Glossary - D
Displaying glossary terms beginning with the letter D: 1 - 50 of 102 in total
- d-limonene
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A substance found in citrus fruits.
- D2 receptor
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A type of dopamine receptor (see neurotransmitter receptors) that seems to be particularly important in addiction.
- daidzein
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A substance found in soybeans.
- daily value (DV)
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A guide to the amount of nutrients in a given food; Daily values are given in percentages based on a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet.
- dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis)
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A mild and common condition that is characterized by an itchy, flaky scalp and that may extend to the ears, face, and chest.
- de Quervain's tendonitis
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Painful swelling of the tendons at the wrist that move the thumb.
- debility
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Weakness or a loss of physical strength.
- decibel
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A unit of measurement for the loudness of a sound. The highest decibels indicate the loudest sounds.
- declarative memory
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Memory for facts or events (episodic memory); also called explicit memory.
- decoction
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An herbal product or tea made by boiling a plant in water.
- decongestant
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Type of medication used to relieve nasal congestion.
- deep sleep
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Stage of sleep where the brain is less responsive to outside stimuli.
- deep venous thrombosis
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A dangerous condition in which blood clots form in veins deep in the body, usually the legs. They may break off and block blood flow in the lungs, seriously damaging organs or causing death.
- defenses
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Coping strategies a person adopts to make it easier to operate in the world.
- defibrillation
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The delivery of an electric shock to the heart to stop an abnormal rhythm and restore a normal heartbeat.
- defibrillator
- degenerative disease?
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Any disease in which the organs or tissues in the body are damaged progressively over time.
- degenerative disk disease
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Normal, and sometimes painful, deteriorations in the disks of the spine that occur with age.
- degenerative joint disease
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Arthritis that occurs when the cartilage in joints breaks down over time; also called osteoarthritis.
- degenerative spondylolisthesis
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Arthritis of the spine that worsens over time; often caused by aging.
- delayed sleep phase syndrome
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A pattern of falling asleep and waking up later than wanted that tends to worsen progressively over time.
- delirium
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Sudden, severe confusion that occurs because of a mental or physical illness
- delta waves
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Slow brain activity that occurs when a person is in deep sleep.
- delusion
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A false or irrational belief held by a person despite evidence to the contrary.
- dementia
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A loss of brain function that worsens over time and affects memory, thinking, behavior, and language.
- dementia pugilistica
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Loss of brain function, common among former boxers, caused by repeated blows to the head.
- demineralization
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The process by which bacteria destroy tooth enamel.
- demulcent
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A substance that soothes irritated tissues and mucous membranes.
- dendrites
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The parts of a nerve cell that receive signals from other nerve cells.
- dendritic cells
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Spidery-looking immune system cells that help protect the body from harmful substances.
- denial
- dental implant
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A metal post inserted into the alveolar bone to support an artificial tooth or other prosthesis.
- dentin
- deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)?
- dermal papilla
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A structure situated at the base of the hair follicle that contains nerves and blood vessels that fuel the cellular processes of the developing hair shaft.
- dermatomyositis
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A rare disease in which the muscles become weak and stiff and a skin rash appears.
- dermis
- desiccated thyroid
- detoxification
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The process of removing harmful, or toxic, substances from a person's body.
- detrusor instability
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The sudden, strong need to urinate due to spasms in bladder muscles. Also called urge incontinence.
- detrusor muscle
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The layer of muscle in the bladder wall that squeezes urine out of the bladder.
- detumescence
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The softening of an erection.
- diabetes
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A disorder in which blood glucose (sugar) levels are elevated.Related health topics: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Atrial Fibrillation, Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depressive Illness or Manic Depression) , Coronary Artery Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, End-Stage Renal Disease, Heart Failure, High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), Kidney Transplant , Obesity, Peripheral Arterial Disease , Schizophrenia , Stroke Overview, Tendonitis, Uterine Cancer
- diabetes mellitus
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A disease in which the body does not properly produce or use insulin, resulting in abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood.Related health topics: Flu (Influenza)
- diabetic ketoacidosis
- diabetic retinopathy
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A complication of diabetes that occurs when the small blood vessels in the retina are damaged. It can impair vision or even lead to blindness.
- diaphragm
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The dome-shaped sheet of muscle at the base of the lungs that helps move air in and out of the lungs.Related health topics: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Muscular Dystrophy
- diastole
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The relaxation phase of the normal heart cycle.
- diastolic blood pressure
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The bottom number of a blood pressure reading, such as 134/78. It represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats.
- diastolic heart failure
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The inability of the heart to relax properly between beats (diastole), making it difficult for the ventricles to fill completely with blood from the atria. This can occur when the heart muscle bulks up due to overwork or other causes or when the heart muscle stiffens and loses it flexibility.