Category: Xa-Xz

Foreign or other. As in: The origin of “xeno-” is from the Late Latin, from Greek, from “xenos” meaning stranger, guest, or host. Xeno- and xen- are variant forms of the same prefix.

Foreign or other. As in: The origin of “xen-” is from the Late Latin, from Greek, from “xenos” meaning stranger, guest, or host. Xen- and xeno- are variant forms of the same prefix.

Yellowing of the skin without yellowing of the eyes. In jaundice there is yellowing of both the skin and the whites of the eyes. Xanthosis is associated sometimes with malignancies.

A form of chromatopsia, a visual abnormality in which objects look as though they have been overpainted with an unnatural color. In xanthopsia, that color is yellow.

A substance found in caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline and encountered in tea, coffee, and the colas. Chemically, xanthine is a purine. There is a genetic disease of xanthine metabolism, xanthinuria, due to deficiency of an enzyme, xanthine dehydrogenase, needed to process xanthine in the body. Unchecked, xanthinuria can lead to kidney stone formation and urinary tract disease (due to xanthine stones) and to muscle disease (due to…

A colorful prefix relating to a yellow color. “Xanth-” is related to the word “xanthic” which has its roots in the Greek word “xanthos” which means yellow. A number of medical terms trace to “xanthos” including, for example: “Xanth” is more than a prefix. It is a combining term and can be at the front,…

A benzodiazepine sedative that causes dose-related depression of the central nervous system. Alprazolam is useful in treating anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, and muscle spasms. The brand name is Xanax. A generic version is available.

High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used in low doses to make images that help to diagnose diseases and in high doses to treat cancer.

A coagulation factor, a substance in blood essential to the normal clotting process. Production of factor X takes place in the liver and requires vitamin K. The gene for factor X is located on chromosome 13 and is in band 13q34. The “X” in factor X is the Roman numeral “ten.” (All numbered coagulation factors bear Roman numerals.) Factor X…