Dictionary

cusp 1 In reference to a heart valve, a triangular segment of the valve, which opens and closes with the flow of blood. 2 In reference to teeth, a raised area of the biting surface.

cut An area of severed skin. It is important to wash a cut with soap and water, and keep it clean and dry, but avoid putting alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine into a cut, which can delay healing. Delay in getting medical care can increase the rate of wound infection. If a cut results from…

cutaneous Related to the skin.

cutaneous papilloma See skin tag.

cutaneous syndactyly See syndactyly, cutaneous.

cutis anserina See goose bumps.

CVS Chorionic villus sampling.

cyanosis A bluish color of the skin and the mucous membranes due to insufficient oxygen in the blood. For example, the lips can develop cynanosis when exposed to extreme cold. Cyanosis can be present at birth, as in a “blue baby,” an infant with a malformation of the heart that permits into the arterial system…

cyanotic Characterized by cyanosis. See also cyanosis.

cycle, cell See cell cycle.

cycle, menstrual The monthly progression of changes in the endometrium (the lining of the uterus), which includes the shedding of part of the endometrium and menstruation (monthly vaginal bleeding). This cycle is governed by a complex sequence of hormones that influence fertility and may affect mood and a variety of physical functions. By convention, the…

CRP C-reactive protein.