Category: O

A temperature measuring device in which the properties of transmission and reflection of visible light are temperature dependent, and whose detection can be related to tissue temperature.  

The physical and psychological symptoms that result when someone who is dependent on morphine, heroin, or another opiate stops using the substance. Symptoms can vary from person to person but the syndrome usually begins about 6 to 12 hours after the last opiate dose. Symptoms during the first 24 hours include restlessness, watering of the…

Unstable molecules formed as byproducts of the body’s normal chemical processes. In excess, oxygen free radicals can damage cell membranes disrupt the immune system, and contribute to the development of diseases such as cancer, cataracts, and heart disease. The supply of oxygen free radicals in the body can be increased by factors such as smoking,…

A painless diagnostic test that measures the amount of oxygen in a person’s blood. The test does not require a blood sample. Instead, a small device is placed on the finger, toe, or ear lobe. The device contains a sensor that is connected to a machine that displays the oxygen saturation and pulse rate of…

Drugs used to cause more frequent ovulation; fertility drugs. Ovulation stimulants are prescribed when a woman has difficulty conceiving because she ovulates irregularly or not at all. The drugs do not improve fertility in women who ovulate regularly. Ovulation stimulants may be used to control the time of ovulation in a woman undergoing artificial insemination…

Inflammation of the external ear canal due to a bacterial infection that produces tenderness and severe pain in the ear, as well as constant fluid discharge from the ear. Usually there is no fever. Malignant otitis externa does not mean the condition is cancerous; the term “malignant” refers to the infection’s tendency to spread into…

A benign bone-forming tumor, which may occur anywhere but usually occurs in the legs, particularly the thighbone (femur). It occurs most often between ages 5 and 25, affecting more boys than girls. Symptoms include a dull aching pain that becomes progressively more severe over time. The pain can be felt when the body is at…

Inflammation in the upper part of the shin bone that connects to the tendons around the kneecap. It is most common in active adolescents. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and tenderness in the shin, just below the knee. There may also be pain above the knee. Pain worsens during activity, especially running, bicycling, and stair climbing.…

The agreement to take healthy organs or tissues from one person to replace damaged organs or tissues in another person. In most cases, the organ is taken from someone who has recently died, but there are procedures for transplanting portions of the liver, lung, and pancreas from a living donor as well. People who want…

A break in any of the seven bones that form the eye socket (orbit). Orbital fractures commonly result from blunt trauma, such as a blow from a fist or impact against a dashboard in an automobile collision. The rim of the orbit breaks only with significant force, while the bones deeper within the orbit are…