Dictionary

BM Physician’s shorthand for black male.

blush Redness of the skin as a result of dilated capillaries, typically over the cheeks or neck. Blushing is an involuntary response of the nervous system that leads to widening of the capillaries in the involved skin. A blush is temporary, and it may be brought on by excitement, exercise, fever, or embarrassment. Also known…

blue baby See cyanosis.

Blount disease See tibia vara.

blot, Western A technique in molecular biology that is used to separate and identify proteins. It is called a Western blot merely because it is similar to a Southern blot, which was named after its inventor, the British biologist M.E. Southern. For example, the Western blot assay method is commonly used to diagnose Lyme disease.

bloody sputum Coughed up blood or bloody mucus. Bloody sputum can be caused by infection in the lungs and airways, such as acute bronchitis or pneumonia, or cancer. Whenever bloody sputum is present and cannot be attributed to a curable infectious condition, a complete lung evaluation is warranted, including bronchoscopy, to be certain cancer is…

bloody show Literally, the appearance of blood, a classic sign of impending labor. The bloody show consists of blood-tinged mucus created by extrusion and passage of the mucous plug that filled the cervical canal during pregnancy.

bloody nose See nosebleed.

blood–brain barrier A protective network of blood vessels and cells that filters blood flowing to the brain. The blood–brain barrier normally prevents infectious agents and foreign substances from getting into the brain. Medications designed to work within the brain and spinal fluid must cross the blood–brain barrier to be effective.

blood, urinary See blood in the urine.

blood urea nitrogen A measure of the urea level in blood. Abbreviated BUN. Diseases that compromise the function of the kidney frequently lead to increased BUN levels.

blood transfusion The transfer of blood or blood components from one person (the donor) into the bloodstream of another person (the recipient). Blood transfusion may be done as a lifesaving maneuver to replace blood cells or blood products lost through bleeding or due to depression of the bone marrow. Transfusion of one’s own blood (autologous)…