Skip to main content
← Back to Neonatology

Neonatology Glossary

100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026

late-onset sepsis LOS

Intermediate Technical IVT

Bacterial bloodstream infection occurring after 72 hours of life, typically acquired from the hospital environment and commonly associated with invasive devices.

Showing 73–96 of 100

phenylketonuria

Professional Technical IVT

Inherited metabolic disorder characterized by inability to process the amino acid phenylalanine, detected through newbor...

PKU
Technical Term Full entry →

phototherapy

Intermediate Technical IVT

Light therapy treatment for neonatal jaundice using specific wavelengths to break down excess bilirubin.

Technical Term Full entry →

PICC line

Intermediate Technical IVT

Peripherally inserted central catheter used for long-term vascular access in neonates requiring extended intravenous the...

Abbreviation Full entry →

pneumothorax

Intermediate Technical IVT

Accumulation of air in the pleural space causing lung collapse, particularly common in ventilated preterm infants.

Technical Term Full entry →

polycythemia

Intermediate Technical IVT

Abnormally high red blood cell concentration causing blood viscosity increase.

Technical Term Full entry →

positive end-expiratory pressure

Professional Technical IVT

Pressure maintained in airways at end-expiration to prevent alveolar collapse.

Technical Term Full entry →

post-term infant

Intermediate Technical IVT

Newborn delivered at or after 42 weeks 0 days (294 days) of completed gestational age, associated with increased perinat...

Classification Full entry →

postmenstrual age

Intermediate Technical IVT

Gestational age plus chronological age, used to track development in premature infants.

Technical Term Full entry →

respiratory distress syndrome

Intermediate Technical IVT

Breathing disorder in premature infants caused by insufficient surfactant production in immature lungs.

Technical Term Full entry →

retinopathy of prematurity

Advanced Technical IVT

An eye disease affecting premature infants characterized by abnormal blood vessel development in the retina.

ROP
Technical Term Full entry →

sepsis workup

Intermediate Technical IVT

Diagnostic evaluation to identify or rule out bacterial infection in newborns.

Technical Term Full entry →

SGA

Intermediate Technical IVT

Small for gestational age, describing infants whose birth weight falls below the 10th percentile for their gestational a...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Silverman-Anderson score

Professional Technical IVT

Clinical scoring system used to assess respiratory distress severity in newborns based on physical examination findings.

Technical Term Full entry →

small for gestational age

Intermediate Technical IVT

Classification for newborns whose weight falls below the 10th percentile for their gestational age.

SGA
Technical Term Full entry →

surfactant

Intermediate Technical IVT

A substance produced by the lungs that reduces surface tension in the alveoli, preventing lung collapse.

Technical Term Full entry →

Ventilation mode delivering mandatory breaths synchronized with patient's respiratory effort.

Technical Term Full entry →

thermoregulation

Intermediate Technical IVT

The physiological process by which newborns maintain normal body temperature.

Technical Term Full entry →

tocolysis

Professional Technical IVT

Medical intervention to stop or slow preterm labor contractions.

Technical Term Full entry →

tocolytic

Professional Technical IVT

Medication used to suppress uterine contractions and delay preterm labor to allow for maternal transport or fetal matura...

Technical Term Full entry →

TORCH screen

Intermediate Technical IVT

Panel of laboratory tests to detect maternal infections that can cause congenital abnormalities or perinatal complicatio...

Diagnostic Test Full entry →

Self-limiting respiratory condition in newborns caused by delayed clearance of fetal lung fluid, typically resolving wit...

Technical Term Full entry →

transillumination

Intermediate Technical IVT

Diagnostic technique using bright light to detect air collections or fluid in body cavities, commonly used to diagnose p...

Technical Term Full entry →

transition period

Intermediate Technical IVT

Critical first hours after birth when newborns adapt from intrauterine to extrauterine life.

Technical Term Full entry →

TTN

Intermediate Technical IVT

Transient tachypnea of the newborn, a temporary breathing condition caused by delayed fluid clearance from fetal lungs.

Abbreviation Full entry →
Showing 73–96 of 100

Editors from these organisations have used our services since 1998

Reuters BBC Oxford University Press Penguin Random House Springer Microsoft Suncor Energy United Nations Fisher Investments IBM The Home Depot KODAK CHEVRON