Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

483 Pages·2008·2.66 MB·English

01_189283 ffirs.qxp 4/25/08 6:40 PM Page i
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
TM
Medical Dictionary
Third Edition
From the Doctors and Experts at WebMD
http://www.allofislam.com/
01_189283 ffirs.qxp 4/18/08 10:03 PM Page ii
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
Webster’s New World™Medical Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2008 MedicineNet.com. All rights reserved.
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted
under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written
permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the
Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax (978)
646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be
addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256,
[phone], fax [phone], or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or
completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without
limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or
promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation.
This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or
other professional services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional
person should be sought. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising here
from. The fact that an organization or Website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential
source of further information does not mean that the author or the publisher endorses the information the
organization or Website may provide or recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware
that Internet Websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was
written and when it is read.
Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, Webster’s New World, and all related trademarks, logos and
trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with
any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact
our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax
317-572-4002.
Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not
be available in electronic books. For more information about Wiley products, please visit our web site at
www.wiley.com.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available from the publisher upon request.
ISBN: 978-0-470-18928-3
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services
http://www.allofislam.com/
01_189283 ffirs.qxp 4/25/08 6:40 PM Page i
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
TM
Medical Dictionary
Third Edition
From the Doctors and Experts at WebMD
http://www.allofislam.com/
01_189283 ffirs.qxp 4/18/08 10:03 PM Page ii
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
Webster’s New World™Medical Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2008 MedicineNet.com. All rights reserved.
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted
under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written
permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the
Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax (978)
646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be
addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256,
[phone], fax [phone], or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or
completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without
limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or
promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation.
This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or
other professional services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional
person should be sought. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising here
from. The fact that an organization or Website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential
source of further information does not mean that the author or the publisher endorses the information the
organization or Website may provide or recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware
that Internet Websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was
written and when it is read.
Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, Webster’s New World, and all related trademarks, logos and
trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with
any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact
our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax
317-572-4002.
Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not
be available in electronic books. For more information about Wiley products, please visit our web site at
www.wiley.com.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available from the publisher upon request.
ISBN: 978-0-470-18928-3
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services
http://www.allofislam.com/
01_189283 ffirs.qxp 4/18/08 10:03 PM Page iii
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
Acknowledgments
At MedicineNet.com, a part of the WebMD network, we continue to foster the concept that you, the
readers, are truly interested in understanding health issues and medical concepts. Accordingly, we
have addressed the medical terms in this dictionary with sensitivity to potential concerns of those
who are acutely or chronically confronting disease or health concerns. We are grateful for your
interest in health topics as it is a driving force for the development of the Webster’s New World
Medical Dictionary, Third Edition.
On behalf of the MedicineNet.com division of WebMD, we wish to thank the staff at Wiley Publishing,
Inc., especially Roxane Cerda and Suzanne Snyder, for bringing this dictionary to those who need it.
We also thank the officers of MedicineNet.com, particularly Gene Lu and David Sorenson, who have
supported the development of this dictionary.
The excellence of the technical and editorial staffs at MedicineNet.com greatly facilitated this entire
project. Dan Griffith and Michael Cupp provided the unique publishing software that made it all pos-
sible. Cynde Lee, Kelly McKiernan, and Tanya Buchanan have performed magnificently in managing
the vast amount of content and communication between authors and editors. David Sorenson has
been an inspirational catalyst for motivation and consistent superior quality.
William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR, thanks his children, Cara Shiel Krenn, Daniel, and Timothy for
their support. He also acknowledges the support and encouragement of his parents, William and
Virginia Shiel, as well as his dear mother-in-law, Helen Stark. With infinite gratitude and love he
thanks his wife, Catherine, for her support, love, and editing. With gratitude he acknowledges the
Herculean efforts of Frederick Hecht, MD, FAAP, FACMG in developing previous editions of this dic-
tionary. And, with admiration beyond words, he thanks his dear friend, colleague, and co-founder
of MedicineNet.com, Dennis Lee, MD.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD wishes to thank her husband, Hubert Stöppler, and her children,
Johannes, Anna, and Tilman, for their enduring support, love, and patience. She also gratefully
acknowledges the support and encouragement of her parents, Kathryn B. Conrad and the late Henry
E. Conrad, Jr.
Thank you all.
–William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
–Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
http://www.allofislam.com/
01_189283 ffirs.qxp 4/18/08 10:03 PM Page iv
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
Get Additional Free Content Online
As an added bonus to this fully revised third edition of the Webster’s New World™Medical Dictionary,
you can visit the companion website at www.medterms.com/wnw.
You’ll find a free PDF Healthcare Guide to help you get the most out of your personal medical care.
You can also listen to podcasts from Dr. William Shiel and Dr. Melissa Stöppler, the co-editors of the
Webster’s New World Medical Dictionary,in which they discuss strategies to help you better com-
municate with your doctors and caregivers.
Editorial Staff
Co-Editors-in-Chief Ruchi Mathur, MD, FRCP(C)
William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR www.MedicineNet.com
www.MedicineNet.com
Content Managers
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Cynde Lee
www.MedicineNet.com Kelly McKiernan
www.MedicineNet.com
Assistant Editors
Dennis Lee, MD Concept Development
www.MedicineNet.com David Sorenson
Gene Lu
Jay W. Marks, MD
www.MedicineNet.com
www.MedicineNet.com
http://www.allofislam.com/
01_189283 ffirs.qxp 4/18/08 10:03 PM Page v
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
About the Authors
William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR, Co-Editor-in-Chief
William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR, received a bache-
lor of science degree with honors from the University of
Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radi-
ation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship.
After graduating from St. Louis University School of
Medicine, he completed his internal medicine resi-
dency and rheumatology fellowship at University of
California, Irvine. He is board certified in internal med-
icine and rheumatology and is a fellow of the American
Colleges of Physicians and Rheumatology. Dr. Shiel is in
active practice in the field of rheumatology at the
Arthritis Center of Southern Orange County, California.
He is currently an active associate clinical professor of
medicine at University of California, Irvine. He has
served as chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center
in Mission Viejo, California. Dr. Shiel has authored numerous articles on subjects related to arthri-
tis for prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals, as well as many expert medical-legal reviews. He
has lectured in person and on television both for physicians and the community. He is a contribu-
tor for questions for the American Board of Internal Medicine and has reviewed board questions on
behalf of the American Board of Rheumatology Subspecialty. He served on the Medical and Scientific
Committee of the Arthritis Foundation, and he is currently on the Medical Advisory Board of Lupus
International. Dr. Shiel is proud to have served as chief editor for MedicineNet.com since its found-
ing in 1996. He was co-editor-in-chief of the first and second editions of Webster’s New World
Medical Dictionary.
http://www.allofislam.com/
01_189283 ffirs.qxp 4/18/08 10:03 PM Page vi
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a US board-certified
anatomic pathologist with subspecialty training in the
fields of experimental and molecular pathology. Dr.
Stöppler’s educational background includes a BA with
Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and
an MD from the University of North Carolina. She com-
pleted residency training in anatomic pathology at
Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellow-
ship training in molecular diagnostics and experimen-
tal pathology. Dr. Stöppler served as a faculty member
of the Georgetown University School of Medicine and
has also served on the medical faculty at the University
of Marburg, Germany. Her research in the area of virus-
induced cancers has been funded by the National
Institutes of Health as well as by private foundations. She has a broad list of medical publications,
abstracts, and conference presentations and has taught medical students and residents both in the
United States and Germany. Dr. Stöppler was named a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Society
in Germany and was a recipient of a Physician Scientist Award from the US National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Stöppler currently serves on the Medical Editorial Board of MedicineNet.com, and is the Chief
Medical Editor of eMedicineHealth.com, both WebMD Inc. companies. Her experience also includes
translation and editing of medical texts in German and English. Dr. Stöppler’s special interests in
medicine include family health and fitness, patient education/empowerment, and molecular diag-
nostic pathology. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and their
three children.
Dennis Lee, MD, Assistant Editor
Dennis Lee, MD, was born in Shanghai, China, and received his college and medical training in the
United States. He is fluent in English and three Chinese dialects. He graduated with chemistry depart-
mental honors from Harvey Mudd College. He was appointed president of AOA society at UCLA
School of Medicine. He underwent internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship
training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology,
Dr. Lee is currently a member of Mission Internal Medical Group, a multispecialty medical group
serving southern Orange County, California. Dr. Lee has maintained an interest in technology and
medical education. He is a regular guest lecturer at Saddleback College in Orange County, California.
Dr. Lee serves as chair of MedicineNet.com.
http://www.allofislam.com/
01_189283 ffirs.qxp 4/18/08 10:03 PM Page vii
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
Jay W. Marks, MD, Assistant Editor
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale
University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at
UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. For 20 years he was associate director of the
Division of Gastroenterology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and an associate professor of medicine,
in residence, at UCLA. At Cedars-Sinai he co-directed the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, taught
physicians during their graduate and postgraduate training, and performed specialized, nonendo-
scopic gastrointestinal testing. He carried out Public Health Service–sponsored (National Institutes
of Health) clinical and basic research into mechanisms of the formation of gallstones and methods
for the nonsurgical treatment of gallstones. He is the author of 36 original research manuscripts and
24 book chapters. Dr. Marks presently directs an independent gastrointestinal diagnostic unit where
he continues to perform specialized tests for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases. Dr. Marks
serves as medical and pharmacy editor of MedicineNet.com.
Ruchi Mathur, MD, FRCP(C), Assistant Editor
Dr. Mathur received her medical degree in Canada and did her medical residency at the University
of Manitoba in Internal Medicine. Dr. Mathur is a certified fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
of Canada and is US board certified in internal medicine and endocrinology, diabetes and metabo-
lism. She has been the recipient of numerous research grants which have included the American
Diabetes Association grant for research in the field of diabetes and gastric dysmotility and the
Endocrine Fellows Foundation Grant for Clinical Research. She has an extensive list of medical pub-
lications, abstracts, and posters and has given numerous lectures on diabetes. Most recently she has
co-authored the textbook Davidson’s Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnosis and Treatment, published by
Elsevier. Dr. Mathur has also served as Research Fellow at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and a clini-
cal instructor at UCLA in endocrinology and metabolism. Currently Dr. Mathur is Co-Director of the
Diabetes Management Clinic at the Roybal Comprehensive Health Center and Assistant Professor of
Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California.
Contributing Authors
Ronald Adamany, MD, Gastroenterology • Kent Adamson, MD, Orthopedic Surgery • Leon Baginski,
MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology • Jerry Balentine, DO, FACOEP, FACEP, Emergency Medicine • Edward
Block, MD, Gastroenterology • James Bredencamp, MD, Otolaryngology • Yuri Bronstein, MD,
Neurology • Rudolph Brutico, MD, Pediatrics • Carolyn Janet Crandall, MD, Internal Medicine &
Women’s Health • Howard Crystal, MD, Neurology • John Cunha, DO, Emergency Medicine • Eric
Daar, MD, Internal Medicine & Infectious Diseases • Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS, Opthamology •
http://www.allofislam.com/