Acromegaly Glossary of TermsThe following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Acromegaly article.
Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the... See the entire definition of AbdomenAbnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient. Acne: Localized skin inflammation as a result of overactivity of the oil glands at the ba... See the entire definition of AcneAcromegaly: Condition due to the production of too much growth hormone by the pituitary gl... See the entire definition of AcromegalyAdenoma: A benign tumor that arises in or resembles glandular tissue. If an adenoma become... See the entire definition of AdenomaAdjacent: Lying nearby. Related terms include superjacent, subjacent, and circumjacent. Fr... See the entire definition of AdjacentApnea: The absence of breathing (respiration). Arms: An appendage in anatomy and in clinical trials. See: Arm. Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, w... See the entire definition of ArthritisAtherosclerosis: A process of progressive thickening and hardening of the walls of medium-... See the entire definition of AtherosclerosisBack pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back. Causes of pain in the low and upper back in... See the entire definition of Back painBaseline: Information or data gathered at the beginning of a period from which variations ... See the entire definition of BaselineBenign: Not malignant. A benign tumor is one that does not invade surrounding tissue or sp... See the entire definition of BenignBioinformatics: The sum of the computational approaches to analyze, manage, and store biol... See the entire definition of BioinformaticsBlood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is... See the entire definition of Blood pressureBlood sugar: Blood glucose. See also: High blood sugar; Low blood sugar. Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func... See the entire definition of BrainBreathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ... See the entire definition of BreathingCancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ... See the entire definition of CancerCarpal tunnel syndrome: Compression and irritation of the median nerve as it passes under ... See the entire definition of Carpal tunnel syndromeCartilage: Firm, rubbery tissue that cushions bones at joints. A flexible kind of cartilag... See the entire definition of CartilageCell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c... See the entire definition of CellChest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t... See the entire definition of ChestChest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart... See the entire definition of Chest painCholesterol: The most common type of steroid in the body. Cholesterol has a reputation for... See the entire definition of CholesterolColon: The long, coiled, tubelike organ that removes water from digested food. The remaini... See the entire definition of ColonColon cancer: A malignant tumor arising from the inner wall of the large intestine (the co... See the entire definition of Colon cancerColonic: 1. See: Colonic (adjective). 2. See: Colonic (noun). Congestion: An abnormal or excessive accumulation of a body fluid. The term is used broadl... See the entire definition of CongestionCT scan: Computerized tomography scan. Pictures of structures within the body created by a... See the entire definition of CT scanDepression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way... See the entire definition of DepressionDiabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell... See the entire definition of DiabetesDiabetes mellitus: Better known just as "diabetes" -- a chronic disease associated with ab... See the entire definition of Diabetes mellitusDiagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ... See the entire definition of DiagnosisDopamine: An important neurotransmitter (messenger) in the brain. Endocrine: Pertaining to hormones and the glands that make and secrete them into the blood... See the entire definition of EndocrineEndocrinology: The study of the medical aspects of hormones, including diseases and condit... See the entire definition of EndocrinologyFatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ... See the entire definition of FatigueFats: Plural of the word "fat". See the definition of fat. FDA: Food and Drug Administration. Feedback: Many biologic processes are controlled by feedback, just as the temperature in a... See the entire definition of FeedbackFood and Drug Administration: An agency within the US Public Health Service that provides ... See the entire definition of Food and Drug AdministrationGastrointestinal: Adjective referring collectively to the stomach and small and large inte... See the entire definition of GastrointestinalGenetic: Having to do with genes and genetic Gigantism: Excessive growth both in height and specific body parts. Gigantism with extreme... See the entire definition of GigantismGland: A group of cells that secrete a substance for use in the body. For example, the thy... See the entire definition of GlandGlucose: The simple sugar that is the chief source of energy. Glucose is found in the bloo... See the entire definition of GlucoseGoiter: A noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland. With a goiter, the levels of thyr... See the entire definition of GoiterGrowth hormone: A hormone made in the pituitary gland that stimulates the release of anoth... See the entire definition of Growth hormoneHeadache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he... See the entire definition of HeadacheHeart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ... See the entire definition of HeartHeart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ... See the entire definition of Heart diseaseHeart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically... See the entire definition of Heart failureHeart rhythm disorders: Abnormal rhythm of the heartbeat due to irregularities in transmis... See the entire definition of Heart rhythm disordersHigh blood pressure: A repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. Chro... See the entire definition of High blood pressureHigh blood sugar: An elevated level of the sugar glucose in the blood. Also called hypergl... See the entire definition of High blood sugarHormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit... See the entire definition of HormoneHypothalamus: The area of the brain that secretes substances that influence pituitary and ... See the entire definition of HypothalamusImpotence: A common problem among men characterized by the consistent inability to sustai... See the entire definition of ImpotenceIncision: A cut through skin or other tissue performed by a health care professional. Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular ... See the entire definition of IndicateInformatics: The application of computers and statistics to the management of information.... See the entire definition of InformaticsInternal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ... See the entire definition of Internal medicineJaw: The movable junction of the bones below the mouth (the mandible) and the bone just ab... See the entire definition of JawJoint: The area where two bones are attached for the purpose of permitting body parts to m... See the entire definition of JointKidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid... See the entire definition of KidneyKyphosis: Outward curvature of the spine, causing a humped back. Treatment includes physic... See the entire definition of KyphosisLightheadedness: A feeling you are "going to faint." Lightheadedness is medically distinc... See the entire definition of LightheadednessLips: Aside from the lips of the mouth, there are two pairs of lips at the entrance to the... See the entire definition of LipsLiver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t... See the entire definition of LiverLung cancer: Cancer of the major organ of respiration - the lung. Lung cancer kills more m... See the entire definition of Lung cancerMenstrual: Pertaining to menstruation (the menses), as in last menstrual period, menstrua... See the entire definition of MenstrualMenstrual cycle: The monthly cycle of changes in the ovaries and the lining of the uteru... See the entire definition of Menstrual cycleMetabolism: The whole range of biochemical processes that occur within a living organism. ... See the entire definition of MetabolismMRI: Magnetic resonance imaging. Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T... See the entire definition of MuscleNasal: Having to do with the nose. Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in... See the entire definition of NauseaNeck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric... See the entire definition of NeckNerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an... See the entire definition of NerveNose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c... See the entire definition of NoseOnset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness as, for ex... See the entire definition of OnsetOperation: In medicine, a surgical procedure. Many operations are named after persons. The... See the entire definition of OperationOrgan: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special func... See the entire definition of OrganPain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa... See the entire definition of PainPalpitations: Unpleasant sensations of irregular and/or forceful beating of the heart. In ... See the entire definition of PalpitationsPancreas: A spongy, tube-shaped organ that is about 6 inches long and is located in the ba... See the entire definition of PancreasPelvis: The lower part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones. Structures in the fe... See the entire definition of PelvisPharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup... See the entire definition of PharmacyPituitary: 1. As an adjective, pertaining to the pituitary gland or its hormonal se... See the entire definition of PituitaryPituitary adenoma: A benign tumor of the pituitary, the master gland that controls other g... See the entire definition of Pituitary adenomaPituitary gland: The main endocrine gland. It is a small structure in the head. It is ca... See the entire definition of Pituitary glandPrecursor: Forerunner. That which precedes or is derived from an available source. Primary care: A patient's main source for regular medical care, ideally providing continui... See the entire definition of Primary carePrimary care provider: In insurance parlance, a physician who is chosen by or assigned to ... See the entire definition of Primary care providerProtein: One of the three nutrients used as energy sources (calories) by the body. Protein... See the entire definition of ProteinRadiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy ... See the entire definition of RadiationRadiation therapy: The use of high-energy rays to damage cancer cells, stopping them from ... See the entire definition of Radiation therapyRadiotherapy: The treatment of disease with ionizing radiation. Also called radiation ther... See the entire definition of RadiotherapyRandom: Determined solely by chance. Receptor: 1. In cell biology, a structure on the surface of a cell (or inside a cel... See the entire definition of ReceptorRegimen: A plan or a regulated course, such as a diet, exercise, or treatment, that is des... See the entire definition of RegimenRemission: Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer or other disease. A remission... See the entire definition of RemissionReproduction: The production of offspring. Reproduction need not be sexual; for example, y... See the entire definition of ReproductionScan: As a noun, the data or image obtained from the examination of organs or regions of... See the entire definition of ScanShortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ... See the entire definition of Shortness of breathSinus: 1. An air-filled cavity in a dense portion of a skull bone. The sinuses decr... See the entire definition of SinusSleep: The body's rest cycle. Sleep apnea: The temporary stoppage of breathing during sleep, often resulting in daytime ... See the entire definition of Sleep apneaSomatostatin: A hormone that is widely distributed throughout the body, especially in the ... See the entire definition of SomatostatinSpine: 1) The column of bone known as the vertebral column, which surrounds and protects ... See the entire definition of SpineStereotactic: Referring to precise positioning in three-dimensional space. For example, bi... See the entire definition of StereotacticStereotactic radiotherapy: Radiation therapy in which a number of precisely aimed beams o... See the entire definition of Stereotactic radiotherapyStress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact... See the entire definition of StressStroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood... See the entire definition of StrokeSurgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth... See the entire definition of SurgeonSurgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj... See the entire definition of SurgerySweating: The act of secreting fluid from the skin by the sweat (sudoriferous) glands. The... See the entire definition of SweatingSyndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process. Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment. Thyroid: 1. The thyroid gland. Also, pertaining to the thyroid gland. 2. A p... See the entire definition of ThyroidThyroid gland: A gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, b... See the entire definition of Thyroid glandTongue: A strong muscle that is anchored to the floor of the mouth. The tongue is covered ... See the entire definition of TongueTriglycerides: The major form of fat stored by the body. A triglyceride consists of three ... See the entire definition of TriglyceridesTumor: An abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors are a classic sign of inflammation, and can be ... See the entire definition of Tumor
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