Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

tendon or bursaaround the shoulder joint
being squeezed between the scapulaand
humerus. Treatment includes physiother-
apyand injection of corticosteroid drugs.
painkillersSee analgesic drugs.
pain reliefThe treatment of pain, usu-
ally with analgesic drugs. Paracetamol,
aspirinand codeineare the most widely
used drugs in this group. Pain accompa-
nied by inflammationis often alleviated
by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs). Severe pain may require treat-
ment with opioids, such as morphine.
Other methods of pain relief include
massage, ice-packs,poultices, TENS, acu-
puncture,or hypnosis. Surgery to destroy
pain-transmitting nerves (as in a cordo-
tomy) is occasionally performed when
other treatments fail.
palateThe roof of the mouth, which is
covered with mucous membraneand
which separates the mouth from the
nasal cavity. At the front is the hard
palate, a plate of bone forming part of
the maxilla. At the rear is the soft
palate, a flap of muscle and fibrous
tissue that projects into the pharynx.
(See also cleft lip and palate.)
palliative treatmentTreatment that
relieves the symptoms of a disorder but
does not cure it.
pallorAbnormal paleness of the skinand
mucous membranes, particularly notice-
able in the face. Pallor is not always a
symptom of disease. It may be due to a
deficiency of the skin pigment melanin
that may affect people who spend very
little time in daylight. It is also a feature
of albinism. In addition, pallor may be
caused by constriction of small blood
vessels in the skin, which may occur in
response to shock, severe pain, injury,
heavy blood loss, or fainting.
Disorders that cause pallor include
anaemia, pyelonephritis, kidney failure,
and hypothyroidism. Lead poisoningis a
rare cause.
palpationA technique used in physical
examination, in which parts of the body
are felt with the hands.
palpitationAwareness of the heartbeat
or a sensation of having a rapid and
forceful heartbeat. Palpitations are usu-
ally felt in tense situations, or after
strenuous exercise or a scare. When

experienced at rest or when calm, they

are usually due to ectopic heartbeats

and are felt as fluttering or thumping in

the chest. Palpitations may also be

due to cardiac arrhythmiasand hyper-

thyroidism. Recurrent palpitations, or

those causing chest pain, breathless-

ness, or dizziness, may be investigated

by a 24-hour ECG and thyroid function

tests. Treatment depends on the cause.

palsyA term applied to certain forms of

paralysis, such as facial palsy.

panaceaA claimed remedy for all dis-

eases. No such remedy is known.

pancreasA tapered gland that lies

across the back of the abdomen, behind

the stomach. The broadest part (head)

is on the right-hand side. The main part

(body) tapers from the head and extends

horizontally. The narrowest part (tail) is

on the left near the spleen.

The pancreas has a digestive and a

hormonal function. It mostly consists of

exocrine tissue, which secretes diges-

tive enzymesinto the duodenum via the

pancreatic duct. Also secreted is sodium

bicarbonate, which neutralizes stomach

acid entering the duodenum. The pan-

creas also contains groups of endocrine

cells, called the islets of Langerhans,

which secrete the hormones insulinand

glucagon. These hormones regulate the

level of glucosein the blood.

The most common pancreatic disorder

is diabetes mellitus.

PAINKILLERS PANCREAS

P

LOCATION

Pancreatic duct

PANCREAS

PANCREAS

PANCREATIC CELLS

Islet of

Langerhans

Digestive

cells

Head

Body

Tail