Medical Dictionary # C

A medical dictionary is a lexicon for words used in medicine. Many of the dictionaries have multiple versions, some targeted at health professionals and some for general use. For medical students and doctors most would want the full text editions.

cacosmia

A subjective perception of nonexistent disagreeable odours; a variety of parosmia.

 

cadherin

<protein> Integral membrane proteins involved in calcium dependent cell adhesion. There are three types, named after their distributions: N cadherin (neural), E cadherin (epithelial) (equivalent to uvomorulin and L CAM) and P cadherin placental). Formed of a 600 amino acid extracellular domain, containing 4 repeats believed to contain the Ca binding sites, a transmembrane domain and a 150 amino acid intracellular domain.

 

Caenorhabditis

A genus of small free-living nematodes. Two species, Caenorhabditis Elegans and Caenorhabditis Briggsae are much used in studies of genetics, development, aging, muscle chemistry, and neuroanatomy.

 

caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase

<enzyme> Catalyses the methylation of caffeoyl-CoA to form trans-feruloyl-CoA; also accepts with low affinity various other caffeic esters as substrates; do not confuse with EC 2.1.1.68 which acts on caffeic acid; has been sequenced; genbank l22203 (stellaria longipes)

 

calcaneal bone

The largest of the tarsal bones and is situated at the lower and back part of the foot forming the heel.

 

calabash curare

(packed by Indians in hollow gourds), curare from Strychnos sp.; extremely poisonous; contains yohimbine, indole, and strychnine type alkaloids.

 

calcaneal tuberosity

The posterior extremity of the calcaneus, or os calcis, forming the projection of the heel.

 

calcar femorale

A bony spur springing from the underside of the neck of the femur above and anterior to the lesser trochanter, adding to the strength of this part of the bone.

                                                                                                                   

calcicosis

Pneumoconiosis from the inhalation of limestone dust.

 

calciotraumatic

Relating to the line of disturbed calcification that appears in the dentin of the incisor teeth of young rats placed on a rachitogenic diet: high in calcium and low in phosphorus, with no vitamin D.

 

 

 

calcitriol

1_, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3. The form of vitamin D3 that is biologically active in intestinal transport and calcium resorption by bone.

 

calcospherite

A tiny, spheroidal, concentrically laminated body containing accretive deposits of calcium salts; found most frequently in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid and ovary, and in meningioma, probably as the result of degenerative changes in the fibrovascular stroma.

 

calcyphosin

<protein> Calcium binding protein that contains an EF hand motif.

 

caldolase

<enzyme> A chelator-insensitive extracellular serine proteinase from thermus tok(3)

 

calelectrins

Membrane associated proteins (70 kD and 32 kD) of the annexin family. Originally from Torpedo, but subsequently found in bovine liver. May regulate exocytosis.

 

calefacient

1. Making warm or hot.

2. An agent causing a sense of warmth in the part to which it is applied.

 

calioplasty

Surgical reconstruction of a calix, usually designed to increase its lumen at the infundibulum.

 

calioplasty

Surgical reconstruction of a calix, usually designed to increase its lumen at the infundibulum.

 

caoutchouc pelvis

In osteomalacia, a pelvis in which the bones are still soft.

 

CAPD

<abbreviation> Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

 

capillary haemangioma

Red or purple-coloured vascular skin markings that develop shortly after birth. Most are usually painless and benign and sharply demarcated from surrounding skin, usually located on the head and neck, and grow rapidly.

It is caused by proliferation of immature capillary vessels in active stroma, and is usually present at birth or occurs within the first two or three months of life.

Some lesions (cavernous haemangioma) will disappear or become harder to see as the child approaches school age.

Localised steroid injections have been used successfully to reduce the size of a birthmark but generally they undergo spontaneous regression and involution without scarring and normally require no treatment.

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