Dictionary

defibrillation The use of a carefully controlled electric shock, administered either through a device on the exterior of the chest wall or directly to the exposed heart muscle, to normalize the rhythm of the heart or restart it.

defibrillator A device that corrects an abnormal heart rhythm by delivering electrical shocks to restore a normal heartbeat.

defibrillator, implantable cardiac See cardiac defibrillator, implantable.

dacryocyst The lacrimal sac; tear sac. The dilated (widened) upper end of the nasolacrimal duct, the passageway that allows tears to drain into the nasal cavity.

dactyl-, -dactyl Prefix or suffix denoting the digits (fingers or toes), as in dactylitis (inflammation of a finger or toe).

dactyledema Swelling of a finger or toe.

dactylitis Inflammation of a finger or toe.

dactylomegaly Enlargement of a finger or toe.

dactylospasm A cramp of a finger or toe.

Daily Prayer of a Physician A prayer that is said to have been written by the twelfth-century physician– philosopher Moses Maimonides, but possibly penned by German physician Marcus Herz. This prayer is often recited by new medical graduates.

Daltonism See red-green colorblindness.

dander Tiny scales shed from human or animal skin or hair. Dander floats in the air, settles on surfaces, and makes up a good portion of household dust. Cat dander is a common cause of allergic reactions.