Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

sudoriferous gland
A small, tubular structure
situated within and under the skin that discharges
sweat through a tiny opening in the surface of
the skin. Also known as sweat gland. See also
perspiration.
sulcus
A groove, furrow, or trench. The plural is
sulci. In anatomy, there are many sulci; an example
is the superior pulmonary sulcus.
sulfa drug
See 
sulfonamide.
sulfonamide
One of the sulfa-related group of
antibiotics, which are used to treat bacterial infec-
tion and some fungal infections. The sulfonamide
family includes sulfadiazine, sulfamethizole (brand
names: Thiosulfil Forte), sulfamethoxazole (brand
name: Gantanol), sulfasalazine (brand name:
Azulfidine), sulfisoxazole (brand name: Gantrisin),
and various high-strength combinations of sulfon-
amides. Sulfa drugs kill bacteria and fungi by inter-
fering with cell metabolism. Because sulfa drugs
concentrate in the urine before being excreted,
treatment of urinary tract infections is one of their
most common uses. Sulfa drugs can have a number
of potentially dangerous interactions with prescrip-
tion and over-the-counter drugs (including PABA
sunscreens), and they are not appropriate for
patients with some health conditions. Sulfa drug
allergy is one of the more common allergies to med-
ications. Also known as sulfa drug.
sulfonylurea
A class of oral hypoglycemic agents
(medications that lower the level of blood glucose)
taken by people with type 2 diabetes. The sulfony-
lureas increase the secretion of insulin by the pan-
creas. There are two generations of sulfonylureas.
The main difference between the first- and second-
generation sulfonylureas is in the way they are
eliminated from the body. As a consequence, second-
generation sulfonylureas are usually taken less
frequently each day than first-generation sulfony-
lureas and generally are preferred when there
is poor function of the kidneys. Examples of first-
generation sulfonylureas are chlorpropamide
(Diabinese) and tolbutamide (Orinase). The sec-
ond-generation sulfonylureas include glipizide
(Glucotrol and Glucotrol XL), glyburide (Diabeta,
Micronase, and Glynase PresTab), and glimepiride
(Amaryl). These drugs are effective in rapidly
lowering blood sugar but run the risk of causing
hypoglycemia.