Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A class of essential fatty acids found in fish oils, especially from salmon and other cold-water fish, that acts to lower the levels of cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoproteins) in the blood. (LDL cholesterol is the “bad” cholesterol.) EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are the two principal omega-3 fatty acids. The body has a limited ability to manufacture EPA and DHA by converting the essential…

Suffix meaning a swelling or tumor. Many words in medicine end in -oma. Some examples include adenoma, atheroma, carcinoma, condyloma, fibroma, glaucoma, glioma, granuloma, hemangioma, hematoma, lipoma, lymphoma, melanoma, meningioma, myeloma, neuroblastoma, neuroma, papilloma, retinoblastoma, sarcoma, and xanthoma. The medical suffix -oma came from the Greek suffix -oma which was used in a different way — to transform a verb into a noun.

Less urination than normal.

Fewer sperm than usual. Azospermia, by contrast, means absolutely no sperm at all.

Too little amniotic fluid. The opposite of polyhydramnios: Too much amniotic fluid.

Means just a few or scanty. From the Greek “oligos’, few, scanty. Examples of terms starting with oligo- include oligodactyly (few fingers), oligohydramnios (too little amniotic fluid) and oligospermia (too few sperm).

An oil-based preparation that is applied to the skin. Whereas an ointment has an oil base, a cream is water soluble.

The progeny, or young, born to a person. In a larger sense, the offspring are collectively all the descendants, the brood, or the family. For example, the offspring of someone with a genetic (inherited) condition, such as Huntington’s disease, are themselves at risk for the disease.

Pain on swallowing food and fluids, a symptom often due to disease of the esophagus. From the Greek roots odyno-, pain + -phagia, from phagein, to eat.

Abbreviation of “oculus dexter.” Latin for “right eye.” (The words “dexterity” and “dextrous” derive from “dexter” since the right hand is usually more skillful than the left.) OS stands for “oculus sinister” which is Latin for left eye.