Chapter: 4.2 Common Terms

Autopsy - a postmortem examination performed to confirm or determine the cause of death. autopsic, autopsical, the study of disease by the examination of the body after death by a pathologist.

Bacille, Calmette-Guerin - an attenuated strain of mycobacterium bovis attenuated strain of mycobacterium bovis that is given as a live bacterial vaccine to prevent the development of TB. It is most often administered intradermally, with a multiple puncture disk. When administered to infants in high prevalence areas, there is some evidence that it prevents the more serious forms of tuberculosis. It may have some efficacy against leprosy. BCG is also instilled into the bladder as a treatment for bladder cancer to stimulate the immune response in people who have certain kinds of malignancy.

Battered Woman Syndrome - repeated episodes of physical assault on a woman by the person with whom she liver or with whom she has a relationship, often resulting in serous physical and psychological damage to the woman. Such violence tends to follow a predictable pattern, starting with verbal abuse, progressing to acute, violent activity, and followed by apologies, remorse, and promises of change. Over time, the violent episodes escalate in frequency and severity.

Blood Pressure - the pressure exerted by the circulating volume of blood on the walls of the arteries and veins and on the chambers of the heart. Blood pressure is regulated by the homeostatic mechanisms of the body by the volume of the blood, the lumen of the arteries and arterioles, and the force of cardiac contraction. In the aorta and large arteries of a healthy young adult, blood pressure is approximately 120 mm Hg during systole and 70 mm Hg during diastole.

Blood Urea Nitrogen - a measure of he amount of urea in the blood. The BUN, determined by a blood test, is directly related to the metabolic function of the liver and the excretory function of the kidney. Normal findings (in mg/dl) are 10-20 for adults, 5-18 for children and infants. 312 for newborns and 21-40 for cord blood. In the elderly the BUN may be slightly higher than the normal adult range. A critical value nf l nn indicates serious impairment of renal function.

Blue baby - an infant born with cyanosis caused by a congenital heart lesion, most commonly tetralogy of Fallot. Congenital cyanotic heart lesions are diagnosed by cardiac catheterization, angiography, or echoeardiography and are corrected surgically, preferably in early childhood.

Bone marrow - transplantation the IV infusion of bone marrow. The marrow may be autologous [from a previously harvested and stored self donation] or aoogeneic [from a living donor]. It is used to treat malignancies, such as leukemia, Iymphoma, myeloma, and selected solid tumors; and nonmalignant conditions, such as aplastic anemia, immunologic deficiencies, and inborn errors of metabolism.

Brachytheraphy - the placement of radioactive sources in contact with or implanted into the tumor tissues to be treated for a specific period.