Copy of `Dorland's Medical Dictionary`

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

ligament of Botallo
a strong thick fibromuscular cord extending from the pulmonary artery to the aortic arch; it is the remains of the ductus arteriosus.

ligamenta
(lig″ә-men´tә) plural of ligamentum.

ligamenta flava
(lig″ә-men´tә fla´vә) yellow ligaments: a series of bands of yellow elastic tissue attached to and extending between the anterior portions of the laminae of two adjacent vertebrae, from the axis to the sacrum. They assist in maintaining or regaining the erect (upright) position and serve to...

ligamentopexy
(lig″ә-men″to-pek´se) fixation of the uterus by shortening the round ligament.

ligamentous
(lig″ә-men´tәs) pertaining to or of the nature of a ligament.

ligamentum
(lig″ә-men´tәm) Latin word meaning ligament; a term used in anatomy.

ligand
(li´gand) (lig´әnd) an organic molecule that donates the necessary electrons to form coordinate covalent bonds with metallic ions. Also, an ion or molecule that reacts to form a complex with another molecule.

ligand-gated channel
an ion channel that opens in response to the binding of a molecule (the ligand) to the protein, which causes a conformational change in the protein molecule. See also voltage-gated channel.

ligase
(li´gās) any of a class of enzymes that catalyze the joining together of two molecules coupled with the breakdown of a pyrophosphate bond in ATP or a similar triphosphate. DNA ligase either of two enzymes that join two double-helical molecules of DNA together to make a longer D...

ligate
(li´gāt) to apply a ligature.

ligation
(li-ga´shәn) application of a ligature. Barron ligation , rubber band ligation surgical treatment of hemorrhoids by binding them with rubber bands so that the ligated portion sloughs away after several days. tubal ligation sterilizati...

ligature
(lig´ә-chәr) any material, such as a thread or wire, used in surgery to tie off blood vessels to prevent bleeding, or to treat abnormalities in other parts of the body by constricting the tissues; see also strangulation.

ligature needle
a long-handled, slender steel needle having an eye in its curved end, used for passing a ligature underneath an artery.

light
(līt) electromagnetic radiation with a range of wavelength between 390 (violet) and 770 (red) nanometers, capable of stimulating the subjective sensation of sight. It is sometimes considered to include ultraviolet and infrared radiation as well.

light adaptation
adaptation of the eye to vision in the sunlight or in bright illumination (photopia), with reduction in the concentration of the photosensitive pigments of the eye.

light cells
parafollicular cells.

light chain deposition disease
abnormal deposition of light chains in multiple organs; the most prominent symptoms are caused by glomerular deposition, which causes renal insufficiency, proteinuria, and the nephrotic syndrome. In some patients it is associated with multiple myeloma or lymphoproliferative disorders.

light chain nephropathy
nephropathy caused by deposition of abnormal light chains (usually kappa chains but sometimes lambda chains) in renal basement membranes, often with glomerulosclerosis; it may be associated with a plasma cell dyscrasia such as multiple myeloma (see myeloma kidney.

light fibers
muscle fibers poor in sarcoplasm and more transparent than dark fibers.

light microscope
one in which the specimen is viewed under ordinary illumination.

light mineral oil
light white mineral oil a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons obtained from petrolatum, with a specific gravity of 0.818–0.880; used similarly to mineral oil. Called also light liquid paraffin and light liquid petrolatum.

light reflex
constriction of the pupil when a light is shone into the same (direct light reflex) or the opposite eye (indirect or consensual light reflex). a luminous image reflected when light strikes the normal tympanic membrane.

light sense
the faculty by which degrees of brilliancy are distinguished.

light therapy
phototherapy (def. 1). photodynamic therapy.

light waves
the electromagnetic waves that produce sensations on the retina; see also vision.

Lightcast
(līt´kast) trademark for a fiberglass bandage that is used instead of a plaster cast. Lightcasts harden very quickly, weigh significantly less than plaster casts, and are water resistant.

lightening
(līt´әn-ing) the sensation of decreased abdominal distention caused by descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity, 2 or 3 weeks before labor begins.

Lightwood syndrome
(līt´wood) a transient, nonhereditary type of distal renal tubular acidosis seen in infant boys.

Lignac syndrome
(le-nyahk´) Lignac-Fanconi syndrome (le-nyahk´ fahn-ko´ne) Fanconi syndrome. (def. 2). cystinosis.

Lignac-Fanconi disease
(lēn-yak´ fan-ko´ne) Fanconi syndrome.

lignoceric acid
(lig″no-sēr´ik) a saturated fatty acid found in wood tar, various cerebrosides, and in small amounts in most natural fats.

likelihood ratio test
in statistics, a test using the ratio of the maximum value of the likelihood function from one statistical model to that from another model, a smaller ratio indicating a stronger relationship between the variables.

limb
(lim) one of the paired appendages of the body used in locomotion and grasping; see arm and leg. Called also member, membrum, and extremity. a structure or part resembling an arm or leg.

limb bud
one of the four lateral swellings appearing in vertebrate embryos, which develop into the two pairs of limbs.

limb lead
an array in which any registering electrodes are attached to limbs; see also bipolar limb lead and unipolar limb lead.

limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
a group of disorders characterized by progressive weakness and wasting in the pelvic girdle (pelvifemoral muscular dystrophy) or shoulder girdle (scapulohumeral muscular dystrophy). There are various different subtypes with various modes of inheritance and speeds of progression. Autosomal recessive types usually have onset by e...

limbic
(lim´bik) pertaining to a limbus, or margin.

limbic system
a system of brain structures common to the brains of all mammals, comprising the phylogenetically old cortex (archipallium and paleopallium) and its primarily related nuclei. It is associated with olfaction, autonomic functions, and certain aspects of emotion and behavior.

Limbitrol
(lim´bĭ-trol) trademark for a combination preparation of chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline hydrochloride, an antidepressant and antianxiety agent.

limbus
(lim´bәs) Latin word meaning a border or margin. the edge of the cornea, where it joins the sclera. Called also limbus corneae. Corneal limbus (limbus corneae), in cross section (A) and anterior view (B) of the eye.

lime
(līm) calcium oxide, a corrosively alkaline and caustic earth, CaO; having various industrial uses and also a pharmaceutic necessity. the acid fruit of Citrus aurantifolia, which contains ascorbic acid.

limen
(li´mәn) Latin word meaning threshold or boundary. limen of insula , limen insulae the point at which the cortex of the insula is continuous with the cortex of the frontal lobe. limen nasi the ridge marking the boundary between the ve...

liminal
(lim´ĭ-nәl) barely perceptible; pertaining to a threshold.

liminometer
(lim″ĭ-nom´ә-tәr) an instrument for measuring the strength of a stimulus that just induces a tendon reflex.

limit dextrinase
(lim´it dek´strin-ās) isomaltase.

limitans
(lim´ĭ-tanz) Latin word meaning limiting; a term used in anatomy.

limitation
(lim″ĭ-ta´shәn) a restriction on an individual's activities. chronic airflow limitation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

limiting membrane
one that constitutes the border of some tissue or structure.

limp
(limp) an abnormal gait pattern in which one side of the body dips or moves slightly downward with ambulation.

limulus test
(for gram-negative endotoxin) an extract of blood cells from the horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is exposed to a blood sample from a patient; if the sample contains gram-negative endotoxin, gelation will occur.

lincomycin
(lin″ko-mi´sin) an antibiotic produced by Streptomyces lincolnensis; used as the hydrochloride salt in infections with gram-positive cocci and gram-negative bacilli.

lindane
(lin´dān) the gamma isomer of benzene hexachloride, used as a topical treatment for lice and scabies.

Lindau disease
(lin´dou) von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Lindau tumor
hemangioblastoma.

Lindau-von Hippel disease
(lin´dou fōn hip´әl) von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Lindemann test
(for acetoacetic acid in urine) to about 10 mL of urine add 5 drops of 30 per cent acetic acid, 5 drops strong iodine solution, and 2 to 3 mL chloroform, and shake. The chloroform does not change color if diacetic acid is present, but becomes reddish violet in its absence. Uric acid also decolorizes iodine, and if much is...

Linder sign
Linder test with the patient recumbent or sitting with lower limbs outstretched, passive flexion of the head will cause pain in the lower limb or the lumbar region in sciatica.

Lindner initial bodies
cytoplasmic elementary bodies, resembling those in trachomatous epithelia, found in inclusion conjunctivitis of newborns.

line
(līn) a stripe, streak, or narrow ridge; sometimes only an imaginary connector between two anatomic landmarks. Called also linea. adj., lin´ear., adj. tubing or a catheter.

line of Douglas
a crescentic line marking the termination of the posterior layer of the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle.

linea
(lin´e-ә) Latin word meaning line. linea alba white line; the tendinous median line on the anterior abdominal wall between the two rectus muscles. lineae albicantes white or colorless lines on the abdomen, breasts, or thighs caused by mechanical stret...

lineage
(lin´e-әj) descent traced down from or back to a common ancestor. cell lineage the developmental history of cells as traced from the first division of the original cell or cells.

linear absorption coefficient
the fraction of a beam of radiation absorbed per unit thickness of absorber.

linear atrophy
striae distensae.

linear fracture
a fracture extending along the length of a bone.

linear grid
a grid designed to permit the passage of the primary beam by having lead lines aligned in the same direction separated by radiolucent interspacing material. There are two types, parallel and focused.

linear IgA dermatosis of adulthood
an autoimmune skin disorder usually seen in adults over age 60, clinically resembling bullous pemphigoid. Characteristics include deposition of immunoglobulin A in lines along the junction between the epidermis and dermis, forming vesicular bullous lesions. Cf. chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood.

linear IgA dermatosis of childhood
chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood.

linear IgA disease
linear IgA bullous disease see linear IgA dermatosis of adulthood and chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood.

linear morphea
linear scleroderma.

linear nevus sebaceus syndrome
linear sebaceous nevus syndrome sebaceous nevus syndrome.

linear osteotomy
the sawing or simple cutting of a bone.

linear scleroderma
localized scleroderma in a bandlike lesion with discoloration of the skin and atrophy of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and bone. See also coup de sabre. Called also linear morphea.

linear tomography
tomography in which the tube and film move in the same direction.

liner
(līn´әr) material applied to the inside of the walls of a cavity or container for protection or insulation. cavity liner an agent used to line a tooth cavity for protection of the pulp from irritation and for neutralization of the free acids of zinc phosphate cements.

lines of expression
the natural skin lines and creases of the face and neck; the preferred lines of incision in facial and cervical surgery.

linezolid
(lĭ-nez´o-lid) a synthetic antibacterial of the oxazolidinone class, effective against gram-positive organisms; used for the treatment of community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, and bacteremia, administered orally or intravenously.

lingua
(ling´gwә) Latin word meaning tongue. lingua nigra black hairy tongue.

lingual
(ling´gwәl) pertaining to or near the tongue; called also glossal. in dental anatomy, facing the tongue or oral cavity; called also oral.

lingual angles
the tooth angles formed between the lingual surface and the other surfaces of a tooth; the cavity angles between the lingual wall of a tooth cavity preparation and other walls.

lingual arch
a wire appliance that conforms to the lingual aspect of the dental arch, used to maintain space or length of the arch after tooth loss or extraction.

lingual artery
origin, external carotid artery; branches, suprahyoid, sublingual, dorsal lingual, deep lingual; distribution, tongue, sublingual gland, tonsil, epiglottis.

lingual bone
hyoid bone.

lingual glands
the seromucous glands on the surface of the tongue.

lingual gyrus
one on the occipital lobe that forms the inferior lip of the calcerine sulcus and, together with the cuneus, the visual cortex.

lingual muscles
the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles that move the tongue.

lingual nerve
origin, mandibular nerve, descending to the tongue; branches, sublingual nerve, lingual branches, branches to isthmus of fauces, and branches communicating with the hypoglossal nerve and chorda tympani; distribution, anterior two-thirds of tongue, adjacent areas of mouth, gums, isthmus of fauces, sublingual gland and overlying ...

lingual papillae
elevations on the surface of the tongue, containing the taste buds; the conical, filiform, foliate, fungiform, and vallate papillae.

lingual paralysis
paralysis of the tongue.

lingual surface
the surface of a tooth that faces inward toward the tongue and oral cavity, opposite the vestibular surface; called also oral surface.

lingual vein
the deep vein that follows the distribution of the lingual artery and empties into the internal jugular vein.

lingula
(ling´gu-lә) Latin word meaning little tongue. It anatomy, it is used for a small, tonguelike structure. adj., ling´ular., adj. lingula of cerebellum the most anterior part of the anterior lobe of the cerebellum. lingula of left lung a small ...

lingular artery
a branch of the left pulmonary artery to the superior lobe of the left lung, consisting almost entirely of the superior and inferior lingular arteries and supplying the lingular segments.

lingular vein
a vein draining the lingular segments of the superior lobe of the left lung, emptying into the left superior pulmonary vein.

lingulectomy
(ling″gu-lek´tә-me) excision of the lingula of the left lung.

linguo-occlusal
(ling″gwo-o-kloo´zәl) pertaining to or formed by the lingual and occlusal surfaces of a tooth.

linguoincisal
(ling″gwo-in-si´zәl) pertaining to or formed by the lingual and incisal surfaces of a tooth.

linguopapillitis
(ling″gwo-pap″ĭ-li´tis) inflammation or ulceration of the papillae of the edges of the tongue.

linguoversion
(ling″gwo-vur´zhәn) displacement of a tooth lingually from the line of occlusion.

liniment
(lin´ĭ-mәnt) a medicinal preparation in an oily, soapy, or alcoholic vehicle, intended to be rubbed on the skin as a counterirritant or anodyne.