| AH | abdominal hysterectomy; absorptive hypercalciuria; accidental hypothermia; acetohexamide; acid hydro... |
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| ALVAD | abdominal left ventricular assist device |
| AO | abdominal aorta; achievement orientation; acid output; acridine orange; ankle orthosis; anodal openi... |
| A/P | abdominal/perineal; antepartum; ascites/plasma [ratio] |
| AT | abdominal thrusts; achievement test; Achilles tendon; Achard-Thiers [syndrome]; adaptive thermogenes... |
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| abdominal typhoid | <disease, microbiology> An infectious febrile illness usually spread by contamination of food, milk or water supplies with Salmonella typhi, either directly by sewage, indirectly by flies or by faulty personal hygiene. There are less than 600 cases per year in the us. Asymptomatic carriers harbor the organism in their gallbladder and excrete it in their stools for years. Average incubation time is 10-14 days. Fever, diarrhoeal stools (often bloody), abdominal pain, malaise and a rose coloured rash on the upper abdomen are seen. Severe cases may progress to delirium and obtundation. Complications include glomerulonephritis. Treatment includes intravenous fluids and antibiotics (chloramphenicol or ampicillin). Vaccines are recommended for travel to endemic areas. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| abdominal wall fat pad biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> The removal of a small specimen of the abdominal wall fat pad for microscopic examination. Often used in the diagnosis of amyloidosis. Performed with a local anaesthetic. (25 Jun 1999) |
| abdominal zones | The topographical subdivisions of the abdomen; based on subdividing the abdomen by the transpyloric, interspinous and midclavicular planes; including the right and left hypochondriac, right and left lateral, right and left inguinal, and the unpaired epigastric, umbilical and pubic regions. Synonym: regiones abdominis, abdominal zones. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aortic aneurysm, abdominal | An aneurysm in that part of the aorta continuing from the thoracic region and giving rise to the inferior phrenic, lumbar, median sacral, mesenteric, renal, and ovarian or testicular arteries. (12 Dec 1998) |
| aponeurosis of external abdominal oblique muscle | <anatomy> Broad, flat tendinous portion of the external abdominal oblique muscle. The fleshy fibres of the muscle end in the aponeurosis along a line descending vertically from the costochondral joint of the ninth rib then turning laterally just below the level of the umbilicus toward the anterior superior iliac spine. The fibres of the aponeurosis run medially and inferiorly, contributing to the anterior wall of the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle and decussating with those of the contralateral aponeurosis at the median linea alba. Inferomedially, the aponeurosis is attached to the upper border of the pubic symphysis, the pubic crest and pubic tubercle. Between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle, it is thickened and turned under, forming the inguinal ligaments. The portion of the aponeurosis attached to the pubic bone forms the superficial inguinal ring by splitting into medial and lateral crura. See: external spermatic fascia, inguinal ligament, lacunar ligament, pectineal ligament, reflected inguinal ligament, superficial inguinal ring, rectus sheath. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aponeurosis of internal abdominal oblique muscle | <anatomy> Broad, flat tendinous portion of the internal abdominal oblique muscle. The fleshy fibres of the muscle end in the aponeurosis lateral to the semilunar line. The uppermost portion of the aponeurosis is attached to the outer surfaces and lower borders of the seventh to ninth costal cartilages. Of the portion extending between the costoxiphoid margin and the pubis, the upper two-thirds splits into anterior and posterior laminae at the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle to contribute to the anterior and posterior walls of the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle as they extend to the midline linea alba. The lower third of the aponeurosis does not split but joins the aponeuroses of the external abdominal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles to form the anterior wall of the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle. The fibres of the portion of the aponeurosis contributing to the rectus sheath decussate with those of the contralateral aponeurosis in the linea alba. The lowermost portion of the aponeurosis blends with the aponeurosis of the transversus abdominis muscle to form the conjoint tendon, attaching to the pubic crest and often the pecten pubis, thus forming the posterior wall of the inguinal canal at the superficial inguinal ring. See: cremasteric fascia, conjoint tendon, rectus sheath. (05 Mar 2000) |
| radiography, abdominal | Radiographic visualization of the body between the thorax and the pelvis, i.e., within the peritoneal cavity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| reflex, abdominal | Contractions of the abdominal muscles upon stimulation of the skin (superficial abdominal reflex) or tapping neighboring bony structures (deep abdominal reflex). The superficial reflex may be weak or absent, for example, after a stroke, a sign of upper (suprasegmental) motor neuron lesions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cavity, abdominal | The space between the abdominal wall and the spine. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pectoral and abdominal anterior cutaneous branch of intercostal nerves | The ventral primary rami of spinal nerves T7-T11 (seventh to eleventh intercostal nerves), which supply the abdominal as well as the thoracic wall; innervate intercostal, subcostal, serratus posterior inferior, transversus abdominis, external and internal oblique, and rectus abdominis muscles, and provide sensory branches to the periphery of the diaphragm, and parietal pleura and peritoneum. Synonym: rami cutanei anteriores pectoralis et abdominalis nervorum intercostalium, ramus cutaneus anterior (pectoralis et abdominalis) nervorum thoracicorum, anterior cutaneous nerves of abdomen, pectoral and abdominal anterior cutaneous branch of intercostal nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| muscles, abdominal | A large group of muscles in the front of the abdomen that assists in the regular breathing movement and supports the muscles of the spine while lifting and keeping abdominal organs such as the intestines in place. Abdominal muscles play a key role in exercises such as sit-ups. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pregnancy, abdominal | Ectopic pregnancy with development of the foetus in the abdominal cavity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Heyns' abdominal decompression apparatus | A vacuum chamber enclosing the abdomen of the pregnant woman, creating pressure during the first stage of labour. (05 Mar 2000) |
| secondary abdominal pregnancy | A condition in which the embryo or foetus continues to grow in the abdominal cavity after its expulsion from the fallopian tube or other seat of its primary development. Synonym: abdominocyesis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hysterectomy, abdominal | Surgical removal of the uterus through an incision made in the abdominal wall. As opposed to a vaginal hysterectomy. (12 Dec 1998) |