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ARDS
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ARDSAcute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. A fulminant lung condition in which trauma to the lungs leads to inflammation of the lungs, accumulation of fluid in the alveolar air sacs, low blood oxygen, and respiratory distress.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Acute
1. Of short course. 2. Severe, but of a short duration. Not chronic.
Syndrome
A grouping of signs and symptoms, based on their frequent co-occurrence, that may suggest a common underlying pathogenesis, course, familial pattern, or treatment selection.
Condition
The term "condition" has a number of biomedical meanings including the following: 1.An unhealthy state, such as in "this is a progressive condition." 2.A state of fitness, such as "getting into condition." 3.Something that is essential to the occurrence of something else; essentially a "precondition." 4.As a verb: to cause a change in something so that a response that was previously associated with a certain stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus; to condition a person, as in behavioral conditioning.
Trauma
Injury caused by external force, chemical, temperature extremes, or poor tooth alignment.
Lungs
The main respiratory organs in the chest where blood is oxygenated.
Inflammation
A reaction to an injury to the body - by infection, chemicals or physical agents. The symptoms can be - depending on the location of the injury- redness, swelling, heat and pain. The purpose of the inflammation is to dilute and destroy the agent causing the inflammation. To do this, the immune system starts a cascade of actions that causes active cells to gather at the affected location. It is these cells and fluids that cause the redness, swelling, heat and pain.
Alveolar
"Pertaining to the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in the alveoli which look like cells in a honeycomb. The word comes from the Latin diminutive of ""alveus"" meaning a cavity or hollow = a little cavity or hollow."
Blood
The life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.
Oxygen
A chemical element essential for sustaining life.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Archaeology
The scientific study of the material remains of past peoples. In archaeology today, a range of biological techniques, including DNA analysis, enter into what has been termed bioarchaeology.
Arcuate neuron
A neuron in the arcuate nucleus of the brain. See: Arcuate nucleus.
Arcuate nucleus
A collection of neurons (nerve cells) in the hypothalamus of the brain. Some arcuate neurons contain dopamine and act to inhibit the release of the hormone prolactin by the pituitary gland. Other arcuate neurons contain a substance called neuropeptide Y (NPY) and influence hunger. When activated, these neurons can produce remarkable increases in eating that result in obesity. These neurons may be regulated by glucose, insulin, and the hormone leptin. By monitoring the blood levels of these substances, arcuate neurons are kept informed of whether or not the body has sufficient calories and nutrients so that it can adjust feeding accordingly.
Arcus senilis
A cloudy opaque arc or circle around the edge of the eye, often seen in the eye of the elderly.
ARD
Acronym that stands for a disorder known as Adult Respiratory Distress or Acute Respiratory Distress. Also referred to as ARDS (ARD Syndrome).
ARDS
Areflexia
Absence of neurologic reflexes such as the knee jerk reaction.
Arenaviridae
See: Arenavirus.
Arenavirus
One of a family of viruses called Arenaviridae whose members are generally associated with diseases transmitted by rodents to humans. Each arenavirus is usually associated with a particular rodent host species in which it is maintained. Arenavirus infections are relatively common in humans in some areas of the world and can cause severe illnesses.
Arg
Arginine. See also: Amino acid symbols.
Argentaffinoma
A tumor which secretes large amounts of the hormone serotonin. Argentaffinoma is also called carcinoid tumor. The tumor usually arises in the gastrointestinal tract, anywhere between the stomach and the rectum (the favorite spot is in the appendix) and from there may metastasize (spread) to the liver. In the liver the tumor produces and releases large quantities of serotonin into the systemic bloodstream.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Acute
1. Of short course. 2. Severe, but of a short duration. Not chronic.
Syndrome
A grouping of signs and symptoms, based on their frequent co-occurrence, that may suggest a common underlying pathogenesis, course, familial pattern, or treatment selection.
Condition
The term "condition" has a number of biomedical meanings including the following: 1.An unhealthy state, such as in "this is a progressive condition." 2.A state of fitness, such as "getting into condition." 3.Something that is essential to the occurrence of something else; essentially a "precondition." 4.As a verb: to cause a change in something so that a response that was previously associated with a certain stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus; to condition a person, as in behavioral conditioning.
Trauma
Injury caused by external force, chemical, temperature extremes, or poor tooth alignment.
Lungs
The main respiratory organs in the chest where blood is oxygenated.
Inflammation
A reaction to an injury to the body - by infection, chemicals or physical agents. The symptoms can be - depending on the location of the injury- redness, swelling, heat and pain. The purpose of the inflammation is to dilute and destroy the agent causing the inflammation. To do this, the immune system starts a cascade of actions that causes active cells to gather at the affected location. It is these cells and fluids that cause the redness, swelling, heat and pain.
Alveolar
"Pertaining to the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in the alveoli which look like cells in a honeycomb. The word comes from the Latin diminutive of ""alveus"" meaning a cavity or hollow = a little cavity or hollow."
Blood
The life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.
Oxygen
A chemical element essential for sustaining life.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Archaeology
The scientific study of the material remains of past peoples. In archaeology today, a range of biological techniques, including DNA analysis, enter into what has been termed bioarchaeology.
Arcuate neuron
A neuron in the arcuate nucleus of the brain. See: Arcuate nucleus.
Arcuate nucleus
A collection of neurons (nerve cells) in the hypothalamus of the brain. Some arcuate neurons contain dopamine and act to inhibit the release of the hormone prolactin by the pituitary gland. Other arcuate neurons contain a substance called neuropeptide Y (NPY) and influence hunger. When activated, these neurons can produce remarkable increases in eating that result in obesity. These neurons may be regulated by glucose, insulin, and the hormone leptin. By monitoring the blood levels of these substances, arcuate neurons are kept informed of whether or not the body has sufficient calories and nutrients so that it can adjust feeding accordingly.
Arcus senilis
A cloudy opaque arc or circle around the edge of the eye, often seen in the eye of the elderly.
ARD
Acronym that stands for a disorder known as Adult Respiratory Distress or Acute Respiratory Distress. Also referred to as ARDS (ARD Syndrome).
ARDS
Areflexia
Absence of neurologic reflexes such as the knee jerk reaction.
Arenaviridae
See: Arenavirus.
Arenavirus
One of a family of viruses called Arenaviridae whose members are generally associated with diseases transmitted by rodents to humans. Each arenavirus is usually associated with a particular rodent host species in which it is maintained. Arenavirus infections are relatively common in humans in some areas of the world and can cause severe illnesses.
Arg
Arginine. See also: Amino acid symbols.
Argentaffinoma
A tumor which secretes large amounts of the hormone serotonin. Argentaffinoma is also called carcinoid tumor. The tumor usually arises in the gastrointestinal tract, anywhere between the stomach and the rectum (the favorite spot is in the appendix) and from there may metastasize (spread) to the liver. In the liver the tumor produces and releases large quantities of serotonin into the systemic bloodstream.
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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.
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