Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

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Medigap
An insurance policy sold by private
insurance companies in the US that supplements
Medicare benefits, presumably filling the gaps in
health care coverage.
meditation
A typically self-directed practice for
relaxing the body and calming the mind. Most med-
itative techniques have come to the West from
Eastern religious practices, particularly India,
China, and Japan, but can be found in many cultures
of the world. Until recently, the primary purpose of
meditation has been religious, although its health
benefits have long been recognized. During the past
several decades, meditation has been further
explored as a way of reducing stress on both the
mind and body.
Mediterranean anemia
See 
thalassemia
major.
Mediterranean fever
See 
familial Mediter-
ranean fever.
MEDLARS
Medical Literature Analysis and
Retrieval System, a computer system of the US
National Library of Medicine (NLM) that allows
rapid access to NLM’s store of biomedical informa-
tion. MEDLARS search services are available around
the world without charge. See also 
MEDLINE.
MEDLINE
The best-known bibliographic data-
base of the US National Library of Medicine (NLM),
which lets anyone with computer access query the
NLM’s store of journal references on specific topics.
The MEDLINE database covers the fields of medi-
cine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the
health care system, and the preclinical sciences.
MEDLINE is part of the MEDLARS system. See also
MEDLARS.
medulla
The innermost part. For example, the
adrenal medulla is the innermost part of the adrenal
gland, the renal medulla is the inner part of the kid-
ney, and the spinal medulla is the part of the spinal
cord that is lodged deep within the vertebral canal.