| lingual splint | One similar to the labial splint, but conforming to the inner aspect of the dental arch. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| lingual surface of tooth | The surface of a tooth that faces the tongue; opposite to the facies vestibulum dentis. Synonym: facies lingualis dentis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lingual tonsil | A collection of lymphoid follicles on the posterior or pharyngeal portion of the dorsum of the tongue. Synonym: tonsilla lingualis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lingual trophoneurosis | Atrophy of one lateral half of the tongue. Synonym: lingual trophoneurosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lingual vein | <anatomy, vein> Receives blood from the tongue, sublingual and submandibular glands, and muscles of the floor of the mouth; empties into the internal jugular or the facial vein. Synonym: vena lingualis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdominal abscess | <surgery> A localised pus-forming (suppurative) bacterial infection that occurs within the abdominal cavity as the result of a perforated viscus or post operative complication. Treatment requires either percutaneous or open surgical drainage. (27 Sep 1997) |
| abscess | <microbiology, surgery> A localised collection of pus caused by suppuration buried in tissues, organs or confined spaces. Usually due to an infective process. Origin: L. Abscessus, from ab = away, cedere = to go (18 Nov 1997) |
| abscess, peritonsillar | A persistent collection of pus behind the tonsil. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abscess scan | <investigation> This is a nuclear scan that utilises radioactively tagged white blood cells. The patients white blood cells (taken from a small tube of blood) are tagged with radioactive indium. Later, the cells are then reinjected into the bloodstream. The coarse of the white blood cells can then be mapped using a gamma camera (radiation detecting device). The net result is a picture that shows the location of the radioactive white blood cells. The location of the white cells can indicated the presence of infection or inflammation. This test is useful in detecting a hidden source of bacterial infection, such as an abscess. (11 Mar 1998) |
| abscess, skin | Medical term for a common boil. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute abscess | A recently formed abscess with little or no fibrosis in the wall of the cavity. Synonym: hot abscess. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alveolar abscess | A pocket of pus adjacent to or within (apical abscess) the tooth's root caused by plaque and calculus invasion. Symptoms include tooth pain and tenderness that may be accompanied by facial swelling and a fever. Treatment includes antibiotics and a thorough cleansing of the infected site by a dentist. See: apical abscess. (27 Sep 1997) |
| amoebic abscess | <gastroenterology> An area of abscess formation (liquefaction necrosis) in the liver due to infection of the organ with amoebae. See: amoebiasis. (05 Feb 1998) |
| anorectal abscess | <surgery> An abscess that forms adjacent to the anal opening. Symptoms include a tender swelling adjacent to the anus and pain on defecation. (27 Sep 1997) |
| apical abscess | <dentistry> A dental abscess that occurs at the end of a root, caused by tooth decay which invades the pulp chamber of the tooth. Involvement of the pulp chamber can lead to destruction of the nerve and blood vessels which supply the tooth. These infections must be treated by root canal therapy (endodontics) or tooth extraction. (27 Sep 1997) |