multiple myeloma A bone marrow cancer that involves a type of white blood cell called a plasma (or myeloma) cell. The tumor cells in myeloma can form a single collection (plasmacytoma) or many tumors (multiple myeloma). Plasma cells are normally part of the immune system; they make antibodies. Because myeloma patients have an excess of…
multiple gestation A pregnancy in which two or more fetuses are present in the womb.
multiple enchondromatosis A condition characterized by benign masses of cartilage, called enchondromas, growing within bones. The enchondromas tend to be in the bones of the hands and feet and the long bones of the arms and legs. They can cause pain, deform and shorten a limb, and predispose a person to fractures. Surgery can help…
multiple chemical sensitivity A syndrome in which multiple symptoms reportedly occur with low-level exposure to many common chemicals. Abbreviated MCS. MCS is a controversial issue and has been rejected by numerous medical societies as an established organic disease. Proposed theories to explain MCS include allergic reactions, dysfunction of the immune system, neurobiological sensiti zation, and…
multiparous 1 Having two or more offspring at one birth. 2 Related to a multipara. See also uniparous.
multipara A woman who has had two or more pregnancies resulting in potentially viable offspring. The term para refers to births. A para III has had three such pregnancies; a para VI or more is also known as a grand multipara.
multi-infarct dementia Dementia that is brought on by a series of strokes.
multifactorial inheritance A hereditary pattern seen when more than one genetic factor is involved in the causation of a condition. Many common traits and many common diseases are inherited in a multifactorial manner.
multifactorial In medicine, referring to multiple factors in heredity or disease. For example, traits and conditions that are caused by more than one gene occurring together are multifactorial, and diseases that are caused by more than one factor interacting (for example, heredity and diet in diabetes) are multifactorial.
mucus A thick fluid that is produced by the lining of some organs of the body.
mucoviscidosis See cystic fibrosis.
mucous Pertaining to mucus, a thick fluid produced by the lining of some tissues of the body.