Category: A

The clumping together of the body’s own red blood cells by antibodies produced against them, which occurs in acquired hemolytic anemia. Agglutination, or clumping of red blood cells, in response to an auto transfusion (e.g., the transfusion of a person’s own blood that has been removed by phlebotomy or during surgery).    

Absence of or lack of function of the thyroid gland, causing cretinism in infancy and myxedema in adult life.  

Failure of sexual development owing to lack of pituitary hormones.  

A star-shaped object in a cell that surrounds the centrosome during mitosis and meiosis and is concerned with the formation of the spindle. An intracellular brace or support composed of microtubules that extend from the centrioles to the cell membrane during mitosis.  

Linkage of one idea to another in a regular way according to their meaning. In free association the linkage of ideas arising in dreams or fantasy may be used to discover the underlying motives of the individual. In word association tests stimulus words are produced to which the subject has to respond as quickly as…

Surgical excision of a joint. It is usually performed on a painful joint that has ceased to function, as may result from intractable infection.  

A direct communication between an artery and vein, without an intervening capillary bed. It can occur as a congenital abnormality or it may be ; acquired following injury or surgery. It may I affect the limbs, lungs, or viscera and may be single or multiple. If the connection is large, the short-circuiting of blood may…

A thick-walled blood vessel that connects an arteriole directly with a venule, thus bypassing the capillaries. Arteriovenous anastomoses are commonly found in the skin of the lips, nose, ears, hands, and feet; their muscular walls can constrict to reduce blood flow or dilate to allow blood through to these areas. Anastomosis between an artery and…

Inflammation of the arterioles (the smallest arteries), which may complicate severe hypertension. This produces necrotizing arteriolitis, which may result in kidney failure. A similar condition may affect the lung in pulmonary hypertension.  

A form of silver poisoning in which the skin becomes dark bluish-gray due to the accumulation of the metal in the tissues. The mucous membranes and internal organs are also affected. Argyria is now rare, due to the decline in the use of silver compounds in medicine and industry (except the photographic industry). Argyria, or…