Abbreviation for minimally invasive surgery, a type of surgery that aims to limit the amount of trauma to the patient; for example, keyhole surgery.

The spontaneous loss of pregnancy.

A plum-coloured flush to the cheeks due to lack of oxygen in some people with heart valve disease.

A valve in the heart located between the left atrium (one of the two upper chambers of the heart) and the left ventricle (one of the two lower chambers).

Pain or discomfort occurring on ovulation, typically at the middle of a woman's menstrual cycle.

Millimoles per litre - units of the amount of substance present.

measles, mumps, rubella

An abbreviation for mini mental state examination, a series of questions to assess memory, perception and reasoning.

A harmless viral infection, characterised by tiny, white lumps on the surface of the skin.

A blue/black pigmented spot found on the lower back and buttocks at birth. They are caused by a concentration of pigment-producing cells. They usually disappear by the age of two or three years.

Inflammation of one joint at a time.

Damage to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

A condition in which one or more hard, flat patches develop on the skin.

The study of the structure of living organisms.

A condition that affects one of the nerves that run between the metatarsal bones in the foot.

Relating to the part of the nervous system that carries information from the brain and spinal cord to cause activity in a muscle or gland.

A progressive neurological disease in which impaired nerve conduction leads to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing mobility problems and eventually difficulties in swallowing, speaking and breathing

An abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging, a technique for imaging the body that uses electromagnetic waves and a strong magnetic field.

multiple sclerosis

mid-stream urine (sample)

Membranes that line many body structures such as the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract and produce mucus.

Multidetector computed tomography. A special kind of computed tomography (CT) scanning that produces more detailed images of the body. Sometimes abbreviated to MDCT.

Relating to a group of healthcare professionals with different areas of specialisation.

A progressive disease of the central nervous system.