## General Medicine

E-Mail Comments to: opencyc-doc@cyc.com
Last Update: 4/5/02
Copyright© 1996-2002. All rights reserved. See Terms of Usage.

Return to Documentation Contents
Return to Vocabulary Contents

### Medical Ailments

#$AilmentCondition ailments **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The most general collection of ailment events; a subcollection of both #$PhysiologicalCondition and #$Malfunction. An instance of #$AilmentCondition is a dynamic state of sickness, injury, or physiological impairment. The rationale for construing ailments in this way is the obvious fact that to have an ailment is to undergo an event: an individual ailment has temporal features, it progresses dynamically, and so on. It is not just a matter of being in some static state of unwellness . Subcollections of #$AilmentCondition include #$RespiratoryAilment, #$HeartCondition, #$Cancer, #$MotionSickness, #$Poisoning, #$Infection, and #$InjuryCondition. If a particular person has an infection, that event is an instance of #$AilmentCondition. An #$AilmentCondition does not begin before there is an actual, developed sickness or impairment, and thus does not include the event of getting sick or becoming impaired. Also note that each type of ailment, such as #$Infection, is the collection of all cases or instances of individuals suffering from that condition. See also #$DiseaseType.
> guid: c10c1856-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$PhysiologicalConditionType
> direct specialization of: #$Malfunction #$PhysiologicalCondition
> direct generalization of: #$AnthraxInfection #$AllergicReaction #$Infection #$Cancer #$PsychologicalAilment #$Malnutrition

#$PhysiologicalCondition physiological conditions **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> A collection of #$SystemConditions in which an instance of #$Organism-Whole is in some physiological state that is not typical for that organism's species, modulo considerations about the organism's sex or (in some cases) subspecies. Thus #$Menstruating, though not typical among all persons, is part of being a healthy adult female, and so does not count as a #$PhysiologicalCondition, whereas #$Pregnancy does count. #$PhysiologicalCondition is a specialization of #$Situation-Temporal, and so each instance has temporal start and end, though in some cases, the start and end will be the same as the start and end of the life of the organism, cases of dwarfism being an example.
> guid: c10c3859-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$TemporalStuffType
> direct specialization of: #$SystemCondition
> direct generalization of: #$LifeThreateningCondition #$CongenitalCondition #$ChronicCondition #$AilmentCondition #$Starvation

#$CancerFn cancer fn **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> #$CancerFn is a Cyc function, and in particular a #$CollectionDenotingFunction. It is used to describe cancers according to the part or region of the animal's body in which they are found. (#$CancerFn REGION) denotes the collection of all cancers found in the region of the body, REGION. For example, (#$CancerFn #$Throat) represents the set of all throat cancers, and is a subcollection of #$Cancer.
> guid: c0fde7f7-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$CollectionDenotingFunction #$UnaryFunction #$ReifiableFunction #$Individual

#$Cancer Cancer (tumor condition) **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The collection of all particular cases of cancer. Instances of #$Cancer may belong to any one of the many different types of disease that are studied and treated by oncologists. Cancer is characterized by abnormal (and usually rapid) growth of cells in some organ or system of the body; these growths are then prone to dispersal (metastesis) into other body regions. See also #$CancerFn --- the expression (#$CancerFn #$Lung) represents a subcollection of #$Cancer, namely the set of all lung cancers.
> guid: c0fd6a1a-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$DiseaseType
> direct specialization of: #$TerminalPhysiologicalCondition #$AilmentCondition

#$Tumor tumors **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> A specialization of #$OrganismPart. Each instance of #$Tumor is an abnormal tissue mass found in an animal. Instances of #$Tumor include both malignant (cancerous -- see the collection #$Cancer) and benign (non-cancerous) growths which have no normal physiological cause or function within the animal's body.
> guid: c0fd58aa-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType
> direct specialization of: #$OrganismPart

#$InfectionFn infection fn **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> An instance of #$CollectionDenotingFunction. When applied to a specialization PART of #$AnimalBodyPart (q.v.), #$InfectionFn returns the collection of all infections in some instance of PART. For example, (#$InfectionFn #$Throat) is the collection of all throat infections (and hence a specialization of #$Infection).
> guid: c0fd4892-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$CollectionDenotingFunction #$ReifiableFunction #$UnaryFunction #$Individual

#$Infection infections

> A specialization of #$AilmentCondition. Each instance of #$Infection is an ailment condition in which microorganisms are abnormally present (or abnormally numerous) within an animal's body. The microorganisms involved in an infection may be instances of the collections #$Bacterium, #$Virus, or #$ProtistaKingdom. Specializations of #$Infection include #$Bronchitis, #$Tonsillitis, and #$SexuallyTransmittedInfection (which has further specializations).
> guid: c10c2f7f-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$PhysiologicalConditionType
> direct specialization of: #$AilmentCondition
> direct generalization of: #$FeverInfection #$ViralInfection #$FungalInfection #$BacterialInfection

#$infectionHost host (functional slot) **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> This predicate relates a particular case of #$Infection to the organism it is infecting. (#$infectionHost INF ORG) means that INF is an #$Infection in which the host organism is ORG.
> guid: c10c1543-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$ActorSlot #$FunctionalSlot
> direct specialization of: #$ailmentConditionAffects

#$infectionCausedByOrganism infecting organism **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> This predicate relates a particular instance of #$Infection to an organism which causes that infection. (#$infectionCausedByOrganism INFECT ORG) means that the organism ORG is one of the causes of the infection INFECT.
> guid: c10c146d-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$ActorSlot
> direct specialization of: #$preActors

#$InfectionTransmissionEvent infection transmission

> A specialization of #$InfectingEvent. Each instance of #$InfectionTransmissionEvent is an event in which some infection is transmitted from one host to another (where both the old and new hosts are instances of #$BiologicalLivingObject).
> guid: c0fd53e7-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$TemporalObjectType
> direct specialization of: #$InfectingEvent

#$carriesInfectionType carries infection type **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The predicate (#$carriesInfectionType OBJECT INFECT_TYPE) relates a particular organism or other object to a type of infection that it carries. (#$carriesInfectionType OBJ INFTYP) means that the individual OBJ is a carrier of the #$InfectionType INFTYP. For example, (#$carriesInfectionType TyphoidMary #$TyphoidFever) or (#$carriesInfectionType Needle0567 #$AIDS).
> guid: c0fd68e7-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$BinaryPredicate

#$InfectionType types of infection

> A collection of collections. Each instance of #$InfectionType is a specialization of #$Infection. Instances include #$BubonicPlague, #$Leprosy, and #$Herpes.
> guid: c0fd5f45-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$SecondOrderCollection
> direct specialization of: #$PhysiologicalConditionType
> direct generalization of: #$InfectionTypeBySymptomology #$InfectionTypeByPathogenType

#$AllergicReaction allergic reactions **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> A collection of dynamic, physiological states. An instance of #$AllergicReaction is an event in which an organism which is exposed to a particular substance (e.g., pollen, mold) develops some abnormality or impairment of its physiological condition as a result of interacting with the substance. Allergic reactions to some types of substances occur widely in members of a species; e.g., #$PoisonIvyPoisoning in humans. But other allergic reactions affect only a small proportion of a species, such as human allergies to penicillin. This concept is the collection of events in which allergic reactions are `taking place', not abstract unrealized potential situations such as `John is allergic to milk.' I.e., if John were allergic to milk, and he drank some, and then proceeded to have a whopping bad allergic reaction, that latter event would be an instance of #$AllergicReaction.
> guid: c0fd6b2f-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$PhysiologicalConditionType
> direct specialization of: #$AilmentCondition

#$IncurringAnInjury instances of incurring an injury **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> A collection of events. An instance of #$IncurringAnInjury is an event in which an animal becomes injured. In such events, the animal which is hurt is the #$bodilyActedOn in the event. The condition which results of an instance of #$IncurringAnInjury would be an instance of #$InjuryCondition (q.v.). Also see the comment on #$AilmentCondition.
> guid: bd58c658-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$DefaultDisjointScriptType
> direct specialization of: #$SingleDoerAction #$IncurringDamage #$AnimalActivity

#$PsychologicalAilment psychological disorders **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The collection of ailments that are classified as psychological due to their origin and/or manifestation in the mind of the sufferer rather than (or at least in addition to, and perhaps causing) manifestations in the sufferer's body. Having a brain tumor is not an instance of this collection, but imagining that you have one is an instance of #$PsychologicalAilment , and so is the deep case of depression you fall into once you believe (rightly or wrongly) that you have a brain tumor. Some subcollections of this collection are the collections #$Phobia, #$Depression-PsychologicalCondition, and #$PanicAttack.
> guid: c0fd5b68-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$PhysiologicalConditionType
> direct specialization of: #$AilmentCondition

### Medically Relevant Condition Types

#$CongenitalCondition congenital conditions

> A specialization of #$PhysiologicalCondition. Each instance of #$CongenitalCondition is a physiological condition that is present in an organism from the time of gestation (i.e. before birth). Instances of #$CongenitalCondition may be genetic conditions (see the specialization #$GeneticCondition) or they may be caused by the behavior of the mother during pregnancy (for example, as in a case of congenital heroin addiction).
> guid: c0fd5c28-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$PhysiologicalConditionType
> direct specialization of: #$PhysiologicalCondition
> direct generalization of: #$GeneticCondition

#$ChronicCondition chronic conditions **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> A collection of ailments. An instance of #$ChronicCondition is an ailment that lingers or recurs in an organism throughout its life. In some cases, the symptoms of a chronic condition may abate with treatment. The condition may never go away completely. #$Asthma is an example of a subcollection of #$ChronicCondition.
> guid: c0fd4e54-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$PhysiologicalConditionType
> direct specialization of: #$PhysiologicalCondition
> direct generalization of: #$GeneticCondition

#$GeneticCondition genetic conditions

> A specialization of #$PhysiologicalCondition. Each instance of #$GeneticCondition is an abnormal physiological condition which developed in a particular organism due to that organism's genetic configuration. Such conditions are not contagious as infections are, but they may be hereditary. Specializations of #$GeneticCondition include #$DownsSyndrome, #$Hemophilia, and #$SickleCellAnemia.
> guid: c0fd5d45-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$PhysiologicalConditionType
> direct specialization of: #$CongenitalCondition #$ChronicCondition

#$LifeThreateningCondition life-threatening conditions **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> A specialization of #$PhysiologicalCondition. Each instance of #$LifeThreateningCondition is an ailment which, if left untreated, may cause the death of the organism afflicted by it. Cases of #$Poisoning (q.v.) and of #$BacterialPneumonia (q.v.) are often instances of #$LifeThreateningCondition.
> guid: c0fd50b1-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$PhysiologicalConditionType
> direct specialization of: #$PhysiologicalCondition
> direct generalization of: #$TerminalPhysiologicalCondition

#$TerminalPhysiologicalCondition terminal conditions **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> A collection of ailments which are distinguished by the shared characteristic that if left untreated, those ailments will very probably cause a patient to die -- and may eventually do so despite treatment. Specializations of this collection include: #$DiabetesMellitus, #$Cancer, #$Botulism, and #$Rabies.
> guid: c0fd6503-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$PhysiologicalConditionType
> direct specialization of: #$LifeThreateningCondition
> direct generalization of: #$Cancer

### Medical Care Events

#$RecoveringFromAilment recoveries **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> A collection of events. In an instance of #$RecoveringFromAilment, some member of #$BiologicalLivingObject recovers from an #$AilmentCondition it has at the beginning of this recovery period.
> guid: c10c3620-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$TemporalObjectType
> direct specialization of: #$ImprovementEvent

#$MedicalTesting medical tests (medical care)

> A specialization of #$MedicalCareEvent and #$Evaluating. Each instance of #$MedicalTesting is a test done on a patient -- or, often, on a sample taken from the patient's body -- in order to gather information about the patient's general state of health, in order to help in making a diagnosis, or in order to determine or monitor the severity of a known condition of the patient. Instances of #$MedicalTesting include individual blood tests, as well as individual MRIs.
> guid: c0fd5389-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$TemporalObjectType
> direct specialization of: #$Evaluating #$MedicalCareEvent

#$MedicalCareEvent medical care

> A collection of events. Each instance of #$MedicalCareEvent is an event in which a medical care professional provides a medical service to some human or animal patient(s). Notable specializations of #$MedicalCareEvent include #$MedicalTesting, #$HospitalCareEvent, and #$Surgery.
> guid: bd638fc1-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$ProductByGenericType #$TemporalObjectType
> direct specialization of: #$ServiceEvent #$TakingCareOfSomething
> direct generalization of: #$DentalCareEvent #$BirthEvent #$MedicalTreatmentEvent #$MedicalTesting #$HospitalCareEvent #$Surgery

#$MedicalTreatmentEvent medical treatments **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> A collection of medical care events; i.e., a subcollection of #$MedicalCareEvent. In any instance of #$MedicalTreatmentEvent, the procedures performed by a medical professional are done to alleviate or ameliorate a #$PhysiologicalCondition. The set of treatments for a specific condition may be denoted using #$TreatmentFn (q.v.).
> guid: bd58ba4f-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$DefaultDisjointScriptType #$TemporalObjectType
> direct specialization of: #$MedicalCareEvent #$SimpleRepairing
> direct generalization of: #$DrugTherapy

#$TreatmentFn treatment fn **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> #$TreatmentFn is a #$CollectionDenotingFunction. (#$TreatmentFn PHYSIOLOGICALCONDITION) denotes the subcollection of #$MedicalTreatmentEvent whose instances are treatments of the PHYSIOLOGICALCONDITION. For a specific PHYSIOLOGICALCONDITION, the collection returned as the value of (#$TreatmentFn PHYSIOLOGICALCONDITION) may be a subcollection of some more general collection of medical procedures; e.g., standard processes of (#$TreatmentFn #$Depression-PsychologicalCondition) will also be instances of #$PsychologicalTherapy.
> guid: c0fdda78-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$ReifiableFunction #$CollectionDenotingFunction #$Individual

#$Surgery surgical operations

> A specialization of #$MedicalCareEvent. Each instance of #$Surgery is a medical care event in which a medical professional cuts a part of a living body, either to examine what's inside (a diagnostic, exploratory surgery) or to treat an ailment (an instance of #$MedicalTreatmentEvent). Instances of #$Surgery which are also instances of #$MedicalTreatmentEvent include: removal of some object - such as a cancer or an organ that's causing trouble - from the body; insertion of a medical device (e.g, a pacemaker) into the body; repair of some internal structure.
> guid: bd58b29c-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$ProductType #$DefaultDisjointScriptType #$TemporalObjectType
> direct specialization of: #$MedicalCareEvent

#$Anesthesia anesthesia **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> A collection of events; a subcollection of #$DrugTherapy (q.v.). In an instance of #$Anesthesia, a #$BiologicalLivingObject undergoes the effect of some instance of #$Anesthetic, the effect of which is to eliminate the perception of pain. #$Anesthesia events occur in connection with other medical care events, so that a patient will not feel the pain or discomfort that would otherwise be associated with those medical procedures. #$Anesthetics are of various chemical kinds, work in various ways, and can be administered in various ways. They may topically numb an area, they may poison the central nervous system to the point where the animal loses consciousness, etc. The resulting anesthetic therapies thus may differ, according to the type of anesthetic used; for example, the patient may or may not be conscious during an instance of #$Anesthesia. See also #$AdministeringADrug.
> guid: c0fd53a3-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$TemporalStuffType
> direct specialization of: #$DrugTherapy

#$DrugTherapy drug therapies **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> A collection of medical care events in which drugs accomplish a medical purpose. An instance of #$DrugTherapy is the result of an instance of #$AdministeringADrug (q.v.). An instance of #$DrugTherapy is the event of the patient's body undergoing the physiological effects of the drug it was given. Note: #$DrugTherapy events do not include the administration of the drug; rather, they are the results of such administrations. Cf. #$AdministeringADrug.
> guid: c0fd5e28-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$DefaultDisjointScriptType
> direct specialization of: #$MedicalTreatmentEvent
> direct generalization of: #$Anesthesia

#$DrugSubstance drugs

> A specialization of #$PartiallyTangible. Each instance of #$DrugSubstance is something that can be introduced into an organism's body to produce certain physiological effects. This collection includes naturally occuring substances, as well as manufactured substances (for the latter, see the specialization #$DrugProduct).
> guid: bfc1633e-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$ExistingStuffType
> direct specialization of: #$PartiallyTangible
> direct generalization of: #$DrugProduct

#$DrugProduct medicines

> A specialization of both #$Artifact and #$DrugSubstance. Each instance of #$DrugProduct is a drug substance manufactured by some agent. Instances of #$DrugProduct include drugs prescribed by a physician, drugs purchased as over-the-counter medicines, and drugs used for recreational purposes (so #$AlcoholicBeverage, #$Nicotine, and #$Caffeine are specializations).
> guid: bd58aef7-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$ProductType #$ExistingStuffType
> direct specialization of: #$Artifact-NonAgentive #$DrugSubstance #$Artifact #$ConsumableProduct
> direct generalization of: #$PrescriptionDrug

#$PharmacyProductType pharmacy products **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The collection of pharmaceutical product types, including drugs and pharmaceutical devices.
> guid: c0fdf171-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$SecondOrderCollection
> direct specialization of: #$ProductType

#$PrescriptionDrug prescription drugs **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The collection of drugs that require a doctor's permission before obtaining or consuming them.
> guid: bd58ae7c-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$ExistingStuffType #$PharmacyProductType
> direct specialization of: #$DrugProduct

#$DrugPrescription prescriptions (ibt) **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The legal document in which a doctor authorizes a patient to purchase a certain amount of a drug and take it according to some specified schedule.
> guid: c0fd5806-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType
> direct specialization of: #$OfficialDocument

#$Pharmacy pharmacies **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The collection of (local-level) organizations which sell mainly prescription drugs, but usually also carry non-prescription drugs and other medical supplies that might be needed by a family or individual. (i.e. not a supplier to hospitals). Sometimes these are free-standing stores, sometimes departments within other stores like drugstores and supermarkets.
> guid: c0fd4a67-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$ExistingObjectType
> direct specialization of: #$PharmaceuticalDispensingOrganization #$CommercialServiceOrganization #$SingleSiteLocalOrganizationWithClients

#$DrugTherapyUseFn drug therapy use fn **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> The collection of events in which instances of ARG1 are used to achieve a medical purpose. These events do not include the administration of the drug - they are the scripts which result from that administration.
> guid: c0fd5a29-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$CollectionDenotingFunction #$ReifiableFunction #$UnaryFunction #$Individual

#$HospitalCareEvent hospital stays **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> What happens when you are in the hospital being treated for a disease like Cancer or Hepatitis or AIDS, or recovering from Surgery. This is not just a #$MedicalCareEvent which happens in a hospital; it's the whole event meant by a hospital stay. Also see #$HospitalRoomStay which only represents the stay in the room.
> guid: bd58d724-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$DefaultDisjointScriptType #$TemporalObjectType
> direct specialization of: #$MedicalCareEvent

#$RadiationTherapy radiotherapies **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> Medical treatments in which parts of the body are irradiated. The common place this occurs is in the treatment of cancer.
> guid: bd58af26-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$DefaultDisjointScriptType
> direct specialization of: #$HospitalCareEvent

#$PhysicalTherapy physical therapy **COMMENT NOT REVIEWED** **GAFs NOT REVIEWED**

> A form of therapy primarily for the muscles and joints which involves movement and heat.
> guid: c0fd5a17-9c29-11b1-9dad-c379636f7270
> direct instance of: #$DefaultDisjointScriptType #$TemporalStuffType
> direct specialization of: #$MedicalTreatmentEvent

Copyright© 1996-2002. All rights reserved. See Terms of Usage.