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

gait apraxia

a disorder of gait and equilibrium caused by a lesion in the frontal lobe, commonly seen in elderly persons and those with Alzheimer disease; the person walks with a broad-based gait, taking short steps and placing the feet flat on the ground. Called also Bruns apraxia and frontal ataxia.

Word of the Day Archive

sitagliptin phosphate

a dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 inhibitor that acts in response to elevated blood sugar to slow the inactivation of incretins, thereby increasing insulin release and decreasing circulating glucagon levels, used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus; administered orally.

actigraph

a device worn on the wrist for measuring body movements over time and studying circadian rhythms; it can be used when the patient is asleep to estimate sleep quantity and quality.

symptomatic dermographism

a dermographic response in which wheals appear soon after stroking, mild scratching, or other friction.

pregabalin

a derivative of y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) having anticonvulsant and antinociceptive effects, used in the treatment of neuropathic pain in diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia; administered orally.

cleavage furrow

a deepening constriction of the plasma membrane at the equator of a dividing cell, formed by the pinching in of the membrane as the diameter of the contractile ring decreases.

median canaliform dystrophy

a deep longitudinal split or canal in the nail plate, sometimes showing lateral branches. Called also dystrophia mediana canaliformis, dystrophia unguis mediana canaliformis, and solenonychia.

persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

a condition in newborns in which blood continues to flow through the foramen ovale and a patent ductus arteriosus, bypassing the lungs and resulting in hypoxemia. Called also persistent fetal circulation.