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

segmented cell
a mature granulocyte whose nucleus is divided into distinct lobes joined by a filamentous connection.

Segond fracture
avulsion fracture of the tibial attachment of the iliotibial band.

segregation
(seg″rә-ga´shәn) the separation of allelic genes during meiosis as homologous chromosomes begin to migrate toward opposite poles of the cell, so that eventually the members of each pair of allelic genes go to separate gametes. the progressive restriction of potencies in the zygote to the ...

segregator
(seg´rә-ga´әtәr) an instrument for obtaining the urine from the ureter of each kidney separately.

Séguin sign
the involuntary contraction of the muscles just before an epileptic attack.

seizure
(se´zhәr) the sudden attack or recurrence of a disease. a single episode of epilepsy; often a seizure is named for the kind of epilepsy it represents. Called also convulsion. For patient care of the person having a seizure, see epilepsy.

selection
(sә-lek´shәn) the play of forces that determines the relative reproductive performance of the various genotypes in a population. natural selection the survival in nature of those individuals and their progeny best equipped to adapt to environmental conditions. s...

selective amnesia
loss of memory for a group of related events but not for other events occurring during the same period of time.

selective culture
one grown on a medium, usually solid, that has been supplemented to encourage the growth of a single species of microorganism. It may also include substances that inhibit the growth of other species.

selective IgA deficiency
the most common immunodeficiency disorder, being a deficiency of the IgA class of immunoglobulins, with normal levels of the other immunoglobulin classes and normal cellular immunity. It is marked by recurrent infections of the paranasal sinuses and lungs, allergies, gastrointestinal disease, and autoimmune diseases.

selective vagotomy
division of the vagal fibers to the stomach with preservation of the hepatic and celiac branches.

selectivity
(sә-lek-tiv´ĭ-te) in pharmacology, the degree to which a dose of a drug produces the desired effect in relation to adverse effects. adj., selec´tive., adj. grid selectivity a ratio comparing the transmitted primary radiation to the transmitted scatter radiation in an x...

selegiline
(sә-lej´ә-lēn) an agent used in treatment of parkinsonism; used as the hydrochloride salt in conjunction with levodopa and carbidopa.

selenious acid
(sә-le´ne-әs) monohydrated selenium dioxide, a source of elemental selenium; administered intravenously.

selenium
(Se) (sә-le´ne-әm) a chemical element, atomic number 34, atomic weight 78.96. It is an essential mineral nutrient. Dietary sources of selenium include seafoods, kidney, and liver. Humans can adjust their homeostasis mechanism for selenium over a wide range of dietary intakes. Rec...

self
(self) the complete being of an individual, comprising both physical and psychological characteristics, and including both conscious and unconscious components. The concept of self is central to the personality theory of Carl G. Jung. a term used to denote an animal's own antigenic constituents, in contras...

self antigen
an autoantigen, a normal constituent of the body against which antibodies are formed in autoimmune disease.

self care
the performance of basic activities of daily living.

self-antigen
(self-an´tĭ-jәn) any constituent of the body's own tissues that is capable of stimulating autoimmunity; see also immunity.

self-defeating personality disorder
a personality disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of behavior detrimental to the self, including being drawn to problematic situations or relationships, failing to accomplish tasks crucial to life objectives, excessive self-sacrifice, inviting criticism and anger, undermining of pleasurable experiences, and ina...

self-limited
(self-lim´it-әd) said of a condition that is limited by its own nature and not by outside influence.

self-limited disease
a disease that by its very nature runs a definite, limited course.

self-mutilation
(self″mu´-tĭ-la´shun) destructive, disfiguring actions toward one's own body.

self-registering thermometer
recording thermometer. one that registers the maximum or minimum temperature attained in the measurement.

self-retaining catheter
a urethral catheter constructed to be retained in the bladder and urethra; see Foley catheter and indwelling catheter.

self-suspension
(self″sәs-pen´shәn) suspension of the body by the head and armpits in order to stretch the vertebral column.

self-tolerance
(self-tol´әr-әns) immunologic tolerance to self-antigens.

Selivanoff (Seliwanow) test
(for fructose in urine) to the urine is added an equal volume of hydrochloric acid containing resorcinol; formation of a dark red color after boiling for 10 seconds indicates fructose. Called also resorcinol–hydrochloric acid test and Selivanoff reaction.

sella
(sel´ә) Latin word meaning saddle. In anatomy, it is used for a saddle-shaped depression. adj., sel´lar., adj. empty sella see empty-sella syndrome. sella turcica a depression on the upper surface of the sphenoid bone, lodging the pituitary g...

Selter disease
(zel´tәr) acrodynia.

Selye syndrome
(zel´yә) general adaptation syndrome.

semantic differential scale
a measurement device that consists of two opposite adjectives with a seven-point scale between them; each item under examination is assigned to a specific point on the scale.

semantics
(sә-man´tiks) study of the meanings of words and the rules of their use; study of the relation between language and significance.

semel in d.
Latin abbreviation for sem´el in di´e (once a day); written also s.i.d. Used in prescription writing.

semen
(se´mәn) fluid discharged at ejaculation in the male, consisting of spermatozoa in their nutrient plasma, secretions from the prostate, seminal vesicles, and various other glands, epithelial cells, and minor constituents. adj., sem´inal., adj.

semi-Fowler position
a position similar to the Fowler position but with the head less elevated.

semiaxial position
a radiographic position of the head in which the central ray enters at an angle; see half-axial projection. Called also Titterington position.

semicanal
(sem″e-kә-nal´) a trench or furrow open at one side.

semicircular
(sem″e-ser´ku-lar) shaped like a half-circle.

semicircular canals
the passages in the osseous labyrinth of the inner ear that control the sense of equilibrium. Each ear has three semicircular canals (anterior, lateral, and posterior), at approximately right angles to each other, which are filled with fluid and have ampullae (enlarged portions) at one end that contain nerve endings. These cana...

semicircular ducts
the long ducts of the membranous labyrinth of the ear.

semicoma
(sem″e-ko´mә) a stupor from which the patient may be aroused. adj., semico´matose., adj.

semidominance
(sem´e-dom´ĭ-nәns) incomplete dominance.

semidrying oil
a fixed oil that dries incompletely or slowly when exposed in a thin film to air.

semiflexion
(sem″e-flek´shәn) the position of a limb midway between flexion and extension; the act of bringing to such a position.

Semilente insulin
prompt insulin zinc suspension.

semilunar
(sem″e-loo´nәr) shaped like a half-moon or crescent.

semilunar bodies
Giannuzzi crescents.

semilunar bone
lunate bone.

semilunar cartilage
one of the two interarticular cartilages of the knee joint.

semilunar fold of conjunctiva
a mucous fold at the medial angle of the eye.

semilunar ganglion
trigeminal ganglion. (in the pl.)celiac ganglia.

semilunar line
a curved line along the lateral border of each rectus abdominis muscle, marking the meeting of the aponeuroses of the internal oblique and transverse abdominal muscles. Called also spigelian line.

semilunar valves
the cardiac valves that have semilunar cusps; see aortic valve and pulmonary valve.

semimembranosus muscle
semimembranous muscle: origin, tuberosity of ischium; insertion, medial condyle and border of tibia, lateral condyle of femur; innervation, tibial nerve; action, flexes and rotates leg medially, extends thigh at hip.

seminal ducts
the passages for conveyance of spermatozoa and semen.

seminal fluid
semen.

seminal granules
the small granular bodies in the semen.

seminal vesicle
paired sacculated pouches attached to the posterior urinary bladder; the duct of each joins the ipsilateral ductus deferens to form the ejaculatory duct. Vesicula seminalis (seminal vesicle) in a median sagittal section of the male urogenital organs.

semination
(sem″ĭ-na´shәn) insemination.

seminiferous
(sem″ĭ-nif´әr-әs) producing or carrying semen.

seminiferous tubules
the tubules of the testis, in which spermatozoa develop and through which they leave the gland. Seminiferous tubules and associated structures.

seminoma
(sem″ĭ-no´mә) a malignant germ cell tumor of the testis, thought to arise from primordial germ cells of the sexually undifferentiated embryonic gonad.

seminuria
(se´mĭ-nu´re-ә) discharge of semen in the urine; called also spermaturia.

semiology
(se″me-ol´ә-je) symptomatology.

semiotic
(se″me-ot´ik) pertaining to signs and symbols. pertaining to the signs and symptoms of a disease. pathognomonic. Also spelled semeiotic.

semiotics
(se″me-ot´iks) the study of signs and symbols. symptomatology.

semipennate muscle
a muscle in which the fiber bundles approach the tendon of insertion from only one direction and are inserted through only a small segment of its circumference.

semipermeable
(sem″e-pur´me-ә-bәl) permitting passage only of certain molecules.

semipermeable membrane
one permitting passage through it of some but not all substances.

semiprone position
a position in which the patient is on the left side with the left thigh slightly flexed and the right thigh acutely flexed on the abdomen; the left arm is behind the body with the body inclined forward, and the right arm is positioned according to the patient's comfort. Called also lateral recumbent position.

semiquantitative
(sem″e-kwahn´tĭ-ta″tiv) yielding an approximation of the quantity or amount of a substance; falling short of a quantitative result.

semireclining position
a partly reclining position seen in heart disease, asthma, and pleural effusion.

semis
(ss.) (se´mis) Latin word meaning half. Used in prescription writing.

semispinalis capitis muscle
origin, transverse processes of five or six upper thoracic and four lower cervical vertebrae; insertion, between superior and inferior nuchal lines of occipital bone; innervation, suboccipital and greater occipital nerves and other branches of cervical nerves; action, extends head and rotates to opposite side.

semispinalis cervicis muscle
origin, transverse processes of five or six upper thoracic vertebrae; insertion, spinous processes of second to fifth cervical vertebrae; innervation, branches of cervical nerves; action, extends, rotates vertebral column.

semispinalis thoracis muscle
origin, transverse processes of sixth to tenth thoracic vertebrae; insertion, spinous processes of two lower cervical and four upper thoracic vertebrae; innervation, spinal nerves; action, extends, rotates vertebral column.

semisulcus
(sem″e-sul´kәs) a depression that, with an adjoining one, forms a sulcus.

semisupination
(sem″e-soo″pĭ-na´shәn) a position halfway toward supination.

semisynthetic
(sem″e-sin-thet´ik) produced by chemical manipulation of naturally occurring substances.

semitendinosus muscle
semitendinous muscle: origin, tuberosity of ischium; insertion, upper part of medial surface of tibia; innervation, tibial nerve; action, flexes and rotates leg medially, extends thigh.

Semliki Forest virus
a species of viruses of the genus Alphavirus, originally isolated from Aedes mosquitoes in Western Uganda; it is widespread in Africa, where it appears to be nonpathogenic, although infections of laboratory workers have occurred.

Semunya virus
an arbovirus isolated from East African patients with an acute febrile syndrome; called also Nakiwogo virus.

semustine
(sә-mus´tēn) an analog of lomustine, a cytotoxic alkylating agent used as an antineoplastic agent, primarily for treatment of brain tumors, colorectal carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, Hodgkin disease, and malignant melanoma.

Senear-Usher syndrome
(se-nēr´ ush´әr) pemphigus erythematosus.

senecio disease
cirrhosis of the liver occurring as the result of poisoning by the plant Senecio.

senescence
(se-nes´әns) the process of growing old; see also aging. adj., senes´cent., adj.

senescent alopecia
senile alopecia thinning of the hair in old age, owing to slowing down of metabolism and fewer nutrients being able to reach the hair follicles; it occurs about equally in men and women and is not related to androgenetic alopecia.

Sengstaken-Blakemore tube
(seng´sta-kәn blāk´mor) a tube used for the tamponade of bleeding esophageal varices. It has three separate small tubes; one leads to a balloon inflated in the stomach, to keep the instrument in place and compress the vessels around the cardia; the second leads to a long narrow balloon that exerts pressure ag...

senile
(se´nīl) pertaining to old age; see also aged.

senile angioma
cherry angioma.

senile atrophy
the natural atrophy of tissues and organs occurring with advancing age.

senile atrophy of skin
the mild atrophic changes in the epidermis and dermis that occur naturally with aging. Called also atrophia cutis senilis.

senile cataract
cataract with no obvious cause occurring in persons over 50 years old.

senile degeneration
the widespread degenerative changes, principally fibrous and atheromatous, that occur in old age. Cf. senile atrophy.

senile dementia
name given to dementia of the Alzheimer type when it occurs in persons aged 65 or older.

senile elastosis
actinic elastosis.

senile emphysema
overdistention and stretching of lung tissues due to atrophic changes.

senile nuclear sclerotic cataract
an increasing hardening of the nucleus of the lens, with the opacity appearing brown or black and the lens becoming inelastic and unable to accommodate; the opacity is usually bilateral, begins between ages 50 and 60, and progresses slowly.

senile osteoporosis
osteoporosis in men and women over 70, manifested mainly by hip and vertebral fractures of the painless multiple wedge type leading to kyphosis. Called also age-related or involutional osteoporosis.