Virtual Medical Centre

Early childhood caries is the presence of one or more primary teeth with tooth decay, or missing or filled tooth surfaces due to tooth decay in a child aged less than 3 years of age.

The early pregnancy test was the world's first home pregnancy test. It was approved by the United States Food and Drug Authority in 1976 and was marketed for home use in 1977.

More about pregnancy tests.

Efferent neurons are mainly located in the peripheral nervous system, but their cell bodies orginate in the central nervous system (CNS). Many incoming signals from the CNS converge onto the efferent neurons, which then affect the outgoing signals to various organs in the body. These organs then carry out the appropriate response.

The process through which men expel sperm and other fluids from their penis. It usually occurs upon orgasm, as a result of sexual stimulation, however there are also clinical procedures which can induce ejaculation.

More on male reproductive system.

More on sperm analysis.

Elastin is a protein in connective tissue that provides tissues with elasticity, the ability to stretch and recoil. It is important in the development of stretch marks.

More on the anatomy of skin.

An electrode is a conductor of electric current.

Elevit is a multivitamin and mineral supplement specially designed to meet the increasing needs during pregnancy and lactation.

Emergency contraception refers to types of contraception which can provide immediate cover against pregnancy. Emercency contraceptives include the morning after pill and intrauterine devices (IUDs).

For more information, see Emergency Contraception.

EMLA contains a combination of two local anaesthetics (lignocaine and prilocaine) which numbs the skin, allowing minor surgical procedures to occur without the pain. These procedures may include insertion of an intravenous catheter, cleaning of leg ulcers, skin grafting or taking blood samples.

Endometrial hyperplasia is a term used to describe excessive cell or tissue growth causing abnormal thickening of the endometrium.

Endoscopy is a procedure in which an internal cavity is examined using an endoscope. An endoscope is a medical instrument which can be inserted through a small incision and used to view or photograph internal organs.

For more information, see Introduction to Endoscopy.

For example, see Gaucher disease, where a deficiency in the enzyme glucocerebrosidase leads to the accumulation of fat that cannot be digested.

An example of ERT is the drug Cerezyme (imiglucerase).

The epidermis is the outer layer of skin.

More on the anatomy of skin.

The epidydimis is a tightly coiled tube which connects the testicles to the vas deferens. Sperm pass into the epididymis after they are formed in the seminiferous tubules. Sperm spend 2-10 days in the epididymis and reach maturity in this period.

More on male reproductive system.

More on sperm analysis.

The epidural space is the space between the sheath or dura mater of the spinal cord and the vertebral canal. The epidural space is the area used to inject anaesthetic to numb the spinal roots – this process is called an epidural.

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to develop or maintain an erection that is rigid enough to allow penetration of the vagina, and therefore functional sexual intercourse. Generally, the term erectile dysfunction is applied if this occurs frequently (75% of the time) over a significant period of time (several weeks to months).

More on erectile dysfunction

An erection refers to the filling of vascular spaces in the penis durin sexual excitement, causing the penis to enlarge and become rigid. This enables the penis to serve as a penetrating organ. Erections tend to occur more often during puberty, compare to during childhood.

Eructation is another name for belching or burping.

Erythema nodosum (red nodules) is an inflammation of fat cells under the skin which results in red and tender nodules often seen on the shins. However, it may occur anywhere where there is fat under the skin. e.g. arms, thighs or face. It is often accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, joint pain and generally feeling unwell.

Ethical Nutrients IBS Support is used to manage irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Ethical Nutrients Inner Health for Kids is used to maintain healthy gut flora in children.

Ethical Nutrients Inner Health Plus is used to maintain a normal healthy gut system, urogenital and digestive function. It may be useful for the symptoms of bloating, gas or flatulence. It also helps to improve general wellbeing by mainataining a normal healthy immune system.

Stretching refers to the flexion and extension of the skeletal muscles that are used during exercise. Stretching is an important part of exercise preparation and recovery.

Exercise therapy can be used as a psychotherapy. Regular exercise has shown to be a cost-effective treatment for moderate depression. Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly report:

• Decrease in physiological pain
• Decrease in anxiety
• Improvement in their body image

Taking a wait and see approach to treating a medical or health problem, rather than intervening with medicine or some other form of treatment.

Exposure therapy/ systematic desensitisation is a technique used to combat the negative associations that a person has paired with a stimulus, the concept is to expose the person to the stimulus they aviod in order to encourage them to be desentised to ("used to") the stimulus. For example the stimulus a person may be afraid of is a cat, so by firstly introducing a cat into the same house, then the same room then the same area of the room as the person they will slowly adapt to the cat. This is a very slow process that can take weeks or months. This is a technique used in behaviour therapy.

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) involves beams of radiotherapy (like x-rays) being targeted at the cancerous cells by a machine that moves around the body. The rays kill the cancer cells. Small tattoos may be placed on the skin to make sure the beam is in exactly the right place, and minimise healthy tissue being damaged.

Extrapyramidal side effects or EPSE, involves a disturbance of normal facial and bodily motions. It is often a side effect of antipsychotic medications and is characterized by stiffness of the muscles, tremors, involuntary uncontrollable movements that may affect the face, tongue, neck and limbs or lack of arm swing while walking.

Extrasystoles is a condition in which the chambers of the heart, the atrium and ventricle, contract prematurely.