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dermis
One of two main layers that make up the skin. The dermis
is the second layer, which contains the roots of hairs, glands which
make sweat, blood and lymph vessels and nerves.
detection
The discovery
of an abnormality or disease in the body. 'Early detection' is the
discovery of an abnormality at an early stage when it is readily
treated and, in the case of cancer,
much more likely to be curable.
diabetes
A disorder
in which sugars are not taken up in the body as they should, because
the hormone needed to convert the sugars (insulin) is not coming
from the pancreas.
diagnosis
The identification and naming of a person's disease.
Many factors are taken into account, including previous medical
background, symptoms, findings from a physical examination, blood
tests, other laboratory tests, x-rays and possibly a biopsy.
diaphragm
A dome-like
sheet of muscle that divides the chest cavity from the abdomen.
It is used in breathing.
differentiated
cells
Mature cells that perform a specific function in the
body, for example, blood
cells, bone cells, or skin cells, and are clearly different
from other types of cell: see cell.
digestive
system
The organs
that are responsible for getting food into and out of the body
and for making use of food to keep the body healthy. These include
the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, liver, gall
bladder, pancreas, small
intestine, colon and rectum.
digital
rectal examination (DRE)
A procedure in which the doctor or nurse inserts a gloved
finger into the patient's rectum to examine this area. It is also possible to examine the prostate
gland through the wall of the rectum.
disseminated cancer [dis-sem-i-na-ted can-cer]
Cancer that is no longer confined to one part of the body, but has begun
to metastasise,
or spread, throughout the body.
diuretic [di-u-ret-ic]
A substance that helps the body to get rid of excess
fluid by passing more urine.
donor
The person giving tissue or organ for transplanting. The person receiving it is the host.
duct
A small tube in the body, usually one that carries the
substances secreted from glands.
In the breast, the
milk ducts carry milk from the milk sacs to the nipple.
ductal carcinoma [duc-tal
car-ci-no-ma]
see intraductal
carcinoma.
duodenum
The first part of the small bowel. It receives bile from the gall bladder and
pancreatic juice from the pancreas.
dysplastic
moles [dys-plas-tic]
Abnormal moles that are not cancer but may turn into cancer. Also called dysplastic naevi.
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