Medical Dictionary: Glossary (U)

What is URI?

Upper respiratory infection. Infection of the air passages of the nose, the throat, and/or bronchial tubes.

What is ulcer?

A lesion that has been eroding away the skin or mucous membrane.
Ulcers can have various causes, depending on their location.

What is ulna?

The larger of the two long bones within the forearm. (The smaller one is the radius.) The ulna is on the same side of the arm as the little finger.

What is urinary incontinence?

The unintentional loss of urine. Inability to hold urine in the bladder due to loss of voluntary control over the urinary sphincters.

What is ulocarcinoma?

Cancer of the gums. It is often associated with the use of smokeless (chewing) tobacco.

What is ultrasound?

This means high-frequency sound waves. Ultrasound waves can be bounced off tissues by using special devices. The echoes are then converted into a picture called a sonogram.

What is uvulitis?

Inflammation of the uvula. Uvulitis has many causes, including infection with a virus, fungus, or bacteria or due to side effects of medications.