Dictionary

anesthetic, epidural An anesthetic injected into the epidural space surrounding the fluid-filled sac (the dura) around the spinal cord. It partially numbs the abdomen and legs and is most commonly used during childbirth.

anesthetic, general An anesthetic that puts a person to sleep rendering them unconscious.

anesthetic, local An anesthetic that causes loss of feeling in a limited part of the body.

anesthetist A nurse or technician trained to administer anesthetics.

ANA Antinuclear antibody , detected when a blood sample is microscopically evaluated using special cellular stain methods. ANAs indicate autoimmunity, or, an overactive misdirected immune system that can be asssociated with inflammation of various tissues of the body. The ANA test reveals different patterns, depending on how the cell nucleus is stained in the laboratory:…

anaerobic Not requiring oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria, for example, do not require oxygen to grow.

anal fissure A tear in the anal canal, one of the most common causes of red blood in the stool.

anal itching Irritation of the skin at the exit of the rectum, accompanied by the desire to scratch. The intensity of anal itching is increased by moisture, pressure, and abrasion caused by clothing and sitting. It may be caused by irritating chemicals in food (as in spices, hot sauces, and peppers); irritation due to frequent…

analgesia The inability to feel pain.

analgesic A drug that relieves pain.

analysis In psychology, a term for conversationbased therapeutic processes used to gain understanding of complex emotional or behavioral issues.

anaphylactic shock A widespread and extremely serious allergic reaction that can result in death. Symptoms include dizziness, loss of consciousness, labored breathing, swelling of the tongue and breathing tubes, blueness of the skin, low blood pressure, and heart failure. Immediate emergency treatment is required, for example, administration of epinephrine in the case of bee or…