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

saphenous nerve
origin, termination of femoral nerve, descending first with femoral vessels and then on medial side of leg and foot; branches, infrapatellar and medial crural cutaneous branches; distribution, knee joint, subsartorial and patellar plexuses, skin on medial side of leg and foot; modality, general sensory.

saponaceous
(sap″o-na´shәs) soapy; of soaplike feel or quality.

saponification
(sә-pon″ĭ-fĭ-ka´shәn) conversion of an oil or fat into a soap by combination with an alkali. In chemistry, the term now denotes the hydrolysis of an ester by an alkali, resulting in the production of a free alcohol and an alkali salt of the ester acid.

saponin
(sap´o-nin) any of a group of glycosides widely distributed in the plant world; they are powerful surfactants, form durable foam when their watery solutions are shaken, and can dissolve erythrocytes even when highly diluted.

sapophore
(sap´o-for) the group of atoms in the molecule of a compound that gives the substance its characteristic taste.

Sapovirus
(sap´o-vi″rәs) a genus of viruses of the family Caliciviridae that cause self-limited acute gastroenteritis.

Sapporo-like virus
Sapovirus.

saprobe
(să´prōb) an organism, usually referring to a fungus, that feeds on dead or decaying organic matter. See also saprophyte. adj., sapro´bic., adj.

saprophyte
(sap´ro-fīt) any organism, such as a bacterium or protozoon, living upon dead or decaying organic matter. For fungi, the preferred term is saprobe. adj., saprophyt´ic., adj.

saprozoic
(sap″ro-zo´ik) living on decayed organic matter; said of animals, especially protozoa.

saquinavir
(sә-kwin´ә-vir) an HIV protease inhibitor that causes the virus to form noninfectious particles; used as the base or the mesylate salt in treatment of HIV infection and AIDS.

saralasin
(sar-al´ah-sin) an angiotensin II antagonist, used in the form of the acetate ester as an antihypertensive in treatment of severe hypertension and in diagnosis of renin-dependent hypertension.

sarcoblast
(sahr´ko-blast) a primordial cell that develops into a muscle cell.

sarcocele
(sahr´ko-sēl) any fleshy swelling or tumor of the testis.

sarcocyst
(sahr´ko-sist) any member of the genus Sarcocystis. a cylindrical cyst containing parasitic spores, found in the muscles of those infected with Sarcocystis.

Sarcocystis
(sahr″ko-sis´tis) a genus of coccidian protozoa parasitic in birds, reptiles, and many species of mammals, including humans; the organisms are found as elongated cylindrical bodies called sarcocysts in the host's muscles. All species of Sarcocystis have an obligatory two-host life cycle, involving sexual reproduct...

sarcocystosis
(sahr″ko-sis-to´sis) infection with protozoa of the genus Sarcocystis; in humans it is usually asymptomatic but may be manifested either by muscle cysts associated with myositis or myocarditis or by intestinal infection. It is usually transmitted by the eating of raw or undercooked beef or pork containing sporocys...

Sarcodina
(sahr″ko-di´nә) a subphylum of Protozoa, including all the amebae, both free-living and parasitic, characterized by the ability to produce pseudopodia during most of the life cycle; flagella, when present, develop only during the early stages.

sarcogenic cells
the cells that are developed into muscle fiber.

sarcoid
(sahr´koid) sarcoidosis. a sarcomalike tumor. fleshlike.

sarcoid granuloma
the granuloma seen with sarcoidosis, consisting of multinucleated giant cells surrounded by macrophages and epithelioid cells derived from macrophages.

sarcoid neuropathy
a polyneuropathy seen with sarcoidosis, characterized by either cranial polyneuritis or spinal nerve deficits and sometimes large areas of sensory loss on the trunk.

sarcoidosis
(sahr″koi-do´sis) a chronic, progressive, generalized granulomatous reticulosis that may affect any part of the body but most frequently involves the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, lungs, skin, eyes, and small bones of the hands and feet. It is characterized by the presence in all affected organs or tissues of epithelioid ...

sarcolemma
(sahr″ko-lem´ә) the delicate elastic sheath covering every striated muscle fiber. adj., sarcolem´mic, sarcolem´mous., adj.

sarcoma
(sahr-ko´mә) pl. sarcomas, sarco´mata A type of tumor usually composed of cells derived from connective tissue such as bone, cartilage, muscle, blood vessel, or lymphoid tissue, although the term now includes some of epithelial origin. Most sarcomas are malignant, and they usually develop rapidly with metasta...

sarcoma botryoides
(sahr-ko´mә bot″re-oi´dēz) botryoid sarcoma.

sarcomatoid
(sahr-ko´mә-toid) resembling a sarcoma.

sarcomatosis
(sahr″ko-mә-to´sis) a condition characterized by development of many sarcomas.

sarcomatous
(sahr-ko´mә-tәs) pertaining to or of the nature of a sarcoma.

sarcomere
(sahr´ko-mēr) the contractile unit of a myofibril; sarcomeres are repeating units, delimited by the Z bands along the length of the myofibril.

sarcoplasm
(sahr´ko-plaz″әm) the interfibrillary matter of striated muscle. adj., sarcoplas´mic., adj.

sarcoplast
(sahr´ko-plast) an interstitial cell of a muscle, itself capable of being transformed into a muscle.

sarcopoietic
(sahr″ko-poi-et´ik) forming muscle.

Sarcoptes
(sahr-kop´tēz) a widely distributed genus of mites, including the species S. scabie´i, the itch mite, which causes scabies in humans. Other species cause mange in different animals.

sarcosine
(sahr´ko-sēn) an amino acid occurring as an intermediate in the metabolism of choline in the kidney and liver; it is normally not detectable in human blood or urine.

sarcosinemia
(sahr″ko-sĭ-ne´me-ә) an inborn error of metabolism due to a defect of the enzyme that breaks down sarcosine, resulting in elevated levels of sarcosine in the blood. Clinical manifestations include poor feeding in an infant with failure to thrive and developmental delays; however, no consistent clinical syndro...

sarcosis
(sahr-ko´sis) abnormal increase of flesh.

Sarcosporidia
(sahr″ko-spor-id´e-ә) in former systems of classification, an order of sporozoan protozoa that included the genus Sarcocystis.

sarcosporidian cyst
sarcocyst (def. 2).

sarcosporidiosis
(sahr″ko-spor-id″e-o´sis) sarcocystosis.

sarcostosis
(sahr″kos-to´sis) ossification of fleshy tissue.

sarcous
(sahr´kәs) pertaining to flesh or muscle tissue.

sargramostim
(sahr-gram´o-stim) granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor produced by recombinant technology; used to enhance neutrophil function, stimulating hematopoiesis and decreasing neutropenia; administered intravenously or subcutaneously.

SARS
severe acute respiratory syndrome.

sartorius muscle
origin, anterior superior iliac spine; insertion, proximal part of medial surface of tibia; innervation, femoral nerve; action, flexes leg at knee and thigh at pelvis.

sassafras oil
the volatile oil distilled from the root of Sassafras albidum; it contains the chemical safrole and is toxic and carcinogenic.

sat.
saturated.

satellite
(sat´ә-līt) in genetics, a knob of chromatin connected by a stalk to the short arm of certain chromosomes. a minor, or attendant, lesion situated near a large one. a vein that closely accompanies an artery. exhibiting satellitism. satellite clinic.

satellite cells
glial cells that cluster about a neuron. free nuclei that accumulate around cells in certain diseases. elongated cells that are closely associated with a muscle fiber; they either are flattened against the fiber or occupy shallow depressions in its surface.

satellite DNA
short, highly repeated eukaryotic DNA sequences, usually clustered in groups of many tandem repeats in heterochromatin and generally not transcribed.

satellite phenomenon
satellitism, def. 2.

satellite virus
a strain of virus unable to replicate except in the presence of helper virus; considered to be deficient in coding for capsid formation.

satellitism
(sat´ә-li-tiz-әm) the phenomenon in which certain bacterial species grow more vigorously in the immediate vicinity of colonies of other unrelated species, owing to the production of an essential metabolite by the latter species.

satellitosis
(sat″ә-li-to´sis) accumulation of neuroglial cells about neurons; seen whenever neurons are damaged.

satiety center
a group of cells in the ventromedial hypothalamus that when stimulated suppress the desire for food.

saturated
(sach´ә-rāt-әd) denoting an organic compound that has only single bonds between carbon atoms. holding all of a solute that can be held in a solution by the solvent (saturated solution).

saturated fat
a fat containing saturated fatty acids.

saturated fatty acid
fatty acids that do not have any double bonds. They occur mainly in animal fats and tropical oils, and they can be produced by modifying unsaturated fatty acids. Fats composed of saturated fatty acids increase serum low-density lipoproteins and blood cholesterol levels.

saturated solution
one in which the solvent has taken up all of the dissolved substance that it can hold in solution.

saturation
(sach″ә-ra´shәn) the state of being saturated, or the process of becoming that way. oxygen saturation the amount of oxygen bound to hemoglobin in the blood, expressed as a percentage of the maximal binding capacity.

saturnine
(sat´әr-nīn) pertaining to lead.

saturnine poisoning
lead poisoning.

saturnism
(sat´әr-niz-әm) lead poisoning.

satyriasis
(sat″ĭ-ri´ә-sis) pathologic or exaggerated sexual desire in the male; the corresponding term in the female is nymphomania.

saucerization
(saw″sәr-ĭ-za´shәn) the excavation of tissue to form a shallow shelving depression, usually performed to facilitate drainage from infected areas of bone. the shallow saucer-like depression on the upper surface of a vertebra that has suffered a compression fracture.

Saunders disease
(sawn´dәrz) a dangerous condition seen in infants having digestive disturbances to whom is given a large percentage of carbohydrates; it is marked by vomiting, cerebral symptoms, and depression of circulation.

Saunders sign
on wide opening of the mouth there take place in children associated movements of the hand consisting of opening of the hand and extension and separation of the fingers; called also mouth-and-hand synkinesia.

sausage poisoning
see allantiasis and botulism.

savin oil
an acrid oil from the fresh tops of Juniperus sabina, the chief constituent of which is sabinol. It has been used in folk medicine, but may cause hematuria and violent gastrointestinal irritation when administered internally; fatal poisoning has resulted from its use as an abortifacient.

saxitoxin
(sak´sĭ-tok″sin) a powerful heat-stable low molecular weight neurotoxin synthesized and secreted by certain dinoflagellates, such as species of Gonyaulax, which accumulates in the tissue of bivalve mollusks feeding on the dinoflagellates; it may cause a severe toxic reaction called shellfish poisoning i...

Sb
antimony (L. sti´bium).

SC
secretory component; closure of semilunar valves; subcutaneous.

Sc
scandium.

scab
(skab) the crust of a superficial sore. to become covered with a crust or scab.

scabicide
(ska´bĭ-sīd) lethal to Sarcoptes scabiei, the cause of scabies. an agent that has this quality.

scabies
(ska´bēz) a contagious skin disease caused by the itch mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, usually seen in folds of the skin, such as in the groin, under the breasts, or between the toes or fingers. It is often transmitted as a sexually transmitted disease. Lesions are caused by the female mite, which burrows beneath the skin...

scabietic
(ska″be-et´ik) pertaining to scabies.

scala
(ska´lә) Latin word meaning staircase or ladder. In anatomy, it is used for a ladderlike structure, especially any of various passages of the cochlea.

scala media
(ska´lә me´de-ә) cochlear duct.

scala tympani
(ska´lә tim´pә-ni) the part of the cochlea below the spiral lamina.

scala vestibuli
(ska´lә ves-tib´u-li) the part of the cochlea above the spiral lamina.

scalar
(ska´lәr) a physical quantity specified by a single number (a magnitude or point on a scale), such as mass or temperature. See also vector. pertaining to a scalar quantity.

scald
(skawld) a burn caused by a hot liquid or a hot, moist vapor; to burn in such fashion.

scale
(skāl) a thin, compacted, flaky fragment, such as of bone or enamel. a bit of dry, horny epidermis, usually ready to be sloughed; called also squama and squame. adj., sca´ly., adj. a scheme or device by which some property may be measured (as hardness, weight, linear dimension). ...

scalene muscles
four muscles of the upper thorax that raise the first two ribs, aiding in respiration.

scalenectomy
(ska″lә-nek´tә-me) resection of a scalene muscle.

scalenus syndrome
scalenus anterior syndromescalenus anticus syndrome a thoracic outlet syndrome caused by compression or friction on nerves and blood vessels due to abnormality of position or insertion of the anterior scalene muscle. The term may be used as a synonym of thoracic outlet syndrome.

scaler
(ska´lәr) a dental instrument for removal of scale (plaque, bacterial endotoxins, and calculus) from teeth. ultrasonic scaler an ultrasonic instrument with a tip for supplying high-frequency vibrations, used to remove plaque and calculus from teeth and bits of inflamed tiss...

scaling
(skāl´ing) the removal of scale (plaque, bacterial endotoxins, and calculus) from a tooth with a scaler. measurement of something using a scale. hand scaling scaling and oral débridement using a manual scaler. ultrasonic scaling scaling u...

scalp
(skalp) that part of the skin of the head (exclusive of the face) which is usually covered by a growth of hair.

scalp vein needle
a short rigid needle with flexible wings on each side; used to infuse IV fluids for short periods of time, in patients with small veins or in children.

scalpel
(skal´pәl) a small surgical knife with a convex or concave sharp edge; some types now consist of a handle with a disposable blade.

scan
(skan) to examine or map the body, or one or more organs or regions of it, by gathering information with a sensing device, such as a moving detector or a sweeping beam of radiation. the data or image so obtained, often designated according to the organ under examination, such as a brain scan, kidney scan, ...

scandium
(Sc) (skan´de-әm) a chemical element, atomic number 21, atomic weight 44.956.

scanner
(skan´әr) a device that converts an image, such as from a patient, to a format appropriate for viewing on a computer or being transmitted electronically. equipment used for producing a scan or scanning.

scanning
(skan´ing) close visual examination of a small area or of different isolated areas. any of several diagnostic radiologic techniques, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography. scanning speech.

scanning electron microscope
(SEM) an electron microscope that produces a high magnification image of the surface of a metal-coated specimen by scanning an electron beam and building an image from the electrons reflected at each point.

scanning speech
speech in which syllables are separated by pauses; called also scanning.

scanography
(skan-og´rә-fe) a method of making radiographs by the use of a narrow slit beneath the tube, so that, as the x-ray tube moves over the target, all the rays of the central beam pass through the part being radiographed at the same angle.

scapegoating
(skāp´gōt-ing) a process by which an individual or group is identified as being different from others and becomes the focus of the group's fears, anger, or aggression.