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

apneustic center
the neurons in the brainstem controlling normal respiration, not a true nerve center.

apochromatic
(ap″o-kro-mat´ik) free from chromatic aberration.

apochromatic lens
one corrected for chromatic (color) and spheric aberration.

apocrine
(ap´o-krin) denoting that type of glandular secretion in which the secretory products become concentrated at the free end of the secreting cell and are thrown off, along with the portion of the cell where they have accumulated, as in the mammary gland. See also holocrine and merocrine.

apocrine adenoma
any of numerous benign adnexal tumors having differentiation towards apocrine gland tissue.

apocrine carcinoma
adnexal carcinoma in an apocrine sweat gland. a rare breast malignancy with a ductal or acinar growth pattern and apocrine secretions.

apocrine cells
see apocrine.

apocrine gland
one whose discharged secretion contains part of the secreting cells.

apocrine sweat gland
a type of large, branched, specialized sweat gland that empties into the upper portion of a hair follicle instead of directly onto the skin surface; found only on certain areas of the body, such as around the anus and in the axilla; after puberty they produce a viscous secretion that is acted on by bacteria to produce a charact...

apodia
(a-po´de-ә) congenital absence of one or both feet.

apoenzyme
(ap″o-en´zīm) the protein component of an enzyme that requires the presence of the prosthetic group (coenzyme) to form the functioning enzyme.

apoferritin
(ap″o-fer´ĭ-tin) an apoprotein that can bind many atoms of iron per molecule to form ferritin, the form in which iron is stored in the liver and other tissues.

apolar
(a-po´lәr) having neither poles nor processes; without polarity.

apolar cell
a neuron with no processes or poles.

apolipoprotein
(ap″o-lip″o-pro´tēn) a nonlipid protein portion occurring in plasma lipoproteins; there are five families of apolipoproteins, grouped into four classes according to function, A, B, C, and E (the former apolipoprotein D has now been placed in class A). Apolipoproteins play a role in the transport of lipo...

aponeurectomy
(ap″o-ndbobr-rek´tә-me) excision of an aponeurosis.

aponeurorrhaphy
(ap″o-ndbobr-ror´ә-fe) suture of an aponeurosis.

aponeurosis
(ap″o-ndbobr-ro´sis) pl. aponeuro´ses a sheetlike tendinous expansion, mainly serving to connect a muscle with the parts it moves. adj., aponeurot´ic., adj. Palmar aponeurosis. A fifth longitudinal band, radiating toward the base of the thumb, is sometimes present. ...

aponeurositis
(ap″o-ndbobr-ro-si´tis) inflammation of an aponeurosis.

aponeurotic fascia
a dense, firm, fibrous membrane investing the trunk and limbs and giving off sheaths to the various muscles.

aponeurotomy
(ap″o-ndbobr-rot´ә-me) incision of an aponeurosis.

apophyseal
(ә-pof´ә-se″әl) (ap″o-fiz´e-әl) pertaining to an apophysis.

apophyseal fracture
one in which a small smear fragment or a bony prominence is torn from the bone.

apophysiary point
subnasal point.

apophysis
(ә-pof´ә-sis) pl. apoph´yses any outgrowth or swelling, especially a bony outgrowth that has never been entirely separated from the bone of which it forms a part, such as a process, tubercle, or tuberosity.

apophysitis
(ә-pof″ә-si´tis) inflammation of an apophysis.

apoplectiform
(ap″o-plek´tĭ-form) resembling apoplexy.

apoplectoid
(ap″o-plek´toid) resembling apoplexy.

apoplexy
(ap´o-plek″se) old name for stroke syndrome. adj., apoplec´tic., adj.

apoprotein
(ap″o-pro´tēn) the protein portion of a molecule or complex consisting of a protein molecule joined to a nonprotein protein molecule or molecules (such as a lipoprotein).

apoptosis
(ap″op-to´sis) (ap″o-to´sis) a morphologic pattern of cell death affecting single cells, marked by shrinkage of the cell, condensation of chromatin, formation of cytoplasmic blebs, and fragmentation of the cell into membrane-bound bodies that are eliminated by phagocytosis. It is a mec...

apoptotic bodies
the membrane-bound cell fragments produced during apoptosis, containing organelles and sometimes fragments of the nucleus.

aporepressor
(ap″o-re-pres´әr) an inactive form of a repressor, requiring binding of a corepressor to become a functional repressor.

aposthia
(ә-pos´the-ә) congenital absence of the prepuce.

apothecaries' weight
a system used for measuring and weighing drugs and solutions, brought to the United States from England during the colonial period; it has now been replaced by the metric system. Its units are the grain, scruple, dram, ounce, and pound.

apothecary
(ә-poth´ә-kar″e) pharmacist.

APP
amyloid precursor protein.

apparatus
(ap″ә-ră´tәs) pl. appara´tus, apparatuses an arrangement of a number of parts acting together to perform a special function. juxtaglomerular apparatus a collective term for the juxtaglomerular cells in a nephron. Wangensteen's apparatus ...

appendage
(ә-pen´dәj) a less important portion of an organ, or an outgrowth, such as a tail. Also, a limb or limblike structure. eye appendages , appendages of eye , ocular appendages the eyelids, lacrimal apparatus, and other accessory eye structures; ...

appendage tumors
adnexal t's.

appendectomy
(ap″en-dek´tә-me) excision of the vermiform appendix.

appendiceal abscess
one resulting from perforation of an acutely inflamed appendix.

appendicectomy
(ә-pen″dĭ-sek´tә-me) appendectomy.

appendicitis
(ә-pen″dĭ-si´tis) inflammation of the vermiform appendix, a serious disease that usually requires surgical removal (appendectomy). The classic symptoms are pain, nausea, vomiting, and low-grade fever in adults. Children tend to have higher fevers. The pain usually begins in the umbilical region and even...

appendicolithiasis
(ә-pen″dĭ-ko″lĭ-thi´ә-sis) formation of calculi in the vermiform appendix.

appendicostomy
(ә-pen″dĭ-kos´tә-me) surgical creation of an opening into the vermiform appendix.

appendicular
(ap″en-dik´u-lәr) pertaining to an appendix or appendage. pertaining to the limbs.

appendicular abscess
appendiceal abscess.

appendicular artery
origin, ileocolic artery; branches, none; distribution, vermiform appendix.

appendicular muscles
the muscles of a limb.

appendicular vein
the vein that accompanies the appendicular artery; it drains into the ileocolic vein.

appendix
(ә-pen´diks) pl. appen´dices, appendixes a slender outgrowth or appendage. a small appendage near the ileocecal junction (the juncture of the small intestine and large intestine). An apparently useless structure, it can be the source of a serious illness, appendicitis. Called also vermiform appendix. adj., ...

apperception
(ap″әr-sep´shәn) conscious discernment of a sensory stimulus, understanding its significance as interpreted through one's own emotional outlook, experiences, and prior knowledge.

appersonation
(ә-pur″so-na´shәn) appersonification.

appersonification
(ap″әr-son″ĭ-fĭ-ka´shәn) unconscious identification with another person or delusional belief that one is another person.

appestat
(ap´ә-stat) a brain center (probably in the hypothalamus) concerned in controlling the appetite.

appetite
(ap´ә-tīt) the desire for food, stimulated by the sight, smell, or thought of food and accompanied by flow of saliva in the mouth and of gastric juice in the stomach. Appetite is psychological, dependent on memory and associations, as compared with hunger, which is physiologically aroused by the body's need f...

applanometer
(ap″lә-nom´ĕ-tәr) a mechanical or electronic instrument for determining intraocular pressure in the detection of glaucoma.

apple jelly nodules
minute, yellowish or reddish brown, translucent nodules, seen on diascopic examination of the lesions of lupus vulgaris.

appliance
(ә-pli´әns) any of various devices used in dentistry to provide a functional or therapeutic effect, such as a prosthesis, an obturator, or an orthodontic appliance. fixed appliance one attached to the teeth by cement or an adhesive material. orthodontic applianc...

apposition
(ap″ә-zish´әn) the placement of adjacent structures or parts so that they can come into contact; called also juxtaposition.

apposition suture
a superficial type for exact approximation of cutaneous edges of a wound.

apprehension
(ap″re-hen´shәn) perception and understanding. anticipatory fear or anxiety.

approximal
(ә-prok´sĭ-mәl) close together.

approximation
(ә-prok″sĭ-ma´shәn) the act or process of bringing into proximity or apposition. a numerical value of limited accuracy. successive approximation shaping.

approximation suture
a deep suture for securing apposition of the deep tissue of a wound.

apraclonidine
(ap″rә-klon´ĭ-dēn) an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist used to reduce intraocular pressure in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma and the treatment and prevention of ocular hypertension; administered topically to the conjunctiva as the hydrochloride salt.

apraxia
(ә-prak´se-ә) loss of ability to carry out familiar purposeful movements in the absence of sensory or motor impairment, especially impairment of the ability to use objects correctly.

apraxia of gait
gait apraxia.

apraxia of speech
a speech disorder similar to motor aphasia, due to apraxia of mouth and neck muscles because of a lesion interfering with coordination of impulses from the Broca motor speech area. Called also aphemia.

apricot kernel oil
persic oil.

aprobarbital
(ap″ro-bahr´bĭ-tәl) an intermediate-acting barbiturate, used as a sedative and hypnotic; administered orally.

aproctia
(ә-prok´she-ә) imperforate anus.

aprosopia
(ap″ro-so´pe-ә) a developmental anomaly consisting of partial or complete absence of the face.

aprotinin
(ap″ro-ti´nin) an inhibitor of proteolytic enzymes, used as an antihemorrhagic to reduce perioperative blood loss in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass during coronary artery bypass graft; administered intravenously.

APTA
American Physical Therapy Association.

aptitude test
(ap´tĭ-tldbomacd) one designed to measure the capacity for developing general or specific skills.

APTT
aPTT activated partial thromboplastin time.

aptyalism
(ap-ti´ә-liz-әm) absence or deficiency of saliva.

APUD cells
a group of apparently unrelated cells that secrete most of the body's hormones, with the exception of steroids. Included are both specialized neurons and other endocrine cells that synthesize structurally related polypeptides and biogenic amines. The name comes from the fact that polypeptide production is linked to the up...

APUD system
neuroendocrine system.

apudoma
(a″pәd-o´mә) a tumor derived from APUD cells; many of these secrete ectopic hormones.

apus
(a´pәs) a malformed fetus without feet; see also symmelia.

apyretic
(a″pi-ret´ik) afebrile.

apyrexia
(a″pi-rek´se-ә) absence of fever. adj., apyrexial, afebrile., adj.

apyrogenic
(a-pi″ro-jen´ik) not producing fever.

aquaphobia
(ak″wә-fo´be-ә) irrational fear of water.

aquaporin
(ak″wә-po´rin) any of a family of proteins found in the plasma membrane that permit passage of water and very small solutes. Called also water channel.

aqueduct
(ak´wә-dukt″) any canal or passage. cerebral aqueduct a narrow channel in the midbrain connecting the third and fourth ventricles and containing cerebrospinal fluid. cochlear aqueduct a small canal that interconnects the scala tympani with the s...

aqueous
(a´kwe-әs) watery; prepared with water.

aqueous solution
one in which water is used as the solvent.

Ar
argon.

ara-A
adenine arabinoside; see vidarabine.

ara-C
cytarabine.

arachidonic acid
(ә-rak″ĭ-don´ik) a polyunsaturated, essential fatty acid found in animal fats and formed by biosynthesis from linoleic acid.

arachis oil
peanut oil.

arachnephobia
(ә-rak″nә-fo´be-ә) arachnophobia.

arachnid
(ә-rak´nid) any member of the class Arachnida.

Arachnida
(ә-rak´nĭ-dә) a class of animals of the phylum Arthropoda, including 12 orders, comprising such forms as spiders, scorpions, ticks, and mites.

arachnidism
(ә-rak´nĭ-diz-әm) poisoning from the bite of a spider.