MedTerm Speak

Master the language of medicine

Eccrine

EK-rin

/ˈɛkrɪn/

The most common type of sweat gland, found all over the body.

Ectoderm

EK-tuh-durm

/ˈɛktəˌdɜːrm/

The outermost layer of cells or tissue of an embryo in early development.

Effector

ee-FEK-tur

/ɪˈfɛktər/

An organ or cell that acts in response to a stimulus.

Efferent

EF-ur-unt

/ˈɛfərənt/

Conveying away from a center, such as motor nerves carrying impulses from the brain.

Ejaculatory

ee-JAK-yuh-luh-tor-ee

/ɪˈdʒækjʊləˌtɔːri/

The duct through which semen is ejaculated.

Elastin

ee-LAS-tin

/ɪˈlæstɪn/

A protein forming the main constituent of elastic connective tissue.

Eleidin

eh-LEE-ih-din

/ɪˈliːɪdɪn/

A transparent intermediate product of keratin found in the stratum lucidum of the skin.

Elevation

el-uh-VAY-shun

/ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃən/

The upward movement of a body part, such as shrugging the shoulders.

Enamel

ee-NAM-ul

/ɪˈnæməl/

The hard, thin, translucent layer of calcified tissue that covers the crown of a tooth.

Encephalon

en-SEF-uh-lon

/ɛnˈsɛfəlɒn/

The brain; the part of the central nervous system contained within the cranium.

Endocardium

en-do-KAR-dee-um

/ˌɛndoʊˈkɑːrdiəm/

The thin, smooth membrane which lines the inside of the chambers of the heart.

Endocrine

EN-duh-krin

/ˈɛndəkrɪn/

Glands that secrete hormones directly into the blood rather than through a duct.

Endoderm

EN-duh-durm

/ˈɛndəˌdɜːrm/

The innermost layer of cells or tissue of an embryo.

Endolymph

EN-duh-limf

/ˈɛndoʊlɪmf/

The fluid contained in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear.

Endometrium

en-do-MEE-tree-um

/ˌɛndoʊˈmiːtriəm/

The mucous membrane lining the uterus.

Endomysium

en-do-MIZ-ee-um

/ˌɛndoʊˈmɪziəm/

The delicate connective tissue surrounding individual muscle fibers.

Endoneurium

en-do-NYOO-ree-um

/ˌɛndoʊˈnjʊəriəm/

A layer of connective tissue that surrounds the axons of a peripheral nerve.

Endosteum

en-DOS-tee-um

/ɛnˈdɒstiəm/

A thin vascular membrane of connective tissue that lines the inner surface of bony tissue.

Endothelium

en-do-THEE-lee-um

/ˌɛndoʊˈθiːliəm/

The tissue which forms a single layer of cells lining the blood vessels and heart.

Ependyma

eh-PEN-dih-muh

/ɛˈpɛndɪmə/

The thin membrane of glial cells lining the ventricles of the brain.

Epicardium

ep-ih-KAR-dee-um

/ˌɛpɪˈkɑːrdiəm/

The outer layer of the heart wall.

Epicondyle

ep-ih-KON-dyl

/ˌɛpɪˈkɒndaɪl/

A protuberance above or on the condyle of a long bone.

Epidermis

ep-ih-DUR-mis

/ˌɛpɪˈdɜːrmɪs/

The surface epithelium of the skin, overlying the dermis.

Epididymis

ep-ih-DID-ih-mis

/ˌɛpɪˈdɪdɪmɪs/

A highly convoluted duct behind the testis, along which sperm passes.

Epiglottis

ep-ih-GLOT-is

/ˌɛpɪˈɡlɒtɪs/

A flap of cartilage at the root of the tongue, which is depressed during swallowing.

Epimysium

ep-ih-MIZ-ee-um

/ˌɛpɪˈmɪziəm/

A sheath of fibrous elastic tissue surrounding a muscle.

Epineurium

ep-ih-NYOO-ree-um

/ˌɛpɪˈnjʊəriəm/

The outermost layer of connective tissue surrounding a peripheral nerve.

Epiphysis

ee-PIF-ih-sis

/ɪˈpɪfɪsɪs/

The end part of a long bone, initially growing separately from the shaft.

Epithelium

ep-ih-THEE-lee-um

/ˌɛpɪˈθiːliəm/

Tissue that lines the outer surfaces of organs and blood vessels.

Eponychium

ep-o-NIK-ee-um

/ˌɛpoʊˈnɪkiəm/

The thickened layer of skin at the base of a fingernail or toenail (the cuticle).

Erythrocyte

eh-RITH-ro-syt

/ɪˈrɪθrəsaɪt/

A red blood cell that typically lacks a nucleus.

Esophagus

ee-SOF-uh-gus

/ɪˈsɒfəɡəs/

The part of the alimentary canal that connects the throat to the stomach.

Ethmoid

ETH-moyd

/ˈɛθmɔɪd/

A square bone at the root of the nose, forming part of the cranium.

Eustachian

yoo-STAY-shun

/juːˈsteɪʃiən/

The tube that connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx.

Eversion

ee-VUR-zhun

/ɪˈvɜːrʒən/

The movement of the sole of the foot away from the median plane.

Exocrine

EK-suh-krin

/ˈɛksəkrɪn/

Glands that secrete their products through ducts onto an epithelial surface.

Extension

ek-STEN-shun

/ɪkˈstɛnʃən/

A movement that increases the angle between two body parts.

Extensor

ek-STEN-sur

/ɪkˈstɛnsər/

A muscle whose contraction extends or straightens a limb or other part of the body.

External

ek-STUR-nul

/ɪkˈstɜːrnəl/

Situated on the outside or farther from the center.

Extraocular

ek-struh-OK-yuh-lur

/ˌɛkstrəˈɒkjʊlər/

Relating to the six muscles that control movement of the eye.