Health Glossary

Demystifying medical language. Browse or search for clear, human-centered explanations of common medical terms.

Keratin

Keratin is a family of tough structural proteins found in cells of the skin, hair, nails, and other epithelial structures.…
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La Niña

La Niña is a climate phenomenon in which sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean become cooler…
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Labor

A physiological process in pregnancy involving regular, coordinated contractions of the uterus and progressive changes in the cervix. It normally…
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Leukemia

A group of cancers arising from blood-forming cells, usually involving abnormal production and accumulation of blood cells or their precursors…
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Liver

A large organ in the upper right part of the abdomen that performs essential functions in metabolism, detoxification, digestion, nutrient…
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Logarithmic

Logarithmic describes a scale or relationship in which equal increases represent multiplication by the same factor rather than addition by…
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Lungs

A pair of organs in the chest that exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and the bloodstream. Air…
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Lupus

A group of autoimmune diseases in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, with systemic lupus erythematosus…
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Lymph

A clear fluid that circulates through the lymphatic system and carries immune cells, proteins, and other substances from tissues toward…
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Lymphedema

Persistent swelling caused by impaired drainage of lymphatic fluid from tissues. Lymphedema occurs when the lymphatic system cannot adequately transport…
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Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a cancer arising from lymphocytes or other cells of the lymphatic and immune systems. Lymphomas are broadly divided…
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Malaria

Malaria is a potentially life-threatening infectious disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted primarily through the bites…
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