NREM sleep Non-rapid eye movement sleep, dreamless sleep. During NREM sleep, the brain waves seen on an electroencephalogram (EEG) are typically slow and of high voltage, the breathing and heart rate are slow and regular, the blood pressure is low, and the sleeper is relatively still. NREM sleep is divided into four stages of increasing…
NPH Normal pressure hydrocephalus.
NP Nurse practitioner.
nostrum 1 Formerly, a medicine of secret composition that was recommended by the person who concocted it, but with no scientific proof of its effectiveness. A patent medicine was a nostrum. 2 A worthless remedy. 3 In common usage, any questionable remedy or scheme for improving matters, a pet plan for accomplishing things, or a…
nostril The external opening of the nose. The nostrils are also called the nares.
nosocomial Hospital-acquired. For example, a nosocomial infection is one that is caught in a hospital. Since antibiotics have come into common usage, bacteria that are resistant to them have also become common, especially in hospitals. As a result, there are now many nosocomial infections.
nosebleed, treatment of To stop a nosebleed, a person should pinch all the soft parts of the nose together between the thumb and index finger, and press firmly toward the face, compressing the pinched parts of the nose against the bones of the face. The person should hold the nose for at least 5 minutes…
nosebleed Bleeding from the blood vessels of the nose. The nose is rich in blood vessels and is situated in a vulnerable position on the face. As a result, any trauma to the face can cause bleeding, which may be profuse. Nosebleeds can also occur spontaneously when the nasal membranes dry out, crust, and crack,…
nose picking Using the finger to remove debris from within the nose. Compulsive nose picking, known medically as rhinotillexomania, is common among children.
nose job See rhinoplasty.
nose, runny The production of extra mucus by the nose. Rhinorrhea is the medical term for this common problem. The nose makes extra mucus whenever something that is in the nose, such as pollen or dust, needs to be removed. Mucus formation is also part of the histamine reaction to allergies and of the body’s…
nose The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, clean, and humidify the air that a person breathes. In addition, it helps a person to smell and taste. The nose is divided into two passageways by a partition called the septum. Opening to these passageways are the nostrils….