Dictionary

kinship Relationship by marriage or, specifically, a blood tie.

kissing bugs Insect carriers of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease. The bugs “kiss” people, especially babies, on the lips while they are asleep, infecting them with their parasite. See also Chagas disease.

kissing disease Nickname for infectious mononucleosis. See also mononucleosis.

kit, disaster supplies See disaster supplies.

Klebsiella A group of bacteria that normally lives in the intestinal tract, but can cause infections when the microorganism infects tissues of the body. Klebsiella are frequently the cause of infections acquired in hospitals.

Kleine-Levin syndrome A rare condition that is characterized by periods of excessive drowsiness and sleep, lasting up to 20 hours per day. Affected individuals usually have excessive food intake and may be confused, irritable, and lethargic. Some patients have hallucinations or sexual disinhibition. Most patients with Kleine-Levin syndrome are adolescent males. The cause is unknown….

Klinefelter syndrome A condition in males who have XXY sex chromosomes, rather than the usual XY. Some also have additional X chromosomes, or more than one Y chromosome. XXY is one of the most common chromosomal abnormalities. It occurs in 1 in 500 male births. The signs of Klinefelter syndrome include small testes, insufficient production…

Klippel-Feil syndrome A congenital disorder involving the fusion of any two of the 7 neck (cervical) vertebrae. Affected individuals have a short neck, low hairline at the nape of the neck, and limited movement of the head. Klippel-Feil syndrome is due to a defect in the early development of the spinal column in the neck…

Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome A rare congenital malformation syndrome of the vascular system characterized by enlargement of a single limb (asymmetric limb hypertrophy), varicose veins, abnormal connections in the vasular system (arteriovenous malformations), and abnormal nests of blood vessels that proliferate inappropriately and excessively (hemangiomata, or port-wine stains), and pigmented moles on the skin (nevi). Abbreviated KTW…

knee A joint that permits flexibility in the middle of the lower extremity. The thigh bone (femur) meets the large shin bone (tibia) to form the main knee joint. This joint has an inner (medial) and an outer (lateral) compartment. The kneecap (patella) joins the femur to form a third joint, called the patellofemoral joint….

knee bursitis Inflammation of a fluid-filled sac (bursa) around the knee. See bursitis.

knee jerk The reflex that is tested by tapping just below the bent knee on the patellar tendon. Normally this causes the quadriceps muscle to contract and bring the lower leg forward. It has given rise to the saying “a knee-jerk reaction.” Also known as patellar reflex.