Category: Za-Zz
-
Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT)
A technique in which a woman’s egg is fertilized outside the body, then implanted in one of her fallopian tubes. This technique is one of the methods used to overcome infertility, the inability of couples to produce offspring on their own. First, the egg and the male sperm needed to fertilize it are harvested. Then the egg and…
-
Zygote
The cell formed by the union of a male sex cell (a sperm) and a female sex cell (an ovum). The zygote develops into the embryo following the instruction encoded in its genetic material, the DNA. The unification of a sperm and an ovum to form a zygote constitutes fertilization.
-
Zygomatic bone
The part of the temporal bone of the skull that forms the prominence of the cheek. The zygomatic bone is also known as the zygomatic arch, the zygoma, the malar bone, the cheek bone and the yoke bone. The word “zygomatic” comes from the Greek “zygon” meaning a yoke or crossbar by which two draft animals such as oxen could be…
-
Zygoma
The bone that forms the prominence of the cheek. Also known as zygomatic bone, zygomatic arch, malar bone, and yoke bone.
-
Zovirax
Brand name of Acyclovir.
-
Zoophilia
A sexual disorder involving an erotic attraction to animals or an abnormal desire to have sexual contact with animals. Zoophilia is one form of paraphilia (deviant sexual behavior).
-
Zoonotic
Pertaining to a zoonosis: a disease that can be transmitted from animals to people or, more specifically, a disease that normally exists in animals but that can infect humans. There are multitudes of zoonotic diseases. Some examples include: Zoonoses may appear suddenly and be relatively virulent, as illustrated by HIV which ignited the AIDS epidemic and the coronavirus responsible for the outbreak of SARS.
-
Zona pellucida
The strong membrane that forms around an ovum as it develops in the ovary. The membrane remains in place during the egg’s travel through the fallopian tube. To fertilize the egg, a sperm must penetrate the thinning zona pellucida. If fertilization takes place, the zona pellucida disappears, to permit implantation in the uterus.
-
Zona
1. A synonym for shingles. 2. Any zone or encircling area. 3. Any area with a specific boundary. Zona, Latin for a girdle, is a synonym for shingles because it can appear to girdle part of the body.
-
Zomig
Brand name for zolmitriptan, a triptan drug for the treatment of migraine.