Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

Cl
The chemical symbol for the element chlorine.
clap
Slang term for gonorrhea. See 
gonorrhea.
clasped thumbs and mental retardation
See
adducted thumbs.
claudication
Limping. From the Latin claudi-
care, which means “to limp.” The Roman emperor
Claudius was so named because he limped, proba-
bly because of a birth defect.
claudication, intermittent
Pain in the calf that
comes and goes, typically felt while walking, and
usually subsiding with rest. Intermittent claudica-
tion can be due to temporary artery narrowing due
to vasospasm, permanent artery narrowing due to
atherosclerosis, or complete occlusion of an artery
to the leg. The prognosis is generally favorable
because the condition often stabilizes or improves
with time. Walking regularly can sometimes
increase the distance that the patient can walk with-
out symptoms. Drugs may be prescribed for man-
agement. If conservative therapy is inadequate and
claudication is severe and persistent, correction of
the narrowing in the affected artery with surgery,
such as bypass grafting, or interventional radiology,
such as balloon angioplasty might be suggested.
claudication, venous
Limping and/or pain
resulting from inadequate venous drainage.
clavicle
See 
collarbone.
clavus
See 
corn.
clay-shoveler’s fracture
See 
fracture, clay-
shoveler’s.
cleft lip
A fissure in the upper lip that is due to
failure of the left and right sides of the fetal lip tis-
sue to fuse, an event that should take place by 35
days of fetal age. Cleft lip can be on one side only or
on both sides. Because failure of lip fusion can
impair the subsequent closure of the palatal shelves,
cleft lip often occurs in association with cleft palate.
It is one of the most common physical birth defects,
and it can be corrected with surgery.
cleft palate
An opening in the roof of the mouth
due to a failure of the palatal shelves to come fully
together from either side of the mouth and fuse dur-
ing the first months of development as an embryo.
The opening in the palate permits communication
between the nasal passages and the mouth. Surgery
is needed to close the palate. Cleft palate can occur
alone or in association with cleft lip.
cleft uvula
A common minor anomaly in which
the uvula (the tissue that hangs down at the back of
the palate) is cleft, or parted by a fissure. Persons
with a cleft uvula should not have their adenoids
removed because without the adenoids they cannot
achieve proper closure between the soft palate and
pharynx while speaking, and they will develop
hypernasal speech. Also known as bifid uvula.