Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Pertaining to hair. As in trichinosis, a disease due to the parasite Trichinella spiralis which was thought to look like a little spiral hair. From the Greek thrix, trichos, meaning hair.

The process of sorting people based on their need for immediate medical treatment as compared to their chance of benefiting from such care. Triage is done in emergency rooms, disasters, and wars, when limited medical resources must be allocated to maximize the number of survivors. Triage in this sense originated in World War I. Wounded soldiers were classified into…

An abnormal, repetitive shaking movement of the body. Tremors have many causes and can be inherited, related to illnesses (such as thyroid disease), or caused by fever, hypothermia, drugs, or fear.

A medicinal compound once in wide use as an antidote to poisons. Treacle was a kind of salve. It was reputed to be a remedy against venomous bites in particular and against poisons in general. It also came to be considered a “cure” for cancer. The word “treacle” descends from the Greek “theriakos” (of a wild animal) and “therion” (a wild animal). Because…

Diarrhea that results from infections acquired while traveling to another country. Among the causes of traveler’s diarrhea are enterotoxigenic E. coli and a variety of other bacteria and viruses.

A branch of medicine that specializes in diseases and conditions that are acquired during travel. Travelers to different countries should be aware of the potential for acquiring diseases and injury which are not common in their own country. Immunizations, preventative medications, and general precautions should be considered prior to trips to different parts of the world. Immunizations…

A physical or emotional injury.

In anatomy, a horizontal plane passing through the standing body so that the transverse plane is parallel to the floor.

The creation of a picture called a sonogram by sending sound waves out through a probe inserted into the vagina. The waves bounce off the ovaries and other anatomical structures, and a computer uses the echoes to create a visual image. Abbreviated TVS.

Surgery to remove tissue using a special instrument inserted through the urethra. The procedure may be performed, for example, to remove an enlarged prostate that is obstructing the flow of urine. Abbreviated TUR.