Letter: s

Any inflammatory condition of the mouth; may result from infection, exposure to certain chemicals or drugs, vitamin deficiency, disease.

Outer layer of the epidermis, also call the horny layer. Consists of multiple layers (usually 8-30) of dead peeling cells that serve to prevent excessive water loss and protect the body from physical injury. Bacteria are scattered between the layers of these dead cells. Those deeper in the piles of shingles are not accessible to soaps and antiseptics.

Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, is a type of bacteria that causes many different kinds of infections ranging from ear infections and sinus infections to pneumonia and meningitis. That is because more than 90 variants of this bacterium exist. This type of strep infection is different from the bacteria causing strep throat. Streptococci do not mutate as easily as Staphylococci and thus have not developed resistance to antibiotics as rapidly as Staph. There are Streptoccus peumoniae vaccines for aduls and children.

Narrowing.

Harsh, high-pitched sound heard during inspirations with laryngeal obstruction.

The mechanism by which microorganisms enter a sterile package, gown or material when it becomes wet; the passage of blood or other bodily fluids completely through a fabric.

A slender surgical probe; a flexible metallic rod inserted in the lumen of a flexible to maintain rigidity and give it form during its passage or into a hollow needle to maintain patency.

Below the arachnoid mater. In anesthesia, refers to spinal anesthetic injections into the cerebrospinal fluid, which is contained within the subarachnoid space.

The space between the arachnoid and the pia mater through which the cerebrospinal fluid circulates and across which extend delicate trabeculae of connective tissue; the large blood vessels supplying the brain and spinal cord lie in the subarachnoid space.

The subclavian vein is the large vein behind the collarbone which is sometimes used for placing CVCs, especially if the patient has a cervical spine injury or the line will be used for a long time. Used for dialysis, TPN, chemo drug delivery, etc. There is an increased risk of pneumothorax over other sites, but a decreased risk of infection.