33 P
pacemaker (PĀS-māk-ĕr): An electronic implant that initiates a heart beat.
pachyderma (pak-ē-DĔR-mă): Thickening of the skin.
Pacinian corpuscle (pă-SIN-ē-ăn KOR-pŭs-ĕl): Lamellated corpuscle that responds to vibration.
palatine tonsils (PAL-ă-tīn TON-sĭls): A pair of soft tissue masses located at the rear of the throat (pharynx).
palatitis (pal-ă-TĪT-ĭs): Inflammation of the palate.
palatoplasty (PĂL-ăt-ō-plăs-tē): Surgical repair of the palate.
pallor (PĂL-or): Paleness.
palpate (PAL-pāt): Physical examination technique: The examiner feels for texture, size, consistency and location of body parts with hands.
palpitations (păl-pĭ-Tā-shŭn): A feeling in the chest that may be caused by an irregular heart rhythm.
pancreatic (pan-krē-AT-ik): Pertaining to the pancreas.
pancreatitis (pan-krē-a-TĪT-ĭs): Inflammation of the pancreas.
pancytopenia (pan-sīt-ŏ-PĒ-nē-ă): Abnormal reduction of (all) blood cells.
panhypopituitarism (pan-hī-pō-pĭ-TOO-ĭt-ă-rizm, -TŪ): State of total deficient pituitary gland activity.
panplegia (păn-PLĒ-jē-ă): Total paralysis.
papanicolaou smear (păp-ă-NĒ-kă-low smēr): PAP test A smear method for examining cells, that is used to detect cancers of the cervix.
para (PĂR-ă): A woman who has given birth to an offspring after 20 weeks, live or stillborn.
paracrine (par-ă-krin): Chemical signal that elicits a response in neighboring cells; also called paracrine factor.
paraplegia (par-ă-PLĒ-j(ē-)ă): Paralysis that affects both legs and lower part of the body.
parathyroidectomy (păr-ă-thī-royd-ĔK-tō-mē): Excision of the parathyroid glands.
parathyroidoma (păr-ă-thī-royd-ō-MĀ): Tumor of the parathyroid glands.
paresis (pă-RĒ-sĭs): Partial paralysis wherein there is still some control of the muscles.
paresthesia (par-es-THĒ-zh(ē-)ă): Abnormal sensation in the extremities.
parietal lobe (pă-RĪ-ĕt-ăl lōb): Region of the cerebral cortex directly beneath the parietal bone of the cranium.
paronychia (păr-ō-NĬK-ē-ă): Diseased state around the nail.
parturition (păr-tū-RĬSH-ŭn): Act of giving birth.
passive immunity (PĂS-ĭv im-Ū-nĭt-ē): Transfer of immunity to a pathogen to an individual that lacks immunity to this pathogen usually by the injection of antibodies.
patellectomy (păt-ĕ-LĔK-tō-mē): Excision of the knee cap.
pathogens (path-Ŏ-jĕns): Disease-causing agents.
pelvic (PEL-vik): Pertaining to pelvis, pelvic bone.
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): Inflammation of some or all of the female pelvic organs.
pelvic sonography (PEL-vik sō-NOG-ră-fē): Process of recording sound pertaining to the pelvis.
pelvisacral (PEL-vĭs-SĀ-krăl): Pertaining to the pelvis and sacrum.
pelviscopic (pĕl-VĬS-kŭ-pĭk): Pertaining to visual examination of the pelvic cavity.
pelviscopy (pĕl-VĬS-kŭ-pē): Visual examination of the pelvic cavity.
penis (PĒ-nēz): Male organ of copulation.
percutaneous (pĕr-kū-TĀ-nē-ŭs): Pertaining to through the skin.
perfusion (pĕr-FŪ-zhŏn): The delivery of blood to an area/tissue/organ.
pericardial fluid (per-ĭ-KAR-dē-ăk FLOO-ĭd