Dictionary

albumin The main protein in human blood and the key to regulating the osmotic pressure of blood. Chemically, albumin is soluble in water, precipitated by acid, and coagulated by heat.

albuginea Tough white fibrous tissue. The tunica albuginea of the testis, for example, is the layer of dense whitish inelastic tissue that surrounds the testis.

albino A person with albinism. The term was first applied by the Portuguese to people in West Africa, who may have had partial or complete albinism.

albinism A pigmentation disorder characterized by partial or total lack of the pigment melanin in the skin, hair, and iris. Albinism is caused by an autosomal recessive gene and can occur in people of any ethnic background. People with albinism have delicate skin that sunburns and develops skin cancer easily, and they may suffer from…

alanine aminotransferase An enzyme normally present in liver, skeletal muscle, and heart cells. Abbreviated ALT. ALT is released into blood when the liver, skeletal muscle, or heart is inflamed or injured by diseases, conditions, or medications. Also known as serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT).

akinetic Related to the loss of the normal ability to move the muscles.

akinesia The state of being without movement.

akathisia A movement disorder characterized by a feeling of inner restlessness and a compelling need to be in constant motion, as well as by actions such as rocking while standing or sitting, lifting the feet as if marching on the spot, and crossing and uncrossing the legs while sitting. People with akathisia are unable to…

AKA Above-the-knee amputation, generally performed when the leg is not medically viable or to prevent the spread of disease to the tissues above the knee from below.

airway obstruction Partial or complete blockage of the breathing passages to the lungs. Causes include the presence of foreign matter, allergic reactions, infections, anatomical abnormalities, and trauma. Associated respiratory distress may be sudden, with only a cough for a warning. There is often agitation in the early stages. Other signs include labored, ineffective breathing, until…

airway The path that air follows to get into and out of the lungs. The mouth and nose are the normal entry and exit ports for the airway. Entering air then passes through the back of the throat (pharynx) and continues through the voice box (larynx), down the trachea, to finally pass through the bronchi.

AIDS-related complex A term used in the early years of the AIDS epidemic to describe people with HIV infection who had only mild symptoms of illness, such as swollen lymph glands. It is rarely used today. Abbreviated ARC.