Medical Glossary F

Fallopian tubes (fa-LO-pee-in): Tubes on each side of the uterus through which an egg moves from the ovaries to the uterus.

Familial polyposis (pol-i-PO-sis): An inherited condition in which several hundred polyps develop in the colon and rectum.

Fecal occult blood test (FEE-kul o-KULT): A test to check for hidden blood in stool. (Fecal refers to stool. Occult means hidden.)

Fertility (fer-TIL-i-tee): The ability to produce children.

Fetus (FEET-us): The unborn child developing in the uterus.

Fiber: The parts of fruits and vegetables that cannot be digested. Also called bulk or roughage.

Fibroid (FY-broid): A benign uterine tumor made up of fibrous and muscular tissue.

Fibrosarcoma: A type of soft tissue sarcoma that begins in fibrous tissue, which holds bones, muscles, and other organs in place.

Fluoroscope (FLOOR-o-skope): An x-ray machine that makes it possible to see internal organs in motion.

Fluoroscopy (Floor-OS-ko-pee): An x-ray procedure that makes it possible to see internal organs in motion

Fluorouracil (floo-ro-YOOR-a-sil): An anticancer drug. Its chemical name is 5-fluorouracil, commonly called 5-FU.

Follicles (FAHL-ih-kuls): Shafts through which hair grows.

Fractionation: Dividing the total dose of radiation therapy into several smaller, equal doses delivered over a period of several days.

Fulguration (ful-gyoor-AY-shun): Destroying tissue using an electric current.