Category: En-Eq

Estrogen/progestin therapy.

Abbreviation for Electrophrenic respiration. Also known as diaphragm pacing.

Something named after someone. For example, a condition called Shiel syndrome might be named after (an eponym for) someone named Shiel who discovered it or who was the first to describe and clearly delineate it.

A test of the hormone EPO (erythropoietin) level in the blood. Testing EPO blood levels may be of value in:

An epidemic outbreak of disease in an animal population, often with the implication that it may extend to humans. For example, Rift Valley fever (RVF) primarily affects livestock and can cause disease in a large number of domestic animals — an “epizootic” — and the presence of an RVF epizootic can lead to an epidemic among humans who are…

The outside layer of cells that covers all the free, open surfaces of the body including the skin, and mucous membranes that communicate with the outside of the body. By contrast the endothelium is the layer of cells lining the closed internal spaces of the body such as the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels (that convey the lymph, a…

Medical term for nosebleed. The nose is a part of the body that is very rich in blood vessels (vascular) and is situated in a vulnerable position on the face. As a result, any trauma to the face can cause bleeding, which may be profuse. Nosebleeds can occur spontaneously when the nasal membranes dry out, crust, and crack, as is common…

Congenital (at birth) malformation in which the opening of the urethra (from whence comes the urinary stream) is on the dorsum (topside) of the penis. Hypospadias is the corresponding malformation in which the opening of the urethra is on the ventral surface (underside) of the penis.

Epipen®: a brand name for an epinephrine auto-injector device used to manage potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to allergens. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for life-threatening allergic reactions. Patients are recommended to have an epinephrine auto-injector immediately available if they have a history of life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to things like bee stings, peanuts or seafood, or are at…

Also known as adrenaline. A substance produced by the medulla inside of the adrenal gland. The name epinephrine was coined in 1898 by the American pharmacologist and physiologic biochemist John Jacob Abel who isolated it from the adrenal gland which is located above (epi-) the kidney “nephros” in Greek). (Abel is also crystallized insulin.) Technically speaking, epinephrine is a sympathomimetic catecholamine. It causes quickening of the heart…