Syphilis is a bacterial STD. Pathophysiology Syphilis, is caused by T. pallidum. Treponema pallidum is a spirochaete bacterium with subspecies that cause treponemal diseases e.g. syphilis, bejel, pinta and yaws. It has a cytoplasmic and...

CCB's (calcium channel blockers) reduce blood pressure. MOA Disrupts movement of calcium through calcium channels, thereby: Reducing BP Slowing HR Reducing force of contraction of the heart Unlike beta blockers, CCB don't decrease responsiveness of heart to...

Pap smear (short for Papanicolaou, also known as Cervical smear) is the screening for potentially pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the cervix (i.e. opening of the uterus or womb), i.e....

Peptic ulcer [disease] is a break in the lining of the stomach (aka stomach ulcer) [or even the first part of the small intestine (aka duodenal ulcer), or the lower esophagus]. [faq]What is a...

Epilepsy syndromes are specific features that are present. These features include the age at which seizures begin, the seizure types, and EEG findings, among others. Identifying an epilepsy syndrome is...

Bare weight involves weighing a bare child. Wt is an abbreviation for Weight. Birth weight is the body weight of a baby at birth. BW is an abbreviation for either Bare weight...

Lactose intolerance (aka lactase deficiency) is the inability of adults to digest lactose (i.e. sugar found in milk, and to a lesser extent in dairy products), causing side effects. Congenital lactase...

Pulse is measuring heart beat by palpating a peripheral artery by the fingertip (with the exception of using the thumb). Sometimes, there is delay, which is indicative of pathology. Method Pulses can...

Colectomy is surgical resection of any extent of the large intestine (colon). Indications Colon cancer Diverticulitis and diverticular disease of the large intestine Trauma IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), e.g. uclerative colitis → neither cures nor eliminates Crohn's,...

Uterotonic (aka ecbolic) is a drug used to induce contraction [or greater tonicity] of the uterus. [faq]What is a uterotonic? It's a drug which makes your uterus, also known as the womb,...