Medical Definitions - C

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Cannulas - a slender tube that can be inserted into a body cavity or duct.

Capillary - a blood vessel that carries blood between the smallest arteries and the smallest veins.

Capillary blood gas (CBG) - a blood gas drawn from a capillary blood vessel.

Carbon dioxide - a gas which is the byproduct of cellular metabolism and which collects in the tissues, is cleared from the tissues by the blood within the veins, is carried by the hemoglobin in the red blood cells, and removed from the body via the lungs in the exhaled air. Abbreviated CO2.

Carina - any structure shaped like a ridge, cleft, or keel, such as the carina of the trachea, which projects from the lowest tracheal cartilage.

Catheter - a think flexible tube; used for giving blood products, nutrients, medications, or fluids; also inserted into the bladder to remove urine.

Caudothalamic groove - an anatomical landmark on the floor of the lateral ventricle of the brain formed by the white matter of the internal capsule which forms a groove between the head of the caudate nucleus and the thalamus. In the premature infant (less than 35 weeks gestation), the germinal matrix may persist in this area and predispose the infant the development of subependymal (grade I intraventricular) haemorrhage. This landmark is used in cranial sonography to assist the detection of subependymal haemorrhage. The groove is best seen on parasagittal imaging of each lateral ventricle.

Cavum - a natural hollow or sinus within the body.

CBC - complete blood count; a measure of the cellular components of blood; generally includes white blood cell count, automated white cell differential, red cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, red cell distributed width and platelet count.

cc - liquid measurement; 1 ounce=30 cc.

Central line - a catheter placed in a vein to end up in the chest portion of the vena cava or in the right atrium of the heart.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) - the fluid contained within the ventricles of the brain, the subarachnoid space, and the central canal of the spinal cord.

Chest physical therapy (CPT) - physical therapy performed by lightly hitting or vibrating the chest to loosen secretions and prevent pneumonia; not pleasant to watch, does not injure the patient in any way.

Chest tube - a tube surgically inserted into the chest cavity to drain fluid.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) - a pre-natal test that is used to detect birth defects, genetic diseases, and other problems; a small sample of cells (called chorionic villi) is taken from the placenta where it attaches to the wall of the uterus.

Chromosome 12p tetrasomy syndrome - a rare chromosomal disorder where there are four copies of the short arm (p) of chromosome 12 rather than the normal two resulting in various abnormalities.

Cleft palate - an opening in the roof of the mouth (the palate) due to a failure of the palatal shelves to come fully together from either side of the mouth and fuse, as they normally should, during embryonic development.

Clitoromegaly - an enlarged clitoris.

Coagulate - to clot.

Compassionate delivery - the term that many hospitals use to describe delivering a baby in the standard way (vaginal or c-section) and performing no life saving/invasive procedures on the baby after birth. There is an attempt to keep things very low key and peaceful, allowing the family to spend as much time with the child as necessary after birth and before death (or after death if the child is stillborn).

Compressive atelectasis - a condition in which a region of the lung cannot be ventilated as a result of intrathoracic pressures that compress the alveoli in that region. The condition may result from a pulmonary embolism, which releases chemicals that cause vasoconstriction and bronchospasm, leading to alveolar compression.

Congenital abnormality - a defect one is born with.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) -a term applied to a variety of congenital birth defects that involve abnormal development of the diaphragm. The term is used most commonly in reference to Bochdalek hernia, however it can also apply to Morgagni's hernia, diaphragm eventration and central tendon defects of the diaphragm. A common theme in all scenarios is malformation of the diaphragm; this allows the abdominal contents to protrude into the chest thereby impeding proper lung formation.

Conventional ventilator - a form of mechanical ventilation that delivers deeper breaths of air as opposed to the HFOV.

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) - common characteristics include: low birthweight (often under five pounds), slow growth and small stature, and small head size (microcephaly). Typical facial features include thin eyebrows which frequently meet at midline (synophrys), long eyelashes, short upturned nose and thin, downturned lips. Other frequent findings include excessive body hair (hirsutism), small hands and feet, partial joining of the second and third toes, incurved fifth fingers, gastroesophageal reflux, seizures, heart defects, cleft palate, bowel abnormalities, feeding difficulties, and developmental delay. Limb differences, including missing limbs or portions of limbs, usually fingers, hands or forearms, are also found in some individuals.

Corpus callosum - an arched mass of white matter in the depths of the longitudinal fissure, composed of transverse fibers connecting the cerebral hemispheres.

Costophrenic - pertaining to the ribs and diaphragm.

Costophrenic angle - also known as CP angle; the angle between the diaphragm and the chest wall at the bottom of the lung.

CPAP - continuous positive airway pressure; a face mask connected to a pump that forces air into the nasal passages at pressures high enough to overcome obstructions in the airway and stimulate normal breathing.

Craniofrontonasal syndrome (CFNS) - characterized by body asymmetry, midline defects, skeletal abnormalities, and dermatological abnormalities. It is a very peculiar X-linked syndrome because females are affected whereas male carriers show no or only mild abnormalities.

Crit - shortened form of hematocrit.

Culture - the propagation of microorganisms in a growth media. Any body tissue or fluid can be evaluated in the laboratory by culture techniques in order to detect and identify infectious processes. Culture techniques also are used to determine sensitivity to antibiotics.

Cryptorchidism - also known as undescended testicles; failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum.

Cryptophthalmos - a rare congenital anomaly in which the skin is continuous over the eyeball with absence of eyelids. It is classified into three types: complete, incomplete and abortive. Failure of eyelid separation can be associated with maldevelopment of the underlying cornea and microphthalmia. It usually occurs on both sides and occurs in association with other multiple malformations collectively referred to as Fraser syndrome.

Cyanotic - bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to not enough oxygen in the blood.

Cytotec - see also misoprostol; the brand name of a drug that some medical professionals still use to induce labor although it is contraindicated for use in pregnancy.