Dictionary

cholangiogram A radiology procedure used to look at the gallbladder and bile ducts.

choking Partial or complete obstruction of the airway, usually due to the presence of food, a toy, or another foreign body in the upper throat or trachea. See also airway obstruction.

choked disk See papilledema.

chocolate A food or flavoring made from the seeds of the cacao or chocolate tree (Theobroma cacao). Chocolate is rich in flavinoids, compounds that act as antioxidants. Flavinoids may also lower blood pressure and improve blood flow by opening blood vessels. Thus, chocolate may have health benefits, provided it is consumed in moderation.

choana The passageway from the back of one side of the nose to the throat. There are two choanae, one on either side of the nose. The choanae must be open to permit breathing through the nose.

chloroform A clear, volatile liquid with a strong smell similar to that of ether. Chloroform was once administered by inhalation to produce anesthesia, given to relieve pain, and used as a remedy for cough. It is quite toxic to the kidneys and the liver.

chlamydia The agent of a sexually transmitted disease, a type of bacteria found in the cervix, urethra, throat, or rectum that acts very much like gonorrhea in the way it is spread, the symptoms it produces, and its long-term consequences. Chlamydia is destructive to the Fallopian tubes, causing infertility, tubal pregnancy, and severe pelvic infection….

chiropractor A chiropractic practitioner. Becoming a doctor of chiropractic (DC) requires a minimum of 2 years of college and 4 years in a school of chiropractic medicine. Some chiropractors also earn a traditional medical degree (MD) or other additional qualifications. Not all chiropractors are alike in their practice. The International Chiropractors Association believes that patients…

chiropractic A system of diagnosis and treatment based on the concept that the nervous system coordinates all of the body’s functions and that disease results from a lack of normal nerve function. Chiropractic employs manipulation and adjustment of body structures, such as the spinal column, so that pressure on nerves coming from the spinal cord…

chimera 1 An imaginary monster made up of incongruous parts. 2 In medicine, a person composed of two genetically distinct types of cells. This may be due to the fusion of two embryos at a very early (blastula) stage. More commonly today, the formation of a chimera is due to transplantation, such as when bone…

children’s immunizations Vaccinations given to children. In the US, it is currently recommended that all children receive vaccination against the following unless the child has special circumstances, such as a compromised immune system or a neurological disorder: Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough), as separate vaccinations or in combination as DPT; Haemophilus influenzae type B…

childhood schizophrenia See schizophrenia, childhood.