Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

AML
See 
leukemia, acute myeloid.
amnesia
An impairment to or lack of memory.
Antegrade amnesia refers to a lack of memory of
events occurring after a traumatic event, whereas
retrograde amnesia refers to lack of memory of
events that occurred before the event.
amniocentesis
A before-birth diagnostic proce-
dure during which a long needle is used to obtain
amniotic fluid from within the uterus. This fluid can
be used for genetic and other diagnostic tests.
Informally known as amnio.
amnion
A thin membrane that surrounds the
fetus during pregnancy. The amnion is the inner of
the two fetal membranes (the chorion is the outer
one), and it contains the amniotic fluid.
amniotic fluid
The fluid bathing a fetus within
the uterus, which serves as a shock absorber.
amphetamine
A drug that has a stimulant effect
on the central nervous system that can be both phys-
ically and psychologically addictive when overused.
Amphetamine has been much abused recreationally.
The street term “speed” refers to stimulant drugs
such as amphetamine.
amplification
An event that produces multiple
copies of a gene or of any sequence of DNA. Gene
amplification plays a role in cancer. Amplification
can occur in vivo (in the living individual) or in
vitro (in the laboratory).
ampulla of Vater
A small projection into the
duodenum through which bile and pancreatic
secretions flow to mix with food for digestion.
amputation
Removal of part or all of a body part
that is enclosed by skin. Amputation can occur at an
accident site, the scene of an animal attack, or a bat-
tlefield. Amputation is also performed as a surgical
procedure. It is typically performed to prevent the
spread of gangrene as a complication of frostbite,
injury, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, or any other ill-
ness that impairs blood circulation. It is also per-
formed to prevent the spread of bone cancer and to
curtail loss of blood and infection in a person who
has suffered severe, irreparable damage to a limb.