Glossary

There are 358 entries in this glossary.
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Term Definition
Cardiologist

doctor who specializes in treating heart disorders.

Cardiomyopathy

disease in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed and doesn't work as well as it should.

Cataract

clouding of the lens of the eye.

CBC and differential

determination of the quantity of each type of blood cell in a given sample of blood. Blood differential test measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell.

Cellulitis

inflammation or infection of the skin causing redness, swelling and tenderness

Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD)

baby's head or body is too large to fit through the mother’s pelvis.

Cerebral Palsy

group of chronic neurological symptoms causing impaired control of movement, diagnosed usually before age 3.

CGH (Micro-Array)

comparative genomic hybridization is a high resolution genetic blood test using an array containing many DNA samples to determine the expression levels of hundreds or thousands of genes within a cell. This technology has most commonly been used to detect chromosomal abnormalities.

Chorea

abnormal involuntary movement disorder, one of a group of neurological disorders called dyskinesias.

Chronic bronchitis

inflammation of the bronchial tubes resulting in excessive secretions of mucus into the tubes, leading to tissue swelling that can narrow or close off bronchial tubes.

Chronic constipation

infrequent bowel movements or straining and difficulty passing stools.

Chronic diarrhea

one or more loose stools per day for approximately four consecutive weeks.

Chylous reflux

swelling and skin lesions, usually of the lower limbs of the body.

Cleft lip

one or two vertical fissures (clefts) in the upper lip; can be on one side only (unilateral) or on both sides (bilateral).

Cleft palate

opening in the roof of the mouth (the palate)

Clonic seizures

seizures defined by rhythmic jerking movements of the arms and legs, sometimes on both sides of the body.

Coarctation of the aorta

narrowing of the aorta, the large blood vessel that branches off your heart and delivers oxygen-rich blood to your body.

Colonoscopy

internal examination of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, using an instrument called a colonoscope. Typically requires sedation

Color blindness (color deficiency)

Difficulty discriminating between colors, typically red and green.

Commando Crawl

crawl using only the arms

Complement screening

blood test that measures the quantity or activity of complement proteins in the blood.

Complex partial seizures

type of partial seizure associated with disease of the temporal lobe and characterized by varying degrees of impairment of consciousness and automatisms, for which the patient is later amnestic.

Compression garments/bandages

panty hose and other clothes that compress the limbs or torso.

Compression Pump

massaging sleeve used to decrease swelling in the arms or legs caused by certain conditions, such as lymphedema.

Computed tomography (CT)

computerized x-ray to make 3D images of inside the body.

Conduct disorder

a behavioral and emotional disorder of childhood and adolescence. Children with conduct disorder act inappropriately, infringe on the rights of others, and violate the behavioral expectations of others.

Congenital abnormality

body defect that exists at birth.

Congenital heart disease

heart defect that exists at birth.

Corpus callosotomy

surgery to cut the nerve fibers that run between the two halves of the brain. Usually done to manage severe epilepsy.

Cortical Vision Impairment

vision loss due to brain damage, not eye problems.

CPAP

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP is air pressure applied with a mask to keep the airways open, usually to aid sleep.

CT Scan

computerized imaging technique that uses X-rays to create a 3-dimentional image of the body. Often used to look at the head, chest, abdomen (stomach and intestines), or bones.

Cyanosis

blueish discoloration of the skin due to poor circulation. Often seen on the hands, feet and around the mouth.

Cyclic Vomiting

sudden repeated attacks of severe vomiting that can last from hours to days

Cysts/blisters

internal round, soft, fluid-filled pockets that either be close to skin or inside organs (body parts) like brain and kidneys.