from back-to-front.

AP, X-ray
An X-ray picture in which the beams pass from front-to-back (anteroposterior). As opposed to a PA (posteroanterior) film in which the rays pass through the body from back-to-front.

APA
1. American Psychiatric Association. 2. American Psychological Association. 3. American Podiatry Association. 4. Antiphospholipid antibody. 5. Alkaline phosphatase activity.

Aperient
Laxative.

Apert syndrome
"A malformation syndrome characterized by a high short skull, underdevelopment of the midface, soft tissue and bony (""mitten glove"") fusion of fingers and toes, fusion of the neck vertebrae, and varying degrees of developmental delay/mental retardation. The frequency of the syndrome rises with the age of the father reflecting the fact that the mutation rate among males rises with their age. Moreover, the mutation that causes Apert syndrome affords the sperm a selective advantage. The mutation is in the gene for fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) on chromosome 10. Different mutations in FGFR2 are also responsible for two other similar genetic diseases, namely, Pfeiffer syndrome and Crouzon syndrome. See also: Acrocephalosyndactyly."

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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.







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