Dictionary

selenium deficiency See deficiency, selenium.

sella turcica A depression in the base of the skull where the pituitary gland is situated. It was called the sella turcica (the Turkish saddle) because of its resemblance to a saddle used by the Turks which had supports in the front and back.

semen The fluid that is released through the penis during orgasm. Semen is made up of fluid and sperm. The fluid comes from the prostate, seminal vesicles, and other sex glands. The sperm are manufactured in the testicles. The seminal fluid helps transport the sperm during orgasm. Seminal fluid contains sugar as an energy source…

semen analysis A laboratory test that measures the amount of semen a man produces and determines the number and quality of sperm in the semen sample. A semen analysis is usually one of the first tests done to help determine whether a man has a problem fathering a child (infertility).

seminal vesicle One of two structures that are about 5 cm long and are located behind the bladder and above the prostate gland. The seminal vesicles contribute fluid to the ejaculate.

senile keratosis See keratosis, actinic.

sensory Relating to sensation, to the perception of a stimulus, to the voyage made by incoming nerve impulses from the sense organs to the nerve centers or to the senses themselves.

sensory integration dysfunction A neurological disorder in which there is impaired perception or processing of sensory input to the brain. In sensory integration dysfunction, the processing of information from a number of different senses may be impaired, such as sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, the sense of movement (vestibular system), and/or the positional sense (proprioception)….

sentinel lymph node See lymph node, sentinel.

sentinel lymph node biopsy See biopsy, sentinel lymph node.

sepsis The presence of bacteria (bacteremia), other infectious organisms, or toxins created by infectious organisms in the bloodstream with spread throughout the body. Sepsis may be associated with clinical symptoms of systemic illness, such as fever, chills, malaise, low blood pressure, and mental-status changes. Sepsis can be a serious situation, a life-threatening condition that requires…

sepsis, neonatal A serious blood bacterial infection in an infant less than 4 weeks of age. Babies with sepsis may be listless, overly sleepy, floppy, weak, and very pale. Treatment involves urgent administration of antibiotics and intravenous fluids.