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| This glossary contains: 19186 medical terms |
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Gigantism
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GigantismExcessive growth both in height and specific body parts. Gigantism with extreme height may be associated with disorders of pituitary gland, which may oversecrete human growth hormone (somatotrophin) during childhood before the bones fuse. Excessive growth of specific body parts is also a feature of a number of disorders such as the Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome in which there is macroglossia (an abnormally large tongue).
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Gigantism
Excessive growth both in height and specific body parts. Gigantism with extreme height may be associated with disorders of pituitary gland, which may oversecrete human growth hormone (somatotrophin) during childhood before the bones fuse. Excessive growth of specific body parts is also a feature of a number of disorders such as the Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome in which there is macroglossia (an abnormally large tongue).
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.
Gland
An organ that releases a chemical. Endocrine glands are ductless and secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Exocrine glands secrete externally, either through a tube or duct.
Hormone
A chemical substance formed in the body that is carried in the bloodstream to affect another part of the body; an example is thyroid hormone, produced by the thyroid gland in the neck, which affects growth, temperature regulation, metabolic rate, and other body functions.
Childhood
1. The time for a boy or girl from birth until he or she is an adult. 2. The more circumscribed period of time from infancy to the onset of puberty.
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.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Gigantism, eunuchoid
Extremely tall stature due to the delayed onset of puberty which permits the continued growth of the long bones before their growing ends (epiphyses) fuse and growth stops.
Gigantism, focal
Excessive growth of specific body parts such as an arm, the tongue, or a combination of specific body parts as is seen in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome or acromegaly. This type of gigantism may occur before or after the bones fuse. If it occurs afterwards, it causes disfigurement. Surgery for mass reduction can help improve function. Other treatments may be available for specific conditions.
Gigantism, pituitary
Excessive growth and height due to chronic overactivity of the pituitary gland (at the base of the brain). (Growth hormone is specifically made by the anterior pituitary gland.) In pituitary gigantism, there is secretion of too much growth hormone before the end of adolescence. People with pituitary gigantism can truly be giants. They can sometimes end up over 7 or 8 feet in height.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Giant hypertrophic gastritis
A premalignant disorder of the stomach characterized by overgrowth of the stomach lining (the gastric mucosa) and hypoalbuminemia (low blood serum level of albumin) due to loss of albumin by the stomach. The abnormalities of the stomach are highly characteristic with giant folds, excess mucus secretion by the lining of the stomach, and hypochlorhydria (decreased acid secretion by the stomach). The disease tends to lead to stomach cancer.
Giant platelet syndrome
This condition is a primary problem of platelets in which the platelets lack the ability to stick adequately to injured blood vessel walls and as a result of this problem there is abnormal bleeding.
Giardia
A genus of protozoa that infect the gastrointestinal tract of some animals, including humans. Giardia have a large sucking disk which permits them to adhere to the intestinal lining. The species that infects humans (and causes diarrhea) is Giardia lamblia.
Giardia lamblia
A parasite responsible for a contagious form of diarrhea. The parasite is most commonly transmitted through direct contact with infected feces or by eating food or drinking water contaminated by feces. Giardia is one of the most common intestinal parasites in the world. The disease is most prevalent in developing countries, where infections are associated with poor sanitary conditions, poor water quality control, and overcrowding.Giardiasis affects three times as many children as adults. It particularly affects diapered children and toddlers being toilet-trained. Families with young children who attend day-care centers are at greater risk of developing giardiasis than is the general population.
GIFT
A technique in which the male and female cells required to begin reproduction are injected into the fallopian tubes of the female for fertilization. This technique is one of the methods doctors use to overcome infertility, the inability of couples to produce offspring on their own. The acronym GIFT stands for Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer.
Gigantism
Gigantism, eunuchoid
Extremely tall stature due to the delayed onset of puberty which permits the continued growth of the long bones before their growing ends (epiphyses) fuse and growth stops.
Gigantism, focal
Excessive growth of specific body parts such as an arm, the tongue, or a combination of specific body parts as is seen in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome or acromegaly. This type of gigantism may occur before or after the bones fuse. If it occurs afterwards, it causes disfigurement. Surgery for mass reduction can help improve function. Other treatments may be available for specific conditions.
Gigantism, pituitary
Excessive growth and height due to chronic overactivity of the pituitary gland (at the base of the brain). (Growth hormone is specifically made by the anterior pituitary gland.) In pituitary gigantism, there is secretion of too much growth hormone before the end of adolescence. People with pituitary gigantism can truly be giants. They can sometimes end up over 7 or 8 feet in height.
Gilbert syndrome
A common but harmless genetic condition in which a liver enzyme essential to the disposal of bilirubin (the chemical that results from the normal breakdown of hemoglobin from red blood cells) is abnormal.
Ginger
A perennial tropical herb that has been used as a treatment for nausea and bowel spasms.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Gigantism
Excessive growth both in height and specific body parts. Gigantism with extreme height may be associated with disorders of pituitary gland, which may oversecrete human growth hormone (somatotrophin) during childhood before the bones fuse. Excessive growth of specific body parts is also a feature of a number of disorders such as the Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome in which there is macroglossia (an abnormally large tongue).
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.
Gland
An organ that releases a chemical. Endocrine glands are ductless and secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Exocrine glands secrete externally, either through a tube or duct.
Hormone
A chemical substance formed in the body that is carried in the bloodstream to affect another part of the body; an example is thyroid hormone, produced by the thyroid gland in the neck, which affects growth, temperature regulation, metabolic rate, and other body functions.
Childhood
1. The time for a boy or girl from birth until he or she is an adult. 2. The more circumscribed period of time from infancy to the onset of puberty.
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.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Gigantism, eunuchoid
Extremely tall stature due to the delayed onset of puberty which permits the continued growth of the long bones before their growing ends (epiphyses) fuse and growth stops.
Gigantism, focal
Excessive growth of specific body parts such as an arm, the tongue, or a combination of specific body parts as is seen in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome or acromegaly. This type of gigantism may occur before or after the bones fuse. If it occurs afterwards, it causes disfigurement. Surgery for mass reduction can help improve function. Other treatments may be available for specific conditions.
Gigantism, pituitary
Excessive growth and height due to chronic overactivity of the pituitary gland (at the base of the brain). (Growth hormone is specifically made by the anterior pituitary gland.) In pituitary gigantism, there is secretion of too much growth hormone before the end of adolescence. People with pituitary gigantism can truly be giants. They can sometimes end up over 7 or 8 feet in height.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Giant hypertrophic gastritis
A premalignant disorder of the stomach characterized by overgrowth of the stomach lining (the gastric mucosa) and hypoalbuminemia (low blood serum level of albumin) due to loss of albumin by the stomach. The abnormalities of the stomach are highly characteristic with giant folds, excess mucus secretion by the lining of the stomach, and hypochlorhydria (decreased acid secretion by the stomach). The disease tends to lead to stomach cancer.
Giant platelet syndrome
This condition is a primary problem of platelets in which the platelets lack the ability to stick adequately to injured blood vessel walls and as a result of this problem there is abnormal bleeding.
Giardia
A genus of protozoa that infect the gastrointestinal tract of some animals, including humans. Giardia have a large sucking disk which permits them to adhere to the intestinal lining. The species that infects humans (and causes diarrhea) is Giardia lamblia.
Giardia lamblia
A parasite responsible for a contagious form of diarrhea. The parasite is most commonly transmitted through direct contact with infected feces or by eating food or drinking water contaminated by feces. Giardia is one of the most common intestinal parasites in the world. The disease is most prevalent in developing countries, where infections are associated with poor sanitary conditions, poor water quality control, and overcrowding.Giardiasis affects three times as many children as adults. It particularly affects diapered children and toddlers being toilet-trained. Families with young children who attend day-care centers are at greater risk of developing giardiasis than is the general population.
GIFT
A technique in which the male and female cells required to begin reproduction are injected into the fallopian tubes of the female for fertilization. This technique is one of the methods doctors use to overcome infertility, the inability of couples to produce offspring on their own. The acronym GIFT stands for Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer.
Gigantism
Gigantism, eunuchoid
Extremely tall stature due to the delayed onset of puberty which permits the continued growth of the long bones before their growing ends (epiphyses) fuse and growth stops.
Gigantism, focal
Excessive growth of specific body parts such as an arm, the tongue, or a combination of specific body parts as is seen in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome or acromegaly. This type of gigantism may occur before or after the bones fuse. If it occurs afterwards, it causes disfigurement. Surgery for mass reduction can help improve function. Other treatments may be available for specific conditions.
Gigantism, pituitary
Excessive growth and height due to chronic overactivity of the pituitary gland (at the base of the brain). (Growth hormone is specifically made by the anterior pituitary gland.) In pituitary gigantism, there is secretion of too much growth hormone before the end of adolescence. People with pituitary gigantism can truly be giants. They can sometimes end up over 7 or 8 feet in height.
Gilbert syndrome
A common but harmless genetic condition in which a liver enzyme essential to the disposal of bilirubin (the chemical that results from the normal breakdown of hemoglobin from red blood cells) is abnormal.
Ginger
A perennial tropical herb that has been used as a treatment for nausea and bowel spasms.
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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.
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