Tonsillectomy is surgery where each tonsil is removed from the tonsillar fossa (i.e. recess in the side of the pharynx). [faq]What is tonsillectomy? "Ectomy" is Greek meaning "cutting out". So "tonsill-ectomy" is...

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...

Intermittent claudication (from Latin "claudicare" meaning "to limp") is a Sx that describes muscle pain (ache, cramp, numbness, or sense of fatigue), classically in the calf muscle, which occurs during...

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP, aka primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura) is an isolated thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) w/ normal bone marrow, and the absence of other causes of...

Erythema (from Greek "erythros" meaning "red") is redness of skin (or mucous membrane). [img]palmar-erythema.jpg[/img] Pathophysiology Caused by hyperemia (increased blood flow) of superficial capillaries. It occurs in: Skin injury Infection Inflammation Hypercholesterolemia, just like how it causes spider...

Developmental delay (aka delayed milestone) is where a child doesn't reach 1 of the milestone stages at the expected age, which can be in one of the 4 developmental domains: However, a wide...

Hyperthermia is elevated body temperature, due to failed thermoregulation that occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it dissipates. Extreme temperature elevation is a medical emergency and...

Blood type (aka blood group) is the classification of blood based on the presence (or absence) of inherited antigens (combination of proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, glycolipids) on the surface of RBC's. There...

Urolithiasis (from Greek "ouron" meaning "urine", "lithos" meaning "stone") is formation of urinary calculi (urinary stones), which are calculi formed or located anywhere in the urinary system. Classification Nephrolithiasis (formation of kidney...

Hepatic encephalopathy is confusion, altered level of consciousness, and coma, caused by liver failure. In its advanced stage, it is known as hepatic coma. [faq]What is hepatic encephalopathy? Hepatic means it's caused...