Category: Aa-Ab

An abscess behind the tonsils that pushes one of the tonsils toward the uvula (the prominent soft tissue dangling from the back of the palate in the back of the mouth). A peritonsillar abscess is generally very painful and associated with difficulty opening the mouth. If a peritonsillar abscess is untreated, the infection can spread deep into the neck,…

An abscess next to the anus that causes tenderness, swelling, and pain on defecation.

A local accumulation of pus within the breast due to infection. Symptoms may include painful local swelling of the breast, a breast lump, and redness and tenderness of the breast. If the abscess forms in spite of antibiotics, it may need to be incised and drained, a minor surgical procedure, in order to heal. 

A local accumulation of pus anywhere in the body. The following are some examples of abscesses: A skin abscess is better known as a common boil; A peritonsillar abscess is a persistent collection of pus behind the tonsils; and A perianal abscess is a pool of pus that forms next to the anus, often causing considerable tenderness and swelling…

Slang term for the abdominal muscles.

A sudden breaking off or away. Abruption of the placenta (abruptio placentae) is the premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus, a potentially very serious situation for the mother and baby.

Premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus. Abruption is a potentially serious problem both for the mother and baby.

A phytotoxin (plant poison) found in the seeds of a plant called the rosary pea or jequirity pea. These seeds are red with a black spot covering one end. Abrin is similar to ricin, a toxin that is also found in the seeds of a plant (the castor bean plant), although abrin is much more poisonous…

An abrasion or “excoriation” is a wearing away of the upper layer of skin as a result of applied friction force. In dentistry an “abrasion” is the wearing away of the tooth substance.

Also abram-man. One of a class of beggars who once wandered over England after the dissolution of the religious houses in the 16th century, pretending lunacy for the sake of obtaining alms. To sham Abraham (or sham Abram) now means to feign sickness, to fake illness.