Medical Glossary

This glossary contains:
19186
medical terms

Pericardial Cavity




Pericardial Cavity

The space between the epicardium and the outer layer of the pericardium. The cavity is normally filled with a small amount of clear fluid that reduces the friction between the two membranes.

RELATED TERMS
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Epicardium
The membrane that covers the outside of the heart.

Pericardium
The membrane that surrounds the heart.

Cavity
A hollow place or hole within the body.

Membranes
Also know as the bag of waters, this thin sac contains the amniotic fluid and the fetus. The membranes will either rupture spontaneously during labor or be ruptured to speed up labor.



SIMILAR TERMS
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Peri-Stimulus time histogram
Plot of the average number of action potentials at each moment in time following a brief test flash.

Periactin
Periactin 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): cyproheptadine hydrochloride.

Perianal
The area around the anus.

Periapical (PA)
Region at the end of the roots of teeth.

Peribronchial
Around the bronchus.

Pericardiocentesis
A diagnostic procedure that uses a needle to draw fluid from the pericardium.

Pericardiocentesis (pericardial tap)
An invasive procedure that involves using a needle and catheter to remove fluid from the sac around the heart. The fluid may then be sent to a laboratory for tests to look for signs of infection or cancer.

Pericarditis
Inflammation of the membrane that surrounds the heart.

Pericardium
The membrane that surrounds the heart.

Peridex
Peridex 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): chlorhexidine gluconate.

Perimenopause
Transition period of waning ovarian function that precedes menopause.

Perinatal
Referring to the period of time before, during, and immediately after birth.

Perinatal asphyxia
When a fetus or baby has too little oxygen in the blood before, during, or after birth.

Perinatal care
Care of an infant from immediately after birth through the first month of life.

Perinatalogist
Specializing in the care of women before, during, and after birth,perinatalogists treat and care for women with high-risk pregnancies.

Perineal
Related to the perineum.

Perineum
The region between the thighs, bounded by the anus and the scrotum or the vulva in, respectively, males and females. The region between the thighs, bounded by the anus and the scrotum or the vulva.

Periochip
Periochip 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): chlorhexidine gluconate.

Period effect
Designated period during the course of a trial in which subjects are observed and no treatment is administered.

Periodontal chart
Record measuring the depth of gum pockets around the teeth.

Periodontal Disease
Damage to the gums. People who have diabetes are more likely to have gum disease than people who do not have diabetes.

Periodontal surgery
Recontouring or esthetic management of diseased gum and supporting tissue.

PERIODONTAL SURGERY
Periodontal surgery is usually reserved for patients who have gum problems that cannot be addressed by more conservative treatment (See "Scaling and Root Planing"). One sign of periodontal problems is having excessively large pockets between the gum and the teeth (normal pocket depth is typically 3mm or less). Patients who have excessively deep pockets usually cannot keep these pockets free of the bacteria that causes gum disease and periodontal deterioration. There are various surgical techniques that a dentist or periodontist can use to reach the affected area and treat the disease. Surgery may consist of lifting the gum away so the plaque and bacteria can be more easily removed, the roots are scaled smooth and then the gum is laid back down in a position that should make it easier to clean. Sometimes surgery involves bone grafting and the use of membranes to help stabilize and make mobile teeth firm in the bone again. If there is extensive gum loss a gingival (gum) graft may be used from tissue elsewhere in the mouth. After surgery, a periodontal pack is placed over the surgical area and the tissues are allowed to heal. Antibiotics and a mild pain reliever may also be used to help combat infection and reduce swelling. After surgery, a program of good oral hygiene and proper home care will be established for the patient to help maintain the new healthy smile. Patient recall appointments with the hygienist will also be made in shorter intervals. In recent years some periodontal surgery has been performed with the use of soft tissue lasers (See "Lasers").

Periodontist
Dental specialist treating the gums and supporting soft and hard tissues retaining natural teeth and the surgical placement of dental implants.

Periodontitis
Inflammation of the tissues around the teeth.

Periogard
Periogard 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): chlorhexidine gluconate.

Periostat
Periostat 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): doxycycline hyclate.

Periosteum
The connective tissue covering the bones of the body.

Periostitis
Inflammation involving the periosteum. May result in new bone formation.

Peripheral
At or near the surface of the body. Located away from the center structure.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Damage or narrowing to the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to your arms, legs or organs.

Peripheral Intervention
An attempt to increase artery blood flow to a limb or organ by opening a narrowed area. A stent may be used to try to keep the artery open.

Peripheral nervous system
That portion of the nervous system which lies outside of the protective cranium and vertebral column (containing the brain and spinal cord of the central nervous system), and which consists of a musculo-skeletal and usually voluntary somatic nervous system and a visceral and usually involuntary autonomic nervous system.

Peripheral Neuropathy
Nerve damage, usually affecting the feet and legs; causing pain, numbness, or a tingling feeling. Also called "somatic neuropathy" or "distal sensory polyneuropathy." |See also: Neuropathy

Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
Disease in the large blood vessels of the arms, legs, and feet. People who have had diabetes for a long time may get this because major blood vessels in their arms, legs, and feet are blocked and these limbs do not receive enough blood. The signs of PVD are aching pains in the arms, legs, and feet (especially when walking) and foot sores that heal slowly. Although people with diabetes cannot always avoid PVD, doctors say they have a better chance of avoiding it if they take good care of their feet, do not smoke, and keep both their blood pressure and diabetes under good control.

Peripheral vision
Also called "side vision". That part of vision that detects objects outside of where we are directly focusing our eyes. When we look directly at something we are using the fovea - that part of our retina where there is a high density of cone photoreceptors and thus allows for detailed vision. The fovea is part of the macula - that part of our retina with mostly cone photoreceptors and used for day time vision. Outside of the macula is what is typically referred to as peripheral vision, and peripheral vision is dominated by the rod photoreceptors. Peripheral vision is used mainly for detecting objects and in directing where we should fixate our fovea or central vision. Peripheral vision is used mostly during the night. Without peripheral vision, we would have "tunnel vision". If a person has a significant loss of peripheral vision the person would be legally blind. See legal blindness.

Peristalsis
Wavelike contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

Peritoneal
Having to do with the peritoneum (the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in the abdomen).

Peritoneal Dialysis
A way to clean the blood of people who have kidney disease.

Peritoneum
Strong, smooth, colorless membrane that lines the walls of the abdomen and covers numerous body organs including the bladder.

Peritonitis
Infection of the peritoneum.

Perivascular
Surrounding a blood or lymph vessel.



PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS
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Papillary Muscles
Small muscles that are part of the inside walls of the ventricles and attach to the chordae tendineae.

Parietal Pericardium
The fibrous outer layer of the pericardium

Patency Rate
The likelihood that a vessel will remain open.

Patient Service Representative
Members of this department can address or direct questions concerning hospital policies and procedures, secure patient valuables and belongings, and provide notary service.

Penile Pulse Volume Recording
A procedure that tests the blood flow to the penis.

Pericardial Cavity

Pericardiocentesis (pericardial tap)
An invasive procedure that involves using a needle and catheter to remove fluid from the sac around the heart. The fluid may then be sent to a laboratory for tests to look for signs of infection or cancer.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Damage or narrowing to the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to your arms, legs or organs.

Peripheral Intervention
An attempt to increase artery blood flow to a limb or organ by opening a narrowed area. A stent may be used to try to keep the artery open.

Permanently Unconscious State
A condition of coma in which a patient is irreversibly unaware of himself and his environment, and has a total loss of higher brain functioning, resulting in no capacity to experience pain or suffering.

Persistent Vegetative State
Same as "permanently unconscious state."

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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.







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