Medical Glossary Index:

K

Kaposi's sarcoma- a skin cancer that is characterized by purple-red tumors that start at the feet and spread upward on the body; commonly occurs in people who have AIDS

Kawasaki disease- a childhood disease causing fever, rash, skin peeling, swollen lymph nodes, and possibly complications of the heart and brain

Keloid- a raised, firm, thick scar that forms as a result of a defect in the natural healing process

Keratin- a tough protein found in skin, nails, and hair

Keratitis- inflammation of the cornea

Keratolytic- drugs that remove the keratin-containing outer layer of skin; used to treat skin disorders such as warts and dandruff

Keratoplasty- surgical replacement or reshaping of the cornea

Keratosis- a growth on the skin that is the result of overproduction of the protein keratin

Ketoacidosis- the dangerous accumulation of chemicals called ketones in the blood, sometimes occurring as a complication of diabetes mellitus; also called ketosis

Kidney- one of two organs that are part of the urinary tract; responsible for filtering the blood and removing waste products and excess water as urine

Kidney stone- a hard mass composed of substances from the urine that form in the kidneys

Killer T cells- white blood cells that are part of the immune system and destroy microorganisms and cancer cells

Kilocalorie- a unit of energy; equal to a nutritional calorie

Kimmelstiel-Wilson syndrome- a kidney disorder that can occur as a complication of diabetes mellitus; can cause swelling, high blood pressure, and kidney failure

Klinefelter’s syndrome- a genetic disorder in which a man has at least 1 extra
X chromosome in his cells, causing infertility and female characteristics

Knee-jerk reflex- a test for a reflexive extension of the leg to check the functioning of the nervous system; tapping the knee just below the kneecap should cause the lower part of the leg to jerk upward

Kyphosis- excessive curvature of the spine, which usually affects the top part of the spine and causes a hump