Online Medical Dictionary

Letter F

Facial Nerve Paralysis: The loss of voluntary movement on one side of the face due to the abnormal function of the facial nerves supplying the muscles on that side of the face. Also named Bell's palsy.
Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy: A form of muscular dystrophy usually apparent before adulthood with a slow, progressive weakness of the muscles of the face, feet and shoulders, the severity of which varies. Life expectancy is usually not affected.
Factor V: Proaccelerin; a coagulation factor necessary in the body's normal blood clotting procedure.
Fahr Syndrome: A rare genetic neurological disorder marked by the abnormal deposit of calcium in areas of the brain that control movement, such as the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. Also called Idiopathic Basal Ganglia Calcification.
Fallopian Tube: One of two tubes located in the female reproductive system responsible for transporting the ova from the ovary to the uterus.
False Labour: Intermittent uteral contractions occurring during pregnancy, but not producing the dilation of the cervix.
False Negative: An erroneous indication that a result is negative when the actual prognosis is positive.
False Positive: An erroneous positive indication of the presence of a condition when the condition is not actually present.
Familial ALS: A history of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases in a family.
Familial Breast Cancer: A history of breast cancer appearing in a family. Almost one quarter of breast cancer occurrences are believed to be familial.
Fat Cell: Adipocyte.
Fat Embolism: A fat tissue that passes into the bloodstream and lodges within a blood vessel.
Fatigue: A common condition marked by a reduced alacrity in work and other activities, and a general feeling of being tired and weary. May occur with sudden onset or persist over long terms.
Febrile: With fever.
Febrile Herpes: Small sores appearing on the lips, cheeks or nostrils as a result of herpes simplex virus, type 1.
Febrile Seizure: A common and usually benign convulsion that sometimes occurs due to a rapid rise in body temperature, as in a fever.
Fecundity: Fertile.
Felty Syndrome: A condition marked by chronic rheumatoid arthritis, enlarged spleen and a white blood cell count that is abnormally low.
Femoral Artery: An artery that emerges from the lower abdomen, continuing from the external iliac artery, descending into the thigh.
Femoral Vein: A vein located in the groin, continuing from the popliteal vein and joining the external iliac vein in the abdomen, delivering blood back to the heart.
Femur: The leg bone extending from the knee to hip.
Ferritin: An iron storage protein, which can be used to indicate iron stores in the body.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: The impairing birth and developmental effects that occur as a result of the mother having consumed alcohol during pregnancy. The amount of alcohol needed to be consumed to cause FAS is unknown.
Fetal Distress: Compromise of the fetus pre-labor or during birth. Fetal distress commonly denotes fetal hypoxia.
Fetal Hypoxia: Intrauterine hypoxia; inadequate oxygen supply to the fetus immediately prior to or during the delivery.
Fetal Surgery: Prenatal surgery.
Fetoscope: A stethoscope used to listen to rhythms of the fetal heart; a fiber-optic device used to view the fetus or in performing fetal surgeries.
Fetoscopy: A technique used to view the fetus while in utero.
Fetus: The term used to describe a stage in human development, beginning roughly nine weeks after fertilization occurs.
Fibrillation: Refers to cardiac fibrillation: the unsynchronized, irregular and rapid contraction of the heart's muscle fibers.
Fibrin: A protein involved in the body's normal process of blood clotting, such as in the blood clot that forms over a wound.
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: A rare genetic disorder causing some muscles, tendons and ligaments to ossify (develop into bone) if injured.
Fibroid: A benign, usually symptomless tumour that develops in the uterus, often indicating the need for hysterectomy.
Fibroma: A benign tumour formed of connective tissue in the fibrous tissues of the bone, which can develop on any organ.
Fibrosarcoma: A malignant (cancerous) tumour formed of connective tissue in the fibrous tissues of the bone, which can invade the bone and surrounding muscle tissues.
Fibula: The lateral of the two long, lower leg bones situated between the ankle and knee.
Fissure: A natural division, cleft or groove occurring anatomically.
Fistula: An abnormal passageway that develops in the body, connecting two vessels or organs that normally do not meet. Can be used to describe a passageway that is created as a result of disease or a fistula that is surgically created as a method of treatment or repair.
Floating Rib: The two human ribs not attached to the sternum or other ribs.
Flu: Influenza.
Flu Shot: An annual influenza vaccine, recommended for persons at high risk for complications resulting from contracting influenza, such as expectant mothers or elderly individuals.
Flu Vaccine: See Flu Shot.
Fluoroscopy: Am imaging technique involving an X-ray and a fluorescent screen that allows for the attainment of images of internal body structures in real-time motion.
Folic Acid: A B vitamin, also known as folate, paramount the production of nucleic acid which aids in the development of the spine, brain and skull in an embryo's early stages. Folic acid deficiency during this stage can cause neural tube defects, resulting in malformations, spina bifida or in some cases stillbirths.
Forceps: A hinged instrument used to grasping, compress or hold small objects.
Formaldehyde: Methanal; used as a disinfectant and embalming agent.
Fovea: A pit located in the center of the macula of the retina of the eye, functioning to provide sharp, central vision, such of which is employed while watching television, reading or driving.
Fracture: The separation of cartilage or bone prompted by stress, or in some cases prompted by a bone weakening disease such as osteoporosis or brittle bone disease.
Fraternal Twins: See Dizygotic Twins.
Frontal Lobe: The area located in front of the parietal lobes and above the temporal lobes in both hemispheres of the brain. The frontal lobe holds the majority of dopamine-sensitive neurons, which function to select and regulate sensory information delivered by the thalamus.
Frostbite: Congelatio; Damage caused to skin and tissues resulting from from the rupture and death of cells due to extreme cold.
Fundus: Refers to the base. Latin for bottom.
Fungal: Regarding fungus, such as in a fungal infection of the skin or nails.
Fungal Nail Infection: Onychomycosis.
Fungicidal
Fungicide: An agent used to inhibit or destroy fungi.
Fungus: Eukaryotic organisms, very diverse in nature. Fungi can include infection-causing pathogens, parasites, elements of pharmacalogically active antibiotics, such as penicillin, and edibles such as yeast.
Fusion Inhibitor: A class of antiretroviral drugs, also called entry inhibitors, used in combination therapies to treat HIV, by making the Cd4 protein of the helper T cell (an immune system cell) incapable of binding to or fusing with the HIV virus, thereby thwarting the virus's attempt to conquer these cells.
Fusospirillary Gingivitis: Commonly referred to as trench mouth; a progressive infection of the gum causing painful ulceration, swelling and the killing of tissue.