Medical Dictionary: Glossary (R)

Rabies

A potentially fatal viral infection that attacks the central nervous system. Rabies is carried by wild animals (particularly bats and raccoons) and finds its way to humans by many routes such as dog bites from infected dogs.

Radiology

The medical specialty concerned with the use of radiation for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Apart from

Rash

Breaking out (eruption) of the skin. A rash can be caused by an underlying medical condition, hormonal cycles, allergies, or contact with irritants.

RAST

Radioallergosorbent test, an allergy test that is done on a sample of blood. RAST is used to check for allergic sensitivity to specific substances.

RBC

Short for red blood cells, the cells that carry oxygen through the blood. The red blood cells are also known as red corpuscles or erythrocytes.

Reflux

The term used when liquid backs up into the esophagus from the stomach.

Renal stone

Renal refers to the kidney . A renal stone is a stone in the kidney (or lower down in the urinary tract). Renal stones are a common cause of blood in the urine and pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin.

Retina

The retina is the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light, and creates impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain.

ROMA

Representational oligonucleotide microarray analysis. A method for the detection of genomic aberrations between any two samples of DNA.