Glossary Of Medical Terms If you are unable to locate a word please consult Blacks Medical or a good Nursing Dictionary. - A - acanthoses       : A thickening of the skin acetone            : Acid produced by bacterial fermentation. acid                 : A substance that donates protons of H ions. adrenal             : Two small organs located in kidneys, producing adrenaline,                          a stimulant of nervous system and blood pressure alkalis              : Neutralises acid. Usually Oxides and Carbonates of metals ammonia          : Pungent gas, given off my Carbonate of ammonia, urine,                          Powerful stimulant internally. A weak pain reliever for the skin. anti-mitotic       : Halting the reproductive divisions of cells anti-bodies        : Substance in blood which destroys antigens. antibiotics         : Antibacterial agent, e.g. penicillin antigen             : Substance that causes recruitment of antibodies (see antibiotics) A protein foreign to the body. antihistamines   : Drugs which antagonise the action of histamine.                          (Constrictor of bronchi) Used to treat rashes. Drowsiness side affect. antipuritic         : A substance used to reduce inflammation anaphylactic     : A condition of excessive sensitiveness, caused by injection of foreign                             material into body. E.g. Nettle rash causing eruption, inflammation, pain. aqueous           : Water based, watery. areolae             : Red ring around inflammation. ascorbic           : Vitamin found in fruit asthma             : A disorder of breathing causing constriction of airways atrophy            : A state of wasting, due to interference of healthy nutrition, by interruption of blood supply. - B - benefactors       : Persons who gain the greatest from a treatment blisters              : Chronic inflammation, causing congestion of foreign materials below the skin. bullae                : Another name for blister - C - chloride             : Of chlorine a greenish gas with pungent smell.. Highly poisonous to all bacteria. cholesterol         : Waxy material derived from organic tissues.                            Essential for production of sex hormones and repair of membranes chrome             : Substance containing the element Chromium, found in pigments collagen            : Abundant protein, exists as fibres in tendons, heart. complacency     : Not worrying, showing disapproval conservative      : (Medical) Treatment involving minimum of interference by practitioner. constituents       : One of the elements something is made from copulation         : Sexual intercourse between humans. corticosteroids   : Hormones, used to reduce allergens in body, suppresses adrenaline production. cutaenous          : Belonging to the skin cystic                : Closed cavity, lined by abnormal tissues and liquids - D - degradation         : Change in structure of a tissue, where vitality is lowered. depigmentation    : Reduction in the colouring of the skin derivatives          : Something developed from soething else detriment            : Harmfull diagnosis            : Distinguishing one disease from another essentially for correct treatment - E - eccrine                : Secretion of the sweat gland electromagnetic    : electricity caused by magnetic current elicitation             : A response or a reaction erythremous         : Condition where skin becomes congested with blood, causing redness and eruption. ethyl  chloride       : A volatile liquid, Freezes area applied to. Reduces pain. exacerbate            : Make it worse excoriation           : Destruction of small pieces of the surface of skin exclusion             : Prevention, leave out extrinsic              : Originating outside the body.  exudation             : Process where constituents of blood pass slowly through walls of  small vessels in the                             course of inflammation, and the accumulation  resulting from this process. - F - fissuring             : Clefts of normal anatomical structure follicles               : A very small sac or gland, depression folliculitis            : Inflamation of the follicules - G - gangrene             : Death of part of body. genetics              : Study of the origin of characteristics of an individual glochids              : Small spines - H - hives                  : Scottish for urtricaria hydrophobic        : Repulsion of water. hyperkeratosis     : Excessive thickening of epidermis  hypnotise            : A condition of altered attention. Increased  when suggestibility ypnotised.                            Children more easily hypnotised hyposensitisation : To repeat and increase doses of allergen to induce immunity to that allergen hypertension       : High blood pressure. - I - idiosyncrasy         :  Unusual habits immunisation        :  The introduction of antigens into a body to produce immunity impediment           :  Making movement difficult impermeable          : Will not allow fluid to pass through implement             : To carry out a plan immunological       : The study of immunity and response to antigens. incentive               : Encourage to do something inherent                :  Characteristics passed on by genes inhibiting              :  To slow down - L - lactic                  : Colourless acid, produced by bacteria on lactose. Present in muscles. laryngeal             : Pertaining to larynx in throat lesions                : An injury or disease leukaemia            : Disease of blood causing changes to bone marrow, by enlarging                              lymph glands.  Common in older people. lichenification      : Chronic skin disease characterised by thickening                             of skin and formation of papules, Causes severe itching. lymphocytes        :White blood corpsule produced by lymph glands. They produce antibodies. - M - macerated           : Softening of solid by soaking in fluid malignant            : A serious disorder, grow rapidly infiltrating healthy tissues. Leads to death melanin               : Dark pigment found in skin and hair. Morbilliform        : Disease of skin resembling measels - O - oedema              : Abnormal accumulation of fluid under skin, or cavities. onycholysis        : Separation of nail from nail-bed osteolysis           : Affecting the bone? - P - pallor                 : Paleness of skin, caused by flow of blood  in normal pigments, caused by shock papillary             : Resembling a papilla, a nipple like protrusion papules              : A pimple phototoxic          :Toxic condition caused by action of light on an antigen. pigment              : Colouring of secretions and skin. pollens               : Microspores formed by flowering plants. populous            : Many in number poultice              : Moist application to skin, to soothe, soften, increases circulation precursor           : Something that precedes , produces or develops into another skin. predicament        : In a difficult situation predispose          : If something makes you think in a certain way, you may act in that way proteins              : Nitrogenous substances, essential for cell growth. pruritus              : Itching punctum            : To make a hole, to prick, a small orifice pustulation          : Collection of puss under skin. puberty      : Passage of child into adulthood.Characterised by increase in hormones, hairs and sexual organs. - R - reticular               : Resembling a reticulum: A fine mesh of fibres. rhinitus                : Inflammation of mucous in the nose. rudimentary         : An underdeveloped organ. - S - saponifying         : scabies               : A skin disease caused by mites scaratiniform      : Many breaks, punctures, scratches spicule               : Thorns striaee                : Stretched skin subcutaneous      : Anything pertaining to loose cellular tissue beneath skin salicylic              : antiseptic acid, used to treat skin infections synthesis            :  Production of something - T - trauma               : Extremelly stressfull experience trichomes           : Spines on plant - U - ulceration           : Breach of skin surface, causing loss of tissue. utricia                : Disorder of the skin, irritation, swelling caused by Nettle.   - V - vesicles             : Small collection of fluid in the epidermis viscid                     :           Dermatitis In the Horticulture Industry By James M. Burton In Association With Pencoed College Copyright 1997.