Human health and medicine

Late lesions of pinta

Late lesions of pinta are the skin-confined third-stage manifestations of pinta, marked by dyschromia and atrophy; they typically appear 2 to 4 years after infection, with ICD-11 code 1C1E.2.

Oct 20, 2026

Late metabolic acidosis of newborn

Late metabolic acidosis of newborn (ICD-11 KB63.0, ICD-10 P74.0): mild metabolic acidosis at 1-3 weeks in healthy premature infants fed cow's milk, with poor growth; bicarbonate does not improve growth.

Oct 20, 2026

Late syphilis

Late syphilis (ICD-11 1A62), also called tertiary syphilis, is the late phase of Treponema pallidum infection, with gummas, cardiovascular disease, or neurosyphilis appearing 3-15+ years after infection, treated with weekly benzathine penicillin G.

Late termination of pregnancy

Late termination of pregnancy means induced abortion after 13 weeks (second trimester), using dilation and evacuation or labor induction; complication rates, reasons for delay, access barriers, and WHO policy distinguish it from early abortion.

Late vomiting of pregnancy

Late vomiting of pregnancy: ICD-11 code JA60.2 (ICD-10-CM O21.2, formerly ICD-9-CM 643.2) for excessive vomiting beginning in the second half of pregnancy, after 16 to 22 weeks' gestation, distinct from early hyperemesis gravidarum.

Late-onset focal dermal elastosis

Late-onset focal dermal elastosis (LOFDE), also called PXE-like focal dermal elastosis, is a rare acquired skin disorder with 2-5 mm yellowish papules on the neck and flexures, normal elastic fibers in the reticular dermis, and no systemic involvement.

Late-onset junctional epidermolysis bullosa

Late-onset junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB-lo, epidermolysis bullosa progressiva) is a rare autosomal recessive COL17A1 subtype of junctional EB with childhood-onset periungual blistering, nail dystrophy, acral lesions, atrophic scarring, and enamel defects.

Late-onset retinal degeneration

Late-onset retinal degeneration (L-ORD, LORD) is a rare autosomal dominant retinal dystrophy caused by C1QTNF5 variants, especially the Scottish S163R founder mutation, causing midlife night blindness, sub-RPE deposits, and vision loss after age 50.

Latent early syphilis

Latent early syphilis (early latent syphilis, ICD-11 1A61.5) is asymptomatic syphilis acquired within the past year, still infectious, diagnosed by serology plus history, and treated with a single 2.4-million-unit benzathine penicillin G dose.

Latent tuberculosis

Latent tuberculosis (latent TB infection, inactive TB): live but inactive Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria without symptoms or contagiousness; up to 13 million U.S. cases, 5–10% lifetime progression risk, treatable with 3–4 month rifamycin regimens.

Latent yaws

Latent yaws is the asymptomatic, serology-positive stage of Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue infection, affecting up to six people per active case; treated with single-dose azithromycin under WHO eradication strategy.

Lateral condensation

Lateral condensation is a root canal obturation technique in endodontics in which gutta-percha cones are compacted with a spreader to seal the canal, the classic cold filling method most commonly taught in US dental schools.

Oct 20, 2026

Lateral dislocation of patella

Lateral dislocation of patella, also called lateral patellar dislocation, is a knee injury where the kneecap displaces outward, typically without contact, in young and active people.

Lateral geniculate nucleus

Lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), also lateral geniculate body: thalamic relay nucleus of the visual pathway, with six magnocellular, parvocellular, and koniocellular layers, sending optic radiations to primary visual cortex.

Lateral grey column

Lateral grey column (lateral horn, columna grisea lateralis medullae spinalis): small lateral projection of spinal cord grey matter at T1–L2/L3 containing preganglionic sympathetic neurons (intermediolateral cell column), with axons reaching the sympathetic trunk via white rami communicantes.

Lateral internal sphincterotomy

Lateral internal sphincterotomy, also called internal anal sphincterotomy, is surgery that divides part of the internal anal sphincter to lower anal pressure and heal a chronic anal fissure.

Lateral luxation of tooth

Lateral luxation of tooth (ICD-11 NA0D.13) is a traumatic dental injury displacing a tooth non-axially with alveolar socket fracture; treated by repositioning and splinting, with pulp necrosis risk of 57% in permanent teeth.

Lateral medullary syndrome

Lateral medullary syndrome, also called Wallenberg syndrome or PICA syndrome, is a brainstem stroke from blockage of the vertebral artery or PICA, causing vertigo, hoarseness, and difficulty swallowing.

Lateral meningocele syndrome

Lateral meningocele syndrome, also called Lehman syndrome (LMS, OMIM 130720), is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by truncating NOTCH3 exon 33 variants, causing multiple lateral spinal meningoceles, distinctive facial features, and skeletal anomalies with usually normal cognition.

Lateral pterygoid muscle

Lateral pterygoid muscle (musculus pterygoideus lateralis), a two-headed muscle of mastication in the infratemporal fossa; innervated by the lateral pterygoid nerve (CN V3), protrudes and depresses the mandible, and varies from one to four heads in about a quarter of people.

Lateral sectionectomy

Lateral sectionectomy is an anatomical liver resection removing the left lateral section of the liver, Couinaud segments II and III, performed open, laparoscopically, robotically, and as living-donor graft harvest.

Lateral thoracotomy

A lateral thoracotomy is a surgical incision along the side of the chest, entering between the ribs to expose the heart, lungs, hilum, or mediastinum.

Laterality

Laterality: the scientific study of left-right asymmetries in brain, behavior, and cognition, from human handedness and language dominance to animal lateralization; also the name of the interdisciplinary journal founded in 1996 by Bryden, Corballis, and McManus.

Lateralization of brain function

Lateralization of brain function: task-specific hemispheric biases, with left-hemisphere language dominance in about 95% of right-handers and right-hemisphere spatial and face-processing advantages, distinct from the debunked left-brained versus right-brained personality myth.

Latex agglutination

Latex agglutination is a rapid immunoassay in which antibody- or antigen-coated latex beads visibly clump within minutes, detecting antigens or antibodies in over 100 infectious diseases.

Latex allergy

Latex allergy, or natural rubber latex allergy, is an IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity to Hevea brasiliensis proteins, affecting about 1% of the general population and 8-12% of healthcare workers, with latex-fruit cross-reactivity and anaphylaxis risk.