DIASTOLE—The dilation or period of dilation of the heart, especially of the
ventricles.
DIATHERMY—The generation of heat in tissue by electric current for medical or
surgical purposes.
DISINFECTION—The killing of infectious agents outside the body by physical or
chemical means applied directly.
concurrent—Done during the treatment of a patient with a communicable
disease.
terminal—Done after a patient has been discharged or transferred.
DISINFESTATION—A physical or chemical means of destroying animal or insect
pests in a particular area.
DISTILLATION—Converting a liquid to a vapor by applying heat and condensing
the vapor back to liquid by cooling.
DIURESIS—Urine excretion in excess of the usual amount.
DIURETICS—Drugs that increase the secretion of urine.
DYSPNEA—Labored or difficult breathing.
ECCHYMOSIS—A small hemorrhagic spot, larger than a petechia, in the skin or
mucous membrane, forming a nonelevated, rounded or irregular, blue or
purplish patch.
ELECTROLYTE—A substance that dissociates into ions in solution or when
fused, thereby becoming capable of conducting electricity.
ELIXIR—An aromatic, sweetened, hydroalcoholic solution containing medicinal
substances.
EMBOLUS—A clot or other plug brought by the blood from another vessel and
forced into a smaller one, thereby obstructing circulation.
EMETIC—A substance that causes vomiting.
EMOLLIENT—A drug that softens, soothes, or smooths the skin or irritated
surfaces.
EMULSION—A liquid preparation containing two unmixable liquids, such as oil
and water, one of which is dispersed as globules in the other.
ENCAPSULATED—Enclosed within a capsule.
ENDEMIC—The constant presence of a disease in a given locality.
ENTERIC—Of or within the intestine.
EPIDEMIC—The outbreak of disease in a geographic area in excess of normal
expectations.
EPIDEMIOLOGY—The study of epidemics and epidemic diseases.
EPISTAXIS—Nosebleed.
EPIZOOTIC—Attacking many animals in a region at the same time.
ERADICATE—Wipe out; destroy.
ERYTHEMA—Redness.
ERYTHROCYTE—Red blood cell.
AV-4
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