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| This glossary contains: 19186 medical terms |
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Hypervariable regions
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Hypervariable regions Portions of the light and heavy immunoglobulin chains that are highly variable in amino acid sequence from one immunoglobulin molecule to another, and that, together, constitute the antigen-binding site of an antibody molecule. Also, portions of the T-cell receptor which constitute the antigen-binding site.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Immunoglobulin
A serum protein involved in immunity. An antibody.
Antibody
An infection-fighting protein molecule in blood or secretory fluids that tags, neutralizes, and helps destroy pathogenic microorganisms (eg, bacteria, viruses) or toxins. Antibodies, known generally as immunoglobulins, are made and secreted by B-lymphocytes in response to stimulation by antigens. Each specific antibody binds only to the specific antigen that stimulated its production.
T-cell
A white blood cell concerned with immunity. It does not produce antibodies.
Receptor
A molecule that recognizes a unique hormone. Once that hormone is bound to the receptor, the information carried by the hormone can now exert its biological action.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Hyperacidity
Excessive acidity.
Hyperacuity
Psychophysical tasks involving judgements of relative position that are about ten times finer than the separation of bars at the grating acuity limit.
Hyperacusis
Inordinate sensitivity to sounds; it may be on an emotional or an organic basis.
Hyperadreocorticism
Hyperadreocorticism refers to a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol.
Hyperbaric
Characterized by greater-than-normal pressure. Hyperbaric oxygen is a therapeutic treatment designed to increase blood oxygen by delivering oxygen in a chamber room with greater-than-normal pressure.
Hyperchromasia
Excessive pigmentation.
Hypercolumn
A set of columns in the primary visual cortex (V1) that contains columns responsive to lines of all orientations from a particular region of space and for both eyes.
Hypercomplex cells
A third category of striate cells identified by Hubel and Wiesel that have since been classified as subsets of simple and complex cells. They posses inhibitory zones at one or both ends of oriented excitatory regions, thereby responding to bars of preferred orientation only if they are not too long.
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Excessive morning sickness.
Hyperemia
increased blood flow; may cause dental sensitivity to temperature and sweets; may precede an abscess.
Hyperesthesia
Abnormal acuteness of sensitivity to touch, pain, or other sensory stimuli.
Hyperfractionation
An increased number of smaller dosage treatments of radiation therapy.
Hyperglicemia
A condition in which the blood sugar is higher than normal.
Hyperglycemia
Too high a level of glucose (sugar) in the blood; a sign that diabetes is out of control. Many things can cause hyperglycemia. It occurs when the body does not have enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it does have to turn glucose into energy. Signs of hyperglycemia are a great thirst, a dry mouth, and a need to urinate often. For people with Type 1 diabetes, hyperglycemia may lead to diabetic ketoacidosis.
Hyperglycemic
High blood sugar.
Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome
See Nonketotic Coma.
Hyperinsulinemia
The excess production of insulin. This is usually a consequence of insulin resistance in which the cells do not respond to insulin to reduce blood glucose levels.
Hyperinsulinism
Too high a level of insulin in the blood. This term most often refers to a condition in which the body produces too much insulin. Researchers believe that this condition may play a role in the development of noninsulin-dependent diabetes and in hypertension.
Hyperlipidemia
Too high a level of fats (lipids) in the blood.
Hypermobility syndrome
Syndrome of arthralgia associated with joint hypermobility.
Hyperopia
Hyperopia (or more rarely, hypermetropia), also known as farsightedness or longsightedness, is a defect of vision caused by an imperfection in the eye (often when the eyeball is too short), causing inability to focus on near objects, and in extreme cases causing a sufferer to be unable to focus on objects at any distance. As an object moves towards the eye, the eye must increase its power to keep the image on the retina.
Hyperorgasmia
The phenomenon of having an inordinate number of orgasms within a given period, as compared with a given criterion standard.
Hyperparathyroidism
Excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone from the parathyroid glands, which are situated alongside the thyroid gland in the throat, and which play a role in regulating the amount of calcium in blood and body tissues.
Hyperphilia
A condition or syndrome, variable in etiology and diagnosis, of being sexuoerotically above standard or inordinate, particularly with respect to some aspect of genital functioning prior to and at the acceptive phase. The condition of being supranormal in sexual and genital responsiveness or frequency.
Hyperphoria
A tendency for one eye to drift upward. A vertical type of muscle imbalance between the eyes.
Hyperpigmentation
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is an excessive skin darkening at places where the skin was inflamed.
Hyperplasia
An increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ, usually as a physiologic response to a stimulus.
Hypersensitivity
State of reactivity to antigen that is greater than normal for the antigenic challenge; hypersensitivity is the same as allergy and denotes a deleterious outcome rather than a protective one.
Hypersomnia
Excessive difficulty maintaining an alert awake state during the day, or undesired daytime sleep episodes. sleepiness, as evidenced by prolonged nocturnal sleep, ideas of reference The feeling that casual incidents and external events have a particular and unusual meaning that is specific to the person. This is to be distinguished from a delusion of reference, in which there is a belief that is held with delusional conviction
Hyperspadias
A congenital malformation or misplacement of the urethra as in hypospadias except that the position of the opening is on the upper or superior/dorsal surface of the penis.
Hyperstat
Hyperstat is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): diazoxide.
Hypertension
Higher blood pressure than normal. Diastolic blood pressure from 90 to 99 mm HG is considered mild hypertension; 100–109, moderate hypertension; and 110 or greater, severe hypertension. Systolic blood pressure from 140 to 159 mm HG is considered mild hypertension; 160–179, moderate hypertension; and 180 or greater, severe hypertension.
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
An arterial condition whose primary feature is chronically elevated blood pressure.
Hyperthermia
The treatment of cancers with heat.
Hyperthyroidism
Overproduction of thyroid hormone.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
In this condition, the muscle mass of the left ventricle enlarges or "hypertrophies."
Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM)
A bulge in the ventricle that causes impeded blood flow.
Hypertrophy
Over-development in size of an organ or of its constituent cells.
Hypertropia
A muscle imbalance in which one eye is straight and the other is turned upward.
Hyperventilation
Rapid or deep breathing producing faintness, numbness, chest pain, apprehension and tingling, and spasms of the extremities.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Hinge region
A flexible, open segment of an antibody molecule that allows bending of the molecule. The hinge region is located between Fab and Fc and is susceptible to enzymatic cleavage.
Histocompatibility
Literally, the ability of tissues to get along; in immunology, it means identity in all transplantation antigens. These antigens, in turn, are collectively referred to as histocompatibility antigens.
Humoral immunity
Any immune reaction that can be transferred with immune serum is termed humoral immunity (as opposed to cell-mediated immunity). In general, this term refers to resistance that results from the presence of specific antibody.
Hybridoma
A hybrid cell that results from the fusion of an antibody-secreting cell with a malignant cell; the progeny secrete antibody without stimulation and proliferate continuously both in vivo and in vitro.
Hypersensitivity
State of reactivity to antigen that is greater than normal for the antigenic challenge; hypersensitivity is the same as allergy and denotes a deleterious outcome rather than a protective one.
Hypervariable regions
Hallucinosis
A morbid condition, as in acute alcoholic hallucinosis, which is characterized by recurrent acute attacks marked by hallucinated auditory threats of persecution.
Haptic
Having to do with touch and the sense of touch. 2. Pertaining to the skin feelings and the sense of touch.
Hemisphere
As applied to the brain, either its left or its right half.
Hermaphroditism
Having genital attributes of both sexes. Some invertebrates are simultaneous hermaphrodites, and some fish are sequential hermaphrodites that change from male to female, or vice versa, once or more often in the course of a lifetime. In the human species, hermaphroditism is a form of birth defect, also known as intersexuality. It is defined as male or female hermaphroditism, if only testes or ovaries are present, respectively; as true hermaphroditism if both tissues are found as in ovotestes, and as gonadally dysgenic [dysgenetic?] when neither tissue is clearly differentiated. Human hermaphrodites do not have the complete sex organs of both sexes. A congenital condition of ambiguity of the reproductive structures so that the sex of the individual at birth is not clearly defined as exclusively male or exclusively female. The condition is named for Hermes and Aphrodite, the Greek god and goddess of love.
Heterogeneous
Dissimilar in type, and having different or opposing characteristics.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Immunoglobulin
A serum protein involved in immunity. An antibody.
Antibody
An infection-fighting protein molecule in blood or secretory fluids that tags, neutralizes, and helps destroy pathogenic microorganisms (eg, bacteria, viruses) or toxins. Antibodies, known generally as immunoglobulins, are made and secreted by B-lymphocytes in response to stimulation by antigens. Each specific antibody binds only to the specific antigen that stimulated its production.
T-cell
A white blood cell concerned with immunity. It does not produce antibodies.
Receptor
A molecule that recognizes a unique hormone. Once that hormone is bound to the receptor, the information carried by the hormone can now exert its biological action.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Hyperacidity
Excessive acidity.
Hyperacuity
Psychophysical tasks involving judgements of relative position that are about ten times finer than the separation of bars at the grating acuity limit.
Hyperacusis
Inordinate sensitivity to sounds; it may be on an emotional or an organic basis.
Hyperadreocorticism
Hyperadreocorticism refers to a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol.
Hyperbaric
Characterized by greater-than-normal pressure. Hyperbaric oxygen is a therapeutic treatment designed to increase blood oxygen by delivering oxygen in a chamber room with greater-than-normal pressure.
Hyperchromasia
Excessive pigmentation.
Hypercolumn
A set of columns in the primary visual cortex (V1) that contains columns responsive to lines of all orientations from a particular region of space and for both eyes.
Hypercomplex cells
A third category of striate cells identified by Hubel and Wiesel that have since been classified as subsets of simple and complex cells. They posses inhibitory zones at one or both ends of oriented excitatory regions, thereby responding to bars of preferred orientation only if they are not too long.
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Excessive morning sickness.
Hyperemia
increased blood flow; may cause dental sensitivity to temperature and sweets; may precede an abscess.
Hyperesthesia
Abnormal acuteness of sensitivity to touch, pain, or other sensory stimuli.
Hyperfractionation
An increased number of smaller dosage treatments of radiation therapy.
Hyperglicemia
A condition in which the blood sugar is higher than normal.
Hyperglycemia
Too high a level of glucose (sugar) in the blood; a sign that diabetes is out of control. Many things can cause hyperglycemia. It occurs when the body does not have enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it does have to turn glucose into energy. Signs of hyperglycemia are a great thirst, a dry mouth, and a need to urinate often. For people with Type 1 diabetes, hyperglycemia may lead to diabetic ketoacidosis.
Hyperglycemic
High blood sugar.
Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome
See Nonketotic Coma.
Hyperinsulinemia
The excess production of insulin. This is usually a consequence of insulin resistance in which the cells do not respond to insulin to reduce blood glucose levels.
Hyperinsulinism
Too high a level of insulin in the blood. This term most often refers to a condition in which the body produces too much insulin. Researchers believe that this condition may play a role in the development of noninsulin-dependent diabetes and in hypertension.
Hyperlipidemia
Too high a level of fats (lipids) in the blood.
Hypermobility syndrome
Syndrome of arthralgia associated with joint hypermobility.
Hyperopia
Hyperopia (or more rarely, hypermetropia), also known as farsightedness or longsightedness, is a defect of vision caused by an imperfection in the eye (often when the eyeball is too short), causing inability to focus on near objects, and in extreme cases causing a sufferer to be unable to focus on objects at any distance. As an object moves towards the eye, the eye must increase its power to keep the image on the retina.
Hyperorgasmia
The phenomenon of having an inordinate number of orgasms within a given period, as compared with a given criterion standard.
Hyperparathyroidism
Excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone from the parathyroid glands, which are situated alongside the thyroid gland in the throat, and which play a role in regulating the amount of calcium in blood and body tissues.
Hyperphilia
A condition or syndrome, variable in etiology and diagnosis, of being sexuoerotically above standard or inordinate, particularly with respect to some aspect of genital functioning prior to and at the acceptive phase. The condition of being supranormal in sexual and genital responsiveness or frequency.
Hyperphoria
A tendency for one eye to drift upward. A vertical type of muscle imbalance between the eyes.
Hyperpigmentation
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is an excessive skin darkening at places where the skin was inflamed.
Hyperplasia
An increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ, usually as a physiologic response to a stimulus.
Hypersensitivity
State of reactivity to antigen that is greater than normal for the antigenic challenge; hypersensitivity is the same as allergy and denotes a deleterious outcome rather than a protective one.
Hypersomnia
Excessive difficulty maintaining an alert awake state during the day, or undesired daytime sleep episodes. sleepiness, as evidenced by prolonged nocturnal sleep, ideas of reference The feeling that casual incidents and external events have a particular and unusual meaning that is specific to the person. This is to be distinguished from a delusion of reference, in which there is a belief that is held with delusional conviction
Hyperspadias
A congenital malformation or misplacement of the urethra as in hypospadias except that the position of the opening is on the upper or superior/dorsal surface of the penis.
Hyperstat
Hyperstat is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): diazoxide.
Hypertension
Higher blood pressure than normal. Diastolic blood pressure from 90 to 99 mm HG is considered mild hypertension; 100–109, moderate hypertension; and 110 or greater, severe hypertension. Systolic blood pressure from 140 to 159 mm HG is considered mild hypertension; 160–179, moderate hypertension; and 180 or greater, severe hypertension.
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
An arterial condition whose primary feature is chronically elevated blood pressure.
Hyperthermia
The treatment of cancers with heat.
Hyperthyroidism
Overproduction of thyroid hormone.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
In this condition, the muscle mass of the left ventricle enlarges or "hypertrophies."
Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM)
A bulge in the ventricle that causes impeded blood flow.
Hypertrophy
Over-development in size of an organ or of its constituent cells.
Hypertropia
A muscle imbalance in which one eye is straight and the other is turned upward.
Hyperventilation
Rapid or deep breathing producing faintness, numbness, chest pain, apprehension and tingling, and spasms of the extremities.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Hinge region
A flexible, open segment of an antibody molecule that allows bending of the molecule. The hinge region is located between Fab and Fc and is susceptible to enzymatic cleavage.
Histocompatibility
Literally, the ability of tissues to get along; in immunology, it means identity in all transplantation antigens. These antigens, in turn, are collectively referred to as histocompatibility antigens.
Humoral immunity
Any immune reaction that can be transferred with immune serum is termed humoral immunity (as opposed to cell-mediated immunity). In general, this term refers to resistance that results from the presence of specific antibody.
Hybridoma
A hybrid cell that results from the fusion of an antibody-secreting cell with a malignant cell; the progeny secrete antibody without stimulation and proliferate continuously both in vivo and in vitro.
Hypersensitivity
State of reactivity to antigen that is greater than normal for the antigenic challenge; hypersensitivity is the same as allergy and denotes a deleterious outcome rather than a protective one.
Hypervariable regions
Hallucinosis
A morbid condition, as in acute alcoholic hallucinosis, which is characterized by recurrent acute attacks marked by hallucinated auditory threats of persecution.
Haptic
Having to do with touch and the sense of touch. 2. Pertaining to the skin feelings and the sense of touch.
Hemisphere
As applied to the brain, either its left or its right half.
Hermaphroditism
Having genital attributes of both sexes. Some invertebrates are simultaneous hermaphrodites, and some fish are sequential hermaphrodites that change from male to female, or vice versa, once or more often in the course of a lifetime. In the human species, hermaphroditism is a form of birth defect, also known as intersexuality. It is defined as male or female hermaphroditism, if only testes or ovaries are present, respectively; as true hermaphroditism if both tissues are found as in ovotestes, and as gonadally dysgenic [dysgenetic?] when neither tissue is clearly differentiated. Human hermaphrodites do not have the complete sex organs of both sexes. A congenital condition of ambiguity of the reproductive structures so that the sex of the individual at birth is not clearly defined as exclusively male or exclusively female. The condition is named for Hermes and Aphrodite, the Greek god and goddess of love.
Heterogeneous
Dissimilar in type, and having different or opposing characteristics.
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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.
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