Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

331
phlebitis
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phlebo
- Prefix meaning vein, as in phlebitis
(inflammation of the veins) and phlebotomist (a
person who draws blood from veins).
phlebotomist
A person who draws blood for
diagnostic tests or to remove blood for treatment
purposes.
phlebotomy
The field of obtaining blood from a
vein. Phlebotomy is done by puncturing a vein with
a needle. Phlebotomy may be done in order to
obtain blood for diagnostic tests or to remove blood
for treatment purposes (for example, to relieve iron
overload in hemochromatosis).
phobia
An unreasonable sort of fear that can
cause avoidance and panic. Phobias are a relatively
common type of anxiety disorder. Phobias can be
treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, using
exposure and fear-reduction techniques. In many
cases, antianxiety or antidepressant medication
proves helpful, especially during the early stages of
therapy.
phobia, social
See 
social phobia.
phocomelia
A birth defect in which the hands
and feet are attached to abbreviated arms and legs.
The term comes from phoco (meaning “seal”) and
melia (meaning “limb”), to indicate that a limb is
like a seal’s flipper, as in exposure of the developing
fetus to thalidomide. Phocomelia may also, in some
cases, be genetic.
phosphatase, acid
See 
acid phosphatase.
phosphatase, alkaline
See 
alkaline phos-
phatase.
phosphate
A form of phosphoric acid that may
bind to other organic chemicals to form a variety of
compounds. For example, calcium phosphate makes
bones and teeth hard. See also 
phosphorylation.