Glossary of Medical Terms – N

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

N

Nitrogen; normal (strength of solution)

Na

Sodium

NABX

Needle Aspiration Biopsy

NAC

(n-acetyl-l-cysteine) A sulfur compound that is a precursor of glutathione and protected sulfur-containing amino acid

NaCl

Sodium Chloride

Nadir

Low point

NANB

Non-A Non-B Hepatitis (Now called Hepatitis C)

Nanometer

One billionth of a meter, approximately 250 millionths of an inch

Narcotic

Drug that, in moderate doses, allays sensibility, relieves pain, and produces sleep, if misused or taken in large doses, is poisonous to the system

Nasogastric Tube

A plastic tube with a number of openings at the lower end, passed through the nose into the stomach or the purpose of decompressing gas and draining accumulated liquids

Nasse’s Law

Statement of the pattern of X-linked recessive inheritance

Natriuresis

Excretion of sodium by kidneys

Naturopathic Doctor – ND

A physician trained in natural healing meth-ods. Naturopathic doctors receive a four-year postgraduate training at an accredited college or university, and function as primary care providers

Nausea

Feeling sick, the urge to vomit

NBC

Nasobiliary Catheter

NCCAM

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

NE

Needle Electrode

NEC

Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Necr- Necro

A combination form meaning “pertaining to death”

Necrolysis

Gangrene

Necrosis

One of the two mechanisms by which cell death occurs (the other being the physiological process of apoptosis. Necrosis is caused by the progressive degradative action of enzymes and is generally associated with severe cellular trauma. It is characterized by mitochondrial swelling, nuclear flocculation, and uncontrolled cell lysis. Decay or death of one or more cells, resulting from irreversible damage. Death of living tissue; death of a portion of tissue differentially affected by local injury (as loss of blood supply,burning, corrosion, or the local lesion of a disease)

Necrosis, Fat

A condition in which the neutral fats in the cells of adipose tissue are split into fatty acids and glycerol

Necrosis, Tumor Factor

TNF. A protein that is produced by monocytes and macrophages in response especially to endotoxins and that activates leukocytes and has antitumor activity

Needle Disposal Container

Puncture proof container with a lid, specifically designed to hold used syringes and needles until that can be disposed of properly

Needlestick

Puncture of the skin while handling hypodermic needles

NEFA

Nonesterified Fatty Acids

Neonate

A baby up to one month old

Neoplastic

Tumor related

Nephritis

Kidney inflammation

Nephrologist

Physician who studies the kidney and treats kidney disease

Nephrolith

Kidney stone

Nephropathy

Kidney disease

Nephrotic

Kidney related disorder

Nephrotoxic

Destructive to the kidneys

Nervine

Substance that soothes nervous excitement

Nervous System

System in the body that is comprised of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, ganglia and parts of the receptor organs that receive and interpret stimuli and transmit impulses to effector organ

Nest

An isolated collection or clump of cells in tissue of a different structure such as a nest of sarcomatous cells in the liver

Nettle

Urtica Dioica–Diuretic properties. Used for the treatment of urinary retention brought on by benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Adverse effects from consuming nettle tea can range from upset stomach to burning sensations in the skin, difficulty in urination and bloating. This herb is wonderful and works wonders!

Neural

Nerve related

Neuralgia

Severe recurrent pain along one or more nerves, usually not associated with changes in the nerve structure

Neuritis

Nerve inflammation

Neurodermatitis

Skin damage caused by scratching

Neurogenic

Originating from damage to the supplying nerves

Neuroleptanalgesia

Altered awareness of pain due to drugs

Neuromuscular

Muscle and nerve related

Neurotoxic

Destructive to nerve tissue

Neurotransmitter

Chemical released by nerve endings

Neutralization

Blocking of virus infection by antibodies; also, an assay which measures this

Neutropenia

Low white blood cell count

Neutrophils

The larger and physiologically most numerous class of infection-fighting white blood cells, characteristically even more numerous in generalized bacterial infections

Neutrophils, Segmented

Neutrophils are the larger and physiologically most numerous class of infection-fighting white blood cells, characteristically even more numerous in generalized bacterial infections; segmentation signifies cell division, so a high segmented neutrophil count implies vigorous response

ng

Nanogram (=millimicrogram)

NG

Nasogastric

NG Tube

Abbreviation for a nasogastric tube

NHANES

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

NHLBI

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Niacin

Nicotinic Acid. A B vitamin essential for energy production in cells. The recommended daily allowance is about 14 mg for adult females and about 18 mg for adult males. Improves circulation and reduces the cholesterol level in the blood, maintains the nervous system, helps metabolize protein, sugar & fat, reduces high blood pressure, increases energy through proper utilization of food, prevents pellagra, and helps maintain a healthy skin, tongue & digestive system. A deficiency of niacin may result in bad breath, canker sores, headaches, fatigue, gastrointestinal disturbance, insomnia, irritability, loss of appetite, mental depression, muscular weakness, nervousness, pellagra, skin disorders, indigestion, and vague aches & pains

NIAAA

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Niacinamide

B3–See Niacin

NIAID

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

NICHD

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

NIDA

National Institute on Drug Abuse

NIDDK

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Niemann-Pick Disease

An error in lipid metabolism that is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, is characterized by accumulation of phospholipid in macrophages of the liver, spleen, lymph glands, and bone marrow, and leads to gastrointestinal disturbances, malnutrition, enlargement of the spleen, liver, and lymph nodes, and abnormalities of the blood-forming organs

NIH

National Institutes of Health–The primary biomedical research facility/institution of the federal government and in the world

Nil

None

Nitrogen

Colorless, odorless, gaseous element forming about 47 % of the earth¹s atmosphere. In the combined form the element is a constituent of all proteins

Nitrogen Excretion

Removal of excess nitrogen from the cell

Nitrosamine

Chemical that may be formed from the metabolism of nitrates which are common preservatives used in processed foods

NJ

Nasojejunal

NK

Natural killer cell, a type of immune cell

nm

Nanometer (=millimicron)

NOB

Neutralization Of Binding

Nocturnal Pain

Pain that occurs during the night

Node

Protuberance or Swelling. Knot

Nodule

Small node, as of body tissue. Small knob like outgrowth, (such as a tumorous growth or a calcification near an arthritic joint). A small mass of rounded or irregular shape. The nodulus of the cerebellum

Non-A non-B Hepatitis

The old term for hepatitis shown not to be caused by the A&B viruses. In 1988, this form of hepatitis was shown to be mainly caused by HCV

Noncompliance

Failure to follow the instructions of one’s health care providers, such as not taking medicine as prescribed or not showing up for clinic visits. (a person can be denied a transplant on these grounds)

Non-direct Transmission

A mode of transmission that differs in some mysterious way from indirect transmission

Non-Essential

Can be manufactured by the body with proper nutrition

Noninvasive

Term used to describe procedures that do not require any injection into or surgical penetration of the body

Nonlinear

Not linear

Non-linkage

Non-linkage describes the inheritance patterns for 2 genes on the same chromosome, when the expected frequency for crossover between the loci is at least one. The observed inheritance patterns for non-linked genes on the same chromosome is the same as for 2 genes on different chromosomes

Nonobstructive Jaundice

Any jaundice in which the main biliary passages are not obstructed, e.g., hemolytic jaundice or jaundice due to hepatitis

Nonresponder

Patients who do not respond positively to therapy

Non-Secretor

A person who does not secrete their blood type antigen into their secretions. About 15% of the population are non secretors. Several correlations to disease (including rheumatic heart disease and alcoholism) have been linked to non-secretor status

Non Specific Resistance

Resistance to infection and the invasion of foreign matter through generalised measures; such as the barrier provided by skin and mucosa

Normotensive

With normal blood pressure

Norepinephrine

A chemical transmitter, naturally occurring in nerves, and used in synthetic form to sustain blood pressure

Normal Saline

Salt solution at the same concentration as in the body fluids

Nosocomial

Disease contracted in hospital

Nosocomial Infection

New disorder not relating to pre-existing condition acquired during a patients treatment while in the hospital. i.e. Patient who receives a blood transfusion and is infected with hepatitis

Notifiable Disease

Diseases, usually of an infectious nature, whose occurrence is required by law to be made known to a health officer or local government authority

Novel Liver-Specific Transport Protein

Liver protein located on the sinusoidal domain of the plasma membrane

NPO

Abbreviation for nothing by mouth (from the Latin Nil peros)

NS

Abbreviation for normal saline solution

NSAID

Non Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; ibuprofen and naproxen which are used in the treatment of pain

Nuclear Atypia

Pathological variation in the histological appearance of the central portion of body cells

Nuclear Membrane

Ordered membrane interface regulating the exchange of material between the nucleus and cytoplasm of the cell

Nucleic Acid

Chemical compounds of the utmost biologic importance, contained in all living organisms in the form of RNA and DNA; consists mainly of sugar moiety, phosphoric acids and nitrogenous bases

Nucleocapsids

Core of a virus, including the protein coat and the genetic material contained inside, core of a virus particle consisting of the genome plus a complex of proteins

Nucleocapsid Protein, Hepatitis Virus

Formerly SY to NM (viral N protein) till 1996; NM promoted to HM

Nucleoside

A compound (as adenosine or guanosine) that consists of a purine or pyrimidine base combined with deoxyribose or ribose and is found especially in DNA or RNA

Nucleosomes

Basic structural unit of eukaryotic chromosome forming “beads on a string.”

Nucleotide

One of the compounds into which nucleic acid splits on hydrolysis, consisting of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a phosphate group. Joined to a purine or pyrimidine base and to a phosphate group and that are the basic structural units of RNA and DNA

Nucleus

Generally oval protoplasmic body in the center of the cell which contains the genetic material and is surrounded by a nuclear membrane; an essential organelle that controls growth, metabolism, and reproduction

Nummular

Coin-like

Nutmeg Liver

A liver appearing mottled like a nutmeg when cut because of congestion and associated with impaired circulation especially from heart or lung disease

Nutraceutical

Foods or food-derived substances in extracted form that have proven medicinal and health benefits

NV

Nausea, Vomiting

N&V

Nausea & Vomiting

NVD

Nausea, Vomiting & Diarrhea

NX

Unknown degree of lymph node involvement in a malignant process

© Vikki Shaw