Copy of `Dorland's 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 The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

Dorland's Medical Dictionary Category: Health and Medicine > Medical Dictionary Date & country: 31/12/2010, USA Words: 39128

floating ribs
the two lower false ribs on either side, usually without ventral attachment.

floating spleen
one displaced and abnormally movable.

floating tooth sign
on radiographic examination of the mandible, erosion of the bony alveoli around the teeth so that they seem to be floating in space; it occurs in some forms of histiocytosis X.

floccillation
(flok″sĭ-la´shәn) carphology; involuntary picking at the bedclothes, seen in grave fevers and in conditions of great exhaustion.

floccose
(flok´ōs) wooly; said of bacterial growth composed of short, curved chains variously oriented.

flocculation
(flok″u-la´shәn) the formation of a precipitate or agglomerate in the form of downy tufts or floccules.

flocculation test
any serologic test in which flocculation takes place; usually applied to a variant form of the precipitin reaction.

flocculent
(flok´u-lәnt) containing downy or flaky shreds.

flocculonodular lobe
one of the main subdivisions of the cerebellum, located inferiorly, consisting of the paired flocculi, their peduncles, and the nodule of the vermis.

flocculus
(flok´u-lәs) pl. floc´culi a small tuft, as of wool or similar material, or small mass of other fibrous material such as one of the flakes of a flocculent solution. one of the small paired, partially detached lateral lobules continuous with the nodule of the cerebellum, separated from each cerebellar ...

flooding
(flud´ing) in behavior therapy, a form of desensitization for the treatment of phobias and related disorders in which the patient is repeatedly exposed to highly distressing stimuli without being able to escape but without danger, until the lack of reinforcement of the anxiety response causes its extinction. In ge...

floor
(flor) the inferior inner surface of a hollow organ or other space. floor of pelvis the layer of tissue just below the outlet of the pelvis, formed by the coccygeal and levator ani muscles and the fascia of the perineum.

floor plate
the unpaired ventral longitudinal zone of the neural tube; called also ventral plate.

floppy infant syndrome
abnormal posture in an infant suspended in the prone position, the limbs and head hanging limply. It may be due to any of numerous conditions, including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junction, muscles, or ligaments, and only sometimes is characterized by true limb weakness; the most...

floppy valve syndrome
mitral valve prolapse syndrome.

flora
(flor´ә) the collective plant organisms of a given locality. enteric flora , gut flora , intestinal flora the bacteria that normally inhabit the interior of the intestine, belonging mainly to the phyla Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes; some aid in diges...

florid osseous dysplasia
an exuberant form of periapical cemental dysplasia that resembles diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis but differs in being a dysplastic rather than inflammatory process: cysts are present and there is no inflammatory cell infiltrate. Patients are generally asymptomatic.

flotation bed
a mattress filled with water or air for prevention of pressure ulcers. See also water bed.

flow
(flo) the movement of a liquid or gas. the amount of a fluid that passes through an organ or part in a specified time; called also flow rate.

flow murmur
hemic murmur.

flow rate
flow (def. 2).

flow study
uroflowmetry.

flow tracts of the heart
the paths of the blood within the chambers of the heart. In the left flow tract, oxygenated blood from the pulmonary circulation enters the left atrium through the pulmonary veins, flows through the mitral valve into the left ventricle, and passes out through the aortic valve into the aorta and systemic circulation. In the right flow...

flowmeter
(flo´me-tәr) an apparatus for measuring the rate of flow of liquids or gases. ultrasonic flowmeter ultrasound flowmeter. ultrasound flowmeter any of various types of flowmeters that use ultrasound techniques to measure blood flow, such as the Doppler ...

floxuridine
(floks-ūr´ĭ-dēn) an antimetabolite, derived from fluorouracil and used as an antineoplastic agent by intra-arterial administration for treatment of liver metastases from gastrointestinal malignancies.

flu
(floo) popular name for influenza. intestinal flu popular term for any of several disorders of the stomach and intestinal tract; symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. During the acute stage all foods should be avoided, although carbonated soft drinks can...

fluconazole
(floo-kon´ә-zōl) a triazoleantifungal agent used in the systemic treatment of candidiasis and cryptococcal meningitis.

fluctuation
(fluk″choo-a´shәn) a variation, as about a fixed variation or mass; a wavelike motion.

flucytosine
(floo-si´to-sēn″) an antifungal agent used in the treatment of severe candidal and cryptococcal infections.

Fludara
(floo-dar´ә) trademark for a preparation of fludarabine phosphate, an antineoplastic agent.

fludarabine
(floo-dar´ә-bēn) an adenine analogue and purineantimetabolite that inhibits DNA synthesis; administered intravenously as the phosphate salt as an antineoplastic agent in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

fludeoxyglucose F 18
(floo″de-ok″se-gloo´kōs) radiolabeled 2-deoxy-D-glucose; used in positron emission tomography in the diagnosis of brain disorders, cardiac disease, and tumors of various organs.

fludrocortisone
(floo″dro-kor´tĭ-sōn) a synthetic steroid with potent mineralocorticoid and high glucocorticoid activity, used as the acetate salt in replacement therapy for primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency in Addison disease and for the treatment of salt-losing syndrome and adrenogenital syndrome.

fluent aphasia
that in which speech is well articulated (usually 200 or more words per minute) and grammatically correct but is lacking in content and meaning.

fluid
(floo´id) a liquid or gas; any liquid of the body. composed of molecules that freely change their relative positions without separation of the mass.

fluid balance
a state in which the volume of body water and its solutes is within normal limits and there is normal distribution of fluids within the intracellular and extracellular compartments. The total weight of body fluids should be about 60 per cent of the body weight, and it should be distributed so that one third is extracellular fluid and...

fluid volume
the volume of the body fluids, including both intracellular fluid and extracellular fluid.

fluid volume imbalance
abnormally decreased or increased fluid volume or rapid shift from one compartment of body fluid to another.

fluid-filled catheter
an intravascular catheter connected by a saline-filled tube to an external pressure transducer; used to measure intravascular pressure.

fluidextract
(floo″id-ek´strakt) a liquid preparation of a vegetable drug, containing alcohol as a solvent or preservative, or both, of such strength that each milliliter contains the therapeutic constituents of 1 g of the standard drug it represents.

fluidized air bed
a type of flotation bed in which a gentle flow of temperature-controlled air is projected upward through numerous tiny openings called ceramic microspheres. Called also Clinitron bed.

fluke
(flldbomack) an organism of the class Trematoda, characterized by a body that is usually flat and often leaflike; flukes can infect the blood, liver, intestines, and lungs. Called also trematode. blood fluke a member of genus Schistosoma. intestinal fluke ...

flumazenil
(floo´ma-zә-nil″) a benzodiazepine agonist that competitively binds to receptor sites in the central nervous system; used to reverse the effects of benzodiazepines after sedation, general anesthesia, or overdose.

flumen
(floo´mәn) pl. flu´mina Latin word meaning a stream. flumina pilorum hair streams.

flunisolide
(floo-nis´o-līd″) a steroid antiinflammatory agent administered as an aerosol spray for treatment of bronchial asthma and seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis when conventional treatment is unsatisfactory.

fluocinolone
(floo″ә-sin´ә-lōn) a synthetic corticosteroid used topically as f. acetonide for the relief of inflammation and pruritus in certain dermatoses.

fluocinonide
(floo″ә-sin´ә-nīd) a synthetic corticosteroid used topically for the relief of inflammation and pruritus in certain dermatoses.

fluorescein
(fldbobr-res´ēn) a fluorescing dye; the sodium salt is used as a contrast medium in retinal angiography and as a diagnostic aid for revealing corneal lesions and fitting contact lenses.

fluorescein dilaurate test
pancreolauryl test.

fluorescence
(fldbobr-res´әns) the property of emitting light while exposed to light, the wavelength of the emitted light being longer than that of the absorbed light. fluorescence microscopy the use of a fluorescence microscope to identify microorganisms or specific tissue constituents th...

fluorescence microscope
one used to examine specimens stained with fluorochromes or fluorochrome complexes, such as a fluorescein-labeled antibody, which fluoresces in ultraviolet light.

fluorescent
(fldbobr-res´әnt) pertaining to or characterized by fluorescence.

fluorescent antibody test
a test for the distribution of cells expressing a specific protein by binding antibody specific for the protein and detecting complexes by fluorescent labeling of the antibody. Called also FAB test.

fluoridation
(floor″ĭ-da´shәn) treatment with fluorides such as the addition of them to community drinking water as a measure to reduce the incidence of dental caries (tooth decay). Minute traces of fluoride are found in almost all food, but the quantity apparently is too small to meet the requirements of the body in buil...

fluoride
(floor´īd) any binary compound of fluorine. systemic fluoride a fluoride ingested in water, supplements, or some other form. See also fluoridation. topical fluoride a fluoride applied directly to the teeth, especially of children, in a dental caries pr...

fluoride poisoning
a toxic condition that sometimes occurs with ingestion of excessive fluoride. Acute fluoride poisoning involves an immediate physiological reaction, with nausea, vomiting, hypersalivation, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Chronic fluoride poisoning is a physiological reaction to long term exposure to high levels of fluoride and is chara...

fluorimeter
(fldbobr-rim´ә-tәr) fluorometer.

fluorimetry
(fldbobr-rim´ә-tre) fluorometry.

fluorine
(F) (floor´ēn) a chemical element, atomic number 9, atomic weight 18.998. fluorine 18 a radioactive isotope of fluorine, atomic mass 18, having a half-life of 1.8925 hours; it has been used as a tracer in positron emission tomography.

fluorocarbon
(floor´o-kahr″bәn) any of the class of organic compounds consisting of carbon and fluorine only; fluorocarbons are analogous to hydrocarbons but with the hydrogen atoms replaced by fluorine. Fluorocarbon emulsions dissolve oxygen and carbon dioxide and can be used in place of red blood cell preparations in the pre...

fluorochrome
(floor´o-krōm) a fluorescent compound, as a dye, used to mark protein with a fluorescent label.

fluorodopa F 18
(floor″o-do´pә) a radiolabeled compound of fluorine and levodopa, used for positron emission tomography of the cerebrum.

fluorography
(fldbobr-rog´rә-fe) photofluorography.

fluorometer
(fldbobr-rom´ә-tәr) the instrument used in fluorometry, consisting of an energy source to induce fluorescence (such as a mercury arc lamp or xenon lamp), filters or monochromators for selection of the wavelength, and a detector.

fluorometholone
(floor″o-meth´ә-lōn) a synthetic glucocorticoid used topically for treatment of allergic and inflammatory conditions of the eye.

fluorometry
(fldbobr-rom´ә-tre) an analytical technique for identifying and characterizing minute amounts of a substance by excitation of the substance with a beam of ultraviolet light and detection and measurement of the characteristic wavelength of the fluorescent light emitted.

fluorophotometry
(floor″o-fo-tom´ә-tre) fluorometry. vitreous fluorophotometry the measurement of light given off by intravenously injected fluorescein that has leaked through the retinal vessels into the vitreous; done to detect the breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier, an early oc...

fluoroquinolone
(floor″o-kwin´o-lōn) any of a subgroup of quinolones that have a broader spectrum of activity than quinolones such as nalidixic acid.

fluororadiography
(floor″o-ra″de-og´rә-fe) photofluorography.

fluoroscope
(floor´o-skōp) an instrument for visual observation of the body by means of x-rays. The patient is put into position with the part to be viewed placed between an x-ray tube and a fluorescent screen. X-rays from the tube pass through the body and project the bones and organs as images on the screen. The advantage of...

fluoroscopy
(fldbobr-ros´kә-pe) examination by means of the fluoroscope.

fluorosis
(fldbobr-ro´sis) a condition due to ingestion of excessive amounts of fluorine or its compounds; see fluoride poisoning. chronic endemic fluorosis that due to unusually high concentrations of fluoride, usually in the natural drinking water supply, typically causing dental fluoros...

fluorouracil
(floor″o-ūr´ә-sil″) a uracil analogue that interferes with DNA synthesis; used intrvenously as an antimetaboliteantineoplastic agent for palliative treatment of carcinomas of the breast and gastrointestinal tract; also used topically for treatment of actinic keratoses and superficial basal cell carcinom...

Fluosol
(floo´o-sol) trademark for a type of inert substance with a high oxygen-carrying capacity that can be transfused for the temporary carrying of oxygen in the blood.

Fluothane
(floo´o-thān) trademark for a preparation of halothane, a general anesthetic.

fluoxetine
(floo-ok´sә-tēn) a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor administered orally as the hydrochloride salt as an antidepressant and in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

fluoxymesterone
(floo-ok″se-mes´tәr-ōn) an androgen used in the treatment of male hypogonadism and delayed male puberty and in palliation of metastatic breast carcinoma in postmenopausal women; administered orally.

fluphenazine
(floo-fen´ә-zēn) a phenothiazineantipsychotic agent, used as the decanoate ester, enanthate ester, and hydrochloride salt.

flurandrenolide
(floor″әn-dren´ә-līd) a synthetic corticosteroid used topically for relief of inflammation and pruritus in dermatoses.

flurazepam
(floor-az´ĕ-pam) a benzodiazepine used as a sedative and hypnotic for treatment of insomnia; administered orally as the hydrochloride salt.

flurbiprofen
(floor-bi´pro-fen) a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, administered orally in the treatment of arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, bursitis, tendinitis, soft tissue injuries, and dysmenorrhea. The sodium salt is applied topically to the conjunctiva to inhibit miosis during and inflammation following ophthalmic surgery.

flush
(flush) transient episodic redness of the face and neck; it occurs normally with physical exertion, heat, and certain emotional factors, and pathologically with some diseases or after ingestion of certain drugs or other substances. the rapid delivery of a bolus of solution through an intravenous line or ca...

flutamide
(floo´tә-mīd) a nonsteroidal antiandrogen administered orally in the treatment of advanced or metastatic prostatic carcinoma.

fluticasone
(floo-tik´ә-sōn″) a steroid antiinflammatory agent, used as the propionate salt topically in treatment of itching or inflammation, intranasally for allergic rhinitis and other inflammatory nasal conditions, and nasal polyps, and by inhalation in treatment of asthma.

flutter
(flut´әr) a rapid vibration or pulsation.

flutter waves
F waves (def. 1).

flutter-fibrillation
(flut´әr-fib″rĭ-la´shәn) a supraventricular arrhythmia whose pattern on the electrocardiogram resembles both atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation.

fluvastatin
(floo´vә-stat″in) an inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis used as the sodium salt in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and to slow the progression of atherosclerosis associated with ischemic heart disease.

fluvoxamine
(floo-vok´sә-mēn) a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, used as the maleate salt to relieve the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder; administered orally.

flux
(fluks) an excessive flow or discharge. the rate of the flow of some quantity (or magnetic field) per unit area. magnetic flux(Φ) a quantitative measure of a magnetic field.

fly
(fli) any of a large group of dipterous (two-winged) insects; many species are vectors of organisms causing disease. deer fly Chrysops discalis. tsetse fly , tzetze fly a fly of the genus Glossina, the transmitter of trypanosomiasis.

flying squirrel typhus
a type seen in the southeastern United States, resembling epidemic typhus but not as often fatal. It usually occurs in the winter and is caused by Rickettsia prowazekii, being transmitted to humans by fleas and lice that normally infest flying squirrels.

Flynn-Aird syndrome
(flin´ ārd´) a rare autosomal dominant syndrome with abnormalities of the nervous system and ectodermal structures, including cataracts, retinitis pigmentosa, myopia, dental caries, skin atrophy and ulceration, peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, deafness, and cystic bone changes.

Fm
fermium.

FMN
flavin mononucleotide.

FNH
focal nodular hyperplasia.

foam
(fōm) a dispersion of a gas in a liquid or solid, such as whipped cream or foam rubber. frothy saliva, produced particularly on exertion or pathologically. to produce, or cause to produce, froth.

foam cell
a cell with a fluid-filled appearance owing to the presence of complex lipids, such as a type of macrophage seen in xanthoma.

focal
(fo´kәl) pertaining to or having a focus.

focal disease
a localized disease.