Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

plague, bubonic
See 
bubonic plague.
Plague, Great
See 
Great Plague.
plague, sylvatic
A type of plague that is spread
by ground squirrels and other wild rodents. Sylvatic
plague is sometimes seen in the western portion of
the US.
plantar
Having to do with the sole of the foot.
plantar fasciitis
See 
fasciitis, plantar.
plantar response
See 
Babinski reflex.
plantar wart
See 
wart, plantar.
plaque 1
The white, semihardened substance that
forms on the teeth as a result of bacterial action on
food particles and provides an ideal environment for
dental caries (cavities).
2
A semihardened accu-
mulation of substances, including cholesterol, on the
inner walls of blood vessels that can lead to blood
clot formation, heart attacks, and strokes.
3
In der-
matology, a small area of skin that appears different
from the surrounding skin and is raised.
plaque, skin
A broad, raised area on the skin. A
skin plaque is broader than it is high.
plasma
The liquid part of the blood and lym-
phatic fluid, which makes up about half of the vol-
ume of blood. Plasma is devoid of cells and, unlike
serum, has not clotted. Blood plasma contains anti-
bodies and other proteins. It is taken from donors
and made into medications for a variety of blood-
related conditions.
plasma cell
A type of white blood cell that pro-
duces and secretes antibodies. A plasma cell is a
fully differentiated, mature lymphocyte in the B cell
lineage. As with most cell types, plasma cells can
mutate to give rise to cancer. Plasma cell malignan-
cies include plasmacytoma, multiple myeloma,
Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, and plasma cell
leukemia. Also known as plasmacyte.
plasma donation
The donation or sale of blood
plasma for use in medical or other products. Unlike
blood donors, most plasma donors in the US are
paid. The procedure is done in a walk-in facility,
where whole blood is taken through an IV needle and
separated into plasma and blood cells. The blood
cells are then returned to the donor intravenously.