Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

ambidextrous
Able to use both the right and left
hands with equal dexterity. Neither right- nor left-
handed.
amblyopia, nocturnal
Night blindness, also
known as day sight. See 
nyctanopia.
ambulance
A vehicle equipped with medications
and devices intended to stabilize patients while
speeding them to a hospital. In its original sense, an
ambulance was a mobile field hospital.
ambulatory
Able to walk about, not bedridden
or immobile.
ambulatory care
Medical care provided on an
outpatient basis, including diagnosis, observation,
treatment, and rehabilitation services.
ameba
A single-celled, protozoan organism that
constantly changes shape. Amebae can infect the
bowels, causing diarrhea. They can also infect the
liver, causing abscesses to form.
amebiasis
The state of being infected with ame-
bae, especially with the ameba Entamoeba histolytica.
amebic colitis
Amebic dysentery with ulcers in
the colon from infection with the ameba Entamoeba
histolytica. This single-celled parasite is transmitted
to humans via contaminated water and food.
amebic dysentery
Inflammation of the intestine
due to infection with the ameba Entamoeba histolyt-
ica. Amebic dysentery can be accompanied by ame-
bic infection of the liver and other organs.
amelanotic
Without melanin. A skin lesion that is
amelanotic lacks the pigment melanin and, there-
fore, is essentially colorless.
altitude sickness
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amelanotic melanoma
See 
melanoma, ame-
lanotic.
amelioration
Improvement in a patient’s condi-
tion, or the activity of making an effort to correct, or
at least make more acceptable, conditions that are
difficult to endure related to patient’s conditions.