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Infection
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Infection Anything that invades the body and reproduces. Infections can be bacteria, protozoa, fungi, or viruses. Bacteria and fungi are one celled creatures that cause many infections including strep throat, bladder infections, and some lung infections. Fungi cause “athlete’s foot” and thrush, an infection in the mouth. Protozoa are small organisms with many cells that can cause infections in the guts or in the lungs. Most healthy people do not get protozoal infections, but people with suppressed immune systems can. Viruses are not really organisms; they are tiny particles that can live only inside another cell. They reproduce by taking over a cell and causing that cell to make more virus particles, rather than doing what the cell is supposed to do. Viruses cause most colds and flu cases.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Bacteria
Single-celled microorganisms which can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism for life).
Protozoa
Are microscopic animals that occur as single cells. Some protozoa can cause disease in humans. Protozoa form cysts, which are specialized cells like eggs that are very resistant to chlorine. Cysts can survive the disinfection process, then "hatch" into normal cells that can cause disease. Protozoa must be removed from drinking water by filtration, because they cannot be effectively killed by chlorine.
Fungi
Plural of fungus.
Bladder
A muscular triangular-shaped, hollow organ located in the pelvic cavity and supported by the pelvic floor muscles. The bladder stretches to store urine and contracts to release urine.
Thrush
Infection of the mucous membranes of the mouth by a fungus of the genus candida.
Infection
Anything that invades the body and reproduces. Infections can be bacteria, protozoa, fungi, or viruses. Bacteria and fungi are one celled creatures that cause many infections including strep throat, bladder infections, and some lung infections. Fungi cause “athlete’s foot” and thrush, an infection in the mouth. Protozoa are small organisms with many cells that can cause infections in the guts or in the lungs. Most healthy people do not get protozoal infections, but people with suppressed immune systems can. Viruses are not really organisms; they are tiny particles that can live only inside another cell. They reproduce by taking over a cell and causing that cell to make more virus particles, rather than doing what the cell is supposed to do. Viruses cause most colds and flu cases.
Lungs
The main respiratory organs in the chest where blood is oxygenated.
Immune
Resistant to a particular disease.
Cell
Fundamental structural unit of all life. The cell consists primarily of an outer plasma membrane, which separates it from the environment; the genetic material (DNA), which encodes heritable information for the maintainance of life; and the cytoplasm, a heterogeneous assemblage of ions, molecules, and fluid.
Virus
Ultramicroscopic infectious agent that replicates itself only within cells of living hosts; many are pathogenic; a piece of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) wrapped in a thin coat of protein.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Infectious disease
Disease caused by microbes that can be passed to or among humans. It occurs when cells or molecules in a person's body stop working properly, causing symptoms of illness. Many things can make someone more susceptible to disease, including altered genes, chemicals, aging, and infections.
Infectious Disease Team
A team of physicians and nurses who help control the hospital environment to protect you against harmful sources of infection.
Infed
Infed 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): iron dextran.
Infergen
Infergen 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): interferon alfacon-1.
Inferior
The anatomical term for "below". i.e. the neck is inferior to the head. Typically used in humans only. See Cranial/Caudal/Superior.
Inferior temporal cortex (IT)
Participates mainly in the acts of noticing and remembering an object's qualities. Cells do not have a retinotopic organization. Very large receptive fields. Virtually every cell's receptive field includes the foveal region. Receives input from V4. Some cells show a preferential response to such stimuli as hands or faces.
Inferior vena cava
The large blood vessel (vein) that returns blood from the legs and abdomen to the heart.
Infertility
The diminished or absent ability to conceive or produce an offspring while sterility is the complete inability to conceive or produce an offspring.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Infection
Inflammation
The nonspecific immune response that occurs in reaction to any type of bodily injury. It is a stereotyped response that is identical whether the injurious agent is a pathogenic organism, foreign body, ischemia, physical trauma, ionizing radiation, electrical energy or extremes of temperature. The reactions produced during inflammation and repair may be harmful (ie hypersensitivity reactions, the processes that lead to rheumatoid arthritis, and possibly microglial over activation in ALS).
Injury
Injury is damage or harm caused to the structure or function of the body caused by an outside agent or force, which may be physical or chemical.
Inhibitor
A substance that is added to another to prevent or slow down an unwanted reaction or change.
Immunofluorescence
Technique allowing the visualisation of a specific protein in cells or tissue sections (prepared from a biopsy) by binding a specific antibody conjugated to a fluorescent substrate.
Incision
A cut made with a sharp instrument through the skin or other tissue.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Bacteria
Single-celled microorganisms which can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism for life).
Protozoa
Are microscopic animals that occur as single cells. Some protozoa can cause disease in humans. Protozoa form cysts, which are specialized cells like eggs that are very resistant to chlorine. Cysts can survive the disinfection process, then "hatch" into normal cells that can cause disease. Protozoa must be removed from drinking water by filtration, because they cannot be effectively killed by chlorine.
Fungi
Plural of fungus.
Bladder
A muscular triangular-shaped, hollow organ located in the pelvic cavity and supported by the pelvic floor muscles. The bladder stretches to store urine and contracts to release urine.
Thrush
Infection of the mucous membranes of the mouth by a fungus of the genus candida.
Infection
Anything that invades the body and reproduces. Infections can be bacteria, protozoa, fungi, or viruses. Bacteria and fungi are one celled creatures that cause many infections including strep throat, bladder infections, and some lung infections. Fungi cause “athlete’s foot” and thrush, an infection in the mouth. Protozoa are small organisms with many cells that can cause infections in the guts or in the lungs. Most healthy people do not get protozoal infections, but people with suppressed immune systems can. Viruses are not really organisms; they are tiny particles that can live only inside another cell. They reproduce by taking over a cell and causing that cell to make more virus particles, rather than doing what the cell is supposed to do. Viruses cause most colds and flu cases.
Lungs
The main respiratory organs in the chest where blood is oxygenated.
Immune
Resistant to a particular disease.
Cell
Fundamental structural unit of all life. The cell consists primarily of an outer plasma membrane, which separates it from the environment; the genetic material (DNA), which encodes heritable information for the maintainance of life; and the cytoplasm, a heterogeneous assemblage of ions, molecules, and fluid.
Virus
Ultramicroscopic infectious agent that replicates itself only within cells of living hosts; many are pathogenic; a piece of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) wrapped in a thin coat of protein.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Infectious disease
Disease caused by microbes that can be passed to or among humans. It occurs when cells or molecules in a person's body stop working properly, causing symptoms of illness. Many things can make someone more susceptible to disease, including altered genes, chemicals, aging, and infections.
Infectious Disease Team
A team of physicians and nurses who help control the hospital environment to protect you against harmful sources of infection.
Infed
Infed 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): iron dextran.
Infergen
Infergen 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): interferon alfacon-1.
Inferior
The anatomical term for "below". i.e. the neck is inferior to the head. Typically used in humans only. See Cranial/Caudal/Superior.
Inferior temporal cortex (IT)
Participates mainly in the acts of noticing and remembering an object's qualities. Cells do not have a retinotopic organization. Very large receptive fields. Virtually every cell's receptive field includes the foveal region. Receives input from V4. Some cells show a preferential response to such stimuli as hands or faces.
Inferior vena cava
The large blood vessel (vein) that returns blood from the legs and abdomen to the heart.
Infertility
The diminished or absent ability to conceive or produce an offspring while sterility is the complete inability to conceive or produce an offspring.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Infection
Inflammation
The nonspecific immune response that occurs in reaction to any type of bodily injury. It is a stereotyped response that is identical whether the injurious agent is a pathogenic organism, foreign body, ischemia, physical trauma, ionizing radiation, electrical energy or extremes of temperature. The reactions produced during inflammation and repair may be harmful (ie hypersensitivity reactions, the processes that lead to rheumatoid arthritis, and possibly microglial over activation in ALS).
Injury
Injury is damage or harm caused to the structure or function of the body caused by an outside agent or force, which may be physical or chemical.
Inhibitor
A substance that is added to another to prevent or slow down an unwanted reaction or change.
Immunofluorescence
Technique allowing the visualisation of a specific protein in cells or tissue sections (prepared from a biopsy) by binding a specific antibody conjugated to a fluorescent substrate.
Incision
A cut made with a sharp instrument through the skin or other tissue.
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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.
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