Category: Ao-Ap

Laxative. Something that promotes emptying of the bowels. Laxatives are used to combat constipation. They are sometimes overused, producing diarrhea. Laxatives include milk of magnesia and many others.

A genetic autoimmune disease with an extraordinary array of clinical features but characterized most often by at least 2 of the following 3 findings: hypoparathyroidism — under function of the parathyroid glands which control calcium, candidiasis (yeast infection), and adrenal insufficiency (under function of the adrenal gland). APECED was the first systemic (bodywide) autoimmune disease found due to a…

Aspirin, phenacetin, and caffeine (a pill containing all three). Phenacetin was the first nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to be associated with kidney failure.

Antigen-presenting cell, a cell that can “present” antigen in a form that T cells can recognize it. Among the APCs are B cells and cells of the monocyte lineage including macrophages.

A major gene that is involved in causing colorectal cancer. APC is involved in both sporadic and familial forms of colorectal cancer. A mutation in the APC gene is the earliest detectable molecular abnormality in colorectal cancer. This mutation imitates the neoplastic process 20 to 30 years before the malignancy itself is full-blown. APC is a relatively large gene on chromosome…

APC has several very different meanings in medicine. See each of the following separate entries:1. APC (gene).2. APC (immunology).3. APC (medication).

1. American Psychiatric Association.  2. American Psychological Association.  3. American Podiatry Association.  4. Antiphospholipid antibody.  5. Alkaline phosphatase activity.

An X-ray picture in which the beams pass from front-to-back (anteroposterior). As opposed to a PA (posteroanterior) film in which the rays pass through the body from back-to-front.

In anatomy, AP stands for anteroposterior: from front-to-back. For example, an AP X-ray of the chest is taken from front-to-back. AP in this respect is the opposite of PA, which stands for posteroanterior: from back-to-front.

AP is a versatile abbreviation. It serves in cardiology to abbreviate angina pectoris (AP) and arterial pressure (AP). In endocrinology, it stands for the anterior pituitary (AP). And in anatomy, AP means anteroposterior, i.e., from front-to-back.