A group of disorders in which some aspect of body chemistry is disturbed.
metabolic disorders
metabolic syndrome
The combination of insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, high blood pressure and disordered blood lipids that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
metabolism
The chemical reactions necessary to sustain life.
metastases
Secondary tumours’ that result from the spread of a malignant tumour to other parts of the body.
metastasis
The spread of a malignant tumour to other parts of the body.
metatarsal
One of five long, cylindrical bones of the foot. They are held in an arch by surrounding ligaments.
metatarsal bone
One of five long, cylindrical bones in the foot. They are held in an arch by the surrounding ligaments.
metatarsalgia
Pain in the foot. The causes include fracture of a metatarsal, flat-feet and neuroma of a nerve joint.
Ménière’s disease
A disorder of the inner ear leading to a combination of hearing loss, tinnitus and balance problems.
MI
Myocardial infarction. Death of a segment of heart muscle, which follows interruption of its blood supply.
microalbuminuria
The presence of small amounts of albumin, a type of protein, in the urine.
microaneurysms
A small swelling in the wall of a capillary, the smallest type of blood vessel.
micrognathia
A condition where the jaw is abnormally small.
microorganisms
Organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye, such as bacteria and viruses.
microscopy
The use of microscopes to investigate objects too small to be seen with the naked eye.
microvascular
Relating to small blood vessels.
mid-stream urine test
A test of the middle part of the urine stream to detect bacteria and other markers of infection specifically from the bladder and urinary tract.
migraine
A severe headache, often lasting 4 -72 hours and accompanied by visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting.
milia
Tiny, harmless, hard, white spots that usually occur in clusters around the nose and on the upper cheeks in newborn babies and also in young adults.
Milroy's disease
A condition that affects the normal function of the lymphatic system, which is a system of vessels that drain lymph from tissues all over the body back into the bloodstream.
mini mental state examination
A series of questions to assess memory, perception and reasoning.
minimal residual disease typing
A technique to assess how many of a certain type of cell is left in the body after chemotherapy.
minimally invasive surgery
A type of surgery that aims to limit the amount of trauma to the patient; for example, keyhole surgery. Abbreviated to MIS.
Mirizzi's syndrome
A rare cause of acquired jaundice that results from a stone that becomes lodged in the cystic duct or gallbladder.