P

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Pacemaker: an electronic device used to regulate the beating of the heart

Palate: roof of the mouth

Palliative treatment: treatment which aims to relieve symptoms of a condition as opposed to curing it.

Palpation: examination of the body by feeling with the hands or fingertips

Palsy: derived from the word paralysis. Describes loss of sensation and/or uncontrolled movements

Pancreas: a gland located behind the stomach. It produces digestive juices, insulin and other hormones involved in digestion

Paraplegia: paralysis of the legs and lower body. Often associated with spinal cord injury

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: inflammation of the female uterus, fallopian tubes and/or ovaries usually due to infection

Perforation: a hole in an organ or body structure

Placenta: an organ linking the blood of the mother and the foetus during pregnancy. It allows the exchange of oxygen, nutrients and waste products whilst keeping the two blood systems separated by thin membranes so that they are not in direct contact

Placental abruption: the premature detachment of the placenta from the wall of the uterus. It is usually associated with heavy bleeding

Placental insufficiency: a complication in pregnancy which results in the placenta failing to deliver nutrients to the foetus and remove toxic wastes

Pneumonia: inflammation of the lungs usually caused by infection

Post mortem: examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death

Postnatal: describes events after childbirth

Post traumatic stress disorder: a psychological condition usually associated with having experienced a frightening or distressing event

Pre-eclampsia: a disorder in pregnancy which is characterised by the mother experiencing high blood pressure and the presence of protein in her urine

Premature labour: labour that commences before 37 weeks into a pregnancy

Premature rupture of membranes: when the sac of fluid surrounding the foetus during pregnancy breaks

Prenatal testing: tests performed during pregnancy to prevent or diagnose abnormalities

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