Medical Glossary

Terms starting with N

AnesthesiaNarkose: Anaesthesia is an artificially induced state of unconsciousness and pain elimination for operations. A distinction is made between general anaesthesia, which affects the whole body, and local anaesthetic procedures.
Atopic dermatitisNeurodermitis: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disease that occurs in flare-ups, with dry, inflamed and intensely itchy skin. It often starts in childhood and is related to allergies.
Emergency medicineNotfallmedizin: Emergency medicine deals with the rapid recognition and initial treatment of acutely life-threatening conditions such as heart attack, stroke or severe accidents. It covers both the ambulance service and the emergency department in the hospital.
FastingNüchtern: In medicine, «fasting» means that you have eaten nothing for a certain period of time and have usually only drunk water. Many laboratory values, such as blood sugar, or operations require this fasting state.
Follow-up careNachsorge: Follow-up care refers to the planned check-ups after an illness or treatment, for example after cancer therapy or an operation. The aim is to detect a relapse or complications early and to support recovery.
Melanocytic nevusNävuszellnävus: A melanocytic naevus is the most common form of benign birthmark, formed from so-called naevus cells. Such marks are usually harmless, but should be checked by a dermatologist if there are noticeable changes.
NAT (nucleic acid amplification test)NAT (Nukleinsäure-Amplifikationstest): A nucleic acid amplification test detects the genetic material of pathogens by multiplying even the smallest amounts of it. The best-known example is the PCR, which detects viruses or bacteria, for instance, very sensitively.
Nausea: Nausea is the medical term for feeling sick, that is, the unpleasant sensation of needing to vomit. It can have many causes, such as gastrointestinal infections, pregnancy, migraine or side effects of medicines.
NecrosisNekrose: Necrosis is the local death of tissue in the living body, for example as a result of a circulatory disorder, injury or infection. The affected tissue may turn dark and often requires medical treatment.
Neonatal jaundiceNeugeborenengelbsucht: Neonatal jaundice is a yellowing of the baby's skin and eyes caused by the blood pigment bilirubin, which is common in the first days of life. It is usually harmless; if pronounced, it is treated with light therapy.
NeonatologyNeonatologie: Neonatology is the branch of paediatrics that cares for newborns, especially premature and sick newborns. It treats problems that arise in the first weeks of life.
NeoplasiaNeoplasie: A neoplasia is a new formation of tissue due to uncontrolled cell growth, commonly called a tumour. Neoplasias can be benign or malignant.
NephrectomyNephrektomie: A nephrectomy is the surgical removal of a kidney, for example because of a tumour, a severe injury or a kidney that no longer works. With a healthy second kidney, the body can usually continue to live normally.
Nephrolithiasis: Nephrolithiasis refers to the presence of kidney stones, that is, solid deposits in the renal pelvis or in the urinary tract. Stones that move can cause severe, cramp-like pain in the back and flank.
NephrologyNephrologie: Nephrology is the study of the kidneys and their diseases. Nephrologists treat conditions such as kidney weakness and high blood pressure related to the kidneys, and they care for people on dialysis.
Nephron: The nephron is the smallest functional unit of the kidney and filters the blood to form urine. Each kidney contains around one million of these tiny filtering units.
NephropathyNephropathie: Nephropathy is a collective term for diseases or damage of the kidneys. Common causes are long-standing diabetes or high blood pressure, which damage the fine filtering tissue of the kidneys.
Nervus: Nervus is the Latin term for nerve and appears in many anatomical names, for example Nervus opticus for the optic nerve. Nerves transmit signals between the brain, the spinal cord and the rest of the body.
Neural tube defectNeuralrohrdefekt: A neural tube defect is a congenital malformation in which the unborn child's neural tube does not close completely. The best-known example is open spine (spina bifida); folic acid during pregnancy reduces the risk.
NeuralgiaNeuralgie: A neuralgia is a sudden, attack-like pain, often burning or stabbing, in the area supplied by a nerve. A well-known example is trigeminal neuralgia in the face.
NeuroblastomaNeuroblastom: Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumour of nerve tissue in children, which usually occurs in young children. It frequently develops in the area of the adrenal glands or along the spine.
NeurologyNeurologie: Neurology deals with disorders of the nervous system, that is, of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles. This includes conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease.
NeuropathyNeuropathie: Neuropathy is damage to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, which becomes noticeable through numbness, tingling or pain. A common cause is long-standing diabetes mellitus.
Neurotransmitter: Neurotransmitters are the body's own messenger substances that transmit signals from one nerve cell to the next. Well-known examples are dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline.
NeutropeniaNeutropenie: Neutropenia refers to a lack of neutrophil white blood cells, an important defence cell against bacteria. Those affected are more susceptible to infections; the cause may be chemotherapy, for example.
NeutrophilsNeutrophile: Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell and a central part of the immune defence against bacteria. Their number in the blood count often rises during infections.
NevusNaevus: A naevus is a benign birthmark or mole of the skin caused by a cluster of pigment-forming cells. Most naevi are harmless, but should be assessed by a doctor if they change in size, shape or colour.
NociceptorNozizeptor: Nociceptors are specialised nerve endings that pick up pain stimuli and transmit them to the nervous system. They respond to harmful influences such as heat, pressure or injuries.
NocturiaNykturie: Nocturia describes repeated night-time urination that disturbs sleep. Causes may include an enlarged prostate, heart failure or drinking large amounts in the evening.
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNon-Hodgkin-Lymphom: A non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a malignant disease of the lymphatic system that originates from the lymph cells. It comprises many subtypes with very different courses.
NoradrenalineNoradrenalin: Noradrenaline is one of the body's own messenger substances and a stress hormone that increases heart rate and blood pressure. It is also used as a medication to raise blood pressure that is too low in emergencies.
NSAIDsNSAR: NSAID stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a group of pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or diclofenac. They work against pain, fever, and inflammation without containing cortisone.
Nystagmus: Nystagmus is an involuntary, rhythmic trembling movement of the eyes. It can be congenital or indicate a disorder of the balance organ or the nervous system.
Renal insufficiencyNiereninsuffizienz: In renal insufficiency, the kidneys can no longer adequately filter and cleanse the blood. It can develop suddenly (acutely) or slowly over years (chronically); in the final stage, dialysis or a transplant is necessary.
Umbilical herniaNabelbruch: An umbilical hernia is a protrusion of abdominal contents through a weak point in the abdominal wall at the navel. In infants it often recedes on its own; in adults an operation may be necessary.