Ect Health Dictionary

A term that means widening, usually referring to a disorder of a duct bearing secretions from a gland or organ (e.g. mammary duct ectasia).... ectasia

The outer tissues of an organism from which nerve, gland and nematocyst cells will develop.... ectoderm

An ectopic pregnancy most commonly develops in one of the FALLOPIAN TUBES. Occasionally it may occur in one of the OVARIES, and rarely in the uterine cervix or the abdominal cavity. Around one in 200 pregnant women have an ectopic gestation. As pregnancy proceeds, surrounding tissues may be damaged and, if serious bleeding happens, the woman may present as an ‘abdominal emergency’. A life-threatening condition, this needs urgent surgery. Most women recover satisfactorily and can have further pregnancies despite the removal of one Fallopian tube as a result of the ectopic gestation. Death is unusual. This disorder of pregnancy may occur because infection or a previous abdominal injury or operation may have damaged the normal descent of an ovum from the ovary to the womb. The ?rst symptoms usually appear during the ?rst two months of pregnancy, perhaps before the woman realises she is pregnant. Severe lower abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding are common presenting symptoms. Ultrasound can be used to diagnose the condition and laparoscopy can be used to remove the products of conception. (See PREGNANCY AND LABOUR.)... ectopic pregnancy

See EYE, DISORDERS OF.... ectropion

In debilitated or immunodepressed subjects, staphylococcal IMPETIGO or folliculitis (in?ammation of hair follicles [see SKIN]) may become ulcerated. This is called ecthyma and is seen in vagrants, drug addicts, and individuals with AIDS/HIV or uncontrolled DIABETES MELLITUS.... ecthyma

Ectopic means out of the usual place. For example, the congenital displacement of the heart outside the thoracic cavity is said to be ectopic. An ‘ectopic gestation’ means a pregnancy outside of the womb (see ECTOPIC PREGNANCY).... ectopic

A heart muscle contraction that is outside the normal sequence of the cardiac cycle (see HEART). The impulse is generated outside the usual focus of the SINOATRIAL NODE. Also known as extrasystoles, ectopic beats are called ventricular if they arise from a focus in the ventricles and supraventricular if they arise in the atria. They may cause no symptoms and the affected subject may be unaware of them. The beat may, however, be the result of heart disease or may be caused by NICOTINE or CAFFEINE. If persistent, the individual may suffer from irregular rhythm or ventricular ?brillation and need treatment with anti-arrhythmic drugs.... ectopic beat

Ectromelia means the absence of a limb or limbs, from congenital causes.... ectromelia

A parasite that lives in or on its host’s skin and derives nourishment from the skin or by sucking the host’s blood. Various lice, ticks, mites, and some types of fungi are occasional ectoparasites of humans.... ectoparasite

Ecto- is a pre?x meaning on the outside.... ecto

A thumbnail description of the somatotype who is dominated by the ectoderm, specifically the skin, nervous system, and endocrine glands. Less arcane, a tall and thin person, with long limbs, narrow chest, and a somewhat oversensitive nervous system.... ectomorph

A contraction of the heart muscle that is out of normal timing. An ectopic heartbeat occurs shortly after a normal beat and is followed by a longer than usual interval before the next one.

Ectopic beats can occur in a heart that is otherwise normal and may cause no symptoms. Multiple ectopic beats can cause palpitations. After a myocardial infarction, multiple ectopic beats are a sign of damaged heart muscle. Multiple ectopic beats may lead to ventricular fibrillation, a rapid uncoordinated heartbeat that may be fatal.

Multiple ectopic beats that are causing palpitations, or that occur after a myocardial infarction, are often treated with an antiarrhythmic drug. (See also arrhythmia, cardiac.)... ectopic heartbeat

A testis that is absent from the scrotum because it has descended into an abnormal position, usually in the groin or at the base of the penis. The condition is most often discovered soon after birth during a routine physical examination. It is treated by orchidopexy. (See also testis, undescended.) ... testis, ectopic

A type of cardiac arrhythmia in which abnormal heartbeats are initiated from electrical impulses in the ventricles of the heart. In a normal heart, beats are initiated by the sinoatrial node in the right atrium.

Ventricular ectopic beats may be detected on an ECG.

If there are frequent abnormal beats that cause symptoms, or beats that arise from more than 1 site in the ventricles, treatment with an antiarrhythmic drug may be required.... ventricular ectopic beat

see ectropion.... cervical ectopy

adj. describing a *body type that is relatively thin, with a large skin surface in comparison to weight. —ectomorph n. —ectomorphy n.... ectomorphic

combining form denoting surgical removal of a segment or all of an organ or part. Examples: appendicectomy (of the appendix); prostatectomy (of the prostate gland).... ectomy

n. 1. the misplacement, due either to a congenital defect or injury, of a bodily part. 2. the occurrence of something in an unnatural location (see also ectopic beat; ectopic pregnancy). —ectopic adj.... ectopia

a hormone produced by cells that do not usually produce it. Some tumour cells secrete hormones; for example, small-cell lung cancer cells secrete antidiuretic hormone and cause *hyponatraemia.... ectopic hormone

n. the outer layer of cytoplasm in cells, which is denser than the inner cytoplasm (*endoplasm) and concerned with activities such as cell movement. —ectoplasmic adj.... ectoplasm

combining form denoting congenital absence.... ectro

n. congenital absence of all or part of one or more fingers.... ectrodactyly