Health, diseases terms glossary - Starting with E

ECG (sometimes called an EKG): ECG (sometimes called an EKG)- an electrocardiogram, which is a record of the electrical impulses that trigger the heartbeat; used to diagnose heart disorders
Eclampsia: Eclampsia- a serious condition that occurs in late pregnancy, characterized by seizures in the woman
Ectopic: Ectopic- occurring at an abnormal position or time
Eczema: Eczema- inflammation of the skin, usually causing itchiness and sometimes blisters and scaling; may be caused by allergies, but often occurs for no apparent reason
Edema: Edema- A swelling or puffiness of some part of the body such as the ankles. Water or other body fluids collect in the cells and cause the swelling.
Electroencephalography: Electroencephalography- a procedure for recording the electrical impulses of brain activity
Embolism: Embolism- the blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus - something previously circulating in the blood (such as a blood clot, gas bubble, tissue, bacteria, bone marrow, cholesterol, fat, etc)
Embryo: Embryo- a term used to describe a child in the womb from fertilization to 8 weeks following fertilization
Encephalitis: Encephalitis- inflammation of the brain, usually caused by a virus; may be very mild and barely noticeable, but is usually serious and can progress from headache and fever to hallucinations, paralysis, and sometimes coma
Endocrine gland: Endocrine gland- a gland that secretes hormones into the bloodstream
Endometriosis: Endometriosis- a condition in which fragments of the endometrium are found in other pelvic organs
Endometrium: Endometrium- the membrane that lines the uterus
Endothelium: Endothelium- the layer of flat cells that lines the blood and lymph vessels, the heart, and other structures in the body
Endotracheal tube: Endotracheal tube- a plastic tube that is fed down into the trachea through the mouth or nose to supply oxygen to a person who is not breathing properly
Epidemic: Epidemic- a term used to describe a disease that is rare then suddenly affects more people than usually expected
Epidermis: Epidermis- the outer layer of the skin
Epidural anesthesia: Epidural anesthesia- a method of pain relief in which a pain killer drug is injected into the space surrounding the spinal cord to block sensations in the abdomen and lower body
Epilepsy: Epilepsy- a disorder of the nervous system in which abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes seizures
Episiotomy: Episiotomy- a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the tissue between the vagina and anus to prevent tearing of this tissue during childbirth
Erythrocyte: Erythrocyte- a red blood cell

Glossary