Medical Terminology Glossary: [M]
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]M1 Early stage of distant spread of a malignant tumour.
Maceration Softening of tissues after death from sterile autodigestion by enzymes.
Maceration Softening of dead tissue without infection (with = putrefaction).
Macrocephaly Pathologically increased size of brain, and therefore skull.
Macrophage A type of white blood cell which engulfs particulate foreign-material, including living or dead bacteria.
Macrosomia Pathological fetal overnutrition.
Macula The part of the retina serving central vision.
Magnesium Sulphate A traditional means of stopping premature labour.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) The depiction of detailed internal anatomy by exploiting the interaction of the magnetic properties of atoms with an external magnetic field.
Malignant Having the properties of local, destructive invasion of tissue, and metastasis.
Malleus The outermost of three tiny bones, connecting the eardrum to the vibration-sensitive structures of the inner ear and thereby amplifying and transmitting sound waves.
Mallory Weiss Syndrome Vomiting of blood from a tear in the lining of the stomach at the cardio-esophageal junction, caused by forceful vomiting.
Mammography Xray imaging of the breast.
Mammoplasty, Reduction Surgical removal of breast tissue for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes.
Marginal Spurring Irregularity of the corners of vertebral bodies, an early sign of degenerative spondylosis or wearing of the spine.
Mastectomy Surgical removal of the breast.
Mastodynia Pain in the breast(s).
Mastoidectomy Hollowing out by breaking down the bony partitions of the mastoid cavity located in the skull behind the ear.
Mastopathia Disease of breasts.
Maxilla Upper jawbone.
McBurney's Point An anatomical landmark in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen over the usual site of the appendix.
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) The estimated average size of red blood cells, reflecting the adequacy of supply of various nutrients such as iron and folic acid, and characteristically raised in current alcohol abuse.
Meckel's Diverticulum A pouch arising from the last part of the ileum, representing a remains of a connection between umbilicus and bowel in the embryo.
Meconium The black stool in the fetal bowel, discharged into the amniotic fluid during periods of oxygen lack.
Medial Compartment The inner of the two joint areas between the thigh-bone (femur) and shin-bone (tibia).
Medial Meniscus The cartilage lining the inner upper end of the shin-bone (tibia).
Medial Towards the midline of the body.
Medulla (oblongata) Lowest part of the brain-stem, located just above the spinal cord, at the exit from the skull, and containing centres for vital functions.
Meiosis Constriction of the pupil of the eye.
Membranes Amnion and chorion, the inner and outer sheets of tissue surrounding the developing fetus.
Meningitis Inflammation of the lining membranes of the brain and spinal cord.
Meniscectomy Surgical removal of part or all of a cartilage.
Meniscectomy Surgical removal of all or part of a meniscus.
Meniscus A crescentic cartilage (gristle) lying on either side (medial and lateral) of the upper end of the tibia (shin bone), cushioning the joint with the femur (thigh bone).
Menorrhagia Abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding.
Menorrhagia Pathologically increased regular menstrual bleeding.
Mesentery Fold of (visceral) peritoneum attaching, suspending and providing blood- and nerve-supply to, an abdominal or pelvic organ
Mesovarium A fold of the inner lining of the pelvis in the region of the ovary.
Meta-Analysis Quantitative statistical analysis that is applied to separate but similar experiments of different and usually independent researchers and that involves pooling the data and using the pooled data to test the effectiveness of the results.Metaphysis Main section, between the growth- or epiphyseal-plates towards each end, of a long bone.
Metabolic Encephalopathy Disturbance of functioning of the higher brain centres caused by pathological disturbances in blood chemistry.
Metacarpal Bone of the hand.
Metamyelocyte An intermediate stage in the development of a mature white blood cell.
Metaphysis Main section, between the growth- or epiphyseal-plates towards each end, of a long bone.
Metaplasia, Squamous A change in the microscopic appearance of lining membrane from the normal glandular or mucus-producing architecture to flat, skin-like cells, often as a result of chronic irritation.
Metastases Malignant ("cancerous") deposits from cells which have spread through lymphatic channels and blood vessels to parts of the body remote from the original malignancy.
Metastatic, of Disease Process Spread to different parts of the body.
Metastatis Spread from a primary site of disease to distant parts of the body.
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus A bacterial germ capable of causing serious or life-threatening infection, and with limited therapeutic options.
Methicillin An antibiotic of the Penicillin class previously effective against most Penicillin (G)-resistant bacteria.
Micro-organism Living creature visible only under the microscope.
Microangiopathy Diffuse disease of the capillaries.
Micrognathia Abnormally small (lower) jaw.
Microscopy, Urine Microscopic examination of the sediment of a drop of urine.
Middle Ear The cavity within the ear-drum, containing the ear ossicles and leading to the eustachian tube.
Middle Cerebral Artery One of three sets of paired arteries supplying oxygen-rich blood to the cerebral hemispheres and originating from the Circle Of Willis near the termination of the internal carotid artery.
Midtrimester The middle three months of pregnancy.
Migraine, Classical Migraine which is usually preceded by an aura, commonly visual or other neurological symptoms which relieve with the onset of the headache.
Missed Abortion Death of an embryo or nonviable fetus with retention in the uterus, and sometimes no vaginal bleeding.
Mitochondria Specialised parts (organelles), which are located in the cytoplasm of cells, and which generate energy through respiration of the cell.
Mitral Regurgitation Backflow of oxygen-rich blood from the larger and more muscular left ventricle back into the smaller left atrium of the heart (and thus to the lungs) because of malfunctioning of the mitral valve due to pathological distortion of one or more of its components.
Mitral Valve The two-leaflet valve preventing flow of oxygen-rich blood from the larger and more muscular left ventricle back into the smaller left atrium of the heart (and thus to the lungs).
Modified Radical Mastectomy Surgical removal of the entire breast including the nipple, areola, and overlying skin, as well as the armpit lymphnodes but sparing the pectoral muscles.
Molding Change in shape of the fetal skull during labour, in response to a tight fit in the bony pelvis.
Monilia A type of yeast commonly colonising the lower bowel, and a cause of genital infection in adults and mouth infection ("thrush") in infants.
Morbid Obesity Obesity sufficient to prevent normal activity or physiological functioning or to cause a pathological condition; Body Mass greater than 40 kg/m2 (where m = height in metres; formula for pounds and inches = weight in lb x 700/square of the height in inches).
Moro Reflex A newborn response to startle, comprising (forward) flexion of the neck and flexion of the arms as if in a hug: it may be lost in neurological disorders or overwhelming illness.
Morphology (of Blood Cells) Microscopic characteristics.
Motor Pertaining to movement.
Mottling Patchy discolouration of the skin, caused by compromised blood circulation.
Mucosa Membrane consisting of mucus-producing cells, typically found lining the body orifices, stomach and bowel.
Mucous Membrane Membrane consisting of mucus-producing cells, typically found lining the body orifices, stomach and bowel.
Mucous Fistula Surgical opening of a nonfunctioning segment of bowel to allow the drainage of natural secretions including mucus.
Multi-Organ System Failure Simultaneous or sequential disruption of functioning of the life-supporting internal organs.
Multigravid Pregnant for the second or subsequent time.
Multiloculated Having many compartments.
Multiple Pregnancy The presence of two or more fetuses.
Murmur Abnormal sound heard during auscultation of the heart and caused by turbulent flow of blood.
Muscle Wasting Loss of muscle bulk because of disuse or pathological process.
Musculoskeletal Pertaining to the muscles and bony skeleton.
Myelogenous (or Myeloid) Immature White Blood Cell of the granulocyte type.
Myelography Radiographic imaging of the spinal canal and its contained spinal cord after injection into the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the cord of a dye opaque to xrays.
Myocardial Infarction Permanent damage to heart muscle, caused by prolonged interruption of its blood-supply, usually by blockage of a coronary artery.
Myocarditis Inflammation of heart-muscle.
Myofascial Pain Pain characterised by the presence of hypersensitive points, called trigger points, within one or more muscles and/or the investing connective tissue.
Myoglobinuria Pathological presence of oxygen-carrying pigment from muscle in the urine; the significance is that it originates from damaged muscle and may damage the kidney.
Myometrium The muscle of the uterus.
Myopathy A disorder of muscles.
Myotomy Surgical cutting of muscle, for therapeutic purposes.
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