liposuction The surgical suctioning of fat deposits from specific parts of the body, the most common being the abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs and knees, chin, upper arms, back, and calves. A hollow instrument called a cannula is inserted under the skin to break up the fat. A high-pressure vacuum is then applied to the cannula…
liposuction, tumescent A form of liposuction in which several quarts of a solution are pumped below the skin in the area from which fat is to be suctioned. The saline (salt water) solution used includes the local anesthetic lidocaine to numb the area and the vessel-constrictor epinephrine (adrenaline) to help minimize bleeding. The fat is…
liposuction, ultrasonic-assisted A form of liposuction in which the cannula is energized with ultrasonic energy to assist in the breakdown of fat tissue. This technique has an advantage in areas of scar tissue, such as the male breast, the back, and areas where liposuction has been performed before. Its disadvantages include the need for longer…
Listeria A group of bacteria that can infect both animals and humans. See also Listeriosis.
Listeriosis A disease that is caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Listeriosis is an important public health problem in North America. The disease affects primarily pregnant women, newborns, and anyone who is immunocompromised. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as…
liter A metric measure of capacity that is equal to the volume of 1 kilogram of water at 4° Celsius and at standard atmospheric pressure of 760 millimeters of mercury. There are 1,000 cubic centimeters, or 1 cubic decimeter, in 1 liter. A liter is a little more than 1 quart (1.057 US liquid quarts)….
lithium A naturally occurring salt that, in purified form, is used to treat certain psychiatric disorders, especially bipolar disease The therapeutic level of lithium—the amount needed to treat bipolar disorders—is perilously close to the level that can cause toxicity, so monitoring of blood levels is required. Symptoms of lithium toxicity include diarrhea, vomiting, blurred vision,…
litho- Prefix meaning stone, as in lithotomy (an operation to remove a stone), or lithotripsy (a procedure to crush a stone).
leukoplakia A white spot or patch on the mucous membranes in the mouth (for instance, inside the cheeks, on the gums, on the tongue) that may become cancerous.
leukotriene One of a group of chemicals produced by the body that accompanies inflammation. Leukotrienes are believed to play a major role in causing the symptoms of hay fever and asthma.
levo- Prefix meaning on the left side, as in levorotation (turning or twisting to the left). The opposition of levo- is dextro-.
levocardia Reversal of all the abdominal and thoracic organs (situs inversus) except the heart, which is still in its usual location on the left. Levocardia virtually always is associated with a congenital heart disease.