Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A large vein that receives blood from the lower extremities, pelvis and abdomen and delivers it to the right atrium of the heart.

In anatomy, below or toward the feet. As opposed to superior. The liver is inferior to the lungs.

An infection in the urinary system that begins when microorganisms cling to the opening of the urethra (the canal from the bladder) and begin to multiply. Most UTIs are due to one type of bacteria, E. (Escherichia) coli, a normal denizen of the colon. An infection in the urethra leads to inflammation called urethritis. From there bacteria may move up,…

An infection caught while hospitalized. The medical term for a hospital-acquired infection is nosocomial. Most nosocomial infections are due to bacteria. Since antibiotics are frequently used within hospitals, the types of bacteria and their resistance to antibiotics is different than bacteria outside of the hospital. Nosocomial infections can be serious and difficult to treat. A nosocomial infection is strictly and specifically an infection…

The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are not normally present within the body. An infection may cause no symptoms and be subclinical, or it may cause symptoms and be clinically apparent. An infection may remain localized, or it may spread through the blood or lymphatic vessels to become systemic…

The formation of an infarct, an area of tissue death, due to a local lack of oxygen.

Infantile paralysis is an old synonym for poliomyelitis, an acute and sometimes devastating viral disease. Man is the only natural host for poliovirus. The virus enters the mouth and multiplies in lymphoid tissues in the pharynx and intestine. Small numbers of virus enter the blood and go to other sites where the virus multiplies more extensively. Another round of viremia (virus…

An overly mature baby that has not been born until well after the usual term pregnancy. A post-term baby is specifically one born 2 weeks (14 days) or more after the usual 9 months (280 days) of gestation. The gestation (length of the pregnancy) is calculated from the date of the last menstrual period (LMP). This is…

A young baby, from birth to 12 months of age.

A branch of public health concerned with the health and well-being of workers. Its aims are to eliminate hazards and reduce industrial fatigue in the workplace.