Dictionary

delay, developmental See developmental delay.

deletion Loss of a segment of DNA from a chromosome. A chromosome deletion can cause disease. An example is the cri du chat (cat cry) syndrome, which is due to loss of part of chromosome 5. The opposite of duplication.

delirium A sudden state of severe confusion and rapid changes in brain function, sometimes associated with hallucinations and hyperactivity, during which the patient is inaccessible to normal contact. Delirium can be due to a number of conditions, including infection, drug toxicity or withdrawal, seizures, brain tumor, poisoning, head injury, and metabolic disturbances.

delirium tremens A central nervous system symptom of alcohol withdrawal that is seen in chronic alcoholism. Symptoms include uncontrollable trembling, hallucinations, severe anxiety, sweating, and sudden feelings of terror. Abbreviated DTs. DTs can be both frightening and, in severe cases, deadly. Treatment includes observation, comfort care, and in some cases medication.

delivery, breech See breech birth.

delivery, footling See footling birth.

delivery, vertex See vertex birth.

delta cell, pancreatic A type of cell located in tissue that is called the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Delta cells make somatostatin, a hormone that inhibits the release of numerous hormones in the body.

delta-storage pool disease See HermanskyPudlak syndrome.

deltoid The muscle, roughly triangular in shape, that stretches from the collarbone (clavicle) over the shoulder to the upper bone of the arm (humerus). It contracts to move the arm up from the side.

dementia Significant loss of intellectual abilities, such as memory capacity, that is severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning. Criteria for the diagnosis of dementia include impairment of attention, orientation, memory, judgment, language, motor and spatial skills, and function. By definition, dementia is not due to major depression or schizophrenia. Alzheimer’s disease is…

dementia, MELAS See MELAS syndrome.