Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «E»:
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E. coli
E. coli: Short for Escherichia coli, the colon bacillus, a bacterium that normally resides in the human colon. E. coli has been studied intensively in genetics and molecular and cell biology because of its availability, its small genome size, its normal lack of pathogenicity (disease-causing ability...
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E. coli hemorrhagic diarrhea
E. coli hemorrhagic diarrhea: Bloody colitis (inflammation of the bowel) caused by E. coli, usually by the strain E. coli 0157:H7.
The diarrhea is severe with painful abdominal cramps, gross blood in the stool, and lasts for 6 to 8 days.
Most commonly, E. coli 01257:H7 comes from eating raw
or und...
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E. coli O157:H7
E. coli O157:H7: A dangerous form of Escherichia coli, the colon bacillus, a bacterium that normally lives in the human colon.
E. coli 0157:H7 is a major health problem, causing hemorrhagic colitis, the hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura:
Hemorrhagic colitis -- E co...
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E2F transcription factor 3
E2F transcription factor 3: See: E2F3....
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E2F3
E2F3: E2F transcription factor 3.
E2F3 is a gene on chromosome 6p22 that is a member of the E2F family of transcription factors.
E2F3 may be a key gene in modulating the aggressivity of prostate cancer. E2F3 is present in a high proportion (67%) of prostate cancers. Men with prostate cancer exhibi...
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Eagle syndrome
Eagle syndrome: Inflammation of the
styloid process, a spike-like projection sticking off the base of the skull. The tissues in the throat rub on this structure during the act of swallowing causing pain. The diagnosis of Eagle syndrome is made by history and an x-ray showing the abnormal styloid p...
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Ear
Ear: The hearing organ. There are three
sections of the
ear, according to the anatomy textbooks. They are the outer ear (the
part we see along the
sides of our head behind the temples), the middle ear, and the inner
ear. But in terms of
function, the ear has four parts: those three and the brain....
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Ear bones
Ear bones: The malleus, incus, and stapes....
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Ear canal, self-cleaning
Ear canal, self-cleaning: Most of the time the ear
canals are self-cleaning, that is, there is a slow and orderly migration of ear canal skin
from the eardrum to the outer opening. Old earwax is constantly being transported from the
deeper areas of the ear canal to the opening where it usually dries...
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Ear cleaning (by a doctor)
Ear cleaning (by a doctor): When so much wax
accumulates that it blocks the ear canal (and hearing), your physician may have to wash it
out, vacuum it, or remove it with special instruments. Alternatively, your physician may
prescribe ear drops what are designed to soften the wax (such as Cerumenex)...
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Ear cleaning (yourself)
Ear cleaning (yourself): Never put anything smaller
than your elbow in your ear! Wax is not formed in the deep part of the ear canal near the
eardrum, but only in the outer part of the canal. So when a patient has wax pushed up
against the eardrum, it is often because he has been probing his ear wit...
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Ear drum
Ear drum: See: Eardrum....
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Ear infection, middle (acute)
Ear infection, middle (acute): Acute middle ear infection, medically called acute otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear. Acute otitis media typically causes fluid in the middle ear accompanied by signs or symptoms of ear infection: a bulging eardrum usually accompanied by pain; or a perfo...
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Ear piercing
Ear piercing: The practice of using a needle or
needle gun to make holes through the ear lobe or other
parts of the ear for wearing jewelry. When done under
hygienic conditions, there is little danger from ear
piercing other than localized and transitory inflammation.
Unhygienic conditions, han...
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Ear pit
Ear pit: Tiny pit in front of the ear: preauricular
pit. A minor anomaly of no great consequence in itself. More common in blacks than whites
and in females than males. Can recur in families. The presence of 2 or more minor
anomalies in a child increases the probability that the child has a major ma...