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General Glossary
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- pachy-
- in botany, thick
- PAF antagonist
- platelet activating factor inhibitor. PAF activates platelets to
secrete serotonin and other mediators to cause smooth-muscle contraction and vascular permeability,
involved in asthma; a PAF antagonist counters these effects
- pancreatitis
- inflammation of the pancreas
- papaverine-like
- mildly analgesic, powerfully antispasmodic
- paracrine
- hormonal response from cell to cell near a secretory site
- parametritis
- inflammation of the tissues adjacent to the uterus
- parasympathetic nervous system
- portion of the autonomic nervous system
that is generally associated with increasing digestion and intestinal muscle activity;
decreasing blood circulation and respiration
- parasympatholytic
- agent, such as atropine, that annuls or antagonizes
the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system
- parasympathomimetic
- drugs or chemicals having an action resembling that
caused by stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, e.g., acetylcholine
- parenteral administration
- administration by means other than the digestive
tract, such as intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intramedullary injection
- paresthesia
- abnormal sensation, such as burning or prickling
- parvi-
- in botany, small
- pericarditis sicca
- fibrinous inflammation of the external surface of the
heart and its surrounding membrane without the accumulation of fluid
- periodontitis
- inflammation of the area around a tooth
- periostitis
- inflammation of the thick fibrous membrane surrounding a bone
- peristalsis
- movement characterized by alternate circular contraction and
relaxation of the intestine or other tubular structure which propels the contents onward
- peritoneum
- serous sac lining the abdominal cavity and covering most of the
organs inside it
- phaeo-
- in botany, dark
- phagocytosis
- process of ingestion and digestion by cells of solid substances
such as other cells, bacteria, dead tissue, and foreign particles
- phanero-
- in botany, easily seen
- pharmacokinetics
- the study of the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of
drugs and other substances in living organisms
- pharyngeal
- related to the upper expanded portion of the digestive tube, between the
esophagus below and the mouth and nasal cavities above and in front
- pheochromocytoma
- encapsulated tumor of the adrenal gland secreting epinephrine and norepinephrine
- phlebectasia
- dilation of the veins
- phlebitis
- inflammation of a vein
- phospholipid
- a phosphorus-containing lipid; an important constituent of cell membranes
- photosensitization
- process of increasing sensitivity to sunlight
- picro-
- in botany, bitter
- podo-
- in botany, of a foot
- polydipsia
- chronic excessive thirst
- portal circulation
- circulation in which the outflow from one organ goes directly to a
second organ, most commonly used to refer to the venous circulation of the intestine which goes to the liver
- poultice
- soft mass prepared by moistening botanicals or other absorbent substances with oil or water,
usually applied hot to the skin
- proctitis
- inflammation of the mucous membranes of the rectum
- prodrug
- a drug whose actions result from its conversion by metabolic processes within the body
- prolactin
- an anterior pituitary peptide hormone that initiates and maintains lactation
- prostaglandin
- any of a class of physiologically active substances present in many tissues,
with effects such as vasodilation, vasoconstriction, stimulation of the smooth muscles of the bronchus or
intestine, uterine stimulation; also involved in pain, inflammation, fever, allergic diarrhea, and dysmennorhea
- prostatectomy
- removal of the prostate gland
- prothrombin
- protein needed for clotting of the blood
- pruritis ani
- anal itching
- pruritus
- itching
- pseudomelanosis coli
- changes in the pigmentation of the colon
- psoriasis
- inherited condition characterized by the eruption of reddish, scaled papules on the
skin of the elbows, knees, scalp, and trunk
- psychoanaleptic drugs
- central nervous system stimulants that reverse depression
- psychogenic
- of a psychological origin
- ptycho-
- in botany, pertaining to grooves or folds
- pulmonary edema
- accumulation of fluid in the lung
- pungent principles
- essential oils imparting odor
- purpura
- bleeding into the tissues directly beneath skin or mucous membranes
- pustule
- small elevation of the skin containing pus
- pyelonephritis
- inflammation of the renal pelvis
- pylorospasm
- abnormal contraction of the lower sphincter of the stomach
- pyretic
- fever-inducing agent
- pyro-
- in botany, fiery
- pyrrho-
- in botany, fire red, ruby red
R
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- rachis
- in botany, axis
- radiculitis
- disorders of the roots of the nerves
- radix
- in botany, root
- rami-
- in botany, pertaining to branches
- ramus
- in botany, branch
- ranunculus dermatitis
- type of dermatitis resulting from contact of skin with plants of the
genus Ranunculus
- Raynaud's disease
- neurovascular disorder characterized by local vascular contractions resulting in
attacks of decreased blood flow to the extremities upon exposure to cold
- rectification
- purification, usually through repeated steam distillations
- resin
- amorphous brittle substance consisting of the hardened secretion of a various plants,
typically derived from the oxidation of terpenes
- retina
- receptive field of the eye
- retinal edema
- accumulation of fluid in the retina
- rhagades
- chaps, cracks, or fissures
- rheological
- deformative flow of materials, usually blood
- rheumatism
- general term applied to conditions of pain, or inability to articulate, various elements
of the musculoskeletal system
- rhinitis
- inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane
- rhizome
- in botany, underground stem
- rhodo-
- in botany, rose-colored
- rickets
- vitamin-D deficiency characterized by abnormal calcification of bone tissues
- roborant
- strengthening agent, tonic
- Roemheld's syndrome
- gastro-cardiac syndrome
- root
- an absorbing and anchoring organ of the plant, usually developed from the radicle and growing downward
- roseus
- in botany, rosy
- rubefacient
- reddening agent, usually in reference to a counter-irritant
S
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- saluretic
- substance increasing elimination of salts into the urine
- sapro-
- in botany, rotten
- sativus
- in botany, cultivated
- scabies
- skin eruption due to a mite
- scar tissue
- fibrous tissue replacing normal tissues destroyed by injury or disease
- schisto-
- in botany, split, cleft
- sciatica
- pain in the lower back and hip radiating down the back of the thigh into the leg, often
due to herniated lumbar disk
- seborrhea, seborrheic skin disease
- skin inflammation characterized by dry or moist, greasy,
yellow crusts or scales
- secretagogue
- agent promoting secretion
- secretolytic
- agent breaking down secretions
- secretomotory
- stimulating secretion
- sedative
- calming, quieting; drug that quiets nervous excitement
- seed
- mature ovule of seed plants
- semper-
- in botany, always
- sequalae
- consequences, subsequent events
- sexual neurasthenia
- psychogenic inhibition of sexual performance
- sitz bath
- immersion bath
- soporific
- sleep-inducing agent
- spasm
- involuntary contraction of one or more muscle groups
- spondylarthritis
- intervertebral arthritis
- spondylitis
- inflammation of one or more vertebrae
- static edema
- fluid accumulation in condition of confinement
- status lymphaticus
- thymicolymphaticus, old term for a syndrome of supposed enlargement of the
thymus and lymph nodes in infants and young children, formerly believed to be associated with unexplained sudden death
- stem
- a supporting and conducting organ usually developed initially from the epicotyl and growing upward
- steno-
- in botany, narrow
- stenocardia
- angina pectoris
- stenosis (esophageal, GI tract)
- narrowing
- stipule
- in botany, stalk
- stolon
- stem
- stomachic
- agent that improves appetite and digeston
- stomach-strengthening remedy
- stomachic
- stomatitis
- inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth
- strobile
- in botany, a conelike inflorescence, as in hops
- strongyloid
- nematode parasite
- struma
- goiter, any enlargement of a tissue
- subsidence
- sinking or settling in bone, as in the case of prosthetic component of an artificial joint
- sunburn
- reddening of the skin, with or without blistering, caused by exposure to ultraviolet light
- sympathetic nervous system
- portion of the autonomic nervous system that is generally associated with
“flight or fight” reactions by increasing blood circulation and respiration and decreasing digestion
- sympathomimetic effect
- mimicking the action of the sympathetic nervous system
- synergistic
- having the property that the total combined effect of two or more factors exceeds the sum of
their individual effects
- syrup
- a liquid preparation of medicinal substances in a concentrated aqueous solution of sucrose
- systole
- contraction of the heart
T
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- T4
- thyroxine, thyroid hormone also prepared synthetically, for treatment of hypothyroidism and myxedema
- tachycardia
- excessively rapid heart rate
- tachyphylaxis
- progressive decrease in response following repetitive administration of a pharmacologically
or physiologically active substance
- tea
- an infusion made by pouring boiling water over plant material and allowing to steep for a period of time
- tendovaginitis
- inflammation of a tendon and its sheath
- tenesmus
- painful spasm of the anal sphincter accompanied by an urgent desire to evacuate the bowel or bladder,
involuntary straining, and the passage of little fecal matter or urine
- tenui-
- in botany, slender
- teratogenic
- causing abnormal embryonic growth processes
- teratogenicity
- property of an agent that causes physical defects in the developing embryo
- testa
- in botany, seed coat
- thermolabile
- altered or destroyed by heat
- thiazide
- a class of diuretics that increase the excretion of sodium and chloride and accompanying volume of water
- thrombasthenia
- platelet defect with impaired ability to form blood clots
- thrombocyte
- platelet
- thrombocytopenia
- condition of abnormally small number of platelets circulating in the blood, characterized by
inability to properly clot blood and easy bruising
- thrombophlebitis
- venous inflammation with formation of clots
- thrombosis
- formation of blood clots causing vascular obstruction
- thyrotoxicosis
- state produced by excessive thyroid hormone
- tincture
- an alcohol or water-alcohol solution, usually referring to a preparation from herbal materials
- tinnitus
- ringing or roaring in the ear
- T-lymphocyte
- long-lived white blood cell responsible for cell-mediated immunity
- tonic
- remedy utilized to restore strength and vigor; typically taken for an extended period of time
- tonic for the kidneys
- diuretic
- toniclonic
- a muscle spasm which is both tonic, occurring over an extended period of time, and clonic,
marked by contractions and relaxations of the muscle occurring in rapid succession
- topical application
- administration to the skin
- tracheobronchitis
- inflammation of the mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi
- trigeminal neuralgia
- pain in the trigeminus, chief sensory nerve of the face and the motor nerve enabling chewing
- tuberculosis
- a specific disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which may affect almost any tissue or organ
of the body, most commonly the lungs
U
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- ulcer
- lesion on the skin or mucous membrane
- ulcus cruris
- indolent leg ulcer, ulcer of the diaphragm
- uremia
- condition characterized by excessive urea and other nitrogen compounds in the blood due to renal insufficiency
- uric acid diathesis
- inherited tendency to gout
- urinary calculi
- concretions in the urethra
- urticaria
- hives, vascular reaction of upper layers of skin marked by wheals
- -utus
- in botany, possessing; e.g., cornutus, having horns
V
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- varicosis
- unnatural and permanent distention of the veins
- vascular dementia
- mental incapacity due to inadequate blood flow to the brain
- vasodilator
- agent causing widening of the lumen (interior space) of blood vessels
- vasomotor cephalalgia
- migraine headache
- vasomotor dysfunction
- disorder involving blood vessel constriction
- vasoneurosis
- vascular abnormality without discernible physiological cause
- vegetative dystonia
- abnormal tissue tonicity resulting from autonomic nervous system dysfunction
- vegetative nervous system
- portion of the nervous system associated with involuntary functions;
autonomic nervous system
- venectasia
- phlebectasia, dilation of the veins
- venous tone
- firmness of tension of vascular walls
- ventricular tachycardia
- excessively rapid heart beat due to uncontrolled ectopic focus in the ventricle
- vermifuge
- agent used to treat worm infestation
- vernalis
- in botany, of the spring
- vertigo
- dizziness
- vesicle
- small sac
- villi
- small processes protruding from absorptive or secretory surfaces
- virens
- in botany, green
- virustatic
- inhibiting viral action
- viti-
- in botany, pertaining to a vine
- volatile oil
- easily evaporated terpene derivatives found in plants which impart taste and aroma
- vomit
- to eject matter from the stomach through the mouth
- vulgaris
- in botany, common
W
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- whooping cough
- cough characterized by spasm of the larynx; pertussis
X
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- xantho-
- in botany, yellow
- xylo-
- in botany, woody
Z
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- zygo-
- in botany, joined
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