| pasteurellosis | (noun) an acute infectious disease characterized by pneumonia and blood infection | Synonyms: hemorrhagic septicemia |
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| pastis | (noun) similar to absinthe but containing no wormwood | - |
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| pathogenesis | (noun) the origination and development of a disease | - |
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| patois | (noun) a regional dialect of a language (especially French); usually considered substandard | - |
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| (noun) a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves) | Synonyms: argot, cant, jargon, lingo, slang, vernacular |
| pavis | (noun) (Middle Ages) a large heavy oblong shield protecting the whole body; originally carried but sometimes set up in permanent position | Synonyms: pavise |
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| pecopteris | (noun) Carboniferous fossil fern characterized by a regular arrangement of the leaflets resembling a comb | - |
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| pectoralis | (noun) either of two large muscles of the chest | Synonyms: musculus pectoralis, pecs, pectoral, pectoral muscle |
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| pedesis | (noun) the random motion of small particles suspended in a gas or liquid | Synonyms: Brownian motion, Brownian movement |
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| pediculosis | (noun) infestation with lice (Pediculus humanus) resulting in severe itching | Synonyms: lousiness |
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| peliosis | (noun) any of several blood diseases causing subcutaneous bleeding | Synonyms: purpura |
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| pelvis | (noun) the structure of the vertebrate skeleton supporting the lower limbs in humans and the hind limbs or corresponding parts in other vertebrates | Synonyms: hip, pelvic arch, pelvic girdle |
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| (noun) a structure shaped like a funnel in the outlet of the kidney into which urine is discharged before passing into the ureter | Synonyms: renal pelvis |
| penis | (noun) the male sex organ | Synonyms: member, phallus |
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| periapsis | (noun) (astronomy) the point in an orbit closest to the body being orbited | Synonyms: point of periapsis |
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| periarteritis | (noun) inflammation of the outer coat of an artery | - |
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| pericarditis | (noun) inflammation of the pericardium | - |
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| periodontitis | (noun) a disease that attacks the gum and bone and around the teeth | Synonyms: periodontal disease |
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| periphrasis | (noun) a style that involves indirect ways of expressing things | Synonyms: ambage, circumlocution |
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| peristalsis | (noun) the process of wavelike muscle contractions of the alimentary tract that moves food along | Synonyms: vermiculation |
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| peritonitis | (noun) inflammation of the peritoneum | Synonyms: peritoneal inflammation |
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| pertussis | (noun) a disease of the respiratory mucous membrane | Synonyms: whooping cough |
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| pestis | (noun) a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal | Synonyms: pest, pestilence, plague |
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| phagocytosis | (noun) process in which phagocytes engulf and digest microorganisms and cellular debris; an important defense against infection | - |
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| phalacrosis | (noun) the condition of having no hair on the top of the head | Synonyms: baldness |
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| phalangitis | (noun) inflammation of a finger or toe | - |
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| pharyngitis | (noun) inflammation of the fauces and pharynx | Synonyms: raw throat, sore throat |
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| pheresis | (noun) a procedure in which blood is drawn and separated into its components by dialysis; some are retained and the rest are returned to the donor by transfusion | Synonyms: apheresis |
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| phimosis | (noun) an abnormal tightness of the foreskin preventing retraction over the glans | - |
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| phlebitis | (noun) inflammation of a vein (usually in the legs) | - |
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| phlebothrombosis | (noun) thrombosis of a vein without prior inflammation of the vein; associated with sluggish blood flow (as in prolonged bedrest or pregnancy or surgery) or with rapid coagulation of the blood | Synonyms: venous thrombosis |
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| phlomis | (noun) any of various plants of the genus Phlomis; grown primarily for their dense whorls of lipped flowers and attractive foliage | - |
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| photoretinitis | (noun) damage to the retina resulting from exposure of the eye to the sun without adequate protection | - |
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| photosynthesis | (noun) synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants) | - |
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| phrenitis | (noun) inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus; symptoms include headache and neck pain and drowsiness and nausea and fever (`phrenitis' is no longer in scientific use) | Synonyms: cephalitis, encephalitis |
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| phthisis | (noun) involving the lungs with progressive wasting of the body | Synonyms: consumption, pulmonary tuberculosis, wasting disease, white plague |
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| phycomycosis | (noun) any fungal infection caused by fungi of the Phycomycetes group | - |
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| phylogenesis | (noun) (biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms | Synonyms: evolution, organic evolution, phylogeny |
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| pinocytosis | (noun) process by which certain cells can engulf and incorporate droplets of fluid | - |
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| pityriasis | (noun) any of several skin disorders characterized by shedding dry flakes of skin | - |
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| plasmapheresis | (noun) plasma is separated from whole blood and the rest is returned to the donor | - |
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| plateletpheresis | (noun) platelets are separated from whole blood and the rest is returned to the donor | - |
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| pleurothallis | (noun) any of numerous small tufted orchids of the genus Pleurothallis having leathery to fleshy leaves and racemes of 1 to many small flowers | - |
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| pneumoconiosis | (noun) chronic respiratory disease caused by inhaling metallic or mineral particles | Synonyms: pneumonoconiosis |
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| pneumocytosis | (noun) pneumonia occurring in infants or in persons with impaired immune systems (as AIDS victims) | Synonyms: interstitial plasma cell pneumonia, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, pneumocystis pneumonia |
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| pneumonitis | (noun) inflammation of the lungs; caused by a virus or an allergic reaction | - |
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| pneumonoconiosis | (noun) chronic respiratory disease caused by inhaling metallic or mineral particles | Synonyms: pneumoconiosis |
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| poliomyelitis | (noun) an acute viral disease marked by inflammation of nerve cells of the brain stem and spinal cord | Synonyms: acute anterior poliomyelitis, infantile paralysis, polio |
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| poliosis | (noun) loss of color from the hair | - |
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| pollinosis | (noun) a seasonal rhinitis resulting from an allergic reaction to pollen | Synonyms: hay fever |
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| polyarteritis | (noun) inflammation of several arteries | - |
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| polyhidrosis | (noun) excessive and profuse perspiration | Synonyms: hyperhidrosis, hyperidrosis |
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| polymyositis | (noun) myositis characterized by weakness of limb and neck muscles and much muscle pain and swelling; progression and severity vary among individuals | - |
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| polyneuritis | (noun) inflammation of many or all of the peripheral nerves (as in leprosy) | Synonyms: multiple neuritis |
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| portcullis | (noun) gate consisting of an iron or wooden grating that hangs in the entry to a castle or fortified town; can be lowered to prevent passage | - |
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| posthitis | (noun) inflammation of the foreskin of the penis; usually caused by bacterial infection | - |
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| praxis | (noun) translating an idea into action | Synonyms: practice |
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| precis | (noun) a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory | Synonyms: abstract, outline, synopsis |
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| proboscis | (noun) a long flexible snout as of an elephant | Synonyms: trunk |
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| (noun) the human nose (especially when it is large) | - |
| proctitis | (noun) inflammation of the rectum; marked by bloody stools and a frequent urge to defecate; frequently associated with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis | - |
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| prognosis | (noun) a prediction of the course of a disease | Synonyms: medical prognosis, prospect |
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| (noun) a prediction about how something (as the weather) will develop | Synonyms: forecast |
| prolepsis | (noun) anticipating and answering objections in advance | - |
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| prophylaxis | (noun) the prevention of disease | - |
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| prostatitis | (noun) inflammation of the prostate gland characterized by perineal pain and irregular urination and (if severe) chills and fever | - |
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| prosthesis | (noun) corrective consisting of a replacement for a part of the body | Synonyms: prosthetic device |
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| proteolysis | (noun) the hydrolysis of proteins into peptides and amino acids by cleavage of their peptide bonds | - |
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| protoavis | (noun) most primitive avian type known; extinct bird of the Triassic having bird-like jaw and hollow limbs and breastbone with dinosaur-like tail and hind limbs | - |
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| pseudocyesis | (noun) physiological state in which a woman exhibits symptoms of pregnancy but is not pregnant | Synonyms: false pregnancy |
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| psilosis | (noun) falling out of hair | - |
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| (noun) a chronic disorder that occurs in tropical and non-tropical forms and in both children and adults; nutrients are not absorbed; symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea and emaciation | Synonyms: sprue, tropical sprue |
| psittacosis | (noun) infectious disease of birds | Synonyms: parrot disease |
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| (noun) an atypical pneumonia caused by a rickettsia microorganism and transmitted to humans from infected birds | Synonyms: ornithosis, parrot fever |
| psoriasis | (noun) a chronic skin disease characterized by dry red patches covered with scales; occurs especially on the scalp and ears and genitalia and the skin over bony prominences | - |
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| psychoanalysis | (noun) a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders; based on the theories of Sigmund Freud | Synonyms: analysis, depth psychology |
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| psychogenesis | (noun) a general term for the origin and development of almost any aspect of the mind | - |
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| (noun) the development in the life of an individual of some disorder that is caused by psychological rather than physiological factors | - |
| psychokinesis | (noun) the power to move something by thinking about it without the application of physical force | Synonyms: telekinesis |
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| psychoneurosis | (noun) a mental or personality disturbance not attributable to any known neurological or organic dysfunction | Synonyms: neurosis, neuroticism |
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| psychosis | (noun) any severe mental disorder in which contact with reality is lost or highly distorted | - |
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| ptosis | (noun) drooping of the upper eyelid caused by muscle paralysis and weakness | - |
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| pubis | (noun) one of the three sections of the hipbone; together these two bones form the front of the pelvis | Synonyms: os pubis, pubic bone |
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| pycnodysostosis | (noun) a form of dwarfism accompanied by fragile bones and bad teeth | - |
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| pycnosis | (noun) a degenerative state of the cell nucleus | Synonyms: pyknosis |
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| pyelitis | (noun) inflammation of the renal pelvis | - |
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| pyelonephritis | (noun) inflammation of the kidney and its pelvis caused by bacterial infection | - |
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| pyknosis | (noun) a degenerative state of the cell nucleus | Synonyms: pycnosis |
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| pyrolysis | (noun) transformation of a substance produced by the action of heat | - |
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| pyrosis | (noun) a painful burning sensation in the chest caused by gastroesophageal reflux (backflow from the stomach irritating the esophagus); symptomatic of an ulcer or a diaphragmatic hernia or other disorder | Synonyms: heartburn |
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| pyxis | (noun) a small box used by ancient Greeks to hold medicines | - |
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| (noun) fruit of such plants as the plantain; a capsule whose upper part falls off when the seeds are released | Synonyms: pyxidium |
| rachis | (noun) the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord | Synonyms: back, backbone, spinal column, spine, vertebral column |
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| (noun) axis of a compound leaf or compound inflorescence | - |
| rachischisis | (noun) a not uncommon congenital defect in which a vertebra is malformed; unless several vertebrae are affected or there is myelomeningocele there are few symptoms; can be diagnosed by amniocentesis | Synonyms: schistorrhachis, spina bifida |
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| rachitis | (noun) childhood disease caused by deficiency of vitamin D and sunlight associated with impaired metabolism of calcium and phosphorus | Synonyms: rickets |
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| (noun) inflammation of the vertebral column | - |
| radiculitis | (noun) inflammation of the radicle of a nerve | - |
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| radiolysis | (noun) molecular disintegration resulting from radiation | - |
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| retinitis | (noun) inflammation of the retina | - |
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| rhinitis | (noun) an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the nose (usually associated with nasal discharge) | Synonyms: coryza |
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| rhinosporidiosis | (noun) fungal infection of the nose; often acquired while swimming | - |
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| rhinostenosis | (noun) narrowing of the passages in the nasal cavities | - |
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| rhinotracheitis | (noun) a respiratory infection of the nose and throat in cattle | - |
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| rickettsiosis | (noun) infectious disease caused by ticks or mites or body lice infected with rickettsial bacteria | Synonyms: rickettsial disease |
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| salmonellosis | (noun) a kind of food poisoning caused by eating foods contaminated with Salmonella typhimurium | - |
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| salpiglossis | (noun) any plant of the genus Salpiglossis | - |
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| salpingitis | (noun) inflammation of a Fallopian tube (usually the result of infection spreading from the vagina or uterus) or of a Eustachian tube | - |
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| sarcoidosis | (noun) a chronic disease of unknown cause marked by the formation of nodules in the lungs and liver and lymph glands and salivary glands | - |
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| satyriasis | (noun) abnormally intense sexual desire in men | - |
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