General Medical Terms

A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer.

Saline is a solution of salt dissolved in water, formulated to closely match the body's own fluid concentration for medical use.

A substance that helps make more white blood cells, especially granulocytes, macrophages, and cells that become platelets.

Saw palmetto is an herbal supplement derived from a native palm's berries, widely used for urinary symptoms of prostate enlargement despite inconsistent trial evidence.

A scalpel is a small surgical knife with a thin, precise blade used to make controlled incisions during a procedure.

The scapula, or shoulder blade, is a flat triangular bone on the back of the shoulder that anchors many of the muscles moving the arm.

SCF is a natural protein signaling blood-forming stem cells to survive, multiply, and mature into the different cell types found in blood.

A substance that has been studied in the treatment of some types of cancer.

A type of glial cell of the peripheral nervous system that helps separate and insulate nerve cells.

A schwannoma is a nerve sheath tumor that is nearly always benign, most often affecting a peripheral nerve or the nerve supplying hearing and balance.

SCID is a group of rare inherited disorders in which T lymphocyte function is severely impaired, leaving the immune system unable to fight infection.

A type of breast imaging test that is used to detect cancer cells in the breasts of some women who have had abnormal mammograms, or who have dense breast tissue.

A chronic disorder marked by hardening and thickening of the skin.

A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer.

A substance that contains the element selenium (a nutrient that protects cells against damage) and is found in certain plants such as garlic and broccoli.

Sebum is an oily substance made by skin glands that lubricates and waterproofs skin and hair.

Secondhand smoke combines exhaled and burning tobacco smoke, inhaled involuntarily by nonsmokers who share the same air.

To form and release a substance.

An error in choosing the individuals or groups to take part in a study.

Self-esteem reflects a person's overall sense of self-worth, and healthcare providers may address it as part of emotional and psychological wellbeing.