Dictionary

posterior pituitary See pituitary, posterior.

postherpetic neuralgia See neuralgia, postherpetic.

posthitis Inflammation of the foreskin of the penis. In an uncircumcised male, posthitis usually occurs together with balanitis, inflammation of the glans, as balanoposthitis. See also balanitis; balanoposthitis.

postmature infant A baby born 14 days or more after the usual 40 weeks of gestation. See also postterm infant.

postmenopausal After menopause, the period of time after a woman has experienced 12 consecutive months without menstruation.

postnasal drip Mucous accumulation in the back of the nose and throat that leads to or gives the sensation of mucus dripping down from the back of the nose. Postnasal drip is one of the most common consequences of sinusitis, nasal allergies, and the common cold.

postop Short for postoperative; after a surgical operation. The opposite of postop is preop.

polydactyly More than the normal number of fingers or toes. The opposite of polydactyly is oligodactyly. See also hexadactyly.

polydipsia Constant, excessive drinking as a result of thirst. Polydipsia occurs in untreated or poorly controlled diabetes mellitus.

polygenes Many genes. For example, eye color is polygenically controlled because many genes are involved in the determination of eye color.

polygenic disease A genetic disorder that is caused by the combined action of more than one gene. Examples of polygenic conditions include hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. Because such disorders depend on the simultaneous presence of several genes, they are not inherited as simply as are single-gene diseases.

polyhydramnios Too much amniotic fluid. The opposite of polyhydramnios is oligohydramnios.