Medical Glossary

Terms starting with L

Cerebrospinal fluidLiquor: The cerebrospinal fluid is the clear fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. Its examination helps in the assessment of diseases of the nervous system.
DislocationLuxation: A luxation is a dislocation in which the bones of a joint slip out of their normal position. The shoulder or fingers are frequently affected; the joint is deformed and painful.
LactateLaktat: Lactate is the salt of lactic acid and arises above all during intense physical exertion or when tissue lacks oxygen. An elevated lactate level in the blood can indicate a circulatory disorder.
Lactate dehydrogenaseLactatdehydrogenase: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme found in many of the body's cells. A raised level in the blood indicates that cells have been damaged, but it is not very specific for any particular organ.
LactationLaktation: Lactation is the production and release of breast milk in the mammary gland after childbirth. It is controlled by hormones and serves to nourish the infant.
Lactose intoleranceLaktoseintoleranz: In lactose intolerance, milk sugar (lactose) cannot be sufficiently digested in the bowel. As a result, consuming dairy products leads to bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
LaparoscopyLaparoskopie: Laparoscopy is an examination of the abdomen using a camera. Through small incisions, a camera is inserted into the abdominal cavity to examine organs or to operate gently. It is also referred to as minimally invasive or «keyhole» surgery.
LaparotomyLaparotomie: A laparotomy is the surgical opening of the abdominal cavity through a larger incision. It is used when an open operation is necessary, for example in emergencies or for extensive procedures.
Laryngitis: Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. It often leads to hoarseness, sore throat and an urge to cough, and frequently occurs in the context of a cold.
Larynx: The larynx is the voice box. It connects the throat with the windpipe, contains the vocal cords and is important for breathing and voice production.
latent: «Latent» means hidden or present without noticeable complaints. A latent disease is already present but does not yet cause any recognisable symptoms.
lateral: «Lateral» is an anatomical term of position and means «to the side», that is, located away from the midline of the body. The opposite is «medial» (towards the middle).
LesionLäsion: A lesion is damage or injury to tissue or an organ. The term is general and says nothing about the cause – it may refer to injuries, inflammations, ulcers or tumours.
Lesion biopsyLäsionsbiopsie: In a lesion biopsy, a tissue sample is taken from a conspicuous area and examined under the microscope. This makes it possible to clarify whether a change is benign or malignant.
lethalletal: «Lethal» means deadly. The term describes a course of illness or a dose that leads to death.
LeukemiaLeukämie: Leukaemia is a malignant disease of the blood-forming system, commonly known as «blood cancer». Large numbers of immature white blood cells develop in the bone marrow and crowd out normal blood formation.
Leukocyte countLeukozytenzahl: The leukocyte count indicates how many white blood cells are present in a given amount of blood. It is a standard value in the blood count and helps to detect infections or inflammation.
LeukocytesLeukozyten: Leukocytes are the white blood cells. They are part of the immune system and fight pathogens. An increased number can indicate an inflammation or infection.
LeukocytosisLeukozytose: Leukocytosis refers to an increased number of white blood cells in the blood. It is often a sign of an infection or inflammation in the body.
LeukopeniaLeukopenie: Leukopenia is a deficiency of white blood cells. Those affected are more susceptible to infections; possible causes include medications, viral infections or bone marrow diseases.
Libido: Libido refers to sexual desire. It can be influenced by hormones, emotional strain, illnesses or medications.
LidocaineLidocain: Lidocaine is a widely used local anaesthetic. It temporarily blocks the transmission of pain signals in the nerves and is used, for example, during minor procedures.
Ligament: A ligament is a band of firm connective tissue that connects bones with one another and stabilises joints. Injuries such as torn ligaments affect these structures.
LipidsLipide: Lipids are fats and fat-like substances in the blood, including cholesterol and triglycerides. Elevated levels can increase the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease.
LipomaLipom: A lipoma is a benign growth made of fatty tissue. It appears as a soft, moveable lump under the skin and is usually harmless.
LiverLeber: The liver is the largest internal organ and lies in the upper right abdomen. It detoxifies the body, stores nutrients and produces important proteins as well as bile fluid.
Liver cirrhosisLeberzirrhose: Liver cirrhosis is an advanced, scarring transformation of the liver tissue. The liver increasingly loses its function; common causes are excessive alcohol consumption or chronic liver inflammation.
Liver valuesLeberwerte: Liver values are blood values that provide information about the condition of the liver, such as the enzymes ALT, AST and GGT. Raised values may indicate damage to or disease of the liver.
Local anesthesiaLokalanästhesie: With local anaesthesia, only a limited area of the body is numbed with a medication while you remain awake. It is used for smaller procedures such as stitching wounds.
LordosisLordose: Lordosis is the natural forward curvature of the spine in the neck and lower back region. An excessive degree of this curvature is referred to as a hollow back.
Lumbago: Lumbago is a sudden, shooting pain in the lower back, commonly known as "acute back pain". It usually subsides after a few days; if paralysis, sensory disturbances, or bladder problems occur, immediate medical assessment is necessary.
lumbarlumbal: «Lumbar» refers to the loin region, that is, the lower part of the spine. Lumbar complaints are pains in the lower back.
Lumbar punctureLumbalpunktion: In a lumbar puncture, a fine needle is used to take nerve fluid from the spinal canal in the lower back. It serves to examine the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, for example when meningitis is suspected.
LungLunge: The lungs are the paired respiratory organ in the chest. In them, oxygen from the air you breathe is taken up into the blood and carbon dioxide is released.
Lupus: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system turns against the body's own tissue. The skin, joints, kidneys and other organs may be affected.
Lymph nodeLymphknoten: Lymph nodes are small filtering stations of the immune system, distributed throughout the body. During infections they can swell and become painful, which indicates an immune reaction.
LymphadenopathyLymphadenopathie: Lymphadenopathy is an abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes. It can have harmless causes such as infections, but it can also point to more serious illnesses.
LymphedemaLymphödem: A lymphoedema is a swelling caused by lymph fluid building up in the tissue. It develops when the drainage of lymph is impaired, for example after operations or radiation treatment of lymph nodes.
LymphocytesLymphozyten: Lymphocytes are a subgroup of the white blood cells and a central part of the specific immune defence. They recognise pathogens and produce antibodies, among other things.
LymphomaLymphom: A lymphoma is a malignant disease of the lymphatic tissue, colloquially called «lymph gland cancer». A distinction is made between Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which have different courses.
PneumoniaLungenentzündung: Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung tissue, usually caused by bacteria or viruses. It presents with fever, cough and shortness of breath and is medically referred to as pneumonia.
Pulmonary embolismLungenembolie: In a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that has travelled through the bloodstream blocks a blood vessel in the lung. Typical signs are sudden shortness of breath and chest pain; this is an emergency.