Terms
Chancroid
-
A venereal disease caused by a hemophilic bacterium
(Hemophilus ducreyi) and characterized by
chancres that lack firm indurated margins, unlike
those of syphilis.
Gonorrhea
-
A contagious inflammation of the genital mucous membrane
caused by gonococcus--called also the clap.
Asymptomatic
-
Presenting no symptoms of disease.
Etiology
-
All of the causes of a disease or abnormal condition
Diplococcus
-
Any of various encapsulated bacteria (as Streptococcus
pneumoniae, a common cause of pneumonia) that usually
occur in pairs and that were formerly grouped in a
single taxon (genus Diplococcus) but are now all
assigned to other genera.
Aerobe
-
An organism (as a bacterium) that lives only in the
presence of oxygen.
Plasmid
-
An extrachromosomal ring of DNA, especially of bacteria,
that replicates autonomously.
Beta-lactamase
-
lactam, a cyclic amide
Penicillin
-
Any of several relatively nontoxic antibiotic acids of
the general constitution
C9H11N2O4SR
that are produced by molds (genus Penicillium and
especially P. notatum or P. chrysogenum) or
synthetically, and are used especially against cocci;
also: a mixture of such acids.
Cerebrospinal
-
Of or relating to the brain and spinal cord or to these
together with the spinal nerves that innervate voluntary
muscles.
Cerebrospinal fluid
-
A liquid comparable to serum, secreted from the blood
into the lateral ventricles of the brain, which serves
chiefly to maintain uniform pressure within the brain
and spinal cord.
Urogenital (Orogenital)
-
Of, relating to, or being the organs or functions of
excretion and reproduction. (Orogenital is of, relating
to, or being the organs of the mouth and the organs of
functions of excretion and reproduction.)
Perinatal
-
Occurring in, concerned with, or being in the period
around the time of birth.
Epithelium
-
A membranous cellular tissue that covers a free surface
or lines a tube or cavity of an animal body and serves
especially to enclose and protect the other parts of the
body, to produce secretions and excretions, and to
function in assimilation.
Mucous membrane
-
A membrane rich in mucous glands; specifically one that
lines body passages and cavities that communicate
directly or indirectly with the exterior.
Pilus
-
A hair or a structure (as of a bacterium) resembling a
hair.
Cilium
-
A minute short hairlike process often forming part of a
fringe; especially one on a cell capable of lashing
movement that serves in free unicellular organisms to
produce locomotion, or that forms a current of fluid in
higher organisms.
Toxin
-
A poisonous substance that is a specific product of the
metabolic activities of a living organism and is usually
very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the
tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody
formation.
Purulent
-
Containing, consisting of, or being pus (as in, a
purulent discharge).
Pus
-
Thick opaque usually yellowish white fluid matter formed
by suppuration and composed of exudate containing white
blood cells, tissue debris, and microorganisms.
Lumen
-
The cavity of a tubular organ, as in the lumen of a
blood vessel.
Urethra
-
The canal that in most mammals carries off the urine
from the bladder. In the male it serves also as a
genital duct.
Prostatitis
-
Inflammation of the prostate gland.
Prostate gland
-
A firm partly muscular partly glandular body situated
about the base of the mammalian male urethra. It
secretes an alkaline viscid fluid, a major constituent
of the ejaculatory fluid.
Lymphocyte
-
The colorless weakly motile cells that originate from
stem cells, differentiate in lymphoid tissue (as of the
thymus or bone marrow) and are the typical cellular
elements of lymph. Lymphocytes include the cellular
mediators of immunity, and constitute 20 to 30 percent
of the white blood cells of normal human blood.
Epididymitis
-
Inflammation of the epididymis.
Epididymis
-
A system of ductules emerging posteriorly from the
testis that holds sperm during maturation. The
epididymis forms a tangled mass before uniting into a
single coiled duct continuous with the vas deferens.
Uterus
-
An organ of the female mammal for containing and
nourishing young during development previous to birth.
Also called the womb.
Cervix
-
The narrow outer end of the uterus. The endocervical
canal is the space that follows into the uterus.
Labium
-
Any of the folds at the margin of the vulva.
Vulva
-
The external parts of the female genital organs.
Hepatitis
-
Inflammation of the liver.
Vaginitis
-
Inflammation of the vagina.
Urethritis
-
Inflammation of the urethra.
Infertility
-
The condition of not being fertile or productive.
Rectum
-
The terminal part of the intestine from the sigmoid
flexure to the anus. Anorectal refers to the area just
around the anus.
Pharynx
-
The part of the vertebrate alimentary canal between the
cavity of the mouth and the esophagus.
Conjunctivitis
-
Inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the
mucous membrane that lines the inner surface of the
eyelids and continues over the forepart of the eyeball.
Disseminate
-
To disperse throughout.
Arthritis
-
Inflammation of joints due to infectious, metabolic, or
constitutional causes.
Lesion
-
An abnormal change in structure of an organ or part due
to injury or disease; especially an injury that is
circumscribed and well defined.
Endocarditis
-
Inflammation of the lining of the heart and its valves.
Meningitis
-
Inflammation of the meninges and especially of the pia
mater and the arachnoid.
Sepsis
-
A toxic condition resulting from the spread of bacteria
or their products, often a focus of infection.
Chlamydia
-
Any of a genus (Chlamydia, family Chlamydiaceae) of
spherical gram-negative intracellular bacteria;
especially one (C. trachomatis) that causes or is
associated with various diseases of the eye
andurogenital tract including trachoma, lymphogranuloma
venereum, cervicitis, and some forms of urethritis.
Incubation period
-
The period between the infection of an individual by a
pathogen and the manifestation of the disease it causes.
Ectopic pregnancy
-
Gestation elsewhere than in the uterus (as in a
fallopian tube or in the cavity).
Ulcer
-
A break in skin or mucous membrane with loss of surface
tissue, disintegration and necrosis of epithelial
tissue, and often pus.
Fistula
-
An abnormal passage leading from an abscess or hollow
organ to the body surface or from one hollow organ to
another and permitting passage of fluids or secretions
Syphilis
-
A chronic contagious usually venereal and often
congenital disease caused by a spirochete (Treponema
pallidum). If left untreated, Syphilis produces
chancres, rashes, and systemic lesions.
Electron microscope
-
An electron-optical instrument in which a beam of
electrons focused by means of an electron lens is used
to produce an enlarged image of a minute object on a
fluorescent screen or photographic plate.
Gumma
-
A tumor of gummy or rubbery consistency that is
characteristic of the tertiary stage of syphilis.
Cardiovascular
-
Of, relating to, or involving the heart and blood
vessels.
Neurosyphilis
-
Syphilis of the neurologic system, characteristic of the
tertiary stage of syphilis.
Anemia
-
A condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood
cells, in hemoglobin, or in total volume.
Antibiotic
-
A substance produced by, or a semisynthetic substance
derived from, a microorganism and able in dilute
solution to inhibit or kill another microorganism.
Intracellular
-
Existing, occurring, or functioning within a cell.
Bacterium
-
Any of a group (as kingdom Procaryotae syn. Monera) of
prokaryotic unicellular round, spiral, or rod-shaped
single-celled microorganisms that are often aggregated
into colonies or motile by means of flagella, which live
in soil, water, organic matter, or the bodies of plants
and animals, and that are autotrophic, saprophytic, or
parasitic in nutrition, and important because of their
biochemical effects and pathogenicity.
Parasite
-
An organism living in, with, or on another organism in
parasitism.
Eukaryotic
-
An organism composed of one or more cells containing
visibly evident nuclei and organelles.
DNA
-
Any of various nucleic acids that are usually the
molecular basis of heredity, are localized especially in
cell nuclei, and are constructed of a double helix held
together by hydrogen bonds between purine and pyrimidine
bases which project inward from two chains containing
alternate links of deoxyribose and phosphate. Read more
about DNA in the SparkNote on Molecular
Genetics.
RNA
-
Any of various nucleic acids that contain ribose and
uracil as structural components and are associated with
the control of cellular chemical activities.
Serotype
-
A group of intimately-related microorganisms
distinguished by a common set of antigens.
Cervicitis
-
Inflammation of the cervix.
Inguinal
-
Of, relating to, or situated in the region of the groin
or in either of the lowest lateral regions of the
abdomen.
Placenta
-
The vascular organ in mammals except monotremes and
marsupials that unites the fetus to the maternal uterus
and mediates its metabolic exchanges through a more or
less intimate association of uterine mucosa with
chorionic and usually allantoic tissues.
Indurate
-
To harden.
Liver
-
A large very vascular glandular organ of vertebrates
that secretes bile and causes important changes in many
of the substances contained in the blood (as by
converting sugars into glycogen which it stores up until
required and by forming urea).
Spleen
-
A highly vascular ductless organ located in the left
abdominal region near the stomach or intestine of most
vertebrates concerned with final destruction of red
blood cells, filtration and storage of blood, and
production of lymphocytes
Oral
-
Of, given through, or involving the mouth.
Granulomatous
-
A mass or nodule of chronically inflamed tissue with
granulations that is usually associated with an
infective process.
Neuritis
-
An inflammatory or degenerative lesion of a nerve marked
especially by pain, sensory disturbances, and impaired
or lost reflexes. Optic neuritis is neuritis of the
optic nerve.
Stillbirth
-
The birth of a dead fetus.
In vitro
-
Outside the living body and in an artificial
environment.
Gram-negative
-
Not containing the purple dye when stained by Gram's
stain--used chiefly of bacteria.
Gram-positive
-
Containing the purple dye when stained by Gram's stain--
used chiefly of bacteria
Exude
-
To ooze out.
Fungi
-
Any of a major group (Fungi) of saprophytic and
parasiticspore-producing organisms usually classified as
plants that include molds, rusts, mildews, smuts,
mushrooms, and yeasts.
Protozoan
-
Any of a phylum or subkingdom (Protozoa) of chiefly
motile and heterotrophic unicellular protists (as
amoebas, trypanosomes, sporozoans, and paramecia) that
are represented in almost every kind of habitat and
include some pathogenic parasites of humans and domestic
animals.
Helminth
-
A parasitic worm (as a tapeworm, liver fluke, ascarid,
or leech); especially an intestinal worm.
Virus
-
Any of a large group of submicroscopic infective agents
regarded either as extremely simple microorganisms or as
extremely complex molecules. Viruses typically contain
a protein coat surrounding an RNA or DNA core of genetic
material but no semipermeable membrane, are capable of
growth and multiplication only in living cells, and
cause various important diseases in humans, lower
animals, and plants.
Extracellular
-
Situated or occurring outside a cell or the cells of the
body.
Epidemiology
-
The study of a disease within a population.
