Category: O

Surgical incision into the testis to obtain material for microscopic analysis, as, for example, in cases of abnormally low sperm count in semen.  

Pain in the testes; it may be caused by a hernia in the groin; by a calculus in the lower ureter, or by disease of the testis itself.  

In psychoanalytic theory, first stage in a person’s development, from birth through the first year, in which sucking and biting are prime sources of pleasure. In psychoanalytic theory, the term used to denote the initial stage of an individual’s psychosexual development is the “oral phase.” This phase is believed to extend from birth to approximately…

A malignant neoplasm of the lips or mouth most commonly occurring in men over the age of 60, often associated with tobacco use, especially pipe smoking, and with alcoholism, syphilis, and poor oral hygiene. Premalignant leukoplakia or lip or mouth lesions may occur. Treatment depends on the size and location of the neoplasm and may…

Small spot on the retina, insensitive to light; blind spot. The start of the optic nerve, where nerve fibers from the rods and cones leave the eyeball. The area of the retina where the optic nerve enters. Nestled within the intricate structure of the retina lies a diminutive region through which the optic nerve enters…

Infestation of the liver and bile ducts with flukes of the genus Ophisthorchia, obtained from eating raw or inadequately cooked fish, common in eastern Asia. Symptoms include gastrointestinal disturbances and weight loss, often leading to damage to tissues of the liver and bile duct, and sometimes to cancer of the liver. A condition caused by…

Type of conjunctivitis occurring in newborns, who contract the disease passing through the birth canal; the most serious form is due to gonorrhea. Routine administration of silver nitrate drops or topical antibiotics in the eyes of newborns largely prevents the disease; if it occurs, antibiotic therapy is indicated.  

Room in a health care facility where surgical procedures are performed. The hospital room in which a surgical procedure is performed. The operating room is specially designed to be bacteria-free to reduce the risk of infecting open wounds; a ventilation system screens the air for impurities. The operating room is kept meticulously clean to avoid…

Mature ovum after penetration by the spermatozoon but before fusion of the pronuclei (genetic material) to form a zygote. The ovum after first maturation has been completed and the second meiotic division has begun.  

Condition in which a person repeatedly uses or tries to recall a specific word or name; usually a form of obsession or other abnormal mental state. The repeated intrusion of a specific word or a name into a person’s thoughts: a form of obsession. A mental illness characterized by an abnormal impulse to dwell upon…