D

dactyl. Finger, as in dactylitis, inflammation of one or more fingers.

debris. Scattered fragments.

decomposition. Decay. Breaking up into its original elements.

deformity. A deviation from normal in shape or in size.

deleterious. Injurious, noxious, harmful.

demarcation. A tissue boundary mark.

dentine. The bony structure of the teeth.

derma. The skin.

dermatitis. Inflammation of the skin.

devitalize. To destroy vitality.

diabetes (mellitus). A disease of metabolism characterized by the presence of sugar in the voided urine.

diagnosis. Determination of the nature of a disease.

diapedesis. The passage of the blood-corpuscles through the vessel-walls without rupture of the latter.

diaphoresis. Excessive perspirattion.

diaphragm. The muscular wall between the thorax and the abdomen.

diaphysis. Relating to the shaft of the bone.

diffusion. A scattering about.

digit. A finger or toe.

dilatation. An expansion of a vessel or an organ.

discutient. An agent which causes the dispersal of a tumor or of a pathologic neoplasm of any kind.

disease. A pathologic condition of any part or organ of the body.

disinfection. Freeing from infection.

disintegration. Separation of component parts.

dislocation. Displacement of an organ or of a part.

dissection. A separation by cutting of the parts of the body.

distortion. Mechanical derangement of a part interfering with its function.

dorsal. Pertaining to the back.

dorsum. The back, the posterior part of an organ.

drainage. (Surgically) The gradual removal of the contents of a suppurating cavity.

d.s. or s. Used in prescription writing, meaning to give directions.

dynia. Pain, as in pleurodynia, pain in the pleura.