Dictionary

craniocleidodysostosis See cleidocranial dysostosis.

cranial nerves The nerves of the brain, which emerge from or enter the skull (the cranium), as opposed to the spinal nerves, which emerge from the vertebral column. There are 12 cranial nerves, each of which is accorded a Roman numeral and a name: Cranial nerve I: the olfactory nerve; Cranial nerve II: the optic…

cranial dystonia See dystonia, cranial.

cranial arteritis See arteritis, cranial.

cramp, writer’s A dystonia that affects the muscles of the hand and sometimes the forearm and that only occurs during handwriting. Similar focal dystonias have been called typist’s cramp, pianist’s cramp, musician’s cramp, and golfer’s cramp.

cradle cap A form of seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp that is usually seen in infants but sometimes found in older children. It is characterized by flaking or scaling of the skin, which may also be reddened.

cracked-tooth syndrome A toothache caused by a broken tooth (tooth fracture), without associated caries (cavities) or advanced gum disease. Biting on the area of tooth fracture can cause severe, sharp pains. Tooth fractures are usually caused by chewing or biting hard objects, such as hard candies, pencils, nuts, or ice. Treatment usually involves protecting the…

crabs Slang for pubic lice, parasitic insects that can infest in the genital area of humans. Pubic lice are usually spread through sexual contact. Rarely, infestation can be spread through contact with an infested person’s bed linens, towels, or clothes. The key symptom of pubic lice is itching in the genital area. Lice eggs (nits)…

CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

CPAP Continuous positive airway pressure. See also sleep apnea.

Coxsackievirus refers to a group of enteroviruses within the Picornaviridae family, first identified in Coxsackie, New York. These viruses are classified into two main groups: Coxsackievirus A and Coxsackievirus B, with each group causing different diseases. Coxsackievirus A Coxsackievirus B Transmission Diagnosis and Treatment Prevention Though most Coxsackievirus infections are self-limited and resolve without severe…

cox-2 inhibitor An antiinflammatory drug that selectively blocks the cox-2 enzyme. Blocking this enzyme impedes the production of the chemical messengers that cause the pain and swelling of arthritis inflammation. Cox-2 inhibitors do not pose as great a risk of injuring the stomach or intestines as drugs that block cox-1. An example of a cox-2…