About Us | Privacy | Site Map
June 18, 2013


Hypothyroidism Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Hypothyroidism article.

Antithyroglobulin: An antibody directed against thyroglobulin which is a key protein in th...

See the entire definition of Antithyroglobulin

Assay: An assay is an analysis done to determine:

  1. The presence of a substance an...

See the entire definition of Assay

Autoimmune: Pertaining to autoimmunity, a misdirected immune response that occurs when the...

See the entire definition of Autoimmune

Autoimmune disease: An illness that occurs when the body tissues are attacked by its own i...

See the entire definition of Autoimmune disease

Autoimmune thyroiditis: See: Hashimoto thyroiditis.

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

See the entire definition of Blood pressure

Cholesterol: The most common type of steroid in the body. Cholesterol has a reputation for...

See the entire definition of Cholesterol

Constipation: Infrequent and frequently incomplete bowel movements. Constipation is the op...

See the entire definition of Constipation

Depression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way...

See the entire definition of Depression

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

See the entire definition of Diagnosis

Dysfunction: Difficult function or abnormal function.

Endocrinology: The study of the medical aspects of hormones, including diseases and condit...

See the entire definition of Endocrinology

Enlarged thyroid: see goiter.

Eskalith: See: Lithium.

Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ...

See the entire definition of Fatigue back to top

Generic: 1. The chemical name of a drug. 2. A term referring to the chemical...

See the entire definition of Generic

Gland: A group of cells that secrete a substance for use in the body. For example, the thy...

See the entire definition of Gland

Goiter: A noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland. With a goiter, the levels of thyr...

See the entire definition of Goiter

Hair loss: Hair loss is the thinning of hair on the scalp. The medical term for hair loss ...

See the entire definition of Hair loss

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

See the entire definition of Heart

Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ...

See the entire definition of Heart disease

High blood pressure: A repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. Chro...

See the entire definition of High blood pressure

Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit...

See the entire definition of Hormone

Hypothalamus: The area of the brain that secretes substances that influence pituitary and ...

See the entire definition of Hypothalamus

Hypothyroid: Deficiency of thyroid hormone which is normally made by the thyroid gland wh...

See the entire definition of Hypothyroidism

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

See the entire definition of Immune system

Incidence: The frequency with which something, such as a disease or trait, appears in a pa...

See the entire definition of Incidence

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

See the entire definition of Inflammation

Iodine: An element in the diet that is essential for the manufacture of hormones by the th...

See the entire definition of Iodine back to top

Iodine deficiency: A lack of sufficient iodine in the diet, which can lead to inadequate p...

See the entire definition of Iodine deficiency

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

See the entire definition of Laboratory

Levothyroxine: A synthetic thyroid hormone used as a thyroid hormone replacement drug (bra...

See the entire definition of Levothyroxine

Lipid: Another word for "fat." (Please see the various meanings of Fat.) A lipid is more f...

See the entire definition of Lipid

Lithium: A naturally occurring salt that, in purified form, is used to treat certain psych...

See the entire definition of Lithium

Lithobid: See: Lithium.

Lymphocytic: Referring to lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. For example, lymphocyti...

See the entire definition of Lymphocytic

Memory: 1. The ability to recover information about past events or knowledge. ...

See the entire definition of Memory

Menstrual: Pertaining to menstruation (the menses), as in last menstrual period, menstrua...

See the entire definition of Menstrual

Metabolic: Relating to metabolism, the whole range of biochemical processes that occur wit...

See the entire definition of Metabolic

Metabolism: The whole range of biochemical processes that occur within a living organism. ...

See the entire definition of Metabolism

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

See the entire definition of Muscle

Normal range: Characteristic of 95 percent of values from a normal population. The remaini...

See the entire definition of Normal range

Pituitary: 1. As an adjective, pertaining to the pituitary gland or its hormonal se...

See the entire definition of Pituitary

Pituitary gland: The main endocrine gland. It is a small structure in the head. It is ca...

See the entire definition of Pituitary gland back to top

Postpartum: The period just after delivery, as with postpartum depression. Postpartum refe...

See the entire definition of Postpartum

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

See the entire definition of Pregnancy

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

See the entire definition of Prescription

Progressive: Increasing in scope or severity, advancing, or going forward. For example, a ...

See the entire definition of Progressive

Radioactive: Emitting energy waves due to decaying atomic nuclei. Radioactive substances a...

See the entire definition of Radioactive

Radioactive iodine: An isotope of the chemical element iodine that is radioactive. Radioa...

See the entire definition of Radioactive iodine

Recurrent: Appearing or occurring again. For example, a recurrent fever is a fever that ha...

See the entire definition of Recurrent

Subacute: Rather recent onset or somewhat rapid change. In contrast, acute indicates very ...

See the entire definition of Subacute

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

See the entire definition of Surgery

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 Thyroid

Thyroid gland: A gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, b...

See the entire definition of Thyroid gland

Thyroid hormone: A chemical substance made by the thyroid gland for export into the bloods...

See the entire definition of Thyroid hormone

Thyroid hormones: Chemical substances made by the thyroid gland, which is located in the...

See the entire definition of Thyroid hormones back to top

Thyroid stimulating hormone: A hormone produced by the pituitary gland at the base of the...

See the entire definition of Thyroid stimulating hormone

Thyroiditis: Inflammation of the thyroid gland which is located in front of the neck:

...

See the entire definition of Thyroiditis

Thyroxine: A hormone that is made by the thyroid gland and is one of the most important th...

See the entire definition of Thyroxine

Tongue: A strong muscle that is anchored to the floor of the mouth. The tongue is covered ...

See the entire definition of Tongue

Triiodothyronine: A hormone that is made by the thyroid gland. Triiodothyronine has three ...

See the entire definition of Triiodothyronine

TSH: Thyroid stimulating hormone.

Viral: Of or pertaining to a virus. For example, if a person has a viral rash, the rash wa...

See the entire definition of Viral back to top


Women's Health

Find out what women really need.

Please acknowledge your agreement





Medical Dictionary


Use Pill Finder Find it Now

Pill Identifier on RxList

  • quick, easy,
    pill identification

Find a Local Pharmacy

  • including 24 hour, pharmacies