Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

The definition of granuloma annulare in one of the standard print medical dictionaries begins: “a benign, usually self-limited granulomatous disease of unknown etiology, chiefly involving the dermis.” Translation: This condition usually clears up by itself (it is “usually self-limited); it is not malignant (it is “benign”); we don’t have a clue as to what causes it (it is “of unknown etiology”); it…

A granuloma is one of a number of forms of localized nodular inflammation found in tissues. The fact that a granuloma is localized is important. So is its nodularity. Granulomas have a typical pattern when examined under a microscope. Granulomas can be caused by a variety of biologic, chemical and physical irritants of tissue. A calcified granuloma is a granuloma…

A marked decrease in the number of granulocytes. Granulocytes are a type of white blood cell filled with microscopic granules that are little sacs containing enzymes that digest microorganisms. Granulocytes are part of the innate, somewhat non specific infection-fighting immune system. They do not respond exclusively to specific antigens, as do B-cells and T-cells. Granulocytopenia or, as…

That part of the healing process in which lumpy, pink tissue containing new connective tissue and capillaries forms around the edges of a wound. Granulation of a wound is normal and desirable.

A type of white blood cell filled with microscopic granules (tiny sacs) containing enzymes that digest microorganisms. Granular leukocytes — they are better known as granulocytes — are part of the innate immune system and have somewhat non specific, broad-based activity. They do not respond exclusively to specific antigens, as do B-cells and T-cells. Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils are…

A formal meeting at which physicians discuss the clinical case of one or more patients. Grand rounds originated as part of residency training wherein new information was taught and clinical reasoning skills were enhanced. Grand rounds today are an integral component of medical education. They present clinical problems in medicine by focusing on current or interesting cases.…

The term “multipara” applies to any woman who has given birth 2 or more times. A woman who has given birth 5 or more times is called a grand multipara. For a pregnancy to count as a “birth”, it must go to at least 20 weeks’ gestation (the mid-point of a full-term pregnancy) or yield an…

A form of epilepsy characterized by tonic-clonic seizures. involving two phases — the tonic phase in which the body becomes rigid, and clonic phase in which there is uncontrolled jerking. Tonic-clonic seizures may or may not be preceded by an aura, and are often followed by headache, confusion, and sleep. They may last for mere seconds, or continue…

Gram-positive bacteria retain the color of the crystal violet stain in the Gram stain. This is characteristic of bacteria that have a cell wall composed of a thick layer of a particular substance (called peptidologlycan). The Gram-positive bacteria include staphylococci (“staph”), streptococci (“strep”), pneumococci, and the bacterium responsible for diphtheria (Cornynebacterium diphtheriae) and anthrax (Bacillus anthracis). The Danish bacteriologist J.M.C. Gram (1853-1938)…

Gram-negative bacteria lose the crystal violet stain (and take the color of the red counterstain) in Gram’s method of staining. This is characteristic of bacteria that have a cell wall composed of a thin layer of a particular substance (called peptidoglycan). The Gram-negative bacteria include most of the bacteria normally found in the gastrointestinal tract that can be responsible…