hard palate (hard PAL-ăt): The hard palate is located at the anterior region of the nasal cavity and is composed of bone.

heart murmur (hart MŬR-mŭr): An abnormal heart sound.

heart rate (hart rāt): The number of times the heart contracts in one minute.

hematocrit (hē-MAT-ŏ-krĭt): A lab test which measures the percentage red blood cells in a sample of whole blood. It represents how much of the person’s blood is made up of red blood cells, by volume.

hematologist (hĕm-ă-TŎL-ō-jĭst): Physician who specializes and treats blood disorders.

hematology (hĕm-ă-TŎL-ō-jē): Study of blood.

hematoma (hĕm-ă-TŌ-mă): Tumor composed of blood.

hematopoiesis (hē-mat-ŏ-poy-Ē-sĭs): The process in which the body produces blood.

hematosalpinx (hē-măt-ŏ-SAL-pingks): Blood in the uterine/fallopian tube.

hematuria (hē-mă-TOOR-ē-ă): Blood in the urine.

hemicolectomy (hĕm-ē-kō-LĔK-tō-mē): Excision of half of the colon.

hemiparesis (hĕm-ē-PĂR-ĕ-sĭs): Slight paralysis of half (right or left) side of the body.

hemiplegia (hĕm-ē-PLĒ-jē-ă): Paralysis that effects one side of the body.

hemodialysis (HD) (hē-mō-dī-ĂL-ĭ-sĭs): Procedure for removing impurities from the blood due to an inability of the kidney to function.

hemolysis (hemolysis): Breaking apart of the erythrocyte cell membrane, allowing its contents to leak out.

hemopoiesis (hē-mō-poy-Ē-sĭs): The production of blood cells and platelets, which occurs in the bone marrow.

hemopoietic growth factors: Chemical messengers which promote the proliferation and differentiation of formed elements and include erythropoietin, thrombopoietin, colony-stimulating factors, and interleukins.

hemorrhage (HEM-(ŏ-)răj): Excessive or uncontrolled bleeding from the blood vessels.

hemorrhagic stroke (HEM-(ŏ-)răj-ik strōk): Disruption of blood flow to the brain caused by bleeding within the cranial vault.

hemorrhoids (HEM-ŏ-royds): Distended and swollen veins in the rectum and anus.

hemostasis (hē-MŎ-STĀ-sĭs): The process by which the body seals a ruptured blood vessel to prevent further blood loss. Biological process that results in stable equilibrium.

hemothrax (hē-mŏ-THŌR-aks): Blood in the chest cavity.

hepatitis (hep-ă-TĪT-ĭs): Inflammation of the liver.

hepatoma (hĕp-ă-TŌ-mă): Tumor of the liver.

hepatomegaly (hep-ăt-ō-MEG-ă-lē): Enlarged liver.

herniorrhaphy (hĕr-nē-OR-ă-fē): Suturing of a hernia.

hiatal: Location where the diaphragm has a small opening (hiatus) through which the esophagus passes before connecting.

hidradenitis (hi-dra-ĕn-ĪT-ĭs): Inflammation of a sweat gland.

high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (hi DEN-sit-ē lip-ō-PRŌ-tēn): High-density lipoprotein, often referred to as ‘good’ cholesterol.

hilum (HĪ-lŭm): The hilum is a ridge of cartilage that separates the two main bronchi. A concave region where blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves also enter the lungs.

hirsuitism (HŬR-sŭ-tĭ-zm): Excess hair all over the body.

histamine (HIS-tă-mēn): Vasoactive mediator in granules of mast cells and is the primary cause of allergies and anaphylactic shock. Involved in the inflammatory response and typically causes itching.

homeostasis (hō-mē-ō-STĀ-sĭs): Biological process that results in stable equilibrium.

hormonal replacement therapy (HRT): Replacement of hormones, estrogen, and progesterone, typically to treat symptoms associated with menopause.

hormone (HOR-mōn): Secretion of an endocrine organ that travels via the bloodstream or lymphatics to induce a response in target cells or tissues in another part of the body.

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (hu-man im-yŭ-nō-dĕ-FISH-ĕn-sē VĪ-rŭs): A retrovirus that attacks the T-helper cells of the immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

human papillomavirus (HPV (PAP-ĭ-LŌ-mă-VĪ-rŭs)): A sexually transmitted disease with over 40 subtypes that cause diseases in humans ranging from common warts to cervical cancer.

humeral (HŪ-mĕr-ăl): Pertaining to the humerus.

hydrocele (HĪ-drŏ-sēl): fluid-filled sac around the testicle.

hydrocelectomy (hī-drō-sē-LĔK-tō-mē): Surgical removal of a fluid-filled sac around the testicle causing scrotal swelling (hydrocele).

hydrocephalus (hī-drō-SEF-ă-lŭs): An abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain.

hydronephrosis (hī-drō-nĕf-RŌ-sĭs): Abnormal condition of water in the kidney.

hydrosalpinx (hī-drō-SĂL-pĭnks): Water in the uterin/fallopian tube.

hydrostatic (hī-drō-STAT-ik): Relating to the equilibrium of liquids and the pressure exerted by liquid at rest.

hymen (HĪ-mĕn): The fold of membrane found near the opening of the vagina.

hymenectomy (hī-mĕn-ĔK-tō-mē): Excision of the hymen.

hymenotomy (hī-mĕ-NOT-ŏ-mē): Incision into the hymen.

hypercalcemia (hī-pĕr-kal-SĒ-mē-ă): Excessive calcium in the blood.

hypercapnia (hī-pĕr-KAP-nē-ă): Condition of excessive (greater than normal levels) carbon dioxide (in the blood).

hypercholesterolemia (hī-pĕr-kō-lĕs-tĕr-ŏl-Ē-mē-ă): Higher than normal levels of cholesterol in the blood.

hyperemesis (hī-pĕr-EM-ĕ-sĭs): Excessive vomiting during pregnancy.

hyperemesis gravida (hī-pĕr-EM-ĕ-sĭs GRĂV-ĭ-dă): Excessive vomiting during pregnancy.

hyperemesis gravidarum (hī-pĕr-EM-ĕ-sĭs GRĂV-ĭ-dŭm): Hyperemesis can occur with any pregnant women, even a woman who miscarries. Often these women may require hospitalization for fluid and electrolyte intake.

hyperesthesia (hī-pĕr-es-THĒ-zh(ē-)ă): Excessive sensitivity to stimuli.

hyperglycemia (hī-pĕr-glī-SĒ-mē-ă): Excessive sugar in the blood.

hyperkalemia (hī-pĕr-kā-LĒ-mē-ă): Excessive potassium in the blood.

hyperkinesia (hī-pĕr-kī-NĒ-zh(ē-)ă): Condition of excessive movement.

hyperlipidemia (hī-pĕr-lĭp-ĭ-DĒ-mē-ă): Excessive fat in the blood.

hyperopia (hī-pĕr-Ō-pē-ă): Farsightedness; near objects look blurred but distant objects are more clearly visible.

hyperpnea (hī-pĕrp-NĒ-ă): Forced breathing or breathing that is excessive.

hypersensitivities (hī-pĕr-sĕn-sĭ-TĬV-ĭ-tēs): Reacting to something that would not normally evoke a reaction.

hypertension (HTN) (hī-pĕr-TEN-shŏn): High blood pressure.

hyperthyroidism (hī-pĕr-THĪ-royd-ĭzm): State of excessive thyroid gland activity.

hypertrophy (hī-PĔR-trŏ-fē): Excessive development.

hypocalcemia (hī-pō-kal-SĒ-mē-ă): Deficient calcium in the blood.

hypocapnia (hī-pō-KAP-nē-ă): Condition of deficient (low levels) of carbon dioxide (in the blood).

hypodermic (hī-pō-DĔR-mĭk): Pertaining to below the skin.

hypodermis (hī-pŏ-DĔR-mĭs): Literally means below the dermis. The layer of skin below the dermis that is composed mainly of loose connective and fatty tissues.

hypoglycemia (hī-pō-glī-SĒ-mē-ă): Deficient sugar in the blood.

hypokalemia (hī-pō-kā-LĒ-mē-ă): Deficient potassium in the blood.

hyponatremia (hī-pō-nā-TRĒ-mē-ă): Deficient sodium in the blood.

hypopituitarism (hī-pō-pĭ-TŪ-ĭt-ă-rizm): State of deficient pituitary gland activity.

hypopnea (hī-pōp-NĒ-ă): Deficient breathing.

hypothalamus (hī-pō-THAL-ă-mŭs): Major region of the diencephalon that is responsible for coordinating autonomic and endocrine control of homeostasis.

hypothalmic: A region of the forebrain below the thalamus.

hypothermia (hī-pō-THĔR-mē-ă): Condition of (body) temperature that is below (normal).

hypothyroidism (hī-pō-THĪ-royd-izm): Underactive thyroid gland, insufficient production of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4).

hypovolemic (hī-pō-vō-LĒ-mēk): State of abnormally low extracellular fluid in the body.

hypoxemia (hip-ok-SĒ-mē-ă): Condition of deficient oxygen.

hypoxia (hī-POKS-ē-ă): Literally: ‘lower than normal amount of oxygen to tissues’. Hypoxia means that a tissue is not getting enough oxygen to survive and cell death is likely.

hysterectomy (his-tĕ-REK-tŏ-mē): Surgical removal of the uterus.

hysteropexy (his-tĕ-RŌ-pĕks-ē): Surgical fixation of the uterus.

hysterorrhexis (his-tĕ-rō-REK-sĭs): Rupture of the uterus.

hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy (hist-ĕ-rō-sal-ping-gō-ō-ŏ-fŏ-REK-tŏ-mē): Excision of the uterus, uterine tubes, and ovaries.

hysterosalpingogram (HSG) (his-tĕ-rō-sal-PING-ō-gram): Radiographic image of the uterus and uterine tubes.

hysteroscope (HIS-tĕ-rō-skōp): Instrument used for visual examination of the uterus.

hysteroscopy (his-tĕ-ROS-kŏ-pē): Visual examination of the uterus.