Category: P

Surgical section of the dorsal root of the spinal nerve. Cutting of the afferent portion of a sensory nerve just before it enters the spinal cord.  

Examination through the posterior nares, usually with a small mirror in the nasopharynx.  

Intermittent migrating joint pain with tenderness, heat, and swelling that lasts from a few hours to as long as a week. The knee is most often involved, but each recurrence often involves a different joint. Between attacks there is no evidence of joint disease. The cause is unknown, and there is no specific treatment.  

A treatment for retinal detachment, in which a bubble of gas is instilled into the vitreous. As the bubble attains equilibrium with body gases, it expands and forces the detached area back into place; then, cryotherapy or photocoagulation is used to reattach the retina permanently.  

Retinitis marked by numerous white or yellow spots in the fundus of the eye.  

One of two fibrous bands on the lateral side of the foot that contains the tendons of the peroneus longus and brevis muscles. The superior peroneal retinaculum extends from the lateral malleolus to the lateral surface of the calcaneus; the inferior peroneal retinaculum is attached below to the calcaneus and above to the lower border…

One of two fibrous bands (medial and lateral) lying on either side of the knee joint and forming part of the joint capsule. These bands are extensions of the insertions of the medial and lateral vastus muscles of the thigh.    

Respiration occurring in patients with chest trauma and multiple rib fractures in which a portion of the chest wall sinks inward with each spontaneous inspiratory effort.  

Research involving the use of the fertilized egg from its unicellular zygote stage until the embryo stage (i.e., to the 14th day following fertilization), for example, for studies of in vitro fertilization, conception, gene therapy, or studies of cancer.  

A community process in which a group of people takes an active role in defining its own health needs and devising means to meet them, including setting priorities for public health, controlling health-enhancing techniques, and evaluating results.