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labrum
The ring of soft tissue that surrounds the outside rim of the hip joint.
labium major

The protuberant, outer folds of skin that lie on either side of the vagina.

labyrinth

Collective term for the structures of the inner ear.

labyrinthitis

Inflammation of the labyrinth, the structures of the inner ear, almost always caused by a bacterial or viral infection.

lactose

one of the sugars present in milk.

lactose intolerance

inability to digest lactose, one of the sugars present in milk.

lamellar nail dystrophy

nail splitting.

laparoscope

An instrument with attached light source, usually connected to a camera, which allows the examination of the organs during keyhole surgery.

laparoscopic

A keyhole surgical procedure.

laparoscopy

Keyhole surgery that uses an instrument called a laparoscope to examine the abdominal or pelvic organs.

large loop excision of the transformation zone

A type of surgery used to cut out abnormal tissue of the cervix of the uterus. It uses a loop of heated wire that acts like a scalpel.

laryngitis

Inflammation of the larynx or voice box, usually due to infection, irritation or over-use (such as shouting or screaming)

laryngoscopy

Examination of the larynx either directly, through an endoscope, or indirectly, reflecting light off a mirror held at the back of the throat

larynx

Organ of the body that produces the sounds of the voice, through which air from the mouth cavity (pharynx) passes to and from the lungs.

laser ablation

The destruction of abnormal cells by burning them away using a laser.

laser therapy

The destruction of abnormal cells by burning them away using a laser.

lateral rectus

The eye muscle reponsible for turning the eyeball outwards.

LDL-cholesterol

Substance that carries cholesterol around the bloodstream, a form of so-called 'bad cholesterol'.

Leber's optic atrophy

An inherited form of vision loss.

LEEP

An abbreviation for loop electro-surgical excision procedure, a type of surgery used to cut out abnormal tissue of the cervix of the uterus. It uses a loop of heated wire that acts like a scalpel.

left ventricular thrombus

A blood clot formed within the left lower chamber of the heart.

leishmaniasis

Any of a number of diseases caused by the parasite leishmania.

lentigo maligna

A pre-cancerous condition.

leprosy

A chronic bacterial infection that damages nerves, mainly in the limbs and facial area and may cause skin damage.