Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

rectouterine pouch
See 
pouch of Douglas.
rectum
The last 6 to 8 inches of the large intes-
tine. The rectum stores solid waste until it leaves the
body through the anus.
rectus
See 
rectus abdominis.
rectus abdominis
A large muscle in the front of
the abdomen that assists in regular breathing move-
ments, supports the muscles of the spine while a
person lifts something, and keeps the intestines and
other abdominal organs in place.
recuperate
To recover health and strength. Also
known as convalesce.
recur
To occur again; to return. For example, a
symptom, sign, or disease can recur.
recurrence
The return of a sign, symptom, or
disease after a remission. The reappearance of can-
cer cells at the same site or in another location is a
form of recurrence.
recurrence risk
The chance that a disease will
strike again. In medical genetics, the chance that an
inherited disease that is present in a family will
recur in that family, affecting another person or 
persons.
recurrent
Appearing or occurring again. For
example, a recurrent fever is a fever that has
returned after an intermission, a recrudescent fever.
recurrent aural vertigo
See 
Ménière’s disease.
recurrent laryngeal nerve
See 
laryngeal
nerve, recurrent.
recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
See
laryngeal papillomatosis.
red blood cell
See 
erythrocyte.
red cell
See 
erythrocyte.
red cell count
The number of red blood cells in
a volume of blood. The normal range varies slightly
between laboratories, but is generally in the range
of 4.2–5.9 million cells/cmm. Red cell count can be
expressed in international units as (4.2–5.9) 
×
1,012 cells per liter. Also known as erythrocyte
count. See also 
CBC.