/-6-3-/ a combining form meaning egg, ovum (Greek oon). an immature ovum in the female ovary prooocyte , duced by the division of an oogonium into two daughter cells; the larger daughter cell becomes an o. and the smaller cell becomes a polar body. The firstmaturation division produces a primary o. and the second maturation division a secondary o. Also see polar body; primary o.; MEIOSIS. oogenesis: See polarbody. beoogonium the immature egg cell of the female fore it begins dividing inthe ovary into a primary oocyte and a polar body.

a combining form meaning feeble. ablutomania a morbid preoccupation with washing or bathing. It is a symptom of obsessivecompulsive disorder. Also see dirt phobia.

-achondrio-; -achondroa combining form relating to insufficient or defective cartilage. achondroplasia a form of autosomal-dominant dwarfism in which the bones derived from carbones tilage develop at a slower rate than the derived from connective tissue. This results in an enlarged cranial vault and abnormally high forehead. Motor development of infants with this disorder may be slow and the individual may or may not be mentally retarded. About one-third of one group studied had subnormal intelligence. Also called achondroplastic dwarfom. Also see DWARnsM.

acombining form relating to hearing, acousma an auditory sensation that is perceived in the absence of a stimulus. The a. often is heard as a buzzing, ringing, or roaring sound. In the absence of an organic cause, it may be considered an elementary auditory hallucination. Also called acoasm; akoasm. acoustical resonance an effect of extension and intensification of sound frequencies received as vibrations by the middleand inner-ear structures. The resonant frequencies are a step in the conversion of external sound waves to the sounds perceived in the brain and determine the range of hearing. A.r. also may refer to the resonant effect of one’s own vocal sounds contributed by sinuses and other cavities in the skull. acoustic irritability hypersensitivity to auditory stimulation, a characteristic of traumatic neurosis. acoustic-mnestic aphasia a form of aphasia due to lesions in the central portions of the left temporal area or deep portions of the temporal cortex. It is marked by difficulty in recalling word lists,comprehension and reproduction of long sentences, comprehension of words, and inability to name objects. Also called acousticoamncstic aphasia. acoustic nerve = statoacoustic nerve. acoustic neurinoma a tumorous growth either benign or malignant in the region of the eighth cranial nerve between the cochlea and the brainstem, which may cause a sensorineural hearing loss through pressure exerted on the nerve trunk. acousticoamnestic aphasia = acoustic-mnestic APHASIA. acousticophobia a morbid fear of noise. Also spelled akousticophobia. Also see phonophobia. acoustic papilla = organ of corti. acoustic pressure the waves of air pressure that are of sufficient intensity and frequency to be perceived as sounds. The pressure variations of the ait required to produce acoustic effects are very small compared with atmospheric pressure, which is equivalent to one million dynes per square centimeter. A very loud undesirable sound may represent an a.p. change of one thousand dynes per square centimeter. A.p. of a sound that is just below the normal human threshold of audibility would be measured at about 1/1,000 of a dyne per square centimeter. The human range of perceivable a.p., therefore, is approximately one million to one. acoustic radiation a band of fibers that function as a relay in the auditory pathway from the thalamus to the cerebral cortex. acoustic reflex an automatic reaction to the intensity of a sound. The a.r. frequently is employed in routine hearing tests involving sounds of different frequencies. Kinds of acoustic reflexes include blink, condition-oriented, Moro,

-adenoa combining form relating to glands. adenine molecule /ad'anen/ a purine compound that is present in the nuclei of plant and animal cells. Adenine and guanine are the essential components of the nucleic acids, DNA and RNA. When adenine is metabolized, the end product isuric acid. adenohypophysis /-pof’-/ the anterior lobe of the hjpophysis, or pituitary gland. The a. secretes adrenocorticotropin, follicle-stimulating hormone, growth hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and thyrotropin. Compare NEUROHYPOPHYSIS. adenoid type an indiridual whose phaiyngeal tonsil or adenoid is pathologically enlarged and associated with constitutional anomalies such as cretinism, deaf-mutism, or oxycephaly. adenoma sebaceum a t\pe of skin lesion that develops as a benign tumor of the sebaceous glands, often appearing in a pattern of multiple yellowish papules on the face. A.s. often occurs as a butterfly rash on the bridge of the nose in cases oftuberous sclerosis. See this entry. adenosine /aden'-/ CioHijN^Oj—a naturally occurring chemical of most Using cells, consisting of the adenine molecule of the RNA base and a sugar molecule. It functions as an energy source in metabolic activities at the cellular level. In

a combining form relating to absence of motion or impaired motion, akinesia the absence or lack of control of the voluntary muscles. The term is applied to a wide range of voluntary-muscle-control deficiencies, including (a) the catatonic state of schizophrenia, (b) a. algera, marked by paralysis due to the intense pain of muscle movement, (c) a severe muscle weakness caused by heav)’ metals, e.g., lead toxicity, (d) a neurosis accompanied by paretic symptoms, (e) the tremors and rigidity of parkinsonism. (0 a. amnestica, characterized by loss of muscle power due to disuse, (g) akinetic epilepsy, marked by sudden collapse of the patient, and (h) a condition caused by certain drugs that affect the nen’ous system, e.g., phenothiazines. Also called aWnesis. akinesia algera /al'-/ a condition in which pain is experienced with any body movement, a disorder often associated with cases of hysteria, akinesthesia the absence, loss, or impairment of the kinesthetic sense. akinetic-abuUc sjudrome a group of symptoms frequently resulting from treatment with tranquilizers, including slowing of movement (bradykinesia), tremors, hvpertonia, reduced menti drive, and loss ofinterest, akinetic apra.xia loss of the ability to perform spontaneous movements, akinetic epilepsy = AKiNEnc seizure. form of mania that is accompaakinetic mania a nied by a lack of movement and may actually be a s}mptom of schizophrenia, akinetic mutism an absence or gross reduction in voluntary movements and speech. The patient lies inertly in bed, and has to be fed and toileted, but shows some slight signs of alertness, such as following eye movements. The condition is often associated with a tumor of the third ventricle, which is believed to interfere with the reticular activating sjstem. Also see COMA-VIGIL. akinetic psychosis a state of extreme catatonia in which the patient exhibits stupor, wa-xy flexibility,and little ifany perceptible movement, akinetic seizure a form of petit mal seizure in-

a combining form relating to oil or fat (from Greek aleiphar, “oil, fat”), aliphatic chains /-fat'-/ compounds of fatty acids that form chains of carbon atoms with other atoms attached. The chains may be open or branched. The alcohols and their corresponding compounds occur in a.c. Fatty acids are released into the bloodstream as an automatic response to a variety of stimuli and provide a quick source of energy for flight-or-fight reactions. aliphatic phenothiazines a group of phenothiazine tranquilizers with an aliphatic (fattyacid) side chain in the molecular structure. The a.p. include chlorpromazine, promazine, and triflupromazine. The a.p. are the least potent of the phenothiazine drugs, alkalinity: See inDROOEN-ioN conce-ntration. alkalosis a pathologic condition caused by an abnormally high level of alkalinity in the blood and tissues of the body. It also may result from a depiction of acids, thereby upsetting the body’s acid-base balance. The condition often is marked by slow, shallow breathing but also may include such symptoms as muscle weakness, muscle twitching, confusion, irritability, and, in severe cases, convTilsive seizures. Compare ACIDOSIS. alkylating agent a synthetic chemical compound which acts on the DNA in the nuclei of cells when used in cancer chemotherapy. However, an a.a. damages normal as well as malignant cells because Also called it is not selective. nitrogen mustard.

-alioa combining form meaning other,

/-alak-/ a combining form meaning elsewhere. allachcsthcsia the sensation of touch e.xperienced in a place other than the point of stimulation. Also called allcsthesia: allocsthcsia. Also sec VISUAL A.

a combining form meaning perverted, offensive, strange (from Greek allotrios, “strange, pen’erted”). allotriogeusia !-g6a'-l a perverted sense of taste, or an abnormal appetite. Also called allotriogeustia. See allotriophagy. allotriophagy /-tre-of’-/ a desire to eat offensive food. Also called allotriophagia /-faj'-/. allotriorhexia the compulsion to pluck and usually to swallow threads from clothing, alloxan /al'oksan/ or /alok'ssn/ a substance produced by the oxidation of uric acid. It is capable of producing a condition of hypoglycemia by stimulating insulin secretion by the pancreas.

See .marin a. amathophobia a morbid fear of dust orsand, amaurosis the complete loss of sight partial or without eridcnce of organic abnormality of the affected eye or eyes (Greek "dimming”). The condition may be hereditary, as in Leber's congenital a., a transient condition, or a part of a syndrome such as amaurotic familial idiocy. Tne cause often is a lesion of the brain or the optic nene. The term is also occasionally used for psychogenic, or hysterical, blindness, amaurotic familial idiocy: See tay-s.aois disease. amaurotic idiocy a neurological disease marked by progressive degeneration of the cortical neurons. Signs and symptoms include loss of vision, increasing muscular weakness and paralysis, and mental retardation. Death often occurs before the age offive. See tay-sacbs disease. amaxophobia a morbid fear of being in or meeting in a moving or stationaryvehicle, ambenomium: See mvelase.

a combining form relating to loss or impairment of memoiy (from Greek amnesia. "forgetfulness”). amnesia partial complete, temporary or a or permanent, loss of memory due to (a) organic factors, as in head injuiy. alcoholic intoxication, epileptic seizure, stroke, general paresis, senile dementia, or (b) psychogenic factors, as in unconscious repression ofpainful or traumatic e.xperiences. In the latter case, the a. is usually more circumscribed than in the organic cases since itsers'es as a defense against anxiety and distress, or as a way of escaping from specific situations. See fugue; affecttv’e a.; alcohol AJLVESnc disorder; anterogr.\de a.: auDIOV-ERBAL A.: AUDITORY A,; AUTOHYT.NOTIC A.; CATATHYStlC A.: aRCU.MSCRIBED A.; CONTISUOUS A.; CORTICAL A.; DISSOCIATIS'E A.; EPISODIC A.; EPOCnAL A.; GLOBAL A.; HYSTERICAL A.; INFANTILE A.; LOCAUZED A.; NEUROLOGIC A.; ORGANIC A.; POLYGLOT A.; POSTENCEPHALITIC A.; POSTHYTNOnC A.; POSTTEAUM.ATIC A.; PSYCHOGENIC A.; RETROGRADE A.: TACILE A.; S’ERB.AL A.; \TSUAL A.; BARBITURATE OR SIMILARLY ACTING SEDATIVE OR HYPNOTIC AMNESnc DISORDER. amnesic aphasia = a.mnestic aphasia. amnesic confabulation fanciful tales and experiences unconsciously fabricated to fillgaps in memory. It occurs in Korsakoff's and other organic psychoses. See confabulation.

-androa combining form meaning male.

-anemoa combining form meaning wind, air current. anemia a blood disorder marked by a lower-thannormal number of red blood cells or a deficiency of hemoglobin in the red blood cells. The condition is a sign of several possible diseases or abnormalities that can include loss of blood through hemorrhage, bone-marrow disease, exposure to toxic substances in the environment, or an inadequate diet. One form ofa., sickle-cell a., is hereditary. (A. comes from the Greek word anaimia, “lack of blood.’’) Also see addiSON-B1ER.MER A.; COOLEY’S A.: SICKLE-CELL A.; CEREBRAL A. anemophobia a morbid fear of wind or strong drafts. anemotaxis: See johnston’s organ. anemotropism an orientation response of the body to air currents. anencephaly f-sef'-/ the congenital absence of a brain. The condition may range from complete lack of cerebral hemispheres to the presence of only small masses of cerebral tissue. Also called anencephalia /-fal'-/. anergasia a term applied by A. Meyer to a psychosis orloss of functional actisity due to a structural brain disorder. anergia absence of energy: extreme passisity. Also called anergy. Adjective; anergic. Also see BURNED-OUT. anergic schizophrenia any form of schizophrenia that ismarked by passivityor lack ofenergy. See BURNED-OUT. anergic schizophrenic = burned-out. anergy = anergia. anesthesia a loss or impairment of sensitisity to stimuli due to nerve damage or destruction, narcotic drugs, hypnotic suggestion, or conversion (hj’sterical) disorder. The latter condition involves loss of sensation in specific areas that do not correspond to the distribution of nerve fibers, such as glove, stocking, girdle, wrist, or trunk anesthesia. Also spelled anaesthesia. anesthetic leprosy = danielssen-boeck disease. anesthetics agents that produce anesthesia as characterized by loss of sensation, unconsciousness, rela,xation of skeletal muscles, reduction of motor activity and refle.xes. amnesia, or a combination of such effects. Kinds of a. include general a., which may be administered by inhalation, intravenous injection, or retention enema, regional a,, administered by injection or topical application, and other a. techniques, c.g.. acupuncture and hypothermia. anethopalhy behavior marked by an absence of ethics or moral inhibitions, accompanied by narcissisticse.xual bchasior and egocentrism. A. patients are usually “disease-fast." or unresponsive to psychotherapy. See antisoclalrEKSOSALITV DISORDER.

-attkylo-; -ancyloa combining form meaning bent, crooked. ankjioglossia the restricted movement of the tongue due to abnormal shortness ofthe lingual frenum. Normal speech production may be affected. Also called tongue tie. ankylosing spondylitis an inflammation of the vertebrae that results in a permanent stiffening of the venebral column in a kyphosis, or hunchback,position. The vertebraeand intervertebral disks usually are eroded or destroyed, causing a collapse of the spine. A.s. may be associated with Pott's disease, a form of tuberculosis, or other infectious diseases, e.g., brucellosis. A chronic rheumatoid form ofa.s. iscalled Marie-Strumpell disease. ankylosis an immobility and consolidation of a joint, usually due to the destruction of membranes lining the joint or to a bone-structure defect. A. may occur naturally, as in rheumatoid arthritis, or by surgical fusion (arthrodesis).

a combining form meaning away from, without, separated. apocarteresis self-destruction by deliberate starvation.

a combining form meaning both (from Latin ambo, “both. two"), ambide.xtrous the ability to use either hand with equal skill. in a ambient conditions the physical variables particular environment, such as temperature.

-argentoa combining form meaning silver (Latin argentum). argenfophilic plaques structures found in the brain tissues of older persons and identified as argentophilic because they absorb tissue stains containing silver. The a.p. appear under a microscope as wispy fibers in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. The a.p. are associated with Alzheimer’s disease in humans and also have been found in the brains of aging animals. Also called argyrophilic plaques, argininosuccinic aciduria a form of moderate-tosevere mental retardation, often accompanied by grand mal seizures in childhood. Clinical signs include sparse, dull, friable hair on the scalp and body. Large quantities of argininosuccinic acid are present in the urine. Treatment is based on control of protein intake to prevent hyperammonemia. The trait is transmitted by an autosomal-recessive gene, argumentativeness contentiousness; a persistent urge to dispute and argue. In extreme form, a. may be a core symptom in manic episodes.

a combining form relating to an enzyme. asemia a loss of the ability to understand or utilize language; a general communication disorder that includes such conditions as alexia, agraphia, and amimia, which involve the comprehension and use of communicative signs, symbols, or gestures (from Greek aand sema, “sign”). A. is sometimes used interchangeably with asymbolia. Also called asemasia. aseptic a term used to identify an object or substance that is free of infectious or septic material,hence sterile in a hygienic sense (from Greek a-and sepsis, “decay”).

a combining form relating to weakness (from Greek ast/icnes, “weak"). Adjective; asthenic. asthenia a condition of severe weakness or ioss of strength. A. may be marked by generai fatigue and muscular pain or by breathicssne.ss. giddiness, and heart palpitations. One form of a. caused by pituitary-gland dysfunction is characterized by loss of appetite, constipation, hjpoglycemia. h>-pothcrmia. loss of muscle tone, and. in women, amenorrhea. A. is a common symptom in depressive and neurasthenic disorders. Also called adynamia. See Disnti.srrc disordfr: AsniCNic personauty; NEGR.AsrHr.- -NIA. Also see ItDVT-INDL'CED A.; DA COSTa’S SS'Ndrome; mentai. a. asthenic: See -asthen-. tEsthcnic personality in DSM II. a personality disorder characterized by persistent mental and physical lassitude, .aches and pains, low tolerance for Stress, diffuse "nervousness," and lack of enthusiasm. .-Vsthcnic individuals arc chronic

-ateloa combining form relating to defective dcsclopmcnt. ateiesis a term applied to schizophrenic disjunctions, e.g., dj-sjunaion of the psyche and the enviamment as manife.sted in autism: also, disintegration. or splitting, of the contents of consciousness. atcliosis a genera! term for incomplete development. to cither phwical or mental applied growth: infantilism, dwarfism, mental retardation. atephobia a morbid fear of ruin or being ruined (from Greek aic. "infatuation, blind impulse"), atheromatosis a pathologic condition caused by atherosclethe accumulation of atheromas, or rotic plaques, in the smooth-mu.‘clc tissue of the walls of anerics. The condition berins in childhood as a scries of fatty streaks which develop into plaques over a period of time. If a. develops in a cerebral artery or an artcrv' in the neck that supplies the brain, the plaques may cause occlusion of an artery, deprising the brain tissues of oxjgenated blood. atherosclerosis a common form of arteriosclerosis in which the primars' sign is the accumulation of atheromas, or scllowish lipid plaques, on the inner walls of large and medium-size arteries, atherosclerotic plaque: Sec tlaolt. athetoid dssairlhria a speech disorder characterized by noisy irregular breathing, hoarseness, and articulatory problems which may result in extreme unintelligibility, or slight distortions. It i<usually associated with cerebral pal‘.v. athetosis a disorder characterized by 'low. mxolunlary. recurrent mo'cments of the fingers, toes, arms, or legs, due tocxtrapyramidal lesions. It b a common symptom of cerebral palsy, athetotic dysarthria the loss of articulation associated with slow , writhing involuntary movements of the extremities, as in cerebral palsy, athletic type the m.useular. wen-prs'partioncd.

a combining form describing a characteristic feature of a structure,

-audioa combining form relating to sound or hearing. audibility range: See ra.nce of audibiutf. audible thought a type of hallucination in which the patient hears his own thoughts as if they were projected into him by an inner voice. Although a.t, appears to be a hallucination of perception, it actuallyis one of conception, audience: See crowtj behavior. audile pertaining to a person who is ear-minded, or who learns more easily from spoken as opposed to written language, auding a level of auditory reception that involves hearing, listening, and comprehension of the information. audio brain stimulation: See BR.AtK sTtMut-vnoN. audiogenic seizure an epilepsylike seizure induced by high-frequency sound waves, audiogram a recording of a subject's range of hearing. The a. is made with an audiometer

-auria combining form relating to (a) the car (from Latin atiris. "car"), (b) gold or anything golden (from Latin aiirtim. "gold"), aura in psychiatry, subjeaive sensations t)iatwarn the individual of an impending epileptic seizure or migraine attack; strange tastes or odors, colored lights, numbness, weird sounds, feelings of unreality, stomach distress, or d^jii \u. Individual patients e.xpcriencc their own typical auras, which may or may not give them time to prepare for or abort a seizure. The term is also used in parapsychology to denote halos and emanations which some individuals claim to see. (A. is a Greek word meaning "breeze."} Alsosee EPiLEmca. ; .viiCR.Ai.Nna.;visuala. aura cursoria a condition marked by aimless running immediately preceding an epileptic seizure. aural microphonlcs = wever-bray effect. auricle: See exter.nal auditorv meatus. auroraphobia a morbid fear of northern lights (or aurora borealis). aurofhioglucose an organic compound containing gold, used as a medication for the treatment of certain cases of lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

-bilia combining form denoting bile or the bile-producing system. Adjective; biliary. bilabial a speech sound made with both lips which stop or modify the air stream, e.g., Iht, Ipl, Iml, or Av/. Also called labiolabial. Also see' LABIODENTAL. bilateral lesion a lesion that begins in one hemisphere but produces dysfunction in the other because of a disruption of blood flow, metabolism, tumor spread, edema, or other complications. bilateral speech speech function that is represented in both the left and right hemispheres of the brain. As a general rule, right-handed subjects have speech representation in the left hemisphere and are more likely to experience speech deficits following a left-hemisphere lesion.