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

prothrombin
(pro-throm´bin) factor II.

prothrombin consumption test
a test formerly much used to measure the formation of intrinsic thromboplastin by determining the residual serum prothrombin after the completion of blood coagulation.

prothrombin test
prothrombin time. two-stage prothrombin time test.

prothrombin time
(Pro time) (PT) a test to measure the activity of factors I, II, V, VII, and X, which participate in the extrinsic pathway of coagulation. Deficiency of any of these factors leads to a prolongation of the one-stage prothrombin times, as will circulating anticoagulants that are active against factors V and ...

prothrombin-proconvertin test
a test formerly used in the control of coumarin-type anticoagulants, employing a saline extract of brain as a thromboplastin and requiring presence of excess blood coagulation factor V.

prothrombinase
(pro-throm´bin-āse) thromboplastin. the complex formed between activated factor x and calcium, phospholipid, and modified factor v; it can cleave and activate prothrombin to thrombin in the common pathway of coagulation. The term is sometimes used to refer specifically to the active enzyme center of the com...

prothrombinogenic
(pro-throm″bĭ-no-jen´ik) promoting the production of prothrombin.

protirelin
(pro-ti´rә-lin) a synthetic preparation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone, used diagnostically.

protist
(pro´tist) any member of the Protista. eukaryotic protist the higher protists, comprising those organisms having a true nucleus. prokaryotic protist the lower protists, comprising those organisms lacking a true nucleus.

Protista
(pro-tis´tә) in the classification of living organisms, a kingdom comprising unicellular organisms with distinct nuclei (the eukaryotes), including protozoa, algae (except blue-green “algae,” which are now classified as bacteria), and certain intermediate forms.

protium
(pro´te-әm) the mass 1 isotope of hydrogen, symbol 1H; ordinary, or light, hydrogen.

proto-oncogene
(pro″to-ong´ko-jēn) a normal gene that with slight alteration by mutation or other mechanism becomes an oncogene.

protoblast
(pro´to-blast) a blastomere from which a particular organ or part develops. adj., protoblas´tic., adj.

protocol
(pro´tә-kol) an explicit, detailed plan of an experiment. the original notes made on an autopsy, an experiment, or a case of disease. a detailed, written set of instructions to guide the care of a patient or to help the practitioner carry out a procedure.

protodiastolic
(pro″to-di″ә-stol´ik) pertaining to early diastole, i.e., immediately following the second heart sound.

protoduodenum
(pro″to-doo″o-de´nәm) the first or proximal portion of the duodenum, extending from the pylorus to the duodenal papilla.

protofibril
(pro″to-fi´bril) the first elongated unit appearing in formation of any type of fiber.

protogaster
(pro´to-gas″tәr) archenteron.

proton
(pro´ton) an elementary particle of mass number 1, with a positive charge equal to the negative charge of the electron; a constituent particle of every nucleus, the number of protons in the nucleus of each atom of a chemical element being indicated by its atomic number.

proton beam therapy
radiotherapy using a beam of protons, which penetrates tissues with minimal energy deposition before the beam reaches a certain depth (Bragg peak), thus localizing the dose to the target area and minimizing irradiation of surrounding tissues.

proton pump
a system for transporting protons across cell membranes, often exchanging them for other positively charged ions.

proton pump inhibitor
an agent that inhibits the proton pumpon the surface of the parietal cells of the stomach, thus limiting gastric acid secretion. Called also gastric acid pump inhibitor.

protopathic sensibility
the sensibility to strong stimulations of pain and temperature; it is low in degree and poorly localized, existing in the skin and in the viscera, and acting as a defensive agency against pathologic changes in the tissues.

protoplasm
(pro´to-plaz″әm) the viscid, translucent colloid material, the essential constituent of the living cell, including cytoplasm and nucleoplasm. adj., protoplas´mic., adj.

protoplast
(pro´to-plast″) a bacterial, yeast, or fungal cell deprived of its rigid wall but with its plasma membrane intact; the cell is dependent for its integrity on an isotonic or hypertonic medium.

protoporphyria
(pro″to-por-fir´e-ә) erythropoietic p. erythropoietic protoporphyria(EPP) an autosomal dominant disorder, a form of erythropoietic porphyria, characterized by increased levels of protoporphyrin in the erythrocytes, plasma, liver, and feces and a wide variety ...

protoporphyrin
(pro″to-por´fә-rin) a porphyrin whose iron complex united with protein occurs in hemoglobin, myoglobin, and certain respiratory pigments. It is accumulated and excreted excessively in the feces in erythropoietic protoporphyria and variegate porphyria.

protoporphyrinemia
(pro″to-por″fә-rĭ-ne´me-ә) protoporphyrin in the urine; see protoporphyria.

prototroph
(pro´to-trōf) an organism with the same growth factor requirements as the ancestral strain; said of microbial mutants. adj., prototroph´ic., adj.

prototype
(pro´to-tīp) the original type or form that is typical of later individuals or species.

protovertebra
(pro″to-vur´tә-brә) somite. the caudal half of a somite forming most of the vertebra.

Protozoa
(pro″to-zo´ә) a subkingdom (formerly a phylum) comprising the unicellular eukaryotic organisms; most are free-living, but some lead commensalistic, mutualistic, or parasitic existences. Newer classifications have subdivided the Protozoa into a number of smaller phyla. Pathogenic protozoa include species of P...

protozoa
(pro″to-zo´ә) plural of protozoon.

protozoacide
(pro″to-zo´ә-sīd) an agent that kills protozoa; see also antiprotozoal agent.

protozoal
(pro″to-zo´әl) pertaining to or caused by protozoa.

protozoan
(pro″to-zo´әn) of or pertaining to protozoa. an organism belonging to the Protozoa.

protozoiasis
(pro″to-zo-i´ә-sis) any disease caused by protozoa.

protozoology
(pro″to-zo-ol´ә-je) the scientific study of protozoa.

protozoon
(pro″to-zo´on) any individual member of the Protozoa.

protozoophage
(pro″to-zo´o-fāj) a cell having phagocytic action on protozoa.

protraction
(pro-trak´shәn) a forward projection of a facial structure; in mandibular protraction the gnathion is anterior to the orbital plane; in maxillary protraction the subnasion is anterior to the orbital plane.

protractor
(pro-trak´tәr) a muscle that pulls a part forward; see also retractor. a semicircular device for measuring and constructing angles.

protransglutaminase
(pro-tranz″gloo-tam´ĭ-nās) factor XIII (the inactive precursor of transglutaminase).

protriptyline
(pro-trip´tĭ-lēn) a tricyclic antidepressant, also used in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and narcolepsy; administered orally as the hydrochloride salt.

protruded disk
herniated disk.

protrusion
(pro-troo´zhәn) extension beyond the usual limits, or above a plane surface. the state of being thrust forward or laterally, as in masticatory movements of the mandible.adj., protru´sive., adj.

protuberance
(pro-too´bәr-әns) a projecting part, or prominence.

Proventil
(pro-ven´til) trademark for preparations of albuterol, a bronchodilator.

Provera
(pro-ver´ә) trademark for preparations of medroxyprogesterone acetate, a progestational agent.

provertebra
(pro-vur´tә-brә) protovertebra.

Providencia
(prov″ĭ-den´shә) a genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, motile, rod-shaped bacteria, occurring in normal urine and feces. Organisms are potential pathogens associated with urinary tract and secondary tissue infections. P. stuar´tii causes nosocomial infections and is a major agent in burn in...

provirus
(pro-vi´rәs) a DNA transcript of an RNA virus that migrates from the cytoplasm into the nucleus and integrates into the host genome by crossing over so that it will be thus replicated in the daughter cells.

provitamin
(pro-vi´tә-min) a substance (such as ergosterol) from which an animal organism can form a vitamin.

provocation
(prov″ә-ka´shәn) challenge (def. 3).

provocative test
challenge (def. 3).

Prowazek bodies
trachoma bodies. extremely small inclusion bodies found in the material from smallpox pustules and in cowpox vaccine and regarded by Prowazek as the cause of the disease.

proximad
(prok´sĭ-mad) in a proximal direction.

proximal
(prok´sĭ-mәl) nearest to a point of reference, as to a center or median line or to the point of attachment or origin.

proximal convoluted tubule
the most proximal part of the renal tubule, extending from the glomerular capsule to the proximal straight tubule.

proximal medial striate arteries
origin, anterior cerebral artery; branches, none; distribution, anterior part of head of caudate nucleus and adjacent regions of putamen and internal capsule.

proximal space
proximate space interproximal space.

proximal spinal muscular atrophy
Kugelberg-Welander syndrome.

proximal straight tubule
part of the descending limb of the renal tubule, extending from the proximal convoluted tubule to the thin tubule.

proximal surface
proximate surface the area where the mesial surface of one tooth touches the distal surface of another; called also contact area or surface.

proximalis
(prok″sĭ-ma´lis) Latin word meaning proximal; a term used in anatomy .

proximate
(prok´sĭ-mәt) immediate; nearest.

proximoataxia
(prok″sĭ-mo-ә-tak´se-ә) ataxia of the proximal part of a limb.

proximobuccal
(prok″sĭ-mo-buk´әl) pertaining to the proximal and buccal surfaces of a posterior tooth.

Prozac
(pro´zak) trademark for preparations of fluoxetine hydrochloride, an antidepressant.

prozone
(pro´zōn) in an agglutination or precipitation reaction, the zone of relatively high antibody concentrations within which no reaction occurs. As the antibody concentration is lowered below the prozone, the reaction occurs. This phenomenon may be due simply to antibody excess or it may be due to blocking antib...

prune-belly syndrome
a syndrome in which the lower part of the rectus abdominis muscle and the lower and medial parts of the oblique muscles are absent, the bladder and ureters are usually greatly dilated, the kidneys are small and dysplastic, with hydronephrosis, and the testes are undescended. The abdomen is protruding and thin-walled, with...

prurigo
(proo-ri´go) any of several itchy skin eruptions characterized by prurigo papules, dome-shaped lesions with a small transient vesicles on top, which later develop crusting or lichenification. adj., prurig´inous., adj. prurigo gestationis an extremely itchy type of unknown etiolog...

pruritogenic
(proo″rit-o-jen´ik) causing itching (pruritus).

pruritus
(proo-ri´tәs) an unpleasant sensation of the skin, provoking the desire to scratch or rub it; It is common in many types of skin disorders, especially allergic inflammation and parasitic infestations. Called also itching. adj., prurit´ic., adj. pruritus ani intense ch...

Prussak pouch
a recess in the tympanic membrane between the flaccid part of the membrane and the neck of the malleus.

psammoma
(sam-o´mә) psammomatous meningioma.

psammoma body
a usually microscopic, laminated mass of calcareous material; these are found in both benign and malignant epithelial and connective-tissue tumors, and are sometimes associated with chronic inflammation.

PSE
portal-systemic encephalopathy.

pseudarthrosis
(sldbomacd″ahr-thro´sis) a pathologic entity characterized by deossification of a weight-bearing long bone, followed by bending and pathologic fracture, with inability to form normal callus; this leads to existence of the “false joint” that gives the condition its name.

pseudencephalus
(sldbomacd″әn-sef´ә-lәs) a malformed fetus with a tumor in place of the brain.

pseudesthesia
(sldbomacd″es-the´zhә) a subjective sensation occurring in the absence of the appropriate stimuli; an imaginary sensation.

pseudo–Babinski sign
in poliomyelitis, the Babinski reflex is modified so that only the big toe is extended, because all the foot muscles except the dorsiflexors of the big toe are paralyzed.

pseudo–Cushing syndrome
the presence of clinical or biochemical features of Cushing syndrome in patients with certain nonendocrine disorders, such as alcoholism or depression.

pseudo–Graefe sign
slow descent of the upper lid on looking down, and quick ascent on looking up; seen in conditions other than Graves disease.

pseudo–Kaposi sarcoma
unilateral subacute to chronic dermatitis, often with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, occurring in association with underlying arteriovenous fistula, a condition closely resembling Kaposi sarcoma both clinically and histologically.

pseudoacanthosis nigricans
(soo″do-ak″an-tho´sis ni´grĭ-kans) a benign form of acanthosis nigricans associated with obesity; the obesity is sometimes due to endocrine disturbance.

pseudoagraphia
(soo″do-ә-graf´e-ә) a condition in which the patient can copy writing, but cannot write except in a meaningless and illegible manner.

pseudoainhum
(soo″do-īn´yoom) ringlike constrictions around the digits, limbs, or trunk; it occurs both congenitally and in in associatoin with a wide variety of hereditary and nonhereditary disorders. The most severe cases of congenital pseudoainhum result in autoamputationin utero.

pseudoalleles
(soo″do-ә-lēlz´) genes that behave functionally as if alleles at the same locus, but that can be shown to be at distinct loci, separable by recombination. adj., pseudoallel´ic, adj. .

pseudoanemia
(soo″do-ә-ne´me-ә) marked pallor with no evidence of anemia.

pseudoaneurysm
(soo″do-an´u-riz″әm) a condition resembling an aneurysm, but due to dilation or tortuosity of a vessel. Called also false or spurious aneurysm.

pseudoangina
(soo″do-әn-ji´nә) a nervous disorder resembling angina, consisting of slight chest or breast pain, usually with pallor followed by cyanosis and coldness or numbness of the extremities.

pseudoankylosis
(soo″do-ang″kә-lo´sis) a false ankylosis.

pseudoapoplexy
(soo″do-ap´o-plek″se) a condition resembling stroke syndrome, but without cerebral hemorrhage.

pseudobulbar
(soo″do-bul´bәr) apparently, but not really, due to a bulbar lesion.

pseudobulbar palsy
weakness of muscles innervated by the cranial nerves (muscles of the face, tongue, and throat), because of lesions of the corticospinal tract, often with uncontrolled weeping or laughing.

pseudobulbar paralysis
spastic weakness of the muscles innervated by the cranial nerves, i.e., the muscles of the face, pharynx, and tongue, owing to bilateral lesions of the corticospinal tract; symptoms include dysphagia, dysarthria, and spastic facial jerks, sometimes accompanied by uncontrolled weeping or laughing and Cheyne-Stokes respirat...

pseudocartilaginous
(soo″do-kahr″tĭ-laj´ĭ-nәs) chondroid.

pseudocast
(soo´do-kast″) an accidental formation of urinary sediment resembling a true cast.

pseudochromesthesia
(soo″do-krōm″es-the´zhә) a synesthesia in which certain sounds induce sensations of color.