Category: S

Cancer that originates in the stomach. At first, the symptoms of stomach cancer may mimic those of peptic ulcer disease. These include vague indigestion, loss of appetite, and discomfort after eating. In more advanced cases, there may be abdominal pain, weight loss, difficulty swallowing, frequent vomiting, and abdominal swelling. Signs of internal bleeding can appear.…

Also known as stereotaxic surgery; guided brain surgery. Stereotactic surgery is performed through a tiny hole in the skull and guided by CT (computed tomography) scanning. This procedure may be performed in people with advanced Parkinson disease (a progressive, degenerative disease of the nervous system characterized by muscle rigidity, weakness, and tremor), for whom medications…

The group of conditions and disorders of the musculoskeletal system that are caused by participation in athletics or other forms of exercise. Sports injuries may involve injury to the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They are generally caused by overtraining, overuse, or trauma that occurs while a person is engaged in athletic activities. The…

A defect in a vertebra in the lower back, typically the last vertebra at the bottom of the spine, an area called the lumbar spine. The defective area of this vertebra is the bony ring that protects the spinal cord and connects the vertebral bone to the facet joints at the top and bottom of…

An inherited disease characterized by progressive dysfunction of the cerebellum, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Any of a group of inherited disorders of the cerebellum and corticospinal tracts in the brain. They are characterized by spasticity of the limbs and cerebellar ataxia.  

A narrowing of the bony spinal canal formed by the vertebrae and the intervertebral disks. Spinal stenosis is caused by arthritis in the joints of the spine, which enlarges the joints and narrows the spinal canal. This narrowing can compress and pinch the nerves that travel through the lower spine into the legs. Symptoms include…

Injuries affecting the bone or cartilage that make up the spine, as well as injuries that damage or destroy the spinal cord, which is made up of nerve pathways that transmit impulses between the brain and the body. Injuries to the spine, and at times, to the spinal cord, can occur due to various reasons.…

A laboratory test to determine the ability of sperm cells to move (motility) or be motile. Normally, about 50 percent of sperm are motile. Sperm cells that move poorly or not at all are generally incapable of fertilizing a female egg cell and causing pregnancy. pregnancy. Sperm motility is performed as part of semen analysis,…

The structures involved in the production of sound that is modified into spoken language. The production of speech sounds begins with air that is pushed out of the lungs and passes up through the trachea into the larynx (voice box). The larynx is a hollow organ, located between the pharynx and the trachea, and constructed…

Pain in the throat caused by inflammation of the tissue lining the throat passage. The medical term for sore throat is pharyngitis. A sore throat can become more painful when a person speaks or swallows. It is sometimes a symptom of infection that may have originated elsewhere in the body. Pain at the back of…