labia (LĀ-bē-ă): Lips of the mouth.

labyrinthectomy (lab-ĭ-rin-THEK-tŏ-mē): Excision of the inner ear (labyrinth).

labyrinthitis (lab-ĭ-rin-THĪT-ĭs): Inflammation of the inner ear (labyrinth).

laceration (las-ĕ-RĀ-shŏn): Torn, ragged-edged wound.

lacrimal (LAK-rĭ-măl): Pertaining to the tear duct.

lactation (lak-TĀ-shŏn): Secretion of milk.

lacteals (LAK-tē-ăls): The lymphatic vessels of the small intestine which absorb digested fats.

lactic (LAK-tik): Pertaining to milk.

lactogenic (lak-tŏ-JĔN-ĭk): Producing milk.

lactorrhea (lak-tŏ-RĒ-ă): Discharge of milk.

lamina propria: Connective tissue of the mucous membrane which helps support epithelial layer.

laminectomy (lăm-ĭ-NĔK-tō-mē): Excision of the lamina.

laparoscope (LAP-ă-rŏ-skōp): Instrument used to view the abdominal cavity.

laparoscopy (lap-ă-ROS-kŏ-pē): Process of viewing internal organs in the abdomen.

laparotomy (lap-ă-ROT-ŏ-mē): Incision into the abdominal cavity.

laryngeal (lar-ĭn-JĒ-ăl): Pertaining to the larynx.

laryngitis (lar-ĭn-JĪT-ĭs): Inflammation of the larynx.

laryngopharynx (lăr-ĭn-gō-FĂR-ĭnks): The laryngopharynx borders the oropharynx, trachea, and esophagus.

laryngoplasty (lăr-ĬN-gō-plăs-tē): Surgical repair of the larynx.

laryngoscope (lă-RING-gŏ-skōp): Instrument used for visual examination of the larynx.

laryngoscopy (lăr-ĭn-GŎS-kō-pē): Process of viewing the larynx.

laryngospasm (lăr-ĬN-gō-spăzm): Spasmodic contraction of the larynx.

laryngostomy (lăr-ĭn-GŎS-tō-mē): Creation of an artificial opening in to the larynx.

laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB) (lă-rĭng-gō-trā-kē-ō-brŏng-KĪ-tĭs): Inflammation of the laryn, trachea, and bronchi.

laryngotracheotomy (lăr-ĭn-gō-trā-kē-ŎT-ō-mē): Incision into the larynx and trachea.

larynx (LAR-ingks): The larynx is a cartilaginous structure inferior to the laryngopharynx that connects the pharynx to the trachea and helps regulate the volume of air that enters and leaves the lungs.

laser surgery (LĀ-zĕr SŬRJ-ĕ-rē): A surgical procedure using a powerful beam of light to cut or burn tissue.

lateral (LĂT-ĕr- ăl): Describes the side or direction toward the side of the body.

leiodermia (lī-ō-DĔR-mē-ă): Condition of smooth skin.

lesion (lĒ-zhŏn): Visible change in tissue resulting from injury or disease.

lethargy (LĔTH-ăr-jē): Periods of weakness.

leukemia (loo-KĒ-mē-ă): A cancer involving an abundance of leukocytes. It may involve only one specific type of leukocyte from either the myeloid line (myelocytic leukemia) or the lymphoid line (lymphocytic leukemia). In chronic leukemia, mature leukocytes accumulate and fail to die. In acute leukemia, there is an overproduction of young, immature leukocytes. In both conditions the cells do not function properly.

leukocoria (loo-kō-KŎR-ē-ă): Condition of white pupil.

leukocytes (loo-kō-SĬT-ĭs): White blood cells.

leukocytopenia (loo-kō-sī-tō-PĒ-nē-ă): Abnormal reduction of white (blood) cells.

leukoderma (loo-kō-PLĀ-kē-ă): White patches caused by depigmentation.

leukoplakia (loo-kŏ-DĔR-mă): White, thickened patches on mucus membrane tissue of the tongue or cheek.

leukorrhea (loo-kŏ-RĒ-ă): White discharge.

Leydig cells (LĪ-dig sels): Cells between the seminiferous tubules of the testes that produce testosterone; a type of interstitial cell.

lingual (LĬNG-gwăl): Pertaining to the tongue.

lingual tonsils (LĬNG-gwăl TON-sĭls): A collection of lymphatic tissue located in the lamina propria of the root of the tongue.

literally (LIT-ĕ-răl-li): Follows the rules exactly.

lithotripsy (LITH-ŏ-trip-sē): Surgical crushing of stone(s).

lobar pneumonia (LŌ-băr noo-MŌN-yă): Disease state of the lung pertaining to the lobe(s).

lobectomy (lō-BĔK-tō-mē): Excision of the lobe(s).

lochia (LŌ-kē-ă): Vaginal discharge after birth.

lordosis (lor-DŌ-sĭs): Abnormal condition of increased concavity of the spine (bent forward).

low-density lipoprotein (lō DEN-sit-ē lip-ō-PRŌ-tēn): Low-density lipoprotein, often referred to as ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL).

lumbago (lŭm-BĀ-gō): Lower back pain.

lumbar (LŬM-băr): Pertaining to the lumbar region of the spine.

lumbar puncture (LŬM-băr PŬNGK-chŭr): Procedure used to withdraw CSF from the lower lumbar region of the vertebral column that avoids the risk of damaging CNS tissue because the spinal cord ends at the upper lumbar vertebrae.

lumbocostal (lŭm-bō-KOS-tăl): Pertaining to the lumbar region of the spine and ribs.

lumbosacral (lŭm-bō-SĀ-krăl): Pertaining to the lumbar region of the spine and sacrum.

lupus (LOO-pŭs): An autoimmune disease in which the body mounts an immune response against its own tissues, causing chronic inflammation and tissue damage.

lymph (limf): Fluid contained within the lymphatic system.

lymph node (limf nōd): One of the bean-shaped organs found associated with the lymphatic vessels.

lymphadenitis (lim-fad-ĕn-ĪT-ĭs): Inflammation of lymph nodes.

lymphadenopathy (lim-fad-ĕ-NOP-ă-thē): Disease of lymph nodes.

lymphatic capillaries (lim-FAT-ik KAP-ĭ-ler-ē): Smallest of the lymphatic vessels and the origin of lymph flow.

lymphatic system (lim-FAT-ik SIS-tĕm): Network of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, and ducts that carries lymph from the tissues and back to the bloodstream.

lymphatic trunks (lim-FAT-ik trŭnk): Large lymphatics that collect lymph from smaller lymphatic vessels and empties into the blood via lymphatic ducts.

lymphocytes (LIM-fŏ-sīt): White blood cells characterized by a large nucleus and small rim of cytoplasm.

lymphoid (LIM-foyd): Resembling lymph or lymphatic tissues.

lymphoid nodules (LIM-foyd NOJ-ool): Unencapsulated patches of lymphoid tissue found throughout the body.

lymphoma (lim-FŌ-mă): A form of cancer in which masses of malignant T and/or B lymphocytes collect in lymph nodes, the spleen, the liver, and other tissues. These leukocytes do not function properly, and the patient is vulnerable to infection.