Glossary of terms used on this site
There are 324 entries in this glossary.P
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Peripheral |
Situated away from the center, as opposed to centrally located. |
| Peripheral nervous system (PNS) |
That portion of the nervous system that is outside the brain and spinal cord. |
| Peripheral vascular disease |
A disease of blood vessels outside the heart. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) affects the peripheral circulation , as opposed to the cardiac circulation. PVD comprises diseases of both peripheral arteries and peripheral veins. PVD is sometimes incorrectly used as a synonym for peripheral artery disease (PAD). Intermittent claudication due to inadequate blood flow to the leg is an example of peripheral artery disease (PAD) while varicose veins and spider veins are examples of peripheral vein disease. |
| Peyronie's disease |
A condition in which a plaque, or hard lump, forms in the corpora cavernosa of the penis. The hardened plaque reduces flexibility, causing pain and forcing the penis to bend or arc during erection. |
| Pharmacy |
A location where prescription drugs are sold. A pharmacy is, by law, constantly supervised by a licensed pharmacist. |
| Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor |
A chemical that prevents the function of phosphodiesterase type 5. The use of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor leads to an increase in cGMP. |
| Physiologic |
Functioning in a normal range for human physiology. |
| Pituitary adenoma |
A benign tumor of the pituitary gland. An adenoma of the anterior pituitary may produce excessive amounts of prolactin. |
| Pituitary gland |
Endocrine gland at the base of the brain that produces hormones that control other glands and many body functions including growth. |
| Placebo |
A fake medication (""candy pill"") or treatment that has no effect on the body that is often used in experimental studies to determine whether the experimental medication/treatment has an effect. |
| Polycythemia |
An increase in the total red blood cell mass in the blood. |
| Poor circulation |
An inadequacy of blood flow. Inadequate blood flow to a particular area of the body can result in too little oxygen being delivered to that area, a condition known as hypoxia . The term poor circulation may be used to refer to peripheral vascular disease (or peripheral arterial disease), a condition that develops when the arteries that supply blood to the internal organs, arms, and legs become completely or partially blocked as a result of atherosclerosis. |
| Premature ejaculation |
Ejaculation that occurs rapidly and sooner than desired, usually before or soon after penetration. |
| Prevalence |
The number of cases of a disease that are present in a population at one given point in time. |
| Priapism |
The persistence of an erection, unassociated with sexual pleasure, that lasts for 6 or more hours. If untreated, it can lead to penile ischemia and subsequent erectile dysfunction. |