Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

febrile seizure
See 
seizure, febrile.
fecal incontinence
See 
encopresis.
fecal occult blood test
A test to check for hid-
den blood in the stool.
fecalith
A hard stony mass of feces in the intes-
tinal tract. A fecalith can obstruct the appendix,
leading to appendicitis. Fecaliths can also obstruct
diverticuli. Also known as coprolith and stercolith.
feces
The excrement discharged from the
intestines.
fecund
See 
fertile.
fecundity
See 
fertility.
feedback
A process in which the factors that pro-
duce a result are themselves modified, corrected,
and strengthened by that result. Many biologic
processes are controlled by feedback, just as the
temperature in a home (from a furnace or air con-
ditioner) can be regulated by a thermostat. This
principle is the basis for the practice of biofeed-
back. See also 
biofeedback.
feeding, breast
See 
breastfeeding.
fasciitis
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feet
As a measure of length, the plural of foot.
Felty syndrome
An uncommon complication of
long-standing rheumatoid arthritis defined by the
presence of an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) and
an abnormally low white blood cell count. Patients
may have an increased susceptibility to infection.
The cause of Felty syndrome is not known.
Treatment of Felty syndrome is not always required
beyond treatment for the underlying rheumatoid
arthritis, but splenectomy can benefit some patients
with very low white blood cell counts and recurring
infections. See also 
rheumatoid arthritis.
female
An individual of the sex that bears young
or that produces ova or eggs, or a person who has
a particular physical appearance, chromosome
constitution, or gender identification. See also
female chromosome complement.