percutaneous umbilical blood sampling A procedure in which a needle is inserted through the mother’s abdominal wall and then through the uterine wall. Abbreviated PUBS. In PUBS, blood can be withdrawn from the umbilical vein at the point where the umbilical cord inserts into the placenta. Also known as umbilical vein sampling, cordocentesis, and fetal…
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty The use of a balloon-tipped catheter to enlarge a narrowed coronary artery. Abbreviated PTCA.
percutaneous nephrolithotripsy A technique for removing large, dense, and staghorn kidney stones. Abbreviated PNL. PNL is done via a port created by puncturing through the skin and into the kidney. The urologist then inserts instruments into the kidney via the access port to break up the stone and to remove most of the debris from…
percutaneous Through the skin. For example, a percutaneous biopsy is a biopsy that is obtained by putting a needle through the skin in order to obtain tissue within the body for examination.
percentile The percentage of individuals in a group who have achieved a certain quantity—such as height, weight, or head circumference—or a developmental milestone. For example, the fiftieth percentile for walking well is 12 months of age.
penis, small See micropenis.
penis, inflammation of the head of the See balanitis.
penis, inflammation of the foreskin and glans See balanoposthitis.
penis The external male sex organ. The penis contains two chambers, the corpora cavernosa, which run the length of the organ. These chambers are filled with spongy tissue and surrounded by a membrane called the tunica albuginea. The spongy tissue contains smooth muscles, fibrous tissues, spaces, veins, and arteries. The urethra, which is the channel…
penile Of or pertaining to the penis.
penicillin-resistant bacterium A bacterium that is unaffected by penicillin. The rise of penicillinresistant bacteria is due to overuse of penicillin drugs, including their ineffective but nonetheless frequent use against colds and viral infections.
penicillin Historically the most famous of antibiotics, which kills many bacteria and some other microorganisms by attacking and destroying their cell walls. Penicillin is not effective against viruses, however, and specific penicillin types may be needed for certain bacteria. The different varieties of penicillin include amoxicillin, ampicillin, bacampicillin, carbenicillin, cloxicillin, dicloxicillin, nafcillin, oxacillin, penicillin G,…