Definition Vegetarianism is the voluntary abstinence from eating meat. Vegetarians refrain from eating meat for various reasons, including religious, health, and ethical ones. Lacto-ovo vegetarians supplement their diet with dairy (lactose) products and eggs (ovo). Vegans (pronounced vee-guns) do not eat any animal-derived products at all. Purpose Vegetarianism is recommended as a dietary...

Definition Uveitis is an inflammation of the uveal tract, which lines the inside of the eye behind the cornea. Much of the uvea lies between the retina and tough, outer sclera. The uveal tract has three parts: the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid. Uveitis is categorized according to the part of the uvealtract that is affected. Anterior uveitis is...

Definition Uterine fibroids (also called leiomyomas or myomas) are benign growths of the muscle inside the uterus. They are not cancerous, nor are they related to cancer . Fibroids can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding and pressure on the pelvis. Description Uterine fibroids are extremely common. About 25% of women in their reproductive...

Definition Uterine fibroids are growths in the muscular tissue of the womb (uterus). Uterine fibroid embolization is non-surgical removal of the growths through the use of a tubular device called a catheter. Purpose It is estimated that between 20% and 40% of women over age 35 years have fibroids. These noncancerous tumors of the uterus, also called...

Definition A urine flow test evaluates the speed of urination, or amount voided per second, and the total time of urination. Purpose A urine flow test is utilized to determine bladder function abnormalities, including a narrowed or obstructed urethra (the outflow passage from the bladder) and a weakened bladder muscle (detrusor). Description During a urine flow test,...

Definition A urine culture is a diagnostic laboratory test performed to detect the presence of bacteria in the urine (bacteriuria). Purpose Culture of the urine is a method of diagnosis for urinary tract infection that determines the number of microorganisms present in a given quantity of urine. Precautions If delivery...

Definition Urinary incontinence is unintentional loss of urine that is sufficient enough in frequency and amount to cause physical and/or emotional distress in the person experiencing it. Description Approximately 13 million Americans suffer from urinary incontinence. Women are affected by the disorder more frequently than are men; one in 10 women under age 65 suffers...

Definition A urinary diversion involves removal of the urinary bladder and adjacent tissues and organs, and re-routing of the urinary stream. This may involve creation of an artificial opening in the abdomen called an ostomy. Purpose A urinary diversion is created as a means to treat cancer of the bladder, when conservative measures have been unsuccessful,...

Definition Urinary catheterization is the insertion of a catheter into a patient's bladder. The catheter is used as a conduit to drain urine from the bladder into an attached bag or container. Purpose Urinary catheterization is employed in hospital and nursing home settings to maintain urine output in patients who are undergoing surgery, or who are confined to the bed and physically unable...

Definition Urinary anti-infectives are medicines used to treat or prevent infections of the urinary tract, which is the passage through which urine flows from the kidneys out of the body.   Purpose Normally, no bacteria or other disease-causing organisms live in the bladder. Likewise, the urethra—the tube-like structure that carries urine from the bladder...

Definition Uric acid tests are tests that are done to measure the levels of uric acid in blood serum or in urine. Purpose The uric acid tests are used to evaluate the blood levels of uric acid for gout and to assess uricacid levels in the urine for kidney stone formation. The urine test is used...

Definition Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra that is usually caused by an infection. Description The urethra is the canal that moves urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. When this canal becomes infected, inflammation occurs due to the accumulation of white blood cells in the area. When this occurs, it is called urethritis. Besides the urethra,...

Definition An upper GI examination is a fluoroscopic examination (a type of x-ray imaging) of the upper gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine (duodenum). Purpose An upper GI series is frequently requested when a patient experiences unexplained symptoms of abdominal pain, difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia), regurgitation, diarrhea, or...

Definition Also known as cryptorchidism, undescended testes is a congenital condition characterized by testicles that do not follow the normal developmental pattern of moving into the scrotum before birth. Description In the fetus, the testes are in the abdomen. As development progresses, they migrate downward through the groin and into the scrotum. This event takes place late in fetal...

Definition Umbilical cord blood banking is the practice of preserving for future use fetal blood that remains in the umbilical cord at the time of birth. Purpose During pregnancy, a developing fetus is attached to its mother's placenta by the umbilical cord. At birth, this cord is cut, and the placenta is expelled from the mother....

Definition Ultraviolet light treatment uses a particular band of the nonvisible light spectrum to treat psoriasis and a variety of other skin diseases. It can be used alone or in combination with other medications applied directly to the skin or taken internally. Purpose Ultraviolet (UV) light treatment is used primarily in cases of severe psoriasis that...

Definition In general, an ulcer is any eroded area of skin or a mucous membrane, marked by tissue disintegration. In common usage, however, ulcer usually is used to refer to disorders in the upper digestive tract. The terms ulcer, gastric ulcer, and peptic ulcer often are used loosely and interchangeably. Peptic ulcers...

Definition Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes swelling, ulcerations, and loss of function of the large intestine. Description The primary problem in IBD is inflammation, as the name suggests. Inflammation is a process that often occurs in order to fight off foreign invaders in the body, including viruses,...

Definition Ulcer surgery is a procedure used to cure peptic ulcer disease when medications have failed. Purpose Ulcer surgery is used to relieve a present peptic ulcer disease and to prevent recurrence of it. Surgery is usually required if the ulcer is in one of the following states: ·        ...

A. Difficult Urination (Dysuria). Difficulty in the voiding of urine may come from conditions involving the urethra, such as stricture following an old infection, or from pressure from outside the urethra as by an enlarged prostate. It can occur as a consequence of taking certain drugs. Cystitis (inflammation of the lining of the bladder) may cause a spasm of the muscle that normally keeps the outlet of the...

An ulcer of the skin is a lesion in which an area of skin and a certain amount of underlying tissues has been destroyed. It differs from an ordinary wound in that the vitality of the tissue is less than normal and healing is delayed. The usual reasons for lowered tissue vitality are a reduction in blood or nerve supply or the presence of infection. Common manifestations of ulcers of the skin are as follows: A....

Definition of Uterine fibroids: Uterine fibroids are noncancerous (benign) tumors that develop in the uterus (womb), a female reproductive organ. Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Uterine fibroids are the most common pelvic tumor. As many as 1 in 5 women may have fibroids during their childbearing years (the time after starting menstruation for the first time and before menopause). Fibroids usually affect...