Glossary of terms

That medical terms are complicated? Yes, we agree. But they can be explained. That's why we've put together an easy-to-understand medical glossary, where you'll find all sorts of terms from the world of medicine, diagnostics and related fields. So that you don't have to get confused anymore.

M

Mutagen

Mutagen – an external or internal environmental factor capable of damaging DNA.

N

Neoplasia

Neoplasia – the ability of malignant cells to proliferate independently of normal control.

Nucleus

Nucleus (lat. nucleus) – the control center of every cell in the human body.

O

Oncogene

Oncogene – a modified proto-oncogene that contributes to uncontrolled and rapid cell division.

P

Phenotype

Phenotype – the visible, tangible, or otherwise apparent characteristics of an organism resulting from the interaction of its genes with the environment.

Point mutation

Point mutation – a mutation involving one or a few nucleotides at most.

Procalcitonin

Procalcitonin – a protein that is normally present in a healthy body in minimal amounts

Protein in urine

Protein in urine - a common symptom of kidney disease.

Protein p53

p53 – a tumor suppressor protein that controls cell division.

R

Recurrence risk

Recurrence risk – the risk to a couple that their next child will be affected as much as their previous child.

Red blood cells in urine

Red blood cells in urine – this condition is technically called hematuria and is the finding of red blood cells in the urine

Reference values

Reference values ​​– sometimes referred to as normal values ​​– are the range of laboratory results that can be considered normal in a healthy population

Reverse transcriptase

Reverse transcriptase – a viral enzyme that makes copies of DNA from a template RNA.

Rheumatoid factor

Rheumatoid factor (RF) – an autoantibody, which is an antibody (most often IgG) that the immune system mistakenly directs against the body's own tissues

S

Serology

Serology – an important tool for diagnosing infections, autoimmune diseases, and for assessing immunity after exposure to pathogens

Start codon

Start codon – the triplet codon AUG that specifies where to begin translation of messenger RNA.

T

Thyroid hormones

Thyroid hormones (TSH, FT3, FT4) – regulate metabolism, body energy, and the function of many organs.

Translocation

Translocation – a DNA mutation characterized by the transfer of a piece of DNA to an unusual location.

Troponin

Troponin – a protein found in the heart muscle (myocardium), where it plays a key role in muscle contraction

Tumor markers

Tumor markers – substances (proteins, enzymes, hormones or other molecules) that occur in the blood, urine or other body fluids as a result of cancer