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Abdominal cramps: paroxysms of pain
Abnormality: congenital malformation of organs or parts
Abortion: the premature exit of the products of conception (the foetus, fetal membranes, and placenta) from the uterus
Abrasion: wearing away of the upper layer of skin as a result of applied friction force
Abscess: a local accumulation of pus anywhere in the body
Ache: an unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli and generally received by specialized nerve endings
Adrenal gland: paired glands situated in the retroperitoneal tissues at the superior pole of each kidney
Affective disorders: those disorders that have a disturbance in mood as their predominant feature.
After care: the care and treatment of a convalescent patient, especially that of a patient after surgery
Agoraphobia: obsessive, persistent, intense fear of open places
AIDS: disease due to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Alzheimer's disease: a progressive neurologic disease of the brain that leads to the irreversible loss of neurons and dementia
Ambulatory care: health care services provided to patients on an ambulatory basis, rather than by admission to a hospital or other health care facility
Amnesia: lack of memory
Amniotic fluid: the fluid bathing the foetus and serving as a shock absorber
Amputation: removal of part or all of a body part enclosed by skin
Anaemia: the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of haemoglobin in the blood
Anaesthetic: a substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness.
Aneurysm: a localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, vein, or the heart
Angina: chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle
Angioplasty: procedure with a balloon-tipped catheter to enlarge a narrowing in a coronary artery
Anorexia: an eating disorder characterized by markedly reduced appetite or total aversion to food
Anoxic injury, brain: a reduction in brain oxygen supply. Severe hypoxia is referred to as anoxia, and is a relatively common cause of injury to the central nervous system
Antenatal surgery: the surgical treatment of the foetus before birth
Antibiotic: a drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other micro-organisms
Anticoagulant: any agent used to prevent the formation of blood clots
Antidepressant: anything, and especially a drug, used to prevent or treat depression
Anxiety disorder: a chronic condition characterized by an excessive and persistent sense of apprehension with physical symptoms such as sweating, palpitations, and feelings of stress
Apgar score: a practical method of evaluating the physical condition of a newborn infant shortly after delivery
Appendicitis: inflammation of the appendix, the small worm-like projection from the first part of the colon
Arthritis: inflammation of a joint
Asbestosis: a condition featuring scarring of the lungs caused by inhaled asbestos fibres
Aspirin: a good example of a trade name that entered into the language, Aspirin was once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid
Asthma: a common disorder in which chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them swell, narrowing the airways
Attention deficit disorder: an inability to control behaviour due to difficulty in processing neural stimuli
Autopsy: post-mortem examination of the body
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