Medications

Common bile duct: The duct that carries bile from the gallbladder and liver into the duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine). The common bile duct is formed by the junction of the cystic duct that comes from the gallbladder and the common he...

$Comminuted fracture - Medical$

Comminuted fracture - Medical

Comminuted fracture: A fracture in which bone is broken, splintered or crushed into a number of pieces. Note that "comminuted fracture" is distinguished from a "compound fracture," an open fracture in which the bone is sticking through the skin.L...

Commensal - Medical

Commensal: 1. Living in a relationship in which one organism derives food or other benefits from another organism without hurting or helping it. Commensal bacteria are part of the normal flora in the mouth. 2. An intimate relationship. The Norway ra...

Comedones - Medical

Comedones: The plural of comedo, the primary sign of acne, consisting of a dilated (widened) hair follicle filled with keratin squamae (skin debris), bacteria, and sebum (oil). Comedones may be closed or open. A closed comedo has an obstructed open...

Comedo - Medical

Comedo: The primary sign of acne consisting of a dilated (widened) hair follicle filled with keratin squamae (skin debris), bacteria, and sebum (oil). A comedo may be closed or open. A closed comedo has an obstructed opening to the skin and may rupt...

Combined oral contraceptive - Medical

Combined oral contraceptive: Commonly called "the pill," combined oral contraceptives are the most commonly used form of reversible birth control in the United States. This form of birth control suppresses ovulation (the monthly release of an egg fro...

Coma, diabetic - Medical

Coma, diabetic: Coma in a diabetic due to the buildup of ketones in the bloodstream. Ketones are a product of metabolizing (using) fats rather than the sugar glucose for energy. The best approach to diabetic coma is prevention. Careful diet, me...

Coma - Medical

Coma: A state of deep unarousable unconsciousness. Coma may occur as the result of numerous causes including head trauma, diseases such as diabetes, poisoning, etc. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PMTrauma: Any injury, whether physicall...

Colpotomy - Medical

Colpotomy: A surgical incision in the vagina. The -tomy part of the word comes from the Greek tome meaning cutting.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

Colposcopy - Medical

Colposcopy: A procedure in which a gynecologist uses a lighted magnifying instrument which is called a colposcope to examine the tissues of the vagina and the cervix. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM Medical Author: ...

Colposcope - Medical

Colposcope: A lighted magnifying instrument used by a gynecologist to examine the tissues of the vagina and the cervix. The procedure is called colposcopy. Last Editorial Review: 9/28/1999 8:02:00 PM Medical Author: ...

Colporrhaphy - Medical

Colporrhaphy: Surgical repair of the vagina. The -rrhaphy part of the word comes from the Greek raphe meaning suture.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM Medical Author: Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, F...

Colpoptosis - Medical

Colpoptosis: A condition in which the vagina has dropped from its normal position against the abdominal wall.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

Colpopexy - Medical

Colpopexy: The use of surgical-quality stitches to bring a displaced vagina back into position against the abdominal wall. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM Medical Author: Benjamin Wedro, MD...

Colpocephaly - Medical

Colpocephaly: A brain disorder in which there is an abnormal enlargement of the occipital horns of the brain --the posterior or rear portion of the lateral ventricles (cavities or chambers) of the brain. This enlargement occurs when there is an under...

Colpo- - Medical

Colpo-: Combining form referring to the vagina, as in colposcopy (inspection of the vagina) and colpotomy ( incision of the vagina). From the Greek kolpos meaning a fold, cleft, or hollow. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM Vagina: The mus...

Colostrum - Medical

Colostrum: A sticky white or yellow fluid secreted by the breasts during the second half of pregnancy and for a few days after birth before the breast milk comes in.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM Medical Author: ...

Colostomy, transverse - Medical

Colostomy, transverse: A colostomy in which the exterior opening (stoma) is located on the upper abdomen. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM What is bowel diversion surgery? Which parts of the gastrointestinal tract are affec...

Colostomy, iliac - Medical

Colostomy, iliac: A ( colostomy in which the exterior opening (stoma) is located on the lower left side of the abdomen.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM What is bowel diversion surgery? Which parts of the gastrointestinal tract ...

Colostomy, a patient's perspective - Medical

Colostomy, a patient's perspective: For an excellent article about ( colostomy from a patient's viewpoint, please see Colostomy - A Patient's Perspective by Craig J. McCracken.Last Editorial Review: 3/26/1998 2:24:00 PM What is bowel diver...

Colostomy bag - Medical

Colostomy bag: A removable, disposable bag that attaches to the exterior opening of a ( colostomy (stoma) to permit sanitary collection and disposal of bodily wastes.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM What is bowel diversion surg...

Colostomy - Medical

Colostomy: An alternative exit from the colon created to divert waste through a hole in the colon and through the wall of the abdomen. A ( colostomy is commonly performed by severing the colon to attach the end leading to the stomach to the skin thr...

Coloscopy - Medical

Coloscopy: See: Colonoscopy.Last Editorial Review: 3/19/2003 Colonoscopy: A procedure in which a long flexible viewing tube (a colonoscope) is threaded up through the rectum for the purpose of inspecting the entire colon and rectum and, if there is ...

Colorectal surgeon - Medical

Colorectal surgeon: A general surgeon who has had further training and is expert in the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus. Last Editorial Review: 10/9/2004...

Colorectal polyp - Medical

Colorectal polyp: A polyp (a fleshy growth) on the inside lining of the colon or rectum. For more information, see: Colon polyp.Last Editorial Review: 9/3/2004 Polyp: A mass of tissue that develops on the inside wall of a hollow organ, as within...

Colorectal cancer risk - Medical

Colorectal cancer risk: See: Colon cancer family history.Last Editorial Review: 8/29/2004Colon cancer family history: A family history of colorectal cancer (CRC). First-degree relatives of people with CRC are themselves at a 2 to 3-fold increased ri...

Colorectal cancer family history - Medical

Colorectal cancer family history: See: Colon cancer family history. Last Editorial Review: 8/29/2004Colon cancer family history: A family history of colorectal cancer (CRC). First-degree relatives of people with CRC are themselves at a 2 to 3-fold...

Colorectal cancer - Medical

Colorectal cancer: Cancer of the colon and rectum. A malignant tumor arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Risk factors include heredity, colon polyps, and long standing ulcerative colitis. Most colorectal cancers develop from polyps...

Colorectal adenomatous polyposis, recessive - Medical

Colorectal adenomatous polyposis, recessive: Autosomal recessive form of colorectal adenomatous polyposis, See: MYH. Last Editorial Review: 8/29/2004 Autosomal recessive: A genetic condition that appears only in individuals who have received two co...

Colorectal adenoma family history - Medical

Colorectal adenoma family history: See: Colon cancer family history. Last Editorial Review: 8/29/2004 Colon cancer family history: A family history of colorectal cancer (CRC). First-degree relatives of people with CRC are themselves at a 2 to 3-f...