Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

cureTo restore to normal health after an

illness. The term usually means the dis-

appearance of a disease rather than a halt

in its progress. Medication or therapy that

ends an illness may also be termed a cure.

curettageThe use of a sharp-edged,

spoon-shaped surgical instrument called

a curetteto scrape abnormal tissue, or

tissue for analysis, from the lining of a

body cavity or from the skin.

curettage, dentalThe scraping of the

wall of a cavity or other surface with a

dental curette. Dental curettage is one

method used to remove the lining of

periodontal pockets and diseased tis-

sue from root surfaces in periodontitis.

curetteA spoon-shaped surgical instru-

ment for scraping away material or

tissue from an organ, cavity, or surface.

Curling’s ulcerA type of stress ulcer

that occurs specifically in people who

have suffered extensive skin burns.

Cushing’s syndromeA hormonal dis-

order caused by an abnormally high

level of corticosteroid hormonesin the

blood. Cushing’s syndrome is character-

ized by a red moon-shaped face,wasting

of the limbs, thickening of the trunk, and

a humped upper back. Other symptoms

or swallowed contrast media (chemicals

opaque to X-rays) may be used to make

certain tissues more visible.

cultureA growth of bacteria or other

microorganisms, cells, or tissues culti-

vated artificially in the laboratory.

Microorganisms are collected from the

site of an infection and cultured to pro-

duce adequate amounts so that tests to

identy them can be performed. Cells may

be cultured to diagnose disorders pre-

natally and for study of chromosomes

(see chromosome analysis).Some tis-

sues, such as skin, may be cultured to

produce larger amounts for grafting.

cuppingAn ancient form of treatment,

still used in folk healing in some coun-

tries, which draws blood to the surface

by applying a small heated vessel to the

skin. The inflammatory response pro-

duced is believed to help in bronchitis,

asthma, and musculoskeletal pains.

curareAn extract from the bark and

juices of various trees that has been

used for centuries by South American

Indians as an arrow poison. Curare kills

by causing muscle paralysis. Synthetic

compounds related to curare are used to

produce paralysis during surgery.

CULTURE CUSHING’S SYNDROME

C

Control

panel

Motorized bed

moves forwards

after each scan

X-ray detector

rotates to remain

opposite X-ray

source

X-ray beam

CT SCANNING

CT scanner tilts forwards

and backwards

X-ray source

generates a beam

of X-rays and

rotates around

body

Direction of

rotation of

X-ray source