Medical Dictionary Terms Beginning with B

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B cells

B cells: A type of white blood cell and, more particularly, a key kind of lymphocyte. Many B cells mature into plasma cells, which produce antibodies (proteins) necessary to fight off infections (bacteria, viruses, etc.), while other B cells mature
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B variant GM2-gangliosidosis

B variant GM2-gangliosidosis: This disorder known as Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) is concisely defined by OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man) as ôan autosomal recessive, progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which in the classic infantile f
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B. quintana

B. quintana: Also called Rochalimaea quintana), Bartonella quintana is an unusual rickettsial organism that can multiply within the gut of the body louse and then can be transmitted to humans. Transmission to people can occur by rubbing infected louse fec
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b.i.d.

b.i.d.: Seen on a prescription, b.i.d. means twice (two times) a day. It is an abbreviation for "bis in die" which in Latin means twice a day. The abbreviation b.i.d. is sometimes written without a period either in lower-case letters as "bid" or
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Babinski reflex

Babinski reflex: An important neurologic test based, believe it or not, upon what the big toe does when the sole of the foot is stimulated. If the big toe goes up, that may mean trouble. The Babinski reflex is obtained by stimulating the external p
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Babinski response

Babinski response: An important neurologic examination based upon what the big toe does when the sole of the foot is stroked. If the big toe goes up, that may mean trouble. The Babinski response is obtained by stimulating the external portion (the
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Babinski sign

Babinski sign: An important neurologic examination based upon what the big toe does when the sole of the foot is stimulated. If the big toe goes up, that may mean trouble. The Babinski sign is obtained by stimulating the external portion (the outsi
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Baby, fetal alcohol syndrome

Baby, fetal alcohol syndrome: Alcohol is capable of causing birth defects. FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) always involves brain damage. and impaired growth. FAS also always involves head and face abnormalities. No amount of alcohol has been proven safe d
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Back pain, low

Back pain, low: Symptoms in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin co
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Bacteria

Bacteria: are single-celled microorganisms which can live as either independent organisms or as parasites. It is a bacteria that is responsible for the common throat infection &Strep throat.&
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Bacteriophage

Bacteriophage: A virus that lives within a bacteria. Bacteriophages (called phages, for short) have been very important and heuristic (informative) in bacterial and molecular genetics. Bacteriophages were studied by (among others) Alfred Hershey
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Bag of waters

Bag of waters: The amniotic sac and amniotic fluid.
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Baker’s cyst

Baker’s cyst: A swelling in the space behind the knee (the popliteal space) composed of a membrane-lined sac filled with synovial fluid that has escaped from the joint. Named after the British surgeon William Morrant Baker (1839-1896). Also called
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Balanitis

Balanitis: Inflammation of the rounded head (the glans) of the penis. Inflammation of the foreskin is called posthitis. In the uncircumcised male, balanitis and posthitis generally occur together as balanoposthitis: inflammation of both the glans and for
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Balanitis, circinate

Balanitis, circinate: A form of skin inflammation around the penis in males with Reiter's syndrome. The skin around the shaft and tip (glans) penis can become inflamed and scale. This inflammation around the penis can be helped by cortisone creams (such a
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Balanoposthitis

Balanoposthitis: In the uncircumcised male, balanitis (inflammation of the glans, the rounded head of the penis) and posthitis (inflammation of the foreskin) usually occur together as balanoposthitis: inflammation of both the glans and foreskin. Circumci
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Baldness

Baldness: Medically known as alopecia. There are many types of baldness, each with a different cause. Baldness may be localized to the front and top of the head, as in the very common type of male-pattern baldness; baldness may be patchy, a conditio
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Baldness, patchy

Baldness, patchy: Medically referred to as alopecia areata (alopecia means baldness and areata means occurring in patches). The problem typically begins with patchy hair loss on the scalp and sometimes progresses to complete baldness and even loss of b
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Balloon angioplasty

Balloon angioplasty: Coronary angioplasty is accomplished using a balloon-tipped catheter inserted through an artery in the groin or arm to enlarge a narrowing in a coronary artery. Coronary artery disease occurs when cholesterol plaque builds up (athe
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Balloon tamponade

Balloon tamponade: A procedure in which a balloon is inflated within the esophagus or stomach to apply pressure on bleeding blood vessels, compress the vessels, and stop the bleeding. Used in the treatment of bleeding veins in the esophagus (eso
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