Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Nuchal rigidity

    Stiff neck. Inflexibility of the neck movement, especially forward flexion of the neck. It is a sign of meningeal irritation.  

  • Nonopioids

    Nonopium drugs, formerly referred to as nonnarcotic; include such drugs as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.  

  • Nocturia

    Excessive urination at night. The necessity to get up at night to urinate. The fact of passing an unusually large quantity of urine during the night. Excessive urination at night; it may be due to excessive fluid intake before bedtime, to renal disorder, or, in older men, to prostatic disease (compare enuresis); also called nycturia.…

  • Nociceptic pain process

    Pain theory that describes how pain is transformed from stimuli the body receives into the actual pain sensation through four processes: transduction, transmission, perception of pain, and modulation.  

  • Neurotomy

    Division or dissection of a nerve. A surgical operation to cut a nerve.  

  • Neuromodulator

    Alteration in function or status in response to a stimulus of the nerve. Biologically active substances produced by neurons that enhance or diminish the effects of neurotransmitters. Some neuromodulators are substance P, cholecystokinin, and somatostatin.  

  • Nephrosclerosis

    Hardening of structures within the kidney; generally associated with hypertension and disease of the renal arterioles. A kidney disease due to vascular change. Hardening of the vessels (arteries) of the kidney. A process that results in the replacement of healthy kidney structures by scar tissue. Nephrosclerosis is caused by hardening of the small arteries that…

  • Myringotomy

    Surgical incision of the tympanic membrane (eardrum). A surgical incision of the eardrum performed to release fluid or pus from the middle ear. An incision of the eardrum to establish drainage in infection of the middle ear. A surgical operation to make an opening in the eardrum to allow fluid to escape. Surgical incision into…

  • Myelosuppression

    Concerning inhibition of bone marrow function. A condition in which the bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells, often occurring after chemotherapy. Decreased production of blood cells by the bone marrow. A fall in the production of blood cells in the bone marrow. This fall often occurs after chemotherapy for cancer. Anaemia, infection and…

  • Mitral regurgitation

    Backward flow of blood through the mitral valve of the heart. A situation in which the mitral valve does not close completely so that blood goes back into the atrium. backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium, resulting from imperfect closure of the mitral (bicuspid) valve. It may result from congenital…

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