Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

3
An abnormal widening of the pupil in response to
brain injury.
dilation and curettage
A minor operation in
which the cervix is expanded (dilatated) enough to
permit the cervical canal and uterine lining to be
scraped with a spoon-shaped instrument called a
curette (curettage). Abbreviated D & C. D & C is
normally used to remove abnormal material from
the uterus, such as unexpelled placental material
after birth.
dilator
A device used to stretch or enlarge an
opening. Patients with scarring of the esophagus
can require a dilator procedure to open the esoph-
agus for adequate passage of food and fluids.
diphtheria
An acute infectious upper respiratory
tract disease that affects the throat. It is caused by
the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
Symptoms include sore throat and mild fever at first.
As the disease progresses, a membranous substance
forms in the throat that makes it difficult to breathe
and swallow. Diphtheria can be deadly. It is one of
the diseases that the DT (diphtheria-tetanus), DTP
(diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis), and DTaP (diphthe-
ria-tetanus-acellular-pertussis) vaccines are
designed to prevent.
diploid
The number of chromosomes in most
cells of the body. The diploid in humans is 46,
which is twice the haploid number of 23 chromo-
somes contained in human eggs (ova) and sperm.
diplopia
A condition in which a single object
appears as two objects. Also known as double
vision.
directive, advance medical
See 
advance
directive.
digestive system
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