Glossary

Category: H

  • Heloma

    Helo-mata, hard-tissue formation; a com or callus.  

  • Heliation

    Use of sunlight for treatment.  

  • Heart valve

    Any of four structures (two semilunar valves [pulmonary valve, aortic valve], the mitral valve, and the tricuspid valve) within the heart that, by closing and opening, control blood flow in the heart and permit flow in only one direction. The structure at the exit of each of the four chambers of the heart that allows…

  • Hamstring tendon

    Any of the tendons at the back of the knee; they connect the hamstring muscles with the bones of the knee area.  

  • Hamate bone

    Wrist (carpal) bone that projects a hook-shaped (hamate) part on its palmar surface, in line with the fourth and fifth fingers. A hook-shaped bone of the wrist. It articulates with the pisiform and triquetral bones behind and with the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones in front. The most medical wrist (carpal) bone in the distal…

  • Hamartia

    Defect in development due to abnormal tissue combination.  

  • Halophil

    Microorganism favoring a high-salt environment for growth; also called halophile.  

  • Hairy tongue

    Hairy tongue

    Dark overgrowth of the papillae (tiny projections) of the tongue that is a side effect of some antibiotics; dark overgrowth of the papillae (tiny projections) of the tongue that is a side effect of some antibiotics; it is benign and gradually subsides; also called furry tongue; black tongue. A tongue covered with hair-like papillae entangled…

  • Hyflo supercel

    Pulverized diatomaceous earth used as an agent for the filtration of bacteria from water and sewage. The earth suspension rests on a wire micro-mesh base in a funnel, and after filtration is added to suitable enrichment media for the isolation of faecal pathogens.  

  • Hydrogen sulphide test

    Production of H2S gas on culture is a differential characteristic with organisms such as the enterobacteria. Brucella and Clostridia. Positivity is indicated by the blackening of lead acetate test papers suspended in the neck of the culture tube, or blackening of agar or gelatin media which incorporate ferrous salts.