adrenal gland A small gland located on top of the kidney. The adrenal glands produce hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, the way the body uses food, the levels of minerals such as sodium and potassium in the blood, and other functions particularly involved in stress reactions.
adnexa In gynecology, the appendages of the uterus, namely the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, and the ligaments that hold the uterus in place.
admitting physician The doctor responsible for admitting a patient to a hospital or other inpatient health facility.
ADLs Activities of daily living.
adjuvant chemotherapy Chemotherapy given after removal of a cancerous tumor to further help in treatment. Many chemotherapy drugs are most effective after the majority of the tumor has been removed.
adjuvant A substance that helps and enhances the effect of a drug, treatment, or biologic system.
adiposis dolorosa See Dercum disease.
adipose Fatty. Adipose refers to tissue made up of mainly fat cells such as the yellow layer of fat beneath the skin.
adhesive capsulitis A condition in which a person has constant severe limitation of the range of motion of the shoulder due to scarring around the shoulder joint. Adhesive capsulitis is an unwanted consequence of rotator cuff disease that involves damage to the rotator cuff. The affected joint is characteristically painful and tender to palpation. Physical…
adhesion The union of two opposing tissue surfaces. This term is often used to refer to the sides of a wound, as well as to scar tissue strands that can form at the site of a previous operation, such as within the abdomen after a laparotomy.
ADHD Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
ADH secretion, inappropriate A condition that results in the inability to produce dilute urine and imbalance of fluids and electrolytes in the body, particularly lowering blood sodium. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, confusion, and convulsions. This syndrome may occur with oat-cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and Hodgkin’s disease, among other disorders. Also…