Medical Definitions - B
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Bagging - using a bag to manually pump air into the lungs. Also called hand bagging.
Barotraumas - injury caused by pressure, especially to the middle ear or paranasal sinuses due to an imbalance between the ambient pressure and pressure within the cavity.
Basement membrane - a sheet of amorphous extracellular material upon which the basal surfaces of epithelial cells rest; it is also associated with muscle cells, Schwann cells, fat cells, and capillaries, interposed between the cellular elements and the underlying connective layer.
Betamethasone - a corticosteroid used to stimulate fetal lung maturation, and to decrease the incidence and mortality from intracranial hemorrhage in premature infants.
Bilateral - affecting both sides (i.e. both eyes).
Biophysical profile - also known as a BPP; combines an ultrasound evaluation with a nonstress test (NST) and is intended to determine fetal health during the third trimester.
Biventricular function - pertaining to both left and right ventricles of the heart.
Blood gas - see also ABG; a measurement of the levels of carbon dioxide, oxygen and acid in the blood.
Blood platelet - see platelet.
Blood saturation - the percentage of oxygen in a patient's blood; 100% is optimal.
Bochdaleck hernia - the most common type of diaphragmatic hernia; an opening through the left diaphragm between the chest cavity and abdominal cavity toward the back of the body.
BPM - breaths per minute.
Bradycardia - low heart rate; generally less than 60 beats per minute.
Brain aneurysm - a localized widening (dilatation) of an artery or vein; at the area of an aneurysm, the wall is weakened, bulges and is at risk to rupture.
Brain bleed - see also brain aneurysm; graded 1-4, 4 being the most severe.
Bulldog syndrome - see Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS).
BUN - blood urea nitrogen; a measure of the amount of nitrogen in the blood that comes from the waste product urea; an elevated BUN indicates impaired kidney function.