Starfleet Medical Database

Acetylcholine
Biochemical substance, a neuro-transmitter that promotes the propagation of electrical impulses from one nerve cell to another in carbon based life.

Alpha-wave inducer
Device used to enhance sleep in humanoids, but only meant for occasional use.

Autosuture
A medical instrument used for wound closures.

Berylite scan
Medical procedure used aboard Federation installations.

Bicaridine treatment
Regenerative therapy for fracture patients. It is used as a substitute in patients that are allergic to metorapan.

Biofilter, transporter
A subsystem of the transporter designed to scan an incoming transporter beam prior to materialization, and remove potentially harmful disease and virus contamination. The biofilter could be programmed against a wide range of disease organisms, but was only effective against organisms so programmed.

Bio-regenerative field
Radiated energy used in biomedical applications to accelerate cellular growth.

Brain circuitry pattern
Medical diagnostic image mapping neural activity in a humanoid brain. The BCP of each individual is unique, and this serves as a positive means of identification.

Brak'lul
Klingon term for a characteristic redundancy in Klingon physiology. All vital bodily functions are protected by a redundant organ or system. For example, Klingons possess two livers, an eight chambered heart (twice what is found in humans), and 23 ribs (10 in humans)

Cardiac induction
Emergency medical resuscitative measure.

Cardiac replacement
Surgical procedure in which a patient's diseased or injured heart is replaced by an artificial device. The technique was developed by Dr. Van Doren.

Cellular disruption
Devised which can cause individual cells to explode from within, resulting in a painful death.

Chief Medical Officer
Aboard a Federation starship or a Starfleet base, the officer charged with responsibility for the health and well being of the crew. Under certain circumstances, the CMO is authorized to certify a ship's captain as unfit for command.

Cortical stimulator
Resuscitative device.

CPK enzymatic therapy
Medical treatment to limit the extent of spinal injury.

CPK levels
CPK, or creatinine phosphokinase, is a marker of muscular damage. It is mostly used to diagnose cardiac damage.

Cryogenic open heart procedure
A surgical procedure to repair damaged heart valves.

Cryonics
Old practice of cryogenically freezing a human just after death in the hopes that future medical advances would render their sickness curable. Some cryogenically frozen bodies were actually sent into space in orbiting satellites for long term storage. One such cryo-satellite was discovered in 2364 by the crew of the Enterprise-D. Cryonics was something of a fad in the late 20th century but fell into disuse by the mid-21st century.

Cryostasis
Medical procedure used to slow down biological functions in a critically injured patient, allowing the physician more time to correct the malady.

Cybernetic regeneration
Starfleet physician Dr. Beverly Crusher published a paper on the subject during her tenure aboard the USS Enterprise-D. While the paper was not widely known, it did spark the interest of neurogeneticist Dr. Toby Russell.

Decompression chamber
Medical treatment facility aboard Federation starships for patients requiring treatment for exposure to atmospheric pressures other than Class-M normal.

Detronal scanner
Medical instrument used to read and encode the DNA patterns of living tissue.

Diencephalon
Part of a humanoid brain, posterior to the forebrain. The hypothalamus, thalamus, and epithalamus are contained in the diencephalon.

Direct reticular stimulation
Medical procedure in which electrical energy is applied directly to the nervous system of a humanoid patient in an attempt to revive neural activity. A device called a neural stimulator is used in this procedure.

DNA reference scan
Medical test to confirm an individual's identity by matching DNA patterns.

DNA
Acronym for deoxyribonucleic acid, a complex chemical chain containing the genetic codes enabling the reproduction of life on many planets. Virtually every individual life form on such planets has a DNA code, which contains information common to that species, as well as distinguishing information unique to that individual. Because of this, DNA sequencing can be used as a means of positively identifying an individual, although it cannot distinguish between the individual and a clone. Many humanoid species throughout the galaxy share a common DNA structure, a characteristic that was recently discovered to be due to a humanoid species that lived some four billion years ago that seeded many planets with primordial genetic material.

Dolbargy sleeping trance
Voluntarily induced deep coma.

Drechtal beams
Surgical device used to sever neural connections.

Dynoscanner
Sensor device used to detect low level molecular activity.

Electrophoretic analysis
Standard medical test run to analyze cellular components.

Encephalographic polygraph scan
A brain wave scan used to determine truthfulness during questioning.

Engram
In neuro-physiology, a specific complex memory.

Exoscalpel
Surgical instrument used by Starfleet medical personnel to incise the skin and expose underlying tissue.

Extrasensory perception
Various mental and telekinetic powers, currently inexplicable by conventional science.

Ferengi death rituals
Rituals associated with the treatment of the body of a deceased Ferengi. Autopsy is strictly prohibited according to the rituals.

Finilis'ral
Kriosian term for the final stage in the sexual maturation of an empathic metamorph. During this stage, the metamorph produced an elevated level of sexual pheromones, and is extremely vulnerable to the empathic emanations of the opposite sex. The empath's behavior can change frequently to suit the needs of potential mates.

Frontal lobe
The anterior portion of the cerebral hemisphere in humanoid brains.

Ganglion
A mass of nervous tissues that join each other outside the brain or spinal cord.

Genetronic replicator
Experimental medical device, developed by neurogeneticist Dr. Toby Russell, designed to translate the genetic code into a specific set of replication instructions, allowing the device to grow a replacement organ. Starfleet Medical turned down three requests by Russell to test the device on humanoid patients, prior to her successful implementation of the technique on Starfleet officer Lieutenant Worf in 2368.

Glial cells
More specifically known as neuroglia; tissue that forms the supporting elements of the nervous system which play an important role in reacting to injury or infection.

Hippocampus
A component of the limbic system in a humanoid brain. The hippocampus coordinates the offaction, autonomic functions, and some aspects of emotional behavior.

Histamine
Biochemical substance produced by the breakdown of histidine, an amino acid found in humanoid tissues. Histamine is produced by the body when it comes in contact with substances to which the body is sensitized, and is a primary factor in the humanoid allergic response. Histamine levels are characteristically depressed by a disease known as Iresine Syndrome.

Hyperencephalogram
Medical test that records and measures brain wave activity.

Hypospray
Medical instrument used by Starfleet medical personnel for subcutaneous and intramuscular administration of medication for many humanoid patients. The hypospray uses an extremely fine, high pressure aero-suspension delivery system, eliminating the need for a needle to physically penetrate the skin.

Inner eyelid
Part of the Vulcan eye which evolved because the power of the bright Vulcan sun necessitated a secondary means of protecting the retina.

Inner nuncial series
A battery of neurological tests.

Invidium
A substance formerly used in medical containment fields. Invidium fell out of general use in the 23rd century, although a few races continued its application into the 24th century. Invidium had the unusual property of being undetectable by normal internal sensor scans aboard starships. It was also highly reactive, capable of triggering spontaneous nucleosynthesis as well as malfunctions in various high power systems. The invidium was rendered inert by flooding contaminated areas with gaseous cryonetrium.

Isocortex
The extreme outer layer of the cerebral cortex in a humanoid brain.

K-3 indicator
Medical measurement of neural activity corresponding to the level of pain being experienced by a patient. The biomedical displays on any Federation medical facility incorporated a K-3 indicator.

Microcentrum cell membrane
Physical attribute of life forms that are unaffected by triolic waves. Microcentrum cell membranes are often seen in shape shifters.

Microcircuit fibers
Part of the Borg devices implanted into a assimilated victim's body. Infiltration of the fibers into the victims healthy tissue around the Borg implants caused changes in the cellular DNA around the implants and made surgical removal impossible while the implants are active.

Mitosis
The ordered process of cell division, whereby one parent cell produces two genetically identical daughter cells.

Motor assist bands
Four centimeter wide strap like devices used with neurologically damaged patients. The bands provide electrical stimulation to the patient's limbs and help with muscle retraining.

Myocardial enzyme balance
Medical test used in surgical, particularly cardiac, procedures.

Neural calipers
Medical instrument used in surgical procedures.

Neural imaging scan
Medical diagnostic scan used to test the acuity of the patient's visual cortex.

Neural implants
The bio electrical interface between the visual cortex and a VISOR. The devices were implanted bilaterally in the temporal regions of the patients skull, and fed into the visual cortex. The external portion of the implant allowed for direct connection of the VISOR to the patients head.

Neural neutralizer
A device invented by Dr. Simon Van Gelder in 2266 to aid rehabilitation of criminals. The neutralizer was intended to selectively remove thoughts relating to criminal acts, but was later found to have potentially lethal effects.

Neural stimulator
Medical instrument used to increase neural activity in the central nervous system of a humanoid brain.

Neural transducers
Implantable bio electric devices that received nerve impulses from the brain and transmitted it to affected voluntary muscle groups. These instruments were used in cases of severe spinal cord damage to give the patient some control over the affected extremities.

Neurogenetics
Study of the development and genetic replication of neural tissue.

Neurolink
Emergency medical technique used for the stabilization of patients with brain stem injuries. Matching neural pads were used. One would be placed on a healthy individual and a matching unit on the patient. These devices enabled a link to be established from the healthy person's autonomic nervous system to that of the injured patient.

Neurotransmitter
Biochemical associated with the propagation of electrical energy between neurons in humanoid nervous systems.

Nitrogen narcosis
Also known as "Rapture of the Deep," nitrogen narcosis was a hazard of 20th century Earth deep sea diving. It was caused by the replacement of oxygen in oxyhemoglobin with nitrogen. The resultant anoxia produced disorientation, hallucinations, and lack of judgment in the victims. The phenomenon is similar to temporal narcosis.

Parthenogenic implant
An artificial device, surgically implanted into a human body.

Peritoneum
Membrane lining the abdominal cavity in many humanoid species, including Bajorans.

Pheromones
Biochemicals secreted by many carbon based life forms, whose scent affects the behavior of other members of the same or similar species. Certain pheromones control the degree of sexual attractiveness attributed to an individual. Empathic metamorphs produce highly elevated levels of a substance similar to pheromones during the final stage of their sexual maturation.

Physiostimulator
Medical instrument used to elevate metabolic functions in an impaired individual.

Plasma infusion unit
Medical equipment used aboard Federation medical facilities to dispense fluid and electrolytes.

Protodynoplaser
Medical instrument used stabilize immune systems.

Psychological profile
Complete psychological history required of all Starfleet personnel.

Psychotricorder
Instrument used to record past memories.

Pulmonary support unit
Emergency cardiopulmonary support unit in use aboard Federation medical facilities.

Quarantine seal
Also called a medical quarantine field. Force field used to isolate potentially hazardous biological specimens in sickbay and other laboratory facilities aboard facilities.

Reflection therapy
Psychiatric technique used on the planet Tilonus IV in which the patient's brain is scanned and images from brain areas that control emotions and memory are projected holographically. The patient then interacts with holographic images which represent various facets of his personality.

REM sleep
In neurophysiology, REM (rapid eye movement) describes a normal state of sleep during which most humanoid dreaming occurs. The condition is so named because the sleeper's eyes, though closed, will often exhibit rapid movement.

Replicative fading
A loss of genetic information occurring when an organism is repeatedly cloned. After several generations of cloning, replicative fading can become serious, resulting in subtle errors creeping into chromosomes, eventually yielding a nonviable clone.

Resonance tissue scan
Medical diagnostic test used by Starfleet physicians to screen for infection.

Reticular formation
A system of cells in the medulla oblongata of many humanoid brains. This area controls the overall degree of nervous system activity. The Ktarian game was found to activate the reticular formation of the brain.

Retinal imaging scan
Medical test used to verify the presence or absence of activity in the visual cortex.

Robbiani dermal optic test
Medical diagnostic test that registers a subject's emotional structure through skin and pupil response to visual stimulation at specific color wavelengths.

Rybo-viroxic-nucleic structure
Long organic compound that is one of the key factors in development during puberty of many humanoids. As such life forms grow older, RVN takes on additional viroxic sequences.

Septal area
Also known as the septum lucidum, the triangular double membrane that separates the anterior horns of the lateral ventricles of a humanoid brain.

Serotonin
Enzyme that serves as a central neurotransmitter in humanoid nervous systems.

Somnetic inducer
A small neural pad used to aid the induction of sleep in humanoids.

Stasis unit
Emergency medical device used aboard Federation facilities. The device could hold a patient in a state of suspended animation until medical treatment could be rendered.

Steinman analysis
Medical test noting individual specific data such as voice analysis and brain patterns.

Styrolite
Clear plastic like material used for biologic quarantine of potentially hazardous life forms.

Synaptic induction
Technique in neurotheraphy used for patients suffering from traumatic memory loss.

Synaptic reconstruction
Surgery which neutralizes the synaptic pathways responsible for deviant behavior.

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