Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

In medicine, pert, to a diagnostic or therapeutic technique that does not involve puncturing the skin or entering the body cavity or an organ. A term describing a medical procedure that does not involve penetration of the skin or entry into the body through one of the natural openings. A diagnostic or therapeutic procedure or…

Perception by nerves of injury or pain. The stimulus-response process involving the stimulation of peripheral pain-carrying nerve fibers (e.g., C-fibers, A-delta fibers) and the transmission of impulses along peripheral nerves to the central nervous system, where the stimulus is perceived as pain. The process by which the nervous system detects and transmit injury-related information. It…

Oral histamine blocker used in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. An antiulcer drug. Nizatidine (Axid) is a histamine2 (H2)-receptor antagonist, or H 2-blocker, used to treat duodenal ulcers and prevent their return. It is also used for certain conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid.  

Coronary vasodilator used in the treatment of angina pectoris. Adverse effects include headache, flushing, and low blood pressure. Concomitant administration with Viagra may be fatal. A fast-acting vasodilator drug. An antiangina drug. Nitroglycerin (Deponit, Nitro-Dur, Nitrolingual, Nitrostat, Minitran, and others) is used to treat the symptoms of angina (chest pain). Nitroglycerin is used in four…

Rubber or plastic device to protect the nipples of nursing women, especially cracked or sore nipples, and to allow them to heal. Gas normally produced in the body and present in expired air; in blood vessels, it plays a major role in vasodilation. Administration of the drug nitroglycerine increases the nitric oxide level; this leads…

Spontaneous release of material from the nipple; it may be normal, as in the release or colostrum during pregnancy; or it may be a sign of endocrine or infectious disease or neoplasm.  

Infant recently born; a neonate. A term referring to an infant from the moment of birth through the initial weeks of life. A typical full-term newborn baby weighs around 3.5 kg and is about 51 cm in length, ready to thrive outside the womb. The baby’s head might appear misshapen or slightly swollen due to…

Lepton with no electric charge. Neutrinos participate only in weak and gravitational interactions and are therefore very difficult to detect. There are three known types of neutrinos, all of which have very little mass. In physics, a subatomic particle at rest, with no mass and no electric charge. These particles are constantly flowing through the…

Neoplasm consisting chiefly of neurons and nerve fibers. A noncancerous tumor composed of nerve cells and fibers. A neuroma may affect any nerve in the body. Symptoms may include pain, numbness, and tingling in parts of the body supplied by the nerve. If the symptoms are troubling, the neuroma is surgically removed. Neuroma means a…

Altered state of consciousness marked by indifference to the surroundings; quiescence.