Copy of `mondofacto - Online Medical Dictionary`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

mondofacto - Online Medical Dictionary Category: Health and Medicine > Medical Dictionary Date & country: 26/01/2008, UK Words: 116197

contraction band necrosis
Synonym for contraction band ... A microscopic change in myocardial cells in which excessive contraction, associated with elevated intracellular calcium and serum norepinephrine, causes the formation of transverse amorphous band's in the fibres which are then incapable of contracting again. ... Synonym: contraction band necrosis. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contraction stress test
A test used to evaluate foetal well-being by inducing contractions and analyzing the foetal heart rate response. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contraction, uterine
The tightening and shortening of the uterine muscles. During labour, contractions accomplish two things: (1) they cause the cervix to thin and dilate (open); and (2) they aid the baby to descend into the birth canal. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

contractual psychiatry
Psychiatric intervention voluntarily assumed by the patient, who is prompted by his personal difficulties or suffering and who retains control over his participation with the psychiatrist. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contractual psychotherapy
Psychotherapy based on a firm agreement, or 'contract,' between therapist and patient as to the role of each in the therapeutic situation. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contractural diathesis
A tendency to have contractures in hysteria. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contracture
<orthopaedics> A condition of fixed high resistance to passive stretch of a muscle, resulting from fibrosis of the tissues supporting the muscles or the joints or from disorders of the muscle fibres. ... Origin: L. Contractura ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

contracture deformity
Deformity of a limb without discernable primary changes of bone. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contrafissura
Fracture of a bone, as in the skull, at a point opposite that where the blow was received. ... Origin: L. Contra, against, counter, + fissura, fissure ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contraindicant
Indicating the contrary, i.e., showing that a method of treatment that would otherwise be proper is inadvisable by special circumstances in the individual case. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contraindication
Any condition, especially any condition of disease, which renders some particular line of treatment improper or undesirable. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

contralateral
<anatomy> Pertaining to the opposite side. ... (27 Sep 1997) ...

contralateral partner
The corresponding structure on the opposite side. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contralateral reflex
Synonym for Brudzinski's sign ... <clinical sign> A physical examination finding that can indicate inflammation of the meninges (meningitis), performed in two forms: passive flexion of one leg results in a similar movement on the opposite side or if the neck is passively flexed, flexion occurs in the legs. ... (27 Sep 1997) ...

contralateral sign
Synonym for Brudzinski's sign ... <clinical sign> A physical examination finding that can indicate inflammation of the meninges (meningitis), performed in two forms: passive flexion of one leg results in a similar movement on the opposite side or if the neck is passively flexed, flexion occurs in the legs. ... (27 Sep 1997) ...

contransformation
The incorporation of two or more linked genes on the same fragment of foreign DNA into the genome of a bacterium. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

contrapsin
<protein> Trypsin inhibitor (serpin) from rat. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

contrast
A dye injected intravenously during X-ray studies, for example CT, to enhance the image of a tumour. In MR studies, the contrast is called gadolinium. The use of contrast may rarely result in some adverse effects: it also increases the cost (but also accuracy in many cases) of the scan. ... (16 Dec 1997) ...

contrast agent
Synonym for contrast medium ... A substance that is introduced into or around a structure and, because of the difference in absorption of X-rays by the contrast medium and the surrounding tissues, allows radiographic visualisation of the structure. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

contrast bath
A bath in which a part is immersed in hot water for a period of a few minutes and then in cold, the hot and cold periods alternated regularly at intervals, usually half-hours; used to increase the blood flow to the part. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contrast echocardiography
The injection of contrast media of high echo reflectants (e.g., bubbles) to outline a chamber or delineate a shunt within the heart. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contrast enema
Enema using barium or another contrast medium. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contrast enhancement
The intravenous administration of water-soluble iodinated contrast material, which increases the CT number of the vascular pool, as well as some lesions (particularly in the brain), due to abnormal leakage into the interstitium; the property of showing increased radiopacity from concentration of contrast medium. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contrast material
Synonym for contrast medium ... A substance that is introduced into or around a structure and, because of the difference in absorption of X-rays by the contrast medium and the surrounding tissues, allows radiographic visualisation of the structure. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

contrast media
<radiology> Side-effects from high osmolality / viscosity (fluid shifts from different compartments), vasodilatation, heat, pain, osmotic diuresis, haemodynamic changes, pharmacokinetics, distribute volume into extracellular space, clearance by glomerular filtration and renal excretion, physiologic reaction, increased plasma osmolality causes …

contrast medium
A substance that is introduced into or around a structure and, because of the difference in absorption of X-rays by the contrast medium and the surrounding tissues, allows radiographic visualisation of the structure. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

contrast sensitivity
The ability to detect sharp boundaries (stimuli) and to detect slight changes in luminance at regions without distinct contours. Psychophysical measurements of this visual function are used to evaluate visual acuity and to detect eye disease. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

contrast stain
<technique> A dye used to colour one portion of a tissue or cell which remained unaffected when the other part was stained by a dye of different colour. ... Synonym: differential stain. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contrast transfer function
Synonym for modulation transfer function ... <microscopy> A mathematical function that expresses the ability of an optical or electronic device to transfer signals faithfully as a function of the spatial or temporal frequency of the signal. ... The modulation transfer function is the ratio of percentage modulation of a sinusoidal signal leaving …

contrastimulant
1. Annulling the effect of a stimulant. ... 2. An agent whose action opposes that of a stimulant. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contrasuppressor cells
A subpopulation of T-cells, distinct from T helper cells, which inhibit T suppressor cell function. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contrecoup
Denoting the manner of a contrafissura, as in the skull, at a point opposite that at which the blow was received. ... See: contrecoup injury of brain. ... Origin: Fr. Counter-blow ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contrecoup injury of brain
An injury occurring beneath the skull opposite to the area of impact. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

contrectation
1. Sexual foreplay prior to coition. ... 2. The impulse to caress or embrace one of the opposite sex. ... Origin: L. Con-trecto, pp. -trectatus, to handle ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

control
In research, control subjects or control procedures permit comparison with experimental results. The first controlled clinical research was probably done in 1875 by the British naval surgeon James Lind who, on board the HMS Salisbury, gave sailors with scurvy either oranges or lemons or cider or vinegar or nutmeg (or another treatment) and after ju …

control animal
In research, an animal submitted to the same conditions as the others used for the experiment, but with the crucial factor (such as the injection of antitoxin, the administration of a drug, etc.) omitted. ... See: control, control experiment. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

control arm
The group of participants in a clinical trial who receive standard treatment or a placebo, against which those receiving the experimental treatment are compared. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

control element
Generic term for a region of DNA, such as a promoter or enhancer adjacent to (or within) a gene that allows the regulation of gene expression by the binding of transcription factors. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

control experiment
An experiment used to check another, to verify the result, or to demonstrate what would have occurred had the factor under study been omitted. ... See: control, control animal. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

control gene
See: operator gene, regulator gene. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

control group
A group of subjects participating in the same experiment as another group of subjects, but which is not exposed to the variable under investigation. ... See: experimental group. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

control limit
A regulatory value applied to the airborne concentration in the workplace of a potentially poisonous substance which is judged to be reasonably practicable for the whole spectrum of work activities and which must not normally be exceeded. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

control plot
A plot in which no vegetation will be cut and natural succession will occur. A control plot serves as a baseline to compare other treatments (Early, Mid and Late Seral). ... (05 Dec 1998) ...

control release suture
Eyeless suture with thread attached to needle such that the two separate when tension is applied to the thread. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

control syringe
A type of Luer-Lok syringe with thumb and finger rings attached to the proximal end of the barrel and to the tip of the plunger, allowing operation of the syringe with one hand. ... Synonym: ring syringe. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

controlled hypotension
Deliberate acute reduction of arterial blood pressure to reduce operative blood loss by pharmacologic means during anaesthesia and surgery. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

controlled mechanical ventilation
Artificial ventilation in which all inspirations are provided by positive pressure applied to the airway. ... Synonym: continuous positive pressure breathing, continuous positive pressure ventilation, intermittent positive pressure breathing, intermittent positive pressure ventilation. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

controlled respiration
Synonym for controlled ventilation ... Intermittent application of mechanically or manually generated positive pressure to gas(es) in or about the airway as a means of forcing gases into the lungs in the absence of spontaneous ventilatory efforts. ... Synonym: controlled respiration. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

controlled substance
A substance subject to the Controlled Substances Act (1970), which regulates the prescribing and dispensing, as well as the manufacturing, storage, sale, or distribution of substance's assigned to five schedules according to their 1) potential for or evidence of abuse, 2) potential for psychic or physiologic dependence, 3) contributing a public hea …

controlled thermonuclear fusion
<radiobiology> The process in which light nuclei, heated to a high temperature in a confined region, undergo fusion reactions under controlled conditions, with associated release of energy which may be harnessed for useful purposes. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

controlled thermonuclear research
General label for research on controlled thermonuclear fusion reactions. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

controlled trial
A clinical study in which one group of participants receives an experimental drug while another group receives either a placebo or an approved standard therapy. When participants do not know which group they are in, the trial is blinded. ... See: Double-Blind. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

controlled ventilation
Intermittent application of mechanically or manually generated positive pressure to gas(es) in or about the airway as a means of forcing gases into the lungs in the absence of spontaneous ventilatory efforts. ... Synonym: controlled respiration. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

controlling element
A transposon which, when inserted into or removed from a gene, breaks the chromosome and/or causes mutations. ... (09 Oct 1997) ...

contusion
<dermatology> A bruise, an injury of a part without a break in the skin. ... Origin: L. Contusio, from contundere = to bruise ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

contusion pneumonia
Inflammation of the lungs following a severe blow on or compression of the chest, or following a wound of the lung itself. ... Synonym: traumatic pneumonia. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

conular
Cone-shaped. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

conus
A genus of shellfish that inhabits the shores of some South Pacific islands. Several species, Conus geographus, Conus textilis, Conus aulicus, Conus tulipa, and Conus marmoreus are poisonous, their sting or spine causing acute pain, oedema, numbness, spreading paralysis, and sometimes coma and death. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

conus arteriosus
The left or anterosuperior, smooth-walled portion of the cavity of the right ventricle of the heart, which begins at the supraventricular crest and terminates in the pulmonary trunk. ... Synonym: arterial cone, pulmonary cone, pulmonary conus. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

conus elasticus
Thicker lower portion of the elastic membrane of the larynx, extending between the cricoid cartilage and the vocal ligaments, the latter actually being a thickening of the free, superior margin of the conus elasticus. ... Synonym: cricovocal membrane, elastic cone. ... Synonym: cricothyroid ligament. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

conus medullaris
Synonym for medullary cone ... The tapering lower extremity of the spinal cord. ... Synonym: conus medullaris. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convalescence
The stage of recovery following an attack of disease, a surgical operation or an injury. ... Origin: L. Convalescere = to become strong ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

convalescent
1. Getting well or one who is getting well. ... 2. Denoting the period of convalescence. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convalescent carrier
An individual who is clinically recovered from an infectious disease but is still capable of transmitting the infectious agent to others. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convalescent serum
Serum from patients recently recovered from a disease; useful in preventing or modifying by passive immunization the same disease in exposed susceptible individuals. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convallaria
The flower, rhizome, and roots of Convallaria majalis (family Liliaceae), lily of the valley; they contain glycosides with digitalis-like action (e.g., convallatoxin). ... Origin: L. Convallis, an enclosed valley ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convection
Transmission of energy or mass by a medium involving movement of the medium itself. The circulatory movement that occurs in a fluid at a nonuniform temperature owing to the variation of its density and the action of gravity. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

convective heat
Heat conveyed by a warm medium, such as air or water, in motion from its source. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convenience form
The changes needed outside the basic outline form to enable proper instrumentation for the cavity preparation and insertion of a dental restoration. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

conventional
Following what is traditional or customary. ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

conventional animal
An animal colonised by the burden of resident microorganisms normally associated with its particular species. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

conventional forest products
Any commercial roundwood product (boards, dimension lumber, pulp and paper products) except fuelwood. ... (05 Dec 1998) ...

conventional signs
Sign's that acquire their function through social (linguistic) custom; e.g., words, mathematical symbols. ... See: symbol. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

conventional tomography
Synonym for tomography ... <procedure, radiology> The recording of internal body images at a predetermined plane by means of the tomograph, also called body section roentgenography. ... Origin: Gr. Graphein = to write ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

convergence
<microscopy> In colour video cameras and monitors, the precise alignment of the images or pictures in the three primary colours (red, green and blue). A lack of convergence gives rise to asymmetrically coloured fringes. ... (05 Aug 1998) ...

convergence excess
That condition in which an oesophoria or esotropia is greater for near vision than for far vision. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convergence insufficiency
That condition in which an oesophoria or esotropia is more marked for far vision than for near vision. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convergence nucleus of Perlia
Synonym for Perlia's nucleus ... A small cell group located between the somatic cell columns of the oculomotor nuclei. Since it is placed between the groups of motor neurons innervating, respectively, the left and right medial rectus muscles, the nucleus is considered to possibly represent an integrating mechanism for ocular convergence. ... Synonym: …

convergence-retraction nystagmus
Irregular, jerky nystagmus combining convergence and retraction of the eye into the orbit, especially on attempting an upward gaze. ... Synonym: Koerber-Salus-Elschnig syndrome. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convergence, ocular
The turning inward of the lines of sight toward each other. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

convergent
Tending toward a common point. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convergent evolution
The process where two unrelated structures in unrelated organisms evolve to perform similar functions. (The structures are called analogous structures.) For example: the wings of bats, birds, and insects evolved separately from each other but all are used to perform the function of flying. For another example: the complex eyes of vertebrates, cepha …

convergent squint
Synonym for esotropia ... Cross-eyed. ... (27 Sep 1997) ...

convergent strabismus
Synonym for esotropia ... Cross-eyed. ... (27 Sep 1997) ...

converging meniscus
A convexoconcave lens in which the power of the convexity exceeds that of the concavity. ... Synonym: positive meniscus. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

conversion
An unconscious defense mechanism by which the anxiety that stems from intrapsychic conflict is converted and expressed in a symbolic somatic. ... Origin: L. Con = with, versio = turning ... (18 Nov 1997) ...

conversion disorder
A disorder whose predominant feature is a loss or alteration in physical functioning that suggests a physical disorder but that is actually a direct expression of a psychological conflict or need. ... (12 Dec 1998) ...

conversion electron
An internal conversion electron. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

conversion hysteria
Hysteria characterised by the substitution, through psychic transformation, of physical signs or symptoms for anxiety; generally restricted to such major symptoms as blindness, deafness, and paralysis, or lesser ones such as blurred vision and numbness. ... Synonym: conversion hysteria neurosis, conversion neurosis, conversion reaction. ... (05 Mar 2 …

conversion hysteria neurosis
Synonym for conversion hysteria ... Hysteria characterised by the substitution, through psychic transformation, of physical signs or symptoms for anxiety; generally restricted to such major symptoms as blindness, deafness, and paralysis, or lesser ones such as blurred vision and numbness. ... Synonym: conversion hysteria neurosis, conversion neurosis …

conversion neurosis
Synonym for conversion hysteria ... Hysteria characterised by the substitution, through psychic transformation, of physical signs or symptoms for anxiety; generally restricted to such major symptoms as blindness, deafness, and paralysis, or lesser ones such as blurred vision and numbness. ... Synonym: conversion hysteria neurosis, conversion neurosis …

conversion reaction
A conversion of emotional stress or mental disturbance into a physical symptom. ... Examples include paralysis, blindness, inability to speak or another sudden debilitating problem for no reason evident through testing. ... (27 Sep 1997) ...

convertase
Proteases of complement that convert one component into another. ... See: component of complement. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convertin
Active form of factor VII designated VIIa. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convex
Applied to a surface that is evenly curved outward, the segment of a sphere. ... Origin: L. Convexus, vaulted, arched, convex, fr. Con-veho, to bring together ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convex lens
A converging lens. ... Synonym: plus lens. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convex mirror
A spherical reflecting surface that constitutes a segment of the exterior of a sphere. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convexity
1. The state of being convex. ... 2. A convex structure. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convexobasia
Forward bending of the occipital bone. ... Origin: L. Convexus, outwardly curved, + basis, foundation ... (05 Mar 2000) ...

convexoconcave
Convex on one surface and concave on the opposite surface. ... (05 Mar 2000) ...