Abscess Definition An abscess is a collection of pus which can occur in tissues, organs or confined spaces in the body. Abscesses may lie superficially, like a boil just underneath the skin or deep within the body like a lung abscess. In most cases, an abscess is caused by bacteria and is the body’s mechanism to >> Read More ...
This article is solely intended to assist readers with a basic understanding of the terms anterior and posterior. It is not intended to be used as an educational resource and may be oversimplified. Meaning of Anterior Anterior is the anatomical term for indicating that an organ or structure is towards the front of the >> Read More ...
Meaning of Acute Acute is the medical term to describe the nature of a disease, sign, symptom or condition. It refers to an illness that is of a sudden onset or of a short duration. Acute can also be used as an adjective to describe a severe state of a condition. Often the term acute is used in contrast to the medical term >> Read More ...
Incubation Period vs Contagious Period Incubation (Lat. incubationem = a lying upon eggs) period is the time from exposure to a microbe (like influenza virus) to the appearance of the first symptoms. It is important to note that even though a person may be exposed to a microbe, they may not be infected with it and >> Read More ...
What is an analgesic? An analgesic is any type of drug that relieves pain although this may only be a partial relief at times. It should not be confused with anesthetics that block pain and other impulses in the nerves to a degree that there is numbness. Analgesics are commonly referred to as painkillers or pain-killers >> Read More ...
What is Respiration? The process of respiration involves four stages – ventilation which we know as breathing (inhalation or inspiration and exhalation or expiration), exchange of gases between the air in the lungs and blood stream (pulmonary diffusion), transport of gases in the blood (perfusion) and exchange of >> Read More ...
What is hematemesis? Hematemesis (UK ~ haematemesis) is the medical term for the vomiting of blood either mixed with partially digested gastrointestinal contents and mucus or consisting entirely of blood. Blood in the vomit can vary in color from fresh and bright red to degraded maroon blood or even dark brown to black >> Read More ...
What is dysphonia? Dysphonia is the medical term for a speech disturbance (phonation), usually resulting in a hoarse voice or whispering voice, due to problems with the larynx (voice box). Spasmodic dysphonia is a form of dystonia where there is involuntary spasms of the vocal cords. This causes interruptions in speech , >> Read More ...
Location of the Larynx The larynx is the short tube that connects the pharynx (throat) to the trachea (wind pipe). It runs at the front of the throat at the level of C3 to C6 vertebrae and lies anterior to the esophagus. Function of the Larynx It allows air to be directed into the respiratory organs for gas exchange. The >> Read More ...
The bronchi (singular ~ bronchus) are the two branches (left and right) at the bottom of the trachea that lead into the lungs. These main bronchi then divide into lobar and segmental bronchi. Together the trachea and the main left and right bronchi, along with all its subdivisions, are referred to as a the >> Read More ...
