Medical Abbreviations

Myasthenia is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by variable weakness of voluntary muscles, especially those controlling eye movement, facial expression, and swallowing. It stems from fluctuating muscle fatigue due to impaired communication between nerves and muscles. The term is used in medical contexts and diagnoses, often in clinical discussions and research.

Myelomeningocele is a type of neural tube defect where the spinal cord and meninges protrude through a gap in the spine. It is a serious congenital anomaly typically presenting at birth and requiring surgical correction and lifelong management. The term emphasizes the involvement of the spinal cord (myelo-), meninges (meningo-), and the protrusion (cele).

Myelopathy is a neurological condition resulting from spinal cord dysfunction, often due to compression, injury, or disease. It affects motor and sensory pathways, causing weakness, numbness, or coordination problems below the level of the lesion. The term combines root elements meaning 'spinal cord' and 'disease' or 'disorder.'

Myocarditis is a medical term for inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium). It is a diagnostic label used in clinical contexts and can affect heart function. The word combines Greek roots for heart and inflammation, and is pronounced with a careful, multi-syllabic rhythm common in medical terminology.

Myofibrillar describes anything relating to the myofibrils, the contractile fibers within muscle cells. It is used in biology and medicine to discuss structure, organization, or pathology of muscle tissue at the microscopic level. The term combines “myo-” (muscle) with “fibrillar” (thread-like fibers).

Myopathy is a medical term for diseases that weaken or damage the muscles. It denotes a primary muscular disorder rather than nerve or nerve-to-muscle transmission problems. The word is used in clinical contexts and research to describe inherited or acquired muscle pathology and impaired muscle function.

Myositis is a medical term referring to inflammation of the muscles, causing weakness and pain. It is a formal, clinical noun used in medical discussion, textbooks, and diagnostic reports. The term combines Greek roots for muscle (myo-) with inflammation (itis), and is used across specialties such as rheumatology and neurology.

Myotonia is a neuromuscular condition characterized by delayed muscle relaxation after voluntary contraction, leading to transient stiffness. The term also appears in biology to describe similar lag in muscle response. Proper pronunciation is essential for medical communication and academic discussion, especially given its Greek roots and specialized context.

Myringotomy is a surgical procedure in which a small incision is made in the eardrum (tympanic membrane) to relieve pressure or drain fluid from the middle ear. The term also refers to the incision itself. It is typically performed under anesthesia and may be temporary or accompanied by placement of a tympanostomy tube.

A medical condition characterized by the presence of stones in the kidney (renal calculi). The term denotes the disease state involving nephrolithiasis, nephritic processes, and potential obstruction or infection, and is used primarily in clinical contexts. It refers specifically to stone formation within the renal tract and is typically discussed in urology and nephrology settings.

Nephrology is a medical specialty focused on the kidneys, including their structure, function, diseases, and treatment. It involves diagnosis, management, and research related to kidney conditions, dialysis, and transplant considerations. The term combines Greek roots for kidney and study, reflecting its precise clinical scope and scholarly basis.

Nephropathy is kidney disease or damage caused by disease, toxins, or drugs. It typically refers to a pathological condition affecting renal tissue or function, often involving structural or functional abnormalities. The term is used in medical contexts to describe chronic or acute kidney injury, with various etiologies and manifestations.

Nephrotic refers to or denotes the nephrotic syndrome or nephrotic-range proteinuria, a kidney condition characterized by heavy protein loss in urine, low blood protein levels, high cholesterol, and edema. The term is used in medical contexts to describe related symptoms, tests, or treatments, and is typically encountered in clinical or research writing. It is an adjective, often used with nouns like syndrome or edema.

nephrotoxic is an adjective describing substances that can damage the kidneys; used in medical contexts to denote agents, drugs, or toxins harmful to renal tissue. It denotes potential or actual kidney injury risk and is commonly found in pharmacology and toxicology literature. The term combines Greek roots for kidney and poison, reflecting its specific organ-otoxic meaning.

neuroanatomy is the branch of neuroscience that studies the structure of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. It combines detailed anatomical descriptions with functional implications, helping explain how neural circuits support sensation, movement, and cognition. This expert field integrates anatomy, microscopy, and physiology to map neural organization from cells to systems.

A neurological disorder affecting bones and joints in a limb, typically resulting from nerve damage that leads to joint swelling, deformity, and progressive destruction. The term combines neuro- (nerve) and arthropathy (joint disease), indicating a nerve-related arthritic process that often presents with altered sensation and motor dysfunction in affected limbs.

Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor that arises from immature nerve cells, typically in the adrenal glands or along the spinal cord. It most often affects children, and its name reflects its origin from neuroblasts. The term combines neuro-, blast-, and -oma, signaling neural tissue origin and tumor formation. (2–4 sentences, 50–80 words)

A parasitic infection caused by the tapeworm Taenia solium, wherein larvae form cysts in the brain and surrounding tissues. It is a neurological disorder resulting from cysts in the central nervous system, potentially leading to seizures and other neurologic symptoms. The term combines neuro- (nerve) with cysticercosis (cysticercus infection).

Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of benign tumors along nerves in the skin, brain, and other parts of the body, often accompanied by skin pigmentation changes. It has two main types, NF1 and NF2, with varying clinical features and inheritance patterns. The term combines roots referring to nerve tissue (neuro-), fibrous tumors (fibroma), and condition/state (-osis).