Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

wart, genital
See 
genital warts.
wart, plantar
A wart that grows on the sole of the
foot. Plantar warts are different from most other
warts. They tend to be flat and cause the buildup of
a callus that has to be peeled away before the plan-
tar wart itself can be seen. Plantar warts may attack
blood vessels deep in the skin, and they can be quite
painful. Plantar warts are among the conditions
caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). See
also 
human papillomavirus.
wart, venereal
See 
genital warts.
wasp sting
A sting from a wasp, which can trig-
ger allergic reactions that vary greatly in severity.
Avoidance and prompt treatment are essential. In
some cases, allergy injection therapy is highly effec-
tive.
wasting 1
Gradual loss (for example, of weight),
deterioration, and emaciation as in a wasting disease.
2
Excessive depletion as in salt wasting; the excessive
loss of salt.
water on the brain
See 
hydrocephalus.
water-hammer pulse
See 
Corrigan pulse.
wax, ear
See 
earwax.
wax dip
See 
paraffin dip.
WBC
White blood cell.
WDWN
Abbreviation for “well-developed, well-
nourished,” shorthand used by physicians when jot-
ting down the results of a physical examination. For
example, a WDWNWF would be a well-developed,
well-nourished white female.
weaver’s bottom
Inflammation of the bursa that
separates the gluteus maximus muscle of the but-
tocks from the underlying bony prominence of the
bone that a person sits on (ischial tuberosity).
Weaver’s bottom is a form of bursitis that is usually
caused by prolonged sitting on hard surfaces that
press against the bones of the bottom or midbut-
tocks. Also known as ischial bursitis.