Glossary O's
oxygen
Definition:gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless; essential to almost all forms of life
obesity
Definition:condition in which there is an excess of body fat; used to describe those who weigh at least twenty percent more than the maximum amount considered normal for their age, sex, and height
obstructive sleep apnea
Definition:blockage of the airways during sleep, which causes breathing to stop for very short periods of time, commonly caused by excessive relaxation of muscles at the back of the throat
obstetrics
Definition:branch of medicine dealing with the care of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the period of recovery from childbirth
occupational disease
Definition:disease that occurs as a result of factors in the workplace
occupational therapy
Definition:treatment to relearn physical skills lost as a result of an illness or accident
occlusion
Definition:blocking of an opening or passageway in the body
occult blood
Definition:blood in the feces that can be detected only by chemical tests
ocular
Definition:pertaining to the eyes
overdose
Definition:excessively large dose of a drug, which can lead to coma and death
Oncologyoncology
Definition:the study, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that cause cancer
oncology
Definition:the study, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that cause cancer
oophorectomy
Definition:surgical removal of one or both ovaries; used to treat the growth of ovarian cysts or tumors
open heart surgery
Definition:any operation in which the heart is stopped temporarily and a machine is used to take over its function of pumping blood throughout the body
opportunistic infections
Definition:infection by organisms that would be harmless to a healthy person, but cause infection in those with a weakened immune system (for example, persons with AIDS or chemotherapy patients)
opthalmology
Definition:branch of medicine dealing with the study, diagnosis and treatment of the eye and related disorders
ophthalmoscopy
Definition:examination of the inside of the eye using a lighted viewing instrument
optic
Definition:pertaining to the eyes
oral
Definition:descriptive of being given through or involving the mouth; adverb form is orally
orbit
Definition:socket in the skull that contains the eyeball, along with its blood vessels, nerves, and muscles
organ donation
Definition:agreement to allow one or more organs to be removed and transplanted into someone else
organism
Definition:any single, functioning form of life
orthotic
Definition:device used to correct or control deformed bones, muscles, or joint
osseous
Definition:comprised of, resembling or capable of forming bone
osteoarthritis
Definition:disease that breaks down the cartilage that lines joints, especially weight-bearing or malaligned joints; leads to inflammation, pain, and stiffness; also called degenerative arthritis
osteomyelitis
Definition:inflammation of bones and bone marrow because of an infection, usually caused by bacteria
osteopathy
Definition:disease of bone
osteoplasty
Definition:operation or process by which total or partial loss of a bone is remedied
osteoporosis
Definition:condition in which bones lose calcium and become less dense, more brittle, and fracture easilycondition in which bones lose calcium and become less dense, more brittle, and fracture easily
osteosarcoma
Definition:cancerous bone tumor
ostomy
Definition:procedure to create an opening from an area inside the body to the outside
otitis media
Definition:inflammation of the middle ear (between the eardrum and inner ear) due to the spread of an infection from the nose, sinuses, and throat
otorrhea
Definition:discharge from an inflamed ear
ototoxicity
Definition:harmful effect that some drugs have on the organs or nerves in the ears, which can lead to hearing and balance problems
orthopnea
Definition:breathing difficulty experienced while lying flat; can be a symptom of heart failure or asthma
outcome prediction model
Definition:computerized scoring system for prediction of outcomes of illness/injury situations; two specific outcome prediction models are MPM and APACHE
ovaries
Definition:two almond-shaped glands located at the opening of the fallopian tubes on both sides of the uterus; produce eggs and the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone
oximetry
Definition:determination of the amount of oxygen in the blood by measuring the amount of light transmitted through an area of skin
oxyhemoglobin
Definition:type of hemoglobin which causes blood to be red, indicating the presence of adequate amounts of oxygen in the blood; if the blood is blue, it indicates that there is less oxygen in the blood
outpatient
Definition:used to describe medical observation and treatment provided to a patient who has not been hospitalized (i.e., admitted to and staying in the hospital or medical facility); also called ambulatory care; also, a patient who has not been hospitalized