Word Of The Day

Dorland's Word of the Day is a great way to broaden your knowledge of medical terminology. With a new and interesting term brought to you from the 32nd edition of Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary each day, it's an easy and fun way to increase your medical vocabulary!

You can view a new word on this website each day.

Today's Word

proton pump inhibitor

an agent that inhibits gastric acid secretion by blocking the action of H+,K+-ATPase at the secretory surface of gastric parietal cells; called also gastric pump inhibitor.

Word of the Day Archive

monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)

any of a group of antidepressant drugs that have the ability to block the oxidative deamination of monoamines. It is thought that by inhibiting monoamine oxidase activity the inhibitors increase the level of catecholamines in the central nervous system, which would have been otherwise neutralized by the enzyme, and that these increased concentrations are responsible for their antidepressant effects. They are also used in the prophylaxis of migraine. Called also MAO inhibitor.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors

a group of drugs that competitively inhibit the enzyme hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis, and are used to lower plasma lipoprotein levels in the treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia. Called also statins.

HIV protease inhibitor

any of a group of antiretroviral drugs active against the human immunodeficiency virus; they prevent protease-mediated cleavage of viral polyproteins, causing production of immature viral particles that are noninfective.

COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) inhibitors

a group of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that act by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 activity; they have fewer gastrointestinal side effects than other NSAIDs.

carbonic anhydrase inhibitor

any of a class of agents that inhibit activity of carbonic anhydrase (carbonate dehydratase). In the kidney this decreases hydrogen ion concentration in the renal tubule, resulting in increased excretion of bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, and water; in the eye it depresses production of aqueous humor and lowers intraocular pressure. These were originally used as diuretics but were replaced by other agents because their diuretic effect is self-limiting; now they are used chiefly for treatment of glaucoma, and sometimes for epilepsy, familial periodic paralysis, acute mountain sickness, and uric acid calculi.

aromatase inhibitors

a class of drugs that inhibit aromatase activity and thus block production of estrogens; used to treat breast cancer and endometriosis.

angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors

competitive inhibitors of peptidyl-dipeptidase A (angiotensin-converting enzyme), used for treatment of hypertension, usually in conjunction with a diuretic. They are effective in both renovascular and essential low-renin hypertension. They are also used as vasodilators in the treatment of congestive heart failure. Called also ACE inhibitors.