Dictionary

salivary gland A gland in the mouth that produces saliva. The salivary glands can become inflamed, as in Sjogren’s syndrome and mumps.

saline 1 Relating to salt (sodium chloride). 2 Salty, containing salt. 3 A salt solution, often adjusted to the normal salinity of the human body. Saline solutions are commonly used in medicine as fluid replacements to treat or prevent dehydration. Certain concentrations of both sodium and chloride in the blood are essential for normal body…

sagittal sinus A large vein that runs on the top of the skull from front to back and then splits to carry blood from the brain toward the heart.

safe sex Sexual practices that do not involve the exchange of bodily fluids, including blood, sperm, vaginal secretions, and saliva, to avoid AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. The term safe sex is generally used to mean sex without penetration or sex using condoms or other barrier measures with consistency.

SAD Seasonal affective disorder.

sacrum The large heavy bone at the base of the spine that is made up of the fused sacral vertebrae. In the vertebral column, the sacrum is situated between the lumbar vertebrae and the coccyx (tailbone). It is triangular in shape and forms the back wall of the pelvis. The female sacrum is wider and…

sacral vertebrae The five vertebral bones situated between the lumbar vertebrae and the coccyx (tailbone). By adulthood, the sacral vertebrae are normally fused to form the sacrum. The sacral vertebrae are represented by the symbols S1 through S5. See also vertebra; vertebral column.

sacral agenesis Absence of all or part of the sacrum. See also caudal regression syndrome; sacrum.

sacral Referring to the sacrum. For example, sacral agenesis is absence of all or part of the sacrum.

saccular aneurysm See aneurysm, saccular.

saccular Being like a small pouch. For example, the alveolar saccules are little air pouches within the lungs.

sac, pericardial See pericardium.