paraplegia

paralysis of the legs

parenteral

administration by injection

paresthesia

tingling in the skin

patella

kneecap

patency

condition of being open

pathogenesis

the initial cause of a disease

pathology

study of the causes of disease; biopsy of tissue to check for disease

percutaneous

through the skin

perforation

puncture, tear of hole

phlebitis

Inflammation of a vein

placebo

a pill that does not contain active medicine

plasma

blood

platelets

small particle in the blood that help with blood clotting

pneumonia

lung infection

pneumothorax

collapsed lung

polyps

abnormal lumps that can sometimes be cancerous

prone

to lie flat facing down; to lie on the stomach

prophylaxis

drug given to prevent disease or infection

prosthesis

artificial limbs

pulmonary

lung

pyelogram

a series of X-rays of the kidneys

QD

every day, daily

QID

four times a day

recombinant

formation of new combinations of genes

remission

disappearance of evidence of cancer or other disease

renal

to do with the kidneys

resect

remove or cut out (surgically)

respiratory

breathing

rhinitis

inflammation in the nose