Dictionary

Cowper’s gland See bulbourethral gland.

cowpox A mild skin disease of milk cows, principally confined to the udder and teats, that can be contracted by people from milking an infected cow. Affected people develop vesicles (blebs), which break and form ulcers on the fingers (sometimes called “milkers’ nodules”). These usually heal without scarring.

cox-1 Cyclooxygenase-1, an enzyme that acts to speed up the production of certain chemical messengers, called prostaglandins, in a variety of areas of the body such as the stomach, kidneys, and sites of inflammation. In the stomach, prostaglandins promote the production of a protective natural mucus lining. They also interact within certain cells that are…

cox-2 Cyclooxygenase-2, an enzyme that acts to speed up the production of certain chemical messengers, called prostaglandins that play a key role in in promoting inflammation. When cox-2 activity is blocked, inflammation is reduced. Unlike cox-1, cox-2 is active only at the site of inflammation, not in the stomach.

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…

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…

Corneal Dystrophy refers to a group of genetic eye disorders where one or more layers of the cornea, the transparent part of the eye that helps focus light, become cloudy or lose their normal clarity. This occurs due to the accumulation of abnormal material, such as proteins, lipids, or other substances, in the cornea. There…

corneal dystrophy, Cogan See Cogan corneal dystrophy.

corneal ring, intrastromal A plastic ring designed to be implanted in the cornea in order to flatten the cornea and thereby correct, or reduce the degree of, nearsightedness (myopia). The ring is placed in the corneal stroma, the middle of the five layers of the cornea.

coronal plane A vertical two-dimensional imaginary slice through the body from head to foot and parallel to the shoulders.

coronary artery A vessel that supplies the heart muscle (myocardium) with blood that is rich in oxygen. The coronary arteries encircle the heart in the manner of a crown (in Latin, corona means “crown”). Like other arteries, the coronary arteries may be subject to arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). See also artery.

coronary artery bypass graft See bypass, coronary.