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

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

electrical stimulation of nerves for relief of pain, either by electrodes attached to the skin or by an apparatus manually held against the skin; the stimulus interferes with neural transmission of pain signals and thus has an analgesic effect. Called also transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS).

Word of the Day Archive

functional electrical stimulation (FES)

the application of an electrical current by means of a prosthesis, some parts of which may be implanted, to stimulate and restore partial function to muscle disabled by neurological lesions.

deep brain stimulation (DBS)

mild high-frequency electrical stimulation of a specific area of the thalamus, globus pallidus, or subthalamic nucleus by means of an electrode implanted in the brain, controlled by a battery implanted just below the clavicle, which the patient can turn off and on. The electrical signals block those signals from the brain causing tremor and some other related dysfunctions; the procedure is used in the treatment of movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia.

idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS)

a form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, in which the left ventricle is hypertrophied (commonly with disproportionate involvement of the interventricular septum) and the cavity is small; it is marked by obstruction to left ventricular outflow. Called also hypertrophic subaortic stenosis and muscular subaortic stenosis.

tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)

a two-step technique used to analyze a sample for a predetermined set of substances, either by using a separate mass spectroscope for each step or by performing the steps sequentially using the same spectroscope. In the first stage, a predetermined set of ions is selected for fragmentation; in the second, mass spectra are produced for the fragments. Used in screening newborns for multiple metabolic disorders from a single blood sample.

urinary space

a narrow chalice-shaped cavity in the renal glomerulus between the visceral layer and the parietal layer of the glomerular capsule, continuous with the lumen of the proximal convoluted tubule. Called also Bowman's space and capsular space.

Reinke's space

a potential space between the vocal ligament and the overlying mucosa; inflammation results in edema which is called Reinke's edema.

anatomic dead space

those portions of the airway, from the nose and mouth to the terminal bronchioles, in which exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide does not occur.