Dictionary

brachy- Prefix indicating short, as in brachycephaly (short head) and brachydactyly (short fingers and toes).

brachial vein A vein that accompanies the brachial artery between the shoulder and the elbow. The route of the brachial vein is from the elbow up to the shoulder. See also brachial artery.

brachial plexus A bundle of nerves that begins in the back of the base of the neck and extends through the armpit. It is formed by the union of portions of the fifth through eighth cervical spinal nerves and the first thoracic spinal nerve. Damage to the brachial plexus can affect nerves responsible for muscle…

brachial artery The artery that runs from the shoulder down to the elbow. See also brachial vein.

braces, dental Devices used by orthodontists to move the position teeth or adjust underlying bone. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems can also sometimes be corrected with dental braces. Teeth can be moved by removable appliances or by fixed braces. If there is crowding of teeth, some teeth may need to be extracted before braces are applied….

brace, foot drop See ankle-foot orthosis.

BPH Benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy.

BP In general medicine, blood pressure. On a medical chart, you might see “BP90/60 T98.6 Ht60/reg R15,” which signifies that the blood pressure (BP) is 90/60 mm Hg, the temperature (T) is 98.6° Fahrenheit, the heart rate (Ht) is 60 beats per minute and regular, and respirations are occurring at 15 per minute.

bowlegs A condition in which the legs curve out, leaving a gap between the knees, after infancy. Bowlegs can be corrected with surgery or casting. Also known as genu varum and tibia vara.

Bowen’s disease See cancer, skin.

bowel disorders and fiber High-fiber diets help delay the progression of and number of bouts with diverticulosis. In many cases, high-fiber diets help reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is generally accepted that a diet high in fiber is protective or at least reduces the incidence of colon polyps and colon cancer.

bowel disease, inflammatory A group of chronic intestinal diseases characterized by inflammation of the bowel (the small and large intestine). Abbreviated IBD. The most common types of IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The portion of the intestine that is affected becomes irritated and swollen, and ulcers may form. IBD can be limited to…