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Medical dictionary
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Radiography: X-ray.
Radiological: X-ray-related.
Radiology: the use of x-rays in the diagnosis of a disease.
Radiotherapy: the use of x-rays and other
forms of radiation in treatment. It kills cancer cells in the area of the body being
treated and is therefore effective treatment for localised disease.
Rapid Eye Movement (REM): a state of sleep that recurs
cyclically several times during a normal period of sleep and that is
characterized by increased neuronal activity of the forebrain and midbrain, by
depressed muscle tone, and esp. in humans by dreaming, rapid eye movements, and
vascular congestion of the sex organs -- called also paradoxical sleep, rapid
eye movement sleep.
Raynaud's phenomenon: spasm of arterioles,
usually in the digits (and occasionally other parts such as the nose and
tongue) with intermittent pallor or cyanosis of the skin.Further info.
Reabsorption: absorbing again.
Reactive arthritis: one of the more
common forms of arthritis. Can affect tendons and their tissues as well as the
joints. It can also be referred to as Reiter's syndrome or
Reiter's disease and is one of a group of illnesses often classed under the
heading of 'sero-negative arthritis' or 'spondarthritis'. It is quite distinct
from rheumatoid arthritis andosteoarthritis. The usual causes
are - sexually transmitted infection, acute infectious diarrhoea or food
poisoning.
Reagent: reactive substance.
Receptor: specific proteins usually located on the surface of a cell
that bind with antigens,antibodies and chemical
messengers.
Recessive: a form of inheritance where a genetic defect causes little or
no outward effect unless it is present in both of a pair ofgenes and has therefore been inherited
from both parents. If a person has inherited one altered gene and one normal
gene he or she will not be affected but will be a gene carrier. If two carriers
of the same altered gene have children, in each pregnancy there is a 25 per
cent chance that the child will inherit two copies of the altered gene and will
be affected.
Recidivist: person who lapses back into old habits.
Recombinant: a term used to describe drugs which have been produced
using the techniques of genetic engineering. The products are exact equivalents
of compounds produced naturally by the body.
Rectal prolapse: a condition in which the rectum protrudes from the
anus.
Rectum: the terminal section of the large intestine, including the
anus.
Red blood cells: the cells of the blood which contain
the red pigment haemoglobin and carry oxygen to all the tissues of the
body.
Reed-sternberg cell: a distinctive abnormal cell seen inhodgkin's disease.
Reflexes: movements that the body makes automatically in response to a
specific cue.
Reflexology: massage the pressure points in the hands and feet which
correspond to different parts of the body providing overall relaxation and
restoring balance.
Reflux: return flow, usually of acid.
Reflux oesophagitis: irritation of the oesophagus because stomach
contents flow back into the oesophagus.
Refractory: not responding to treatment.
Regimen: a prescribed drug treatment plan, specifying which drugs are to
be used, in what doses and on what schedule.
Reiki: the Usui healing system, known in the West as Reiki, has its
roots in Taoism and Tendai Buddhism.
Reiter's syndrome/Reiter's disease: seereactive arthritis.Further info.
Relapse: the recurrence of disease.
Remission: restoration of the blood, bone marrow and general health of
the patient to normal. Induced by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.
Renal: kidney-related.
Renin: an enzyme in the kidney that sets off a chain reaction to produce
angiotensin II and raise blood pressure.
Renovascular: kidney blood vessel-related.
Replication: duplication.
Resection: removal of any part of the body.
Resistance: reduction in a pathogen's sensitivity to a particular drug.
Resistance is thought to result mainly from a genetic mutation.
Respiration: breathing.
Restless leg syndrome: a discomfort in the legs which is relieved by
moving or stimulating the legs. This feeling is difficult to describe and
commonly referred to as a crawling, tingling or prickling sensation.
Retardation: delaying.
Reticuloendothelial system: the collection ofmacrophages and otherwhite blood cells that ingest infectious
organisms such as bacteria and viruses.
Retina: the multilayered, light-sensitive membrane lining the inner
eyeball that sends visual images to the brain via the optic nerve.
Retinal: eye-related.
Retinal detachment: a condition in which a portion of the retina becomes
separated from the inner wall of the eye.Further info.
Retinitis: inflammation of the retina, usually caused by infections such
as CMV. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness.
Retinoic acid: a synthetic compound related to vitamin A which can
stimulate cells to become fully mature.
Retinol: the principle form of vitamin A found in the body.
Retinopathy: eye-disease.
Retraction: moving backwards.
Retrosternal: behind the breastbone.
Retrovirus: a type of virus that, when not infecting a cell, stores its
genetic information on a single-stranded RNA molecule
instead of the more usual double-stranded DNA. HIV is
an example of a retrovirus.
Rett Syndrome: a profoundly handicapping neurological disorder which
only affects girls. Further info.
Reye's syndrome: a disease of the brain.
Rh incompatibility: a blood condition in whichantibodies in a pregnant woman's
blood can attack fetal blood cells, impairing the fetus's supply of oxygen and
nutrients.
Rheumatic diseases: refers to all types
of arthritis and rheumatism.
Rheumatic fever: infection of the heart valves, can occur in adults or
children, though comparatively rare in the former. Far less common in developed
countries than 60 years ago.
Rheumatism: a more general term used to describe any pain orinflammation in or around the
bones, muscles, joints or tissues surrounding the joints. Thus 'rheumatism'
includes 'arthritis'.
Rheumatoid arthritis: a common inflammatory
disease of the joints.
Rheumatologist: a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating
disorders that affect the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones.
Rhinitis: inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane.
Rhinopharyngitis: inflammation of the space behind the nose.
Rhinoplasty: the repair of a defect of the nose.
Rhinorrhoea: a runny nose.
Rhonchus: wheezing.
Richter's syndrome: development of lymphoma in a patient who haschronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
RNA: (ribonucleic acid) a copy of the genetic code
used by cells as a template for making proteins. It copies the message given
out by the DNA.
Rosacea: the abnormal reddening of the face, particularly the nose and
cheeks. Further info.
Rotator cuff: four muscle tendons that merge with the fibrous capsule
enclosing the shoulder joint.
Rubella: a contagious viral infection associated with a rash.
Rubefacient: an agent that causes reddening and warming of the skin,
often used as counter irritants for the relief of muscular pain.
Rubella: also known as German measles, rubella is a viral infection that
can damage the nervous system in the developing fetus.
Rupture: a break or tear in any organ or soft tissue.
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