Dictionary

sting, Africanized bee See bee sting, Africanized.

stoma An opening into the body from the outside that is created by a surgeon.

stomach The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upper part of the stomach connects to the esophagus, and the lower part leads into the small intestine. When food enters the stomach, muscles in the stomach wall create a rippling motion (peristalsis) that mixes and mashes the food. At…

stomach paralysis See gastroparesis.

stomatitis An inflammatory disease of the mucous lining of the mouth that can be a complication of chemotherapy for cancer. Other causes include vitamin deficiency, infection, or trauma.

stomatitis, Vincent See acute membraneous gingivitis.

stone, tonsil See tonsillolith.

stool The solid matter that is discharged in a bowel movement.

stool test See fecal occult blood test.

storm supplies kit See disaster supplies.

strabismus A condition in which the visual axes of the eyes are not parallel and the eyes appear to be looking in different directions. In divergent strabismus, or exotropia, the visual axes diverge. In convergent strabismus or esotropia, the visual axes converge. The danger with strabismus is that the brain may come to rely more…

strain 1 An injury to a ligament, tendon, or muscle that results from overuse or trauma. 2 A hereditary tendency that originates from a common ancestor. 3 To exert maximum effort. 4 To filter.