Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

myotonic dystrophy
See 
dystrophy, myotonic.
myringotomy
A tiny surgical incision in the
eardrum. A myringotomy can be used to drain any
fluid behind the eardrum and to remove thickened
secretions. A tiny tube (tympanostomy tube) is often
inserted into the eardrum to keep the middle ear
aerated for a prolonged period of time. See also 
ear
tube.
myxoma
A benign tumor derived from connec-
tive tissue that has a gelatinous appearance. A myx-
oma is the most common type of primary tumor of
the heart.
myoglobin
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Na
The chemical symbol for sodium. The symbol
for sodium chloride (table salt) is NaCl. See also
sodium.
nadir
The lowest point. The nadir may refer,
for example, to the lowest blood count after
chemotherapy or the lowest concentration of a drug
in the body.
nail 1
A piece of metal that is used to hold two or
more pieces of bone together (for example, after a
fracture).
2
The horny plate on the end of the fin-
ger (fingernail) or toe (toenail). Each nail has a
body, lateral nail folds on its sides, a lunula (the lit-
tle moon-shaped feature at the base), and a proxi-
mal skin fold at its base. See also 
fingernail; nail
care; toenail.
nail care
Care of the fingernails and toenails.
Many nail problems are due to poor nail care.
Recommendations for maintaining nail health
include keeping nails clean and dry to keep bacte-
ria and other infectious organisms from collecting
under the nails, cutting nails straight across with
only slight rounding at the tip, using a fine-textured
file to keep nails shaped and free of snags, and
avoiding nail-biting. It is a good idea to soak toe-
nails that are thick and difficult to cut in warm salt
water (1 tsp. salt to 1 pint of water) for 5 to 10 min-
utes, and apply a 10 percent urea cream (available
at drugstores, without a prescription) before trim-
ming. One should not “dig out” ingrown toenails,
especially if they are sore; instead, a physician
should provide treatment. Nail changes, swelling,
and pain can signal serious problems that should be
reported to a physician.