Human health and medicine

Microvenular hemangioma

Microvenular hemangioma (MVH, microvenular haemangioma) is a rare benign acquired vascular tumor of the skin, first named by Hunt et al. in 1991, presenting as a small purple-red plaque on the trunk or limbs and distinguished histologically by branching venules with pericyte layers.

Microvillus inclusion disease

Microvillus inclusion disease (MVID, Davidson disease, congenital microvillus atrophy) is a rare autosomal recessive congenital enteropathy causing life-threatening neonatal secretory diarrhea, caused mainly by MYO5B mutations and treated with lifelong parenteral nutrition.

Microwave ablation

Microwave ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive, image-guided treatment that heats tumors with microwave energy, used chiefly for liver and lung cancers that cannot be resected.

Microwave Imaging

Microwave imaging, also called microwave tomography, is a non-ionizing diagnostic technique using 500 MHz–10 GHz waves and tissue dielectric contrast, aimed mainly at breast cancer and stroke detection; still pre-commercial.

Mid-dermal elastolysis

Mid-dermal elastolysis (MDE), also called idiopathic or acquired mid-dermal elastolysis, is a rare acquired skin disease with selective loss of mid-dermal elastic fibers, causing fine wrinkling, perifollicular papules, or reticular erythema mainly in young women.

Midazolam

Midazolam (Versed) is a short-acting, water-soluble imidazobenzodiazepine synthesized in 1975, FDA-approved in 1985, used for procedural sedation, anesthesia induction, and ICU sedation, with a boxed warning for respiratory depression.

Midbrain

Midbrain (mesencephalon): the rostral brainstem segment between diencephalon and pons, divided into tectum and tegmentum, containing the substantia nigra, VTA, colliculi, and cerebral aqueduct; central to Parkinson's disease research and organoid models.

Middle aortic syndrome

Middle aortic syndrome (MAS), also called mid-aortic or atypical abdominal coarctation, is rare segmental narrowing of the distal thoracic and abdominal aorta with renal and visceral artery involvement, causing refractory childhood hypertension; 64% idiopathic, treated medically, endovascularly, or surgically.

Middle back pain

Middle back pain, or thoracic spine pain, is pain in the T1–T12 spine between neck and rib cage. Less common than low back pain; causes include posture, strain, discs, and, rarely, fracture or cancer.

Middle cerebral artery

Middle cerebral artery (MCA), arteria cerebri media: major brain artery from the internal carotid supplying the lateral hemisphere; four segments M1–M4, lenticulostriate perforators, and the most common site of ischemic stroke and cerebral aneurysms.

Middle cerebral artery occlusion model

The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model is a rodent surgical stroke model in which a filament blocks the artery without craniectomy, producing focal cerebral ischemia.

Middle cerebral artery syndrome

Middle cerebral artery syndrome: deficits from occlusion of the MCA, the most common stroke site (50.8% of rehab cohort). Causes contralateral weakness, aphasia or neglect; proximal occlusion has 87% poor outcome untreated; treated by thrombolysis and thrombectomy.

Middle ear

The middle ear (tympanic cavity) is the air-filled space behind the eardrum holding the malleus, incus, and stapes, which transmit and amplify sound to the inner ear, ventilated by the eustachian tube.

Middle ear myoclonus

Middle ear myoclonus (MEM), also called tensor tympani syndrome, is a rare tinnitus from involuntary contraction of the stapedius or tensor tympani muscles, causing rhythmic clicking or buzzing, treated with medications, botulinum toxin, or tenotomy.

Middle ear neuroendocrine tumor

Middle ear neuroendocrine tumor (MeNET), formerly called middle ear adenoma, is a rare tumor of the middle ear causing hearing loss and tinnitus, treated by surgical excision.

Middle Ear Ventilation

Middle ear ventilation, also called tympanostomy or grommet insertion, treats glue ear by inserting tiny tubes through the eardrum to drain fluid and let air in.

Middle east respiratory syndrome

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), MERS-CoV, a zoonotic coronavirus disease first identified in Saudi Arabia and Jordan in 2012; dromedary camels are the reservoir, over 2,600 cases reported, roughly 36-37% of reported cases fatal, no licensed vaccine or treatment.

Middle meningeal artery

Middle meningeal artery (MMA), arteria meningea media: maxillary artery branch entering via foramen spinosum to supply most of the cranial dura; ruptures at pterion cause epidural hematoma and it is embolized for chronic subdural hematoma.

Midline cervical cleft

Midline cervical cleft (congenital midline cervical cleft, CMCC) is a rare branchial-arch malformation of the anterior neck: a vertical erythematous skin defect with a superior skin tag, fibrous cord, and caudal sinus, treated by early excision with Z-plasty.

Midline laparotomy

A midline laparotomy is an operation that opens the abdomen through a vertical incision along the linea alba, giving rapid access to the whole abdominal cavity.

Midline sternotomy

Midline sternotomy, also called median sternotomy, is a surgical incision dividing the sternum along its midline, and it is the standard approach for most open cardiac operations.

Midodrine

Midodrine (ProAmatine, Bramox) is an oral prodrug of the alpha-1 agonist desglymidodrine, FDA-approved in 1996 under accelerated approval for symptomatic orthostatic hypotension, with off-label use in dialysis and heart failure hypotension.

Midostaurin

Midostaurin (Rydapt) is an oral multikinase inhibitor derived from staurosporine, approved in 2017 as the first targeted treatment for FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia and for advanced systemic mastocytosis.

Midwife

Midwife: educated, registered professional providing autonomous care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, per ICM definition; also called midwifery-led care; evidence shows fewer caesareans and instrumental births, 900,000 global shortage.

Midwifery

Midwifery is a health profession and model of care in which licensed midwives support women and newborns through pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period, in homes, clinics, or hospitals.

Mietens syndrome

Mietens syndrome, or Mietens-Weber syndrome, is an extremely rare autosomal recessive disorder (OMIM 249600, ORPHA:2557) first described in 1966, marked by sclerocornea, nystagmus, strabismus, elbow flexion contractures with radial head dislocation, short stature, and intellectual disability; nine cases reported.

Mifamurtide acid

Mifamurtide (L-MTP-PE, Mepact) is a synthetic NOD2-activating liposomal immunostimulant approved in the EU in 2009 for high-grade resectable non-metastatic osteosarcoma in patients aged 2 to 30.

Mifepristone

Mifepristone, also known as RU-486 and sold as Mifeprex, is a drug that blocks progesterone; combined with misoprostol, it ends pregnancies up to ten weeks in the United States.