Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

suppressor T cell
See 
T-suppressor cell.
suppurative arthritis
See 
arthritis, septic.
supraglottis
The upper part of the larynx,
including the epiglottis; the area above the vocal
cords.
suprarenal gland
See 
adrenal gland.
supraspinatus muscle
The muscle that elevates
the arm and moves it away from the body. The ten-
don of the supraspinatus muscle is one of four ten-
dons that stabilize the shoulder joint and constitute
the rotator cuff.
suprasternal notch
The V-shaped notch at the
top of the breastbone (sternum).
surfactant 1
A surface-active agent.
2
A chem-
ical that is secreted by the cells of the alveoli (the
tiny air sacs in the lungs) and serves to reduce the
surface tension of pulmonary fluids. Surfactant con-
tributes to the elasticity of lung tissue.
surgeon
A physician who treats disease, injury, or
deformity via operative or manual methods to physi-
cally change body tissues. The definition of surgeon
has begun to blur in recent years as surgeons have
begun to minimize the cutting, employing new tech-
nologies that are minimally invasive (such as using
scopes and lasers). In England, a surgeon was once
a practitioner without an MD degree but with the
license of the Royal College of Surgeons.
surgery
The branch of medicine that employs
operations in the treatment of disease or injury.
Surgery can involve cutting, abrading, suturing, or
otherwise physically changing body tissues and
organs.
surgery, cataract
See 
cataract surgery.
surgery, fetal
The surgical treatment of a fetus
before birth. Fetal surgery is usually done when the
fetus is not expected to survive to delivery or to live
long after birth unless fetal surgery is performed.
Also known as prenatal or antenatal surgery.