Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

measles, mumps, rubella vaccine
See 
MMR.
measles encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain
during recovery from measles infection. Measles
encephalitis occurs in approximately 1 in 1,000 to
2,000 cases of measles, starting up to 3 weeks after
onset of the rash and causing high fever, convul-
sions, and coma. It carries a 10-20 percent mortal-
ity rate and may lead to permanent central nervous
system impairment.
measles immunization
A vaccine for measles
only. Single-virus vaccines are sometimes used in
children with known or suspected brain disorders
or compromised immune systems, and they are
generally given after 1 year of age. For other chil-
dren, the measles vaccine is usually administered as
a multivirus vaccine (MMR or MMRV) along with
vaccines for mumps, rubella, and varicella in the
case of the MMRV. See also 
MMR; MMRV.
measly tapeworm
See 
Taenia solium.
meatus
An opening or a passageway. For exam-
ple, the meatus of the ear is the opening to the ear
canal.
meatus, female urethral
The meatus (open-
ing) of the female urethra, the transport tube that
leads from the bladder to discharge urine outside
the body. The female urethral meatus is above the
vaginal opening.
Meckel diverticulum
See 
diverticulum,
Meckel.
meconium
Dark, sticky material that is normally
present in the intestine at birth and passed in the
feces after birth, after trypsin and other enzymes
maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein
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from the pancreas have acted on it. The passage of
meconium before birth can be a sign of fetal
distress.
meconium ileus
Obstruction of the intestine
(ileus) due to overly thick meconium. Meconium
ileus results from a deficiency of trypsin and other
digestive enzymes from the pancreas, as in cystic
fibrosis.