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

menotropins

an extract of human postmenopausal urine containing both follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. In females, it has the property of stimulating growth and maturation of ovarian follicles. In males, it has the properties of maintaining and stimulating testicular Leydig cells related to testosterone production and of being responsible for full development and maturation of spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules. It is used to treat male hypogonadism, to induce ovulation and pregnancy in anovulatory women in whom the anovulation is not due to primary ovarian failure, and to increase the numbers of oocytes for patients attempting conception using assisted reproductive technologies such as gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) or in vitro fertilization; administered intramuscularly. Called also human menopausal gonadotropin.

Word of the Day Archive

premature menopause

premature cessation of ovulation and menstrual cycles, occurring before age 40, sometimes caused by primary germ cell deficiency, acquired refractoriness to pituitary gonadotropin, or autoimmunization. Called also premature ovarian failure.

epiretinal membrane

a pathologic membrane partially covering the surface of the retina, probably originating chiefly from the retinal pigment epithelial and glial cells; membranes peripheral to the macula are generally asymptomatic, while those involving the macula or adjacent to it may cause reduction in vision, visual distortion, and diplopia.

traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

the diverse body of medical theory and practice that has evolved in China, comprising four branches: acupuncture and moxibustion, herbal medicine, qi gong, and tui na. Although TCM encompasses a variety of theory and practice, all of its forms share certain underlying characteristics. The body and mind are considered together as a dynamic system subject to cycles of change and affected by the environment, and emphasis is on supporting the body's self-healing ability. Fundamental to TCM are the yin/yang principle and the concept of basic substances that pervade the body: qi, jing (essence), and shen (spirit), collectively known as the three treasures, and the blood (a fluid and material manifestation of qi) and body fluids (which moisten and lubricate the body). Disease arises from a disturbance of qi within the body, the particular pathological process depending on the location of the disturbance; causes are classified into three groups, external (which are environmental), internal (emotions), and miscellaneous (such as diet, fatigue, or trauma). Diagnosis is by visual assessment, listening and smelling, questioning, and palpation; a single biomedical disease may be associated with a large number of TCM diagnoses, while one TCM diagnosis may encompass a number of biomedical diseases. Once a diagnosis is established, therapy aims at restoring the body's homeostasis by treating the root cause of the disease.

evidence-based medicine

the practice of medicine based on the use of methods of diagnosis and treatment whose effectiveness has been demonstrated by well-designed, peer-reviewed studies.

complementary and alternative m. (CAM)

a large and diverse set of systems of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention based on philosophies and techniques other than those used in conventional Western medicine, often derived from traditions of medical practice used in other, non-Western cultures. Such practices may be described as alternative, that is, existing as a body separate from and as a replacement for conventional Western medicine, or complementary, that is, used in addition to conventional Western practice. CAM is characterized by its focus on the whole person as a unique individual, on the energy of the body and its influence on health and disease, on the healing power of nature and the mobilization of the body's own resources to heal itself, and on the treatment of the underlying causes, rather than symptoms, of disease. Many of the techniques used are the subject of controversy and have not been validated by controlled studies.

deep massage

massage techniques whose purpose is to reach structures beneath the superficial tissues, using effleurage, direct pressure, or friction applied perpendicular to the fibers of the affected tissue.

hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

any of several closely related disorders involving both lymphocytosis and histiocytosis, with excessive hemophagocytosis in the lymphoreticular system or the central nervous system, usually seen in children secondary to an infection that may be bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic and often fatal. A few cases seem to be passed by autosomal recessive inheritance. Called also hemophagocytic syndrome and erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.