Systemic
Systemic means affecting the entire body, rather than a single organ or body part.
For example, systemic disorders, such as high blood pressure, or systemic diseases, such as influenza (the flu), affect the entire body.
High blood pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleFlu
The flu (influenza) is a viral respiratory illness that causes fever, chills, runny nose, body aches, and cough. It spreads easily from person to pe...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleAn infection that is in the bloodstream is called a systemic infection.
An infection that affects only one body part or organ is called a localized infection.
References
Taber's Medical Dictionary Online website. www.tabers.com/tabersonline. Accessed March 15, 2023.
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Review Date: 2/2/2023
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.