follicle-stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary, a hormone involved in the development of puberty and in reproduction.
gastrin produced in the stomach, a hormone that stimulates the release of gastric acid or hydrochloric acid, to aid in the digestion of food.
ghrelin a hormone that, along with leptin, stimulates appetite. It is made in the stomach and pancreas.
gonadatrophic hormone secreted by the pituitary, a hormone that stimulates the ovaries and the testes.
human growth hormone (HGH) secreted by the pituitary gland, a hormone best known for stimulating height but is also involved in increasing muscle mass, the mineralization of bone, and the breakdown of fats.
hypothyroidism a deficiency in thyroid functioning, due most often to an imbalance with estrogen or with an iodine shortage, and characterized by an array of symptoms, including weight gain, fatigue, hair thinning, low sex drive, depression, and the feeling of being cold.
insulin hormone secreted by the pancreas, allowing the body's cells to absorb glucose and produce energy.
insulin resistance an abnormality in which tissue responds insufficiently to insulin and fails to take up glucose, from which energy is produced, resulting in a broad array of symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, sleepiness, weight gain, and high blood sugar. Long-term problems often lead to type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
leptin produced by the fat cells, a hormone that regulates appetite, energy intake, and metabolism.
luteinizing hormone produced by the pituitary, a hormone that triggers ovulation and the production of testosterone.
orexin a hormone that stimulates food cravings and the desire to eat. It is also involved in maintaining wakefulness.
oxytocin a hormone that triggers the release of milk in the breast.
parathyroid hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands, a hormone that metabolizes calcium and phosphates throughout the body.
precocious puberty premature development of sexual characteristics, such as pubic hair, breasts, and enlarged genitals, experienced by preteens more commonly now than in years past due to hormonal abnormalities. Experts cite a wide range of possible causes, including increasing obesity rates, stress, exposure to chemicals, brain disorders, tumors, cysts, and infections.
progesterone a hormone that aids in regulating menstruation, pregnancy, and embryo development.
prolactin made by the pituitary and the breast, a hormone involved in keeping the breast full of breast milk during breast-feeding.
steroid any hormone involved in sexual, reproductive, and muscular development. They may also be central to metabolism and immune function. They include estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and cor- tisol. See anabolic steroid.
thyroid hormone can refer to either thyroxine or triiodothyronine, which regulate metabolism, bone growth, protein synthesis, and the generation of body heat.
xenoestrogen any substance with estrogen-like effects, such as soy and some food additives. They are known to reduce sperm counts and increase breast cancer risk.
infants and babies
babble baby talk. bassinet a baby bed. bathinette a baby bathtub. booties knitted shoes or boots. carriage a stroller or baby buggy. coddle to baby and spoil.
colic occurring from the age of two weeks to about four months, any unexplained distress, crying, or screaming from an otherwise healthy infant, possibly due to trapped gas in the abdomen.
coo to talk softly and lovingly to a baby.
cradle a rocking or swinging baby bed.
cradle cap a form of infant dermatitis, characterized by a yellowish, greasy crust on the scalp, and often appearing within the first three months. Also known as milk crust.
crow a contented, happy cry.
dandle to bounce a baby on one's knee or swing in one's arms.
diaper rash skin irritation caused by wet diaper.
incubator an environmentally controlled enclosure used to aid in the development of premature infants and to help prevent infection.
infanticide the murder of an infant.
fontanelle the soft spot on a baby's head, which slowly hardens after birth.
Moro reflex a normal startle reflex found in infants, characterized by spreading out and unspreading of the arms, along with crying, the absence of which may indicate motor or neurological damage.
octuplets eight siblings born at the same time.
pacifier a ring and a pliable nipple, which simulates the mother's nipple, that the baby sucks on to soothe itself.
papoose a Native American baby or baby carrier.
pule whining and whimpering.
quadruplets four siblings born at the same time.
quintuplets five siblings born at the same time.
septuplets seven siblings born at the same time.
sextuplets six siblings born at the same time.
squall a very loud cry.
stillborn a baby who is born dead.
teething the eruption and first appearance of an infant's teeth.
teething ring a pliable ring on which an infant chews to help relieve pain from teething.
test tube baby a baby conceived by in vitro fertilization.
toddling baby walking.
wean to gradually stop breast-feeding an infant.
wet nurse a woman hired to breast-feed the baby of a mother who is unable or does not wish to.
whimper to cry weakly.
witch's milk milk secreted from the nipples of some newborn infants, for up to three months, and believed to be caused by the influence of the mother's hormones. In folklore, it was thought to be used as food by the animal pets or familiars of witches. Also known as neonatal milk.
lungs and breathing
alveolus a tiny air sac in which oxygen is transferred from the lungs to the blood.
apnea a temporary cessation of breathing, usually caused by too much oxygen or too little carbon dioxide in the brain.
asphyxia suffocation.
aspirate to inhale food or fluid into the lungs.
asthma a disease characterized by constriction of breathing passages and shortness of breath.
bronchiole one of the tiny tubes leading to an alveolus.
bronchitis inflammation of the bronchial tubes.
bronchodilator any medication prescribed to dilate the bronchial tubes.
bronchopneumonia inflammation of the bronchial tubes and the lungs; a common type of pneumonia.
byssinosis a lung disease caused by the inhalation of cotton particles.
carbon dioxide the waste gas expelled by the lungs in an exhale.
Cheyne-Stokes breathing in patients suffering grom congestive heart failure, breathing characterized by long periods of apnea followed by several deep breaths.
COLD chronic obstructive lung disease; a breakdown of the lungs resulting from long-term bronchitis and emphysema.
cystic fibrosis an inherited childhood disease characterized by the overproduction of mucus that obstructs the normal functioning of the lungs; accompanied by a susceptibility to infections.