Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

body surface area
The total suface area of the
human body. The BSA is used in many measure-
ments in medicine, including the calculation of drug
dosages and the amount of fluids to be administered
intravenously. Abbreviated BSA.
body type
A somewhat old-fashioned term used
to classify the human shape into three primary
types: ectomorphic, mesomorphic, or endomor-
phic.
bodywork
Any of a number of therapeutic or
simply relaxing practices that involve the manipula-
tion, massage, or regimented movement of body
parts. Examples include massage, craniosacral ther-
apy, and Pilates. Bodywork may be used as an
adjunct to medical treatment, or it may be pre-
scribed as a form of physical therapy for certain
conditions.
boil
A skin abscess that forms at a hair follicle
infected with pus-forming bacteria. The main treat-
ments include hot packs and draining (lancing) the
boil when it is soft. Antibiotics are usually not very
helpful in treating boils. A person who has a fever or
long-term illness, such as cancer or diabetes, or is
taking medications that suppress the immune sys-
tem should contact a health care practitioner on
developing a boil. Also known as furuncle.
bone
The hard connective tissue that forms the
skeleton of the body. It is composed chiefly of colla-
gen fibers that contain calcium phosphate and cal-
cium carbonate. Bones also serve as a storage area
for calcium, playing a large role in calcium balance
in the blood. The 206 bones in the human body
serve a wide variety of purposes. They support and
protect internal organs; for example, the ribs pro-
tect the lungs. Muscles pull against bones to make
the body move. See also 
bone marrow.
bloody sputum
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