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B GlossaryA | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | MN | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z balloon valvuloplasty - Plastic surgery to repair a valve, especially a heart valve. barium - A chalky liquid used to coat the inside of organs so that they will show up on an x-ray. barium enema with x-ray - Lower GI series. An X-ray examination of the large intestines. X-rays are taken after rectal instillation of barium sulfate. barium meal - Upper GI series. X-rays of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The patient swallows barium first. Barium makes the organs show up on x-rays. barrett's esophagus - Peptic ulcer of the lower esophagus. It is caused by the presence of cells that normally stay in the stomach lining. basal body temperature - Temperature of a person's body taken first thing in the morning after several hours of sleep and before any activity, including getting out of bed or talking; often charted to determine the time of ovulation. basal ganglia - Several large clusters of nerve cells, including the striatum and the substantia nigra, deep in the brain below the cerebral hemispheres. belching - Noisy release of gas from the stomach through the mouth. Also called burping. bell’s palsy - An unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis that begins suddenly and steadily worsens. benign - Mild disease or condition that is not life threatening. benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - An enlargement of the prostate caused by disease or inflammation. It is not cancer, but its symptoms are often similar to those of prostate cancer. benign tumor - An abnormal growth that is not cancer and does not spread to other areas of the body. bereavement – To be in a sad or lonely state due to a loss or death. bernstein test - A test to find out if heartburn is caused by acid in the esophagus. The test involves dripping a mild acid, similar to stomach acid, through a tube placed in the esophagus. beta blocker - An antihypertensive medication that limits the activity of epinephrine (a hormone that increases blood pressure). bezoar - A ball of food, mucus, vegetable fiber, hair, or other material that cannot be digested in the stomach. Bezoars can cause blockage, ulcers, and bleeding. bile - Fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile helps break down fats and gets rid of wastes in the body. bile acids - Acids made by the liver that work with bile to break down fats. bile ducts - Tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder for storage and to the small intestine for use in digestion. biliary atresia - A condition present from birth in which the bile ducts inside or outside the liver do not have normal openings. Bile becomes trapped in the liver, causing jaundice and cirrhosis. Without surgery the condition may cause death. biliary stricture - A narrowing of the biliary tract from scar tissue. The scar tissue may result from injury, disease, pancreatitis, infection, or gallstones. See also stricture. biliary system/tract - The gallbladder and the bile ducts. Also called biliary system or biliary tree. bilirubin - The substance formed when hemoglobin breaks down. Bilirubin gives bile its color. Bilirubin is normally passed in stool. Too much bilirubin causes jaundice. biopsy - Removal of a small tissue sample for microscopic examination. bismuth subsalicylate - A nonprescription medicine such as Pepto-Bismol used to treat diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, and nausea. It is also part of the treatment for ulcers caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. blink rate - The number of times per minute that the eyelid automatically closes - normally 10 to 30 per minute. bloating - Fullness or swelling in the abdomen that often occurs after meals. blood-brain barrier - The protective membrane that separates circulating blood from brain cells. blood clot - A gelled mass of blood tissue. blood pressure - The force or pressure exerted by the heart when pumping blood; also, the pressure of blood in the arteries. blood pressure cuff - A device usually placed around the upper of the arm to measure blood pressure. BMI (body mass index) - Number, derived by using height and weight measurements, that gives a general indication if weight falls within a healthy range. bone density - Measure of the mass of bone in relation to its volume to determine the risk of developing osteoporosis. borborygmi - Rumbling sounds caused by gas moving through the intestines (stomach "growling"). bowel - Another word for the small and large intestines. bowel movement - Body wastes passed through the rectum and anus. bowel prep - The process used to clean the colon with enemas and a special drink. Used before surgery of the colon, colonoscopy, or barium x-ray. See also lavage. brady... - Suffix meaning slow. bradycardia - Abnormally slow heartbeat. bradykinesia - Slowness of movement. bradyphrenia - Slowness of thought processes. brain attack - Another term for stroke. Braxton Hicks contractions - Relatively brief, painless contractions of the uterus that may begin during the second half of pregnancy. breast self-examination (BSE) - Routine, monthly examination of the breasts. bronchitis - An inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes, causing a persistent cough that produces considerable quantities of sputum (phlegm). bronchodilators - A group of drugs that widen the airways in the lungs. bronchus - Any of the larger air passages that connect the trachea to the lungs. bulking agents - Laxatives that make bowel movements soft and easy to pass. bundle-branch block - A condition in which the heart's electrical system is unable to normally conduct the electrical signal. bunion - An inflammation and thickening of the bursa in the joint of the big toe. bursa (plural = bursae) - A fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between moving tissues of the body; major bursae are located adjacent to the tendons near the large joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. bursitis - Repeated small stresses and overuse that cause
the bursa to swell and become irritated. |
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