Dictionary

inguinal Having to do with the groin.

inguinal canal A passage in the lower anterior abdominal wall that in the male allows passage of the spermatic cord and in the female contains the round ligament. Because of the weakness the inguinal canal creates in the abdominal wall, it is the most frequent site for a hernia.

inguinal orchiectomy Surgery to remove a testicle, with the incision made through the groin.

inheritance The transmission of a gene from parent to child. The pattern of inheritance is the manner in which a gene is transmitted. For example, the pattern of inheritance may be as an autosomal dominant trait that is transmitted from father or mother to son or daughter.

inheritance, holandric See inheritance, Ylinked.

inheritance, mitochondrial The inheritance of a trait encoded in the mitochondrial genome. Mitochondrial inheritance does not obey the classic rules of genetics. Mitochondrial DNA is always inherited from the mother only, meaning that persons with a mitochondrial disease may be male or female but are always related in the maternal line, and no male with…

inheritance, multifactorial A type of hereditary pattern seen when there is more than one genetic factor and, sometimes, environmental influence. Many common traits and many common diseases are multifactorial. Skin color, for example, is multifactorially determined, as is intelligence. Type 2 diabetes is multifactorial because it is due to inherited (genetic) factors but may also…

inheritance, Y-linked Inheritance of genes on the Y chromosome. Because normally only males have Y chromosomes, Y-linked genes can be transmitted only from father to son. Also known as holandric inheritance.

inhibin One of two hormones (designated inhibin-A and inhibin-B) secreted by the gonads (by Sertoli cells in the male and the granulosa cells in the female) and that inhibit the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by the pituitary gland. The inhibins are also involved in the control of the production of gametes and embryonic and…

inhibitor, protease See protease inhibitor.

injury, cold See cold injury.

inner ear See ear, inner.