Medical dictionary

What is Parkinsonism? Parkinsonism is a general term that refers to a group of neurological disorders that cause movement problems similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease, such as tremors, slow movement and stiffness. These neurological disorders are usually diagnosed and treated by a neurologist. What are the symptoms of Parkinsonism? The most common symptoms of this cond

What is Parkinson's? Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the neurons that produce dopamine. It is a slowly progressing disorder which is more prevalent as one becomes older. What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s? Parkinson's causes a progressive deterioration of certain brain functions in the patient that manifest with vario

What is Parkinson’s tremor? Tremors are a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease and are characterised by involuntary shaking or quivering. Parkinson’s tremors are slow and rhythmic and commonly begin on one side of the body, in the hand, foot or leg. They may also later go on to affect both sides of the body as the condition develops. This type of tremor in the hand is often d

What are the parotid glands?   The parotid glands are one of the salivary glands situated in front of the ears. The other two types of salivary gland are the submandibular glands (under the jaw) and the sublingual glands (under the tongue). Together, these glands produce saliva.     What are the main functions of the parotid glands?   The function of th

What are the parotid glands? There are three main pairs of salivary glands that produce and release saliva into the mouth: the submandibular, sublingual, and parotid glands. The parotid glands are responsible for secreting saliva into the mouth to start the process of digestion.   What is parotid surgery and why is it performed? Parotid gland surgery or parotidectomy, is an op

Pars defect is a condition affecting the part of the vertebra in the lumbar spine (lower back), called the pars interarticularis, which is a small section of bone that joins the facet joints in the spine.What are the symptoms of pars defect? The main symptom of pars defect is lower back pain. The pain often radiates into the buttocks and legs, and can restrict daily activity. The defect does not&n

What is a partial knee replacement? A partial knee replacement is a surgical procedure where, unlike in a full knee replacement, only the damaged or injured part of the knee is removed and replaced. It generally causes less pain and allows the patient a faster recovery, due to the fact that it is a less invasive operation and preserves more of the natural joint. What conditions does a pa

What is analysed? The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT or PTT) is a laboratory test that measures the time (in seconds) that it takes for blood clotting to occur when specific reagents are added to plasma (the liquid component of blood) in a test tube. The test is an indication of the functionality of the intrinsic and common pathways of the coagulation cascade, which is used by the

What is Parvovirus B19? Parvovirus B19 is a contagious virus that belongs to the Parvoviridae family. It primarily affects children, but adults can also be affected. This virus is notorious for causing erythema infectiosum, also known as fifth disease, a common childhood rash illness. Additionally, Parvovirus B19 can lead to complications in certain populations, such as pregnant women and indiv