Medical Dictionary
Face Lift
| A face lift is a surgical procedure done to eliminate the sagging, drooping, and wrinkled skin of the face and neck. |
Facet Joints
| The joints between the interlocking vertebrae that form the spine; these can be a source of back pain. |
Faecal occult blood testing
| A method of screening for colorectal cancer. Faecal occult blood testing be performed from the age of 50. This should be done as a series of three serial stools, at least every second year. These are usually collected by the patient, and can require some modification to the diet for a few days to remove other sources of blood, as that can confuse the test |
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS)
Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a syndrome characterised by ongoing back and/or leg pain despite one or more surgeries aiming to treat disease of the lower spine. FBSS is diagnosed when the outcome of such surgery does not meet the expectations of the patient or the surgeon that were outlined before the surgery. |
FAILSAFE Diet
| The FAILSAFE diet is a diet Free of Additives, Low in Salicylates, Amines and Flavour Enhancers. The diet is used to treat symptoms of food intolerance including allergic reactions and hyperactive behaviour. |
Fallopian tube sperm perfusion
| Fallopian tube sperm perfusion is an artificial insemination procedure in which a large quantity of sperm-containing solution is injected directly into the fallopian tubes of a woman using a catheter. |
Fallopian Tubes
The fallopian tubes are fine tubes 10-12cm long, leading from the ovaries to the uterus. They are important for transmitting eggs from the ovary to the uterus. This process is necessary for fertilisation and initial development of the baby. More on female reproductive system. |
False Negative
| False negative is when a person tests negative for something when they in fact should be positive or are highly likely to be positive. This can occur with certain infectious agents which do not release any detectable antibody until some time after the infection has occurred. A repeat of the test is recommended a few months later if this is suspected to be the case. |
False Positive
| False positive is a positive result when a person is actually in fact negative for whatever is being analysed. This may happen when a person has an underlying condition that may affect the results of a test |
Famciclovir
| Famciclovir is an antiviral medicine used to treat infections such as shingles, genital herpes and shingles. |
Family Focus Therapy
| Family focus therapy aims to educate a patient's family about the patient's illness, including symptoms and treatment. It also helps to improve communication and problem solving within the family. |
Family History
| Family history, in medicine, refers to the presence of an illness, disease or condition in family members related by blood. It is often particularly significant in “first degree” family members (parents, siblings, children). |
Family studies
| Family studies are studies which are conducted to determine which common genes are shared by members of a family. Family studies help to determine the heritability of certain conditions and diseases. For example, a family study could be conducted for a certain disorder, X. Abnormal genes will be identified in the family members that have X and then these genes will be compared. If both family members have X and carry a certain gene abnormality then researchers can investigate whether this gene can predispose an individual to disorder X. |
Famvir
| Famvir contains an active drug (medicine) called Famciclovir. It is commonly used to treat cold sores, shingles and genital herpes. |
Fatigue
| Fatigue is a extreme feeling of tiredness; either mental or physical. It can occur after a period of intense activity or emotion. Prolonged fatigue (greater than 6 months) can be an indicator of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. |
Febrile Convulsion
| A febrile convulsion is a type of seizure that occurs solely because of a rise in body temperature as part of a fever. They are reasonably common, mostly between the ages of 5 months and 5 years. They do not cause brain damage. If a child has a febrile convulsion they should be brought to hospital to investigate the cause of the fever and any underlying problems. |
Fecal incontinence
| Fecal incontinence is the inability to control one's bowels. When one feels the urge to have a bowel movement, they may not be able to hold it until they can get to a toilet, or stool may leak from the rectum unexpectedly. |
Female Condom
The female condom consists of a lubricated polyurethane sheath with a ring on each end that is inserted into the vagina. The female condom has been found to be an effective barrier to viruses, including the HIV virus. However, there is still little data on the true effectiveness of this method of STD prevention. For more information, see Protecting Against STDs and Female Condom. |
Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD)
| Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) is an umbrella term for the various reasons a woman may be unable to enjoy or participate in a sexual relationship when they wish to do so. |
Female Urogenital System
| The female urogenital tract consists of all the organs involved in reproduction and the formation and release of urine. It includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, and the organs of reproduction - uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and vagina. |
Femara
| Femara is indicated for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. In early breast cancer, it is indicated for initial or extended adjuvant therapy. In advanced cases, it is indicated as first line treatment, or after tamoxifen therapy has failed. Femara is not indicated for hormone receptor-negative breast cancer. |
Femoral arteries
| Femoral arteries are a type of artery which take blood to the legs. |
Femoston
| Femoston is a combination hormone replacement therapy for use in women with an intact uterus; indicated to help with typical menopausal symptoms (e.g. hot flushes) and to prevent bone mineral density loss (osteoporosis). |
Femtran
| Femtran is used as a hormone replacement in those people who are low in oestrogen. |
Fentanyl
| Fentanyl is a compound found within durogesic patches. Fentanyl relieves pain by blocking the nerves that recognise pain messages from the body. |
Ferriprox
| Ferriprox tablets contain an ingredient called deferiprone. This is used to treat iron overloaded patients with thalassaemia major. Specifically, this is used in the group of patients who are unable to take desferrioxamine therapy or where the mentioned therapy has been proven ineffective. |
Ferrum H
Ferrum H injections are useful for treating iron deficiency anaemia when:
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Fertilisation
| Fertilisation combines the haploid set of sperm chromosomes with the haploid set of egg chromosomes, producing a diploid set of chromosomes that form a new individual. |
Fertility
Fertility is the ability to conceive and cause pregnancy through sexual activity. Infertility is failure to conceive through sexual activity without contraception. |
Fertility awareness contraceptive methods
| Fertility awareness contraceptive methods are methods in which a woman monitors changes to her body temperature and cervical mucus which occur throughout the menstrual cycle. Based on these changes she can predict when she is and is not fertile and avoid sex during the fertile period. |
Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM)
| Fertility Awareness Methods are methods of natural birth control which are focus on avoiding intercourse during the time a woman is most fertile, which is around the time of ovulation. There are many fertility awareness methods in used including Billings, Cervical Mucus, Temperature, Rhythm and Sympto-Thermal method. |
fetal anomaly
| A fetal anomaly refers to anomalies in the structure or function of fetal organs. |
Fever
| A fever is a raising of the body's temperature, usually in response to infection or another inflammatory process. It is part of the immune response and helps fight infection. It is usually defined as a temperature above 37.2°C in the morning or 37.8°C at other times of the day when measured with an oral mercury thermometer. Another word for a fever is pyrexia. |
Fever of Unknown Origin
| A fever of unknown origin is a fever that has lasted for more than three weeks without a cause being known, despite investigations in a hospital. |
FFS - Failure free survival
| The time to defined failure of treatment. This may be clinical or biochemical failure. |
Fibrates
| Fibrates are a type of lipid-lowering medication used in cholesterol management, commonly in combination with statins. They increase HDL cholesterol and reduce triglyceride levels. |
Fibrillation
| Fibrillations refer to chaotic contractions of the atria. Fibrillations are caused by disorganised conduction of electrical impulses through the atria of the heart. |
Fibrillin
| A glycoprotein, which is essential for the formation of elastic fibres found in connective tissue. Fibrillin is altered in stretch mark formation. |
Fibrin
| Fibrin is a molecule that is vital for the process of inflammation and scab formation. As the name implies, it forms a fibrous mesh that can wall of inflamed areas and stop bleeding by patching over damaged areas. |
Fibroadenoma
| A fibroadenoma is a non-cancerous (benign) lump of solid tissue. It is round, firm and moves easily under the skin. A fibroadenoma is not cancerous, cannot become cancerous and does not increase your chances of developing cancer. |
Fibromyalgia
| Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterised by widespread pain of bones, muscles and joints. It is often associated with other generalised symptoms such as fatigue, depressed mood, anxiety, difficulties concentrating and sleep disturbances. |
Fibronectin
| A glycoprotein that binds to several other components in the matrix of the skin - ie collagen, fibrin, which is altered with stretch mark formation. |
Fibrosis
| Fibrosis is the thickening and scarring of tissue, usually as a consequence of inflammation. |
Fibrous joints
Fibrous joints are joints which are united by fibrous tissue. It is the length of this fibrous tissue that determines the amount of movement permissible at these joints. For further infomation: anatomy- joints |
Fibrous tissue
| Fibrous tissue is essentially the connective tissue that comprises of yellow or white fibres. |
Filaggrin
Filaggrin is a protein which forms an integral part of the epidermis and is crucial for the protective barrier function of the uppermost layer of the skin. Loss of function mutations of the filaggrin gene are strong predisposing factors for eczema. |
Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Biopsy
| A fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is a simple procedure that involves passing a thin needle through the skin to sample fluid or tissue from a cyst or solid mass. The sample of cellular material taken during an FNA is then sent to a pathology laboratory for analysis. |
First Line Treatment
First line treatment is the first treatment that should be used in an attempt to solve a medical problem. It is usually the cheapest and least invasive treatment which has been demonstrated to be effective. |
First stage of labour
| The first stage of labour lasts from the initiation of labour until there is full dilation of the cervix. |
First Trimester
The first trimester lasts for the first 12 - 14 weeks of pregnancy. Most mothers realise they are pregnant early in the first trimester. Some symptoms of pregnancy include;
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First-degree relatives
| First-degree relatives are the parents, brothers, sisters or children of an individual. |
Fissures
| Cracks or grooves. |
Fistula
| Fistulas are abnormal connections of passageways between organs and structures that are not normally connected. In the gastrointestinal tract they refer to connections from the bowel to the bladder, skin surface or other segments of intestine. Fistulas develop after damage and weakening of the bowel wall due to trauma, surgery, inflammation, infections or cancer. |
Flatulence
| Flatulence is the passage of excess gastrointestinal from the back passage (anus). In colloquial terms this is called 'farting.' |
Flexibility
The flexibility of a muscle is its maximum range of motion around a joint. |
Flexion
| Flexion refers to a bending movement that decreases the angle between two parts. Eg. Bending the elbow. |
Flexor carpi radialis
Flexor carpi radialis is a muscle in the forearm that is is generally used as a landmark for locating the radial artery where a pulse is usually taken. It also affects the movements of the wrist and fingers of the hand. |
Flexor digiti minimi brevis
| Flexor digiti minimi brevis is a muscle in the hand which flexes the little finger. |
Flexor pollicis brevis
| Flexor pollicis brevis is a muscle in the hand that flexes the thumb. |
Flolan
| Flolan is a drug used for the treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). |
Flossing
| Flossing is the use of special thread to dislodge and clean food and bacteria from in between teeth. Flossing should be carried out before brushing each time the mouth is cleaned. |
Flow cytometry
| This is a technique that marks cells with a fluorescent dye and then directs them through a laser beam. Flow cytometry can be used when other tests have failed to identify any abnormalities in blood Clotting. |
Flu (influenza) vaccine
| Flu vaccines are products that are given to people so that their immune system (which fights off illness) is better able to recognise flu (influenza) infection if the person is exposed, and therefore has a better chance of fighting it off. |
Fluanxol
| Fluanxol is used for the long-term treatment of schizophrenia, a mental illness with disturbances in thinking, emotional reactions and behaviour, and other chronic mental conditions. |
Fluoride
| Fluoride is the ionic form of fluorine, which strengthens tooth enamel. |
Fluorosis
| Fluorosis is caused by excessive intake of fluoride characterized mainly by mottling of the teeth. |
Fluphenazine
| Fluphenazine is a phenothiazine antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia. The trade name is Prolixin. |
Fluphenthixol
| Fluphenthixol is a thioxanthene antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia. It is also used for depression but only in the short-term. |
Flurouracil
| Flurouracil is a type of drug used in chemotherapy. Some of its principal use is in colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer, in which it has been the established form of chemotherapy for decades. |
Fluticasone
| Fluticasone is a drug (medicine) that works by reducing the swelling and irritation occuring in the lungs in COPD and asthma. |
Fluvastatin
| Fluvastatin is a medicine that reduces the amount of cholesterol produced by the body. |
Focal Neuropathy
| Focal Neuropathy is a type of diabetic neuropathy which appears suddenly and affects specific nerves, most often in the head, torso, or leg. |
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
| A child who, in conjection with maternal alcohol exposure, has three of the four components of the syndrome: growth restriction, facial abnormalities, CNS impairment and other physical effects. |
Foetal Macrosomia
| Foetal Macrosomia is when a child has a birth weight of more than 4000 g (8 lb, 13 oz) |
Foetal-maternal haemorrhage
| Foeta-maternal haemorrhage occurs when foetal blood cells cross into the mothers circulation. |
Foetus
| A foetus is an unborn baby from the eighth week of fertilisation until birth. Obstetric ultrasound is often used to evaluate the growth and well-being of the foetus. |
Follicle
| A small shaft in the skin through which a hair grows, through which sebum is excreted from sebaceous glands to the surface of the skin. Follicles become blocked in the process of acne. |
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
| Follicle Stimulating hormone is a gonadotrophin (i.e. hormone) which regulates the growth of ovarian follicles. |
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
| Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), otherwise known as a gonadotropin, stimulates the gonads in both females and males and is essential for reproduction. FSH stimulates the maturation of ovarian follicles in females and supports sperm cell maturation in males. FSH is secreted from cells in the anterior pituitary called gonadotrophs. |
Folliclular stage of the menstrual cycle
| The follicular stage of the menstrual cycle refers to the first half of the menstrual cycle (i.e. the first 14 days of a 28 day cycle) in which ovarian follicles are developing and a dominant follicle is selected to develop and mature and oocyte for release at ovulation. |
Follicular phase
| Follicular phase is generally days 7 - 14 of a women's menstrual cycle (28 day cycle). This phase is initiated from the day bleeding stops and finishes with a mid cycle surge of LH. |
Follicular phase of the menstrual cycle
| The follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is the phase following menstrual bleeding, in which oocytes are developing and maturing on ovarian follicles in a woman's ovaries. |
Fondaparinux
| Fondaparinux is used for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events (VTE). Fondaparinux works by inhibiting factor Xa, a blood component responsible for clotting. By inhibiting this factor Fondaparinux prevents blood clots forming in the body, which are more likely to occur following major surgery and immobilisation. |
Food additives
| Food additives are chemical substances added to foods to improve flavour, texture, colour, appearance and consistency, or as preservatives during manufacturing or processing. Herbs, spices, hops, salt, yeast, water, air and protein hydrolysates are excluded from this definition. |
Food Intolerance
| Food Intolerance involves an adverse reaction to a certain chemical or chemicals found in food. These chemicals cause reactions by irritating nerve endings. In order to avoid these adverse reactions the groups of food that contain that chemical should be eliminated from the diet. Food intolerance is unlike a food allergy which involves activation of the immune system. |
Foradile
Foradile is a medication used for the treatment of asthma in patients aged 5 years or older. It is also used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). |
Foramen ovale
| Foramen ovale is part of the foetal circulatory system. It is a hole in the interatrial septum which passes blood directly from the right atrium to the left atrium. |
Foreskin
The foreskin is a piece of skin which covers the head or glans of the penis. For more information, see Male Urogenital System. |
Formed elements
| Formed elements are components of blood that consist of blood cells and platelets. |
Forteo (Teriparatide)
Teriparatide is used for the treatment of:
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Fosamax
| Fosamax is an agent used to help treat and/or prevent osteoporosis as well as to treat Paget's disease of the bone. |
Fosamax Plus
| Fosamax Plus is a drug which contains alendronate sodium and vitamin D. It is indicated for confirmed osteoporosis where vitamin D supplementation is also needed. Your doctor will let you know if you require vitamin D supplements after conducting a blood test. |
Fractionation
| Fractionation in radiotherapy for cancer is the division of the total radiation dose into several smaller doses given over several days, thus reducing negative side effects. |
Framingham Risk Score
The Framingham risk score is a score which indicates an individuals risk of developing cardiovascular disease, based on the presence or absence of risk factors (e.g. tobacco use). The Framingham risk score was developed from the Framingham study of cardiovascular risk. The study followed a group of patients over a long period of time to see which individuals did and did not develop cardiovascular disease, in order to determine which risk factors could predict its development. |
Free radicals
Free radicals are reactive molecules that play important roles in both normal body function and disease. Free radicals help fight disease by killing bacteria and unwanted pathogens. As a result of their reactivity, free radicals can also cause unwanted cell damage. |
Frequency
| The number of complete ultrasound waves produced each second. For diagnostic ultrasound this is expressed in megahertz (MHz). 1MHz = 106 Hz = 106 waves per second. |
Friction
| The rubbing of one object or surface against another one. This may contribute to the development of pressure ulcers. |
Friction welding
| Friction welding is a welding process in which the heat necessary to weld the components together is generated by friction |
Frontal Lobe
| The frontal lobe is the largest of all the lobes of the brain . The frontal lobe is all the brain in front of the central sulcus all the way to the front of the brain. The frontal lobe has several different functions: including control movement, initiation of voluntary movements, and motor control of language. |
Frontotemporal Dementia (Pick's Disease)
| Frontotemporal dementia (Pick's disease) is a form of dementia characterised by gradually worsening decline of mental abilities. The disease often affects a person's ability to use and understand spoken and written language. It can also affect personality, social behaviour, reasoning, problem solving, and memory. |
Frostbite
| Frostbite occurs when the tissues of the skin freeze. This can happen during prolonged exposure to cold weather, or even after a few minutes in extremely low temperatures. Cold winds increase the likelihood of frostbite because the movement of air removes body heat away from the skin more rapidly. |
Full Blood Count (FBC)
| A full blood count (FBC) is a test that is used to measure the number of red cells, white cells and platelets in your blood. A FBC not only tests for disorders and abnormalities of the blood but, as blood travels throughout the whole body, it can also give an indication of disease present in other organs. |
Full cream or whole milk
| Full cream or whole milk has full milk fat content (about 3-4%). |
Fungus
| A Fungus is a simple plant that does not contain the green colour chlorophyll (which converts sunlight to useable energy). They include moulds, yeasts and mushrooms. Some types of fungus can cause disease such as Aspergillosis and Candidiasis (thrush). |
