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palsy
Paralysis of a muscle group usually from dysfunction of a specific nerve, e.g., facial nerve=Bell's palsy.
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papilloma
A branching benign tumor derived from epithelium (e.g. wart).
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paramagnetic
A substance that is attracted by a magnet and assumes a position parallel to the magnetic force but does not become permanently magnetized.
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paraparesis
Paresis of both legs (usually refers to the back legs).
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paraplegia
Paralysis of both legs (usually refers to the back legs).
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parasite
An organism which lives upon or within another living organism at whose expense it obtains some advantage.
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parenchyma
The functional tissue or cells of an organ or gland, as distinguished from supporting or connective tissue.
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paresis
Reduced motor function in a body part; reduced ability to activate motor neurons.
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partial seizure
Seizure that starts in a single specific region of the brain and can sometimes be precursors to larger seizures; also called a focal seizure.
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pathologist
A doctor who interprets and diagnoses the changes in body tissues caused by disease.
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pathology
The study of disease.
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peripheral neuropathy
See neuropathy.
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peritoneum
The smooth membrane which lines part of the abdominal cavity and some of the internal organs it contains.
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photon
Small particle that carries electromagnetic radiation of all wavelengths; has zero mass.
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pineal gland
A small, endocrine gland attached by a stalk to the dorsal wall of the third ventricle of the cerebrum where the two thalamic bodies join; it produces melatonin which plays a role in circadian rhythm (i.e. the 24-hour cycle in the processes plants, animals, fungi, and cyanobacteria); it is also called epiphysis cerebri.
►click here to learn more (press>brainstem)-link provided by: University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
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plasma
The blood's liquid medium; composed of 92% water and 8% proteins (including clotting factors, e.g. fibrin) and trace amounts of other materials.
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plexus
A network of nerves, blood vessels, or lymphatic tissue.
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polyarthritis
Inflammation of more than one joint usually due to an immune-mediated disorder.
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polymyositis
Systemic, noninfectious, possibly immune-mediated, inflammatory muscle disorder. It may be acute or chronic and progressive. Clinical signs include depression, lethargy, weakness, weight loss, lameness, myalgia, and muscle atrophy.
►click here to learn more-link provided by: www.merckvetmanual.com
►click here to learn more-link provided by: University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
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polyneuritis
Inflammation of many nerves at once, often immune-mediated.
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polyp
An abnormal growth protruding from a mucus membrane.
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polyradiculoneuritis
Inflammation of peripheral nerves and spinal nerve roots. A common form of this condition is coonhound paralysis.
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portosystemic shunt
An abnormal blood vessel that bypasses the liver causing blood to be circulated through the body without being cleared of toxins and other metabolic by-products.
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positive sharp wave
Abnormal spontaneous muscle activity seen on electromyography in association with denervation or irritable myopathy consisting of long action potentials with initial positive (down) wave followed by a wide negative (up) wave.
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posterior
Toward the tail or end of a structure; in veterinary medicine, only used when referring to the eye and the extremeties.
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postictal
Period of time immediately following a seizure, characterized by signs such as altered behavior and vision and/or hearing deficits.
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precession
The spin of protons around the axis of a magnet.
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precursor
A substance from which another substance is formed, e.g. dopamine is a precursor to epinephrine and norepinephrine.
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preganglionic
Situated proximal to a ganglion; often used to describe autonomic nerve fibers in such a location.
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preictal
Period of time immediately before a seizure, during which a change in behavior may occur.
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prognosis
The prospect for recovery from a disease based on the signs and nature of the case.
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proprioception
Ability to sense relative position and movement of limbs.
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protozoa
Simplest type of organism in the animal kingdom; unicellular eukaryotic (have nucleus) organisms that range in size from submicroscopic to macroscopic; most are free-living but many are parasitic.
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proximal
Toward the point of attachment or origin.
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ptosis
Drooping of the upper eyelid often from paralysis of the oculomotor nerve or from sympathetic innervation.
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pulse oximeter
Purpose: Instrument used to measure the arterial oxygen saturation of hemoglobin and pulse rate. Oxygen saturation is the average amount of oxygen bound to each hemoblobin molecule. Each erythrocyte (red blood cell) contains millions of hemoglobin molecules and one molecule of hemoglobin can carry up to 4 molecules of oxygen (which is then 100% saturated with oxygen). This is an indicator of how well the cardio-respiratory system is working together to get oxygen delivered to all parts of the body.
How Works: Shines two different wavelengths of light (red and infrared) through a thin piece of tissue, e.g. tongue. The absorption of light at the different wavelengths by hemoglobin differs depending on the degree of oxygenation of hemoglobin. The percentage saturation is given as a digital readout together with an audible signal varying in pitch depending on oxygen saturation. The light signal following transmission through the tissues has a pulsatile component, resulting from the expansion and contraction of the arterial blood vessels with each heartbeat. This can be distinguished by the microprocessor from the non-pulsatile component resulting from venous, capillary and tissue light absorption. Where flow is sluggish (e.g. hypovolemia or vasoconstriction) the pulse oximeter may be unable to function.
Example of Uses: Detect hypoxia before a patient becomes clinically cyanotic.
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pupillary light response (PLR)
Contraction of the pupil on exposure of the retina to light; dependent on proper functioning of the optic and oculomotor nerves.
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pus
A whitish or yellowish, viscous liquid, inflammatory product composed of leukocytes (i.e. white blood cells) and fluid. An accumulation of pus in an enclosed space is called an abscess.
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