Medical Glossary: S

Sacrum

A large triangular bone at the tail of the spine between the two hip bones. It forms the attachment point for several muscles and is shorter and wider in women.

Sac of Membranes

Either of two sets of protective sacs, called the amnion and chorion, which surround the baby while it is in the uterus during pregnancy. Also refered to as the membranes.

Salicylate

One of several prescription drugs derived from salicylic acid. These drugs exert analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflamatory actions. The best known is acetylsalicyclic acid or aspirin.

Scan

A method of creating a graphical image of internal body structures by using a machine that measures and records the reflection of pulsed or continuous high frequency sound waves. Sometimes refered to as a screen, it is also called a sonogram or ultrasound.

Screen

A method of creating a graphical image of internal body structures by using a machine that measures and records the reflection of pulsed or continuous high frequency sound waves. Sometimes refered to as a scan, it is also called a sonogram or ultrasound.

Seizure

An involuntary contraction of a group of muscles that is sudden and violent. Seizures are paroxysmal and episodic.

Senna

A cathartic developed from the dried leaves and pods of the Cassia acutifolia plant.

Sexually Transmitted Disease

Any contagious condition that is acquired through sexual intercourse or genital contact. Diseases include chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, herpes genitalis, lymphogranuloma venereum, syphilis. Often abbreviated to STD. Also called venereal disease (VD).

Shirodkars Operation

A surgical procedure in which the cervical canal is closed by a suture embedded in the cervical canal. The procedure, which is called a cerclage, is used to correct an incompetent cervix.

The cerclage may be left in place permanently, in which case subsequent deliveries are made by cesarean section, or it is performed temporarily and removed prior to labor and delivery. Infection and vaginal fistula may occur after the operation.

Shoulder Dystocia

A complication during delivery in which the baby's shoulders get stuck in the birth canal.

Show

A small amount of vaginal bleeding that occurs early in labor and frequently at the time of full dilation of the cervix at the end of the first stage of labor.

Sickle Cell Anemia

A severe, chronic and incurable anemic condition that results from abnormal hemoglobin distorting the red blood cells.

Patients suffer from joint pain, thrombosis, lethargy weakness and fever as well as chronic anemia.

Sickle Cell Crisis

A severe episodic condition affecting children with sickle cell anemia. There are two types of the condition. The most common is vaso-occlusive, which is painful and result from the aggregation of distorted red blood cells. The other is anemic resulting from bone marrow aplasia, increased hemolysis, folate deficiency or splenic sequestration of red blood cells.

The vaso-occlusive condition is usually preceded by an upper respiratory or gastrointestinal infection. The distorted red blood cells obstruct blood vessels resulting in acute abdominal pain from visceral hypoxia and painful swelling of the soft tissue of the hands and feet with severe joint pain that limits movement of the joint.

The anemic condition results in severe anemia red blood cells production drops due to acute viral, bacterial or fungal infection.

Therapy consists of immediate transfusion of packed red blood cells and analgesics necessary to relieve abdominal or joint pain. Oral anticoagulants are administered to relieve the pain of vaso-occlusion, although they increase the risk of bleeding.

Sickle Cell Trait

A form of sickle cell anemia with little clinical significance and no symptoms. Patients with the trait are cautioned that their children may have sickle cell anemia if both parents have sickle cell trait.

SIDS

Abbreviation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The sudden and unexplained death of an otherwise healthy and normal infant during sleep with no sign of disease.

It is the most common cause of death among infants between the ages of 2 weeks and 1 year occuring once in every 300 - 350 births.

Causes of sudden infant death syndrome are unknown although many theories have been put forward. Among them are a lack of biotin in the diet, an abnormality of the endgenous-opioid system, suffocation in the crib, a defect in the respiratory mucosal defence, prolonged apnea, an unknown virus, an abnormality of the larynx or immunoglobulin.

The condition seems to occur more frequently during the winter months among children between 10 - 14 weeks. Children born prematurely seem more susceptible as are males. Other predisposing factors include a higher incidence among children born of women less than 20 years of age and have had at least one previous child, those who begin prenatal care in the third trimester and among mothers who smoke are anemic or drug dependent.

Sudden infant death syndrome is neither contagious nor hereditary but there is increased risk of occurence within the same family. Also called cot death or crib death.

Skin Tag

A small brown or flesh colored outgrowth of skin. They are most frequently seen on the neck of an older person. Also called cutaneous papilloma.

SLE

Short for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and often called Lupus, it is a disorder that primarily affects women of childbearing age.

It is thought to be caused by viral infection or dysfunction of the immune system. The result is that the patient's own antibodies attack their own tissues, with arthritis being a common initial manifestation.

The disease may often be controlled with corticosteroid medication administered systemically.

Small For Dates

A baby whose weight and size are below average for its gestational age.

Sodium

One of the most important elements in the human body, sodium helps control the body's acid-base balance, water retention as well as transmit nerve impulses and muscle contractions. The body's sodium levels are controlled by the kidney.

Sonogram

A method of creating a graphical image of internal body structures by using a machine that measures and records the reflection of pulsed or continuous high frequency sound waves. Also called ultrasound.

Sperm

Short for Spermatozoon, sperm is the male gamete or sexual cell, which corresponds to the ovum in the female. It is produced in the male testis and is the agent of fertilization of the ovum. The tail, flagellum, of the sperm permits it to move through fluid. The sperm is much smaller than the ovum, and like its female counterpart contains a nucleus in which there are chromosomes. The number of chromosomes are halved before fertilization.

Spermatozoon

Spermatozoon, more commonly called sperm, is the male gamete or sexual cell, which corresponds to the ovum in the female. It is produced in the male testis and is the agent of fertilization of the ovum. The tail, flagellum, of the sperm permits it to move through fluid. The spermatozoon is much smaller than the ovum, and like its female counterpart contains a nucleus in which there are chromosomes. The number of chromosomes are halved before fertilization.

Spider Angiomas

A form of telangiectasis, the swelling of small blood vessels are commonly associated with elevated estrogen levels. Also called vascular spiders or telangiectasias.

Spider Nevi

A form of telangiectasis, the swelling of small blood vessels are commonly associated with elevated estrogen levels. Also called vascular spiders, spider angiomas or telangiectasias.

Spina Bifida

A relatively common birth defect in which the spine fails to form properly leaving the spinal cord exposed. Spina bifida can result in mental disability and partial paralysis. Also called spinal dysraphia.

Spinal Anesthesia

Anesthetic administered directly into the spinal column.

Spinal Dysraphia

A relatively common birth defect in which the spine fails to form properly leaving the spinal cord exposed. Spinal dysraphia can result in mental disability and partial paralysis. Also called spina bifida.

Spontaneous Abortion

Commonly called a miscarriage, more than 10% of all pregnancies end before the twentieth week. Causes are almost entirely due to a blighted ovum that is incompatible with life.

Stanislavsky Technique

A method originally designed for actors, that use exercises to help promote relaxation.

Stasis

A condition in which the normal flow of fluid through a vessel is diminished or stopped.

Stasis of Milk

A condition in which the normal flow of into the breasts is diminished.

Station

A method by which the progress of the fetus during delivery is measured. The level of the fetus's head (at the biparietal plane) relative to the mother's pelvis (at the ischial spines) is used to determine the movement.

When the head is level with the spines it is at zero station. Higher and lower stations are numbered at one centimenter intervals, negative numbers are used prior to reaching zero station and positive numbers after passing zero station.

STD

Abbreviation of sexually transmitted disease. Any contagious condition that is acquired through sexual intercourse or genital contact. Diseases include chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, herpes genitalis, lymphogranuloma venereum, syphilis. Also called venereal disease (VD).

Steroids

Medications derived from hormones including estrogen, testoterone, progesterone and prednisone, that are used to treat various diseases.

Stethoscope

A medical instrument, which usually consists of a metal cone shaped diaphragm connected by rubber tubing to earpieces, thus allowing physicians to hear the sound of the heart and lungs.

The modern instrument was developed by New York physician G.P. Cammann and the process of ausculation or listening to the sounds made in the upper body forms an important part of medical diagnosis.

Stigma

In obstetrics, stigma refers to an area on the ovary where the egg has been released at the time of ovulation.

Stillbirth

A fetus born dead, usually weighing more than 2lbs 3oz (2,000 gr) that would otherwise have been expected to live.

Stool Bulk Producers

A medical term that collectively describes the drugs that are used to treat constipation.

Streptomycin

An aminogylcoside antibiotic and antitubercular agent.

Stress Test

A test that measures the function of a body system when subjected to controlled amounts of stress. Stress tests include the oxytocin challege test to measure fetal distress and readiness for labor.

Stretch Marks

Areas of the mother's skin that are stretched or torn during pregnancy. Stretch marks are usually found on the abdomen, breasts, buttocks and legs. Also called striae distensa.

Striae Distensa

Areas of the mother's skin that are stretched or torn during pregnancy. Stretch marks are usually found on the abdomen, breasts, buttocks and legs. Also called stretch marks.

Subcutaneous

Literally beneath the skin, refering to fat and tissue that lies beneath the skin. A subcutaneous injection is made into the tissue rather than a vein.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

The sudden and unexplained death of an otherwise healthy and normal infant during sleep with no sign of disease.

It is the most common cause of death among infants between the ages of 2 weeks and 1 year occuring once in every 300 - 350 births.

Causes of sudden infant death syndrome are unknown although many theories have been put forward. Among them are a lack of biotin in the diet, an abnormality of the endgenous-opioid system, suffocation in the crib, a defect in the respiratory mucosal defence, prolonged apnea, an unknown virus, an abnormality of the larynx or immunoglobulin.

The condition seems to occur more frequently during the winter months among children between 10 - 14 weeks. Children born prematurely seem more susceptible as are males. Other predisposing factors include a higher incidence among children born of women less than 20 years of age and have had at least one previous child, those who begin prenatal care in the third trimester and among mothers who smoke are anemic or drug dependent.

Sudden infant death syndrome is neither contagious nor hereditary but there is increased risk of occurence within the same family. Also called cot death or crib death.

Sulcus

Sulci in the plural, it refers to a shallow groove on the surface of an organ that is not as deep as a fissure. The groove that runs down the separate halves of the brain is a sulcus.

Sulfa Drugs

A class of synthetic drugs usually delivered orally, used to treat bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections and systemic infections.

Side effects among hypersensitive patients may include hemolytic anemia, agranulcytosis, thrombocytopenia, drug fever and jaundice. Also known as sulfonamides.

Sulfonamides

A class of synthetic drugs usually delivered orally, used to treat bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections and systemic infections.

Side effects among hypersensitive patients may include hemolytic anemia, agranulcytosis, thrombocytopenia, drug fever and jaundice. Also known as sulfa drugs.

Supplementary Feeding

A term used to describe additional bottles of formula given to a baby who is breast feeding.

Surfactant

A substance present in the lungs to help keep them inflated. Surfactant consists of certin lipoproteins that reduce the surface tension of the fluid in the lungs permitting gas exchange in the aveoli and contributing to the elasticity of the lung tissue. Premature babies often lack sufficient development of surfactant at birth to breathe without assistance.

Suture

A term that most commonly refers to the surgical stitching of an incision, tear or wound. It also refers to the material used for stitching a wound. In some cases, a suture describes a natural border or joint, such as those between the borders of the skull bones.

Symphysis Pubis

A joint of the pelvis which consists of two pubic bones joined by a disk of cartilage and two ligaments. The resulting joint is slight flexible. Also called pubis symphysis.

Syntocinon

A synthetic oxytocin used in obstetrics to initiate or accelerate labor.

Syphillis

A sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum characterized by several distinct phases over several years. It is able to pass through the placenta permitting the fetus to be born with congenital syphillis.

The first stage is characterized by the appearance of a small painless red lesion that usually appears in the genital region, though it may appear anywhere on the body where contact with another infected person has occurred. it quickly disappears form a chacre which exudes a fluid containing spirochetes, before healing within 10 to 40 days.

The second stage appears about 8 weeks later after the spirochetes have multiplied and spread throughout the body. Symptoms including malaise, anorexia, nausea, fever, headache and joint pain as well as white sores in the mouth and throat or condylomate papules on the moist areas of skin. The disease is highly contagious and can be spread by kissing. Symptoms continue for between 3 weeks to 3 months recurring over the next two years.

The third stage may not appear for up to fifteen years. It is characterized by the appearance of gummas, small rubbery tumors that may develop anywhere on and in the body, including the eyes, liver, lungs, stomach and reproductive organs. The gummas ulcerate and heal by scarring. Tissues of the body may be destroyed leading to mental or physical disability and premature death.

Treatment of the mother within the first four months of pregnancy usually prevents the development of congenital syphillis. Fetuses born with congenital syphillis may be deformed or blind.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Often shortened to SLE or Lupus, it is a disorder that primarily affects women of childbearing age.

It is thought to be caused by viral infection or dysfunction of the immune system. The result is that the patient's own antibodies attack their own tissues, with arthritis being a common initial manifestation.

The disease may often be controlled with corticosteroid medication administered systemically.

Systolic Pressure

The systole describes the normal contraction of the heart which drives blood into the aorta and pulmonary artery. It is the first of the double beat sound you hear when listening to the heartbeat. The systolic pressure is the higher blood pressure measurement when it is recorded.

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