| congenital adrenal hyperplasia | <endocrinology> A genetic disorder present at birth characterised by a deficiency of the hormones aldosterone and cortisol and an overproduction of male sex hormones (androgens). In males this may manifest as enlarged penis, small testes and early development of masculine characteristics. In females features include ambiguous genitalia, failure to menstruate, deep voice and excessive hair. Origin: Gr. Plassein = to form (27 Sep 1997) |
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| congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia | A series of inherited inborn errors of metabolism with hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex and overproduction of virilizing hormones. Most common forms are due to partial or complete 21-hydroxylase deficiency, leading to increased ACTH production by the pituitary, stimulating adrenal growth and function. Severe form is characterised by salt-losing state. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foetal adrenal cortex | An extensive area of the adrenal gland present in primates during foetal life and for a short period after birth; located between the definitive cortex and the medulla, it contains large steroid-secreting cells arranged in a reticular pattern; involution of this zone in humans is largely completed by three months after birth. Synonym: androgenic zone, foetal reticularis, foetal zone, provisional cortex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accessory cephalic vein | <anatomy, vein> A variable vein that passes along the radial border of the forearm to join the cephalic vein near the elbow. Synonym: vena cephalica accessoria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accessory hemiazygos vein | <anatomy, vein> Formed by the union of the fourth to seventh left posterior intercostal veins, passes along the side of the bodies of the fifth, sixth, and seventh thoracic vertebrae, then crosses the midline behind the aorta, oesophagus, and thoracic duct, and empties into the azygos vein, sometimes in common with the hemiazygos vein. Synonym: vena hemiazygos accessoria, vena azygos minor superior. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accessory saphenous vein | <anatomy, vein> An occasional vein running in the thigh parallel to the great saphenous vein which it joins just before the latter empties into the femoral vein. Synonym: vena saphena accessoria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accessory vertebral vein | <anatomy, vein> A vein that accompanies the vertebral vein but passes through the foramen of the transverse process of the seventh cervical vertebra and opens independently into the brachiocephalic vein. Synonym: vena vertebralis accessoria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accompanying vein | A vein accompanying another structure. Synonym: accompanying vein, companion vein. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accompanying vein of hypoglossal nerve | Runs with the hypoglossal nerve below and lateral to the hyoglossus muscle, emptying usually into the lingual vein. Synonym: accompanying vein of hypoglossal nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| angular vein | <anatomy, vein> A short vein at the medial angle of the eye, formed by the supraorbital and supratrochlear veins's and continuing as the facial vein. Synonym: vena angularis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior auricular vein | <anatomy, vein> One of several veins draining the auricle and acoustic meatus and emptying into the retromandibular vein. Synonym: vena auricularis anterior, vena preauricularis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior cerebral vein | <anatomy, vein> A small vein that parallels the anterior cerebral artery and drains into the basal vein. Synonym: vena cerebri anterior. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior facial vein | <anatomy, vein> A continuation of the angular vein at the medial angle of the eye. It passes diagonally downward and outward, joining with the retromandibular vein below the border of the lower jaw before emptying into the internal jugular vein. Synonym: anterior facial vein, vena facialis anterior, vena facialis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior jugular vein | <anatomy, vein> It arises below the chin from veins draining the lower lip and mental region, descends the anterior portion of the neck superficially, and terminates in the external jugular vein at the lateral border of the scalenus anterior muscle. Synonym: vena jugularis anterior. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior pontomesencephalic vein | A vein in the midline of the interpeduncular fossa on the superior and anterior aspects of the pons; it communicates with the basal vein superiorly and the petrosal vein inferiorly. Synonym: anterior pontomesencephalic vein. (05 Mar 2000) |