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

serum neutralization test
neutralization test.

serum paralysis
peripheral nerve paralysis following administration of serum.

serum proteins
proteins of blood serum, i.e., all the plasma proteins except fibrinogen.

serum shock
anaphylactic shock resulting from administration of foreign serum to a sensitized individual.

serum sickness
a hypersensitivity reaction following the administration of foreign serum or other antigens; it is marked by urticarial rashes, edema, adenitis, joint pains, high fever, and prostration. Reactions to tetanus antitoxin derived from horse serum were especially common but are now rare owing to refinement of the antigenic component...

serum sickness–like syndrome
a serum sickness–like hypersensitivity reaction occurring after the administration of certain drugs. It is marked clinically by low-grade fever, urticaria, facial edema, pain and swelling of the joints, and lymphadenopathy, and occasionally may be associated with neuritis of the brachial plexus, Guillain-Barré syndr...

serum therapy
see serotherapy.

serum-fast
(sēr´әm-fast) resistant to the effects of serum.

serumal
(sēr-oo´mәl) pertaining to or formed from serum.

service
(ser´vis) the performance of work for others or the performance of an action for the benefit of others. ancillary services tasks provided by hospital employees that are not directly related to health care, such as housekeeping and security.

sesame oil
the refined fixed oil obtained from the seed of Sesamum indicum; it is used as a solvent and oleaginous vehicle for drugs.

sesamoid
(ses´ә-moid) denoting a small nodular bone embedded in a tendon or joint capsule. a sesamoid bone.

sesamoid bones
numerous ovoid nodular bones, often small, usually found embedded within a tendon or joint capsule, principally in the hands and feet. Two sesamoid bones, the fabella and patella, are associated with the knee.

sessile
(ses´il) not pedunculated; attached by a broad base.

set test
(set) a screening tool for the presence of dementia.

set-point
(set´point) the target value of the controlled variable that is maintained by an automatic control system, such as the point at which body temperature is controlled by the hypothalamic thermostat. Written also set point.

setaceous
(se-ta´shәs) bristlelike.

Setleis syndrome
(set´lis) a rare, autosomal recessive type of ectodermal dysplasia characterized by scarlike depressions on the temples, sometimes missing or supernumerary eyelashes, and redundant skin around the nasal and chin areas.

setting sun sign
downward deviation of the eyes, so that each iris resembles a sun setting beneath the lower lid, with white sclera exposed between it and the upper lid; this indicates intracranial pressure, hydrocephalus, or a pineal gland tumor.

sevelamer
(sә-vel´ә-mәr) a phosphate binder used as the hydrochloride salt to reduce serum phosphorus concentrations in hyperphosphatemia associated with end-stage renal disease; administered orally.

seven-year itch
popular name for scabies.

Sever disease
(se´vәr) epiphysitis of the calcaneus.

severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS) an infectious respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus and characterized by fever, dry cough, and breathing difficulties, often accompanied by headache and body aches.

severe combined immunodeficiency
(SCID) any of several rare congenital diseases in which both humoral and cell-mediated immunity fail to develop normally and T lymphocytes are absent or nearly so. In some forms, B lymphocytes are also absent. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent opportunistic infections. Persistent diarrhea, chronic mucocutaneous ca...

severe hypothermia
that in which core body temperature is between 9° and 28°C (48.2° and 82.4°F).

sex
(seks) the fundamental distinction, found in most species of animals and plants, based on the type of gametes produced by the individual; also the category to which the individual fits on the basis of that criterion. Called also gender. See also gender identity. to determine which of these categories an organism...

sex cells
sexual cells germ cells.

sex chromatin test
(for determination of chromosomal sex) examination of somatic cells for presence of a Barr body at the periphery of the nucleus; an index of the presence of two X chromosomes, as in a normal XX female, but also giving a positive result with certain chromosomal anomalies. Called also buccal smear test..

sex chromosomes
the chromosomes responsible for determination of the sex of the individual that develops from a zygote; in mammals they are an unequal pair, the X and Y chromosomes.

sex cord–stromal tumors
stromal t's.

sex cycle
sexual cycle the physiologic changes that recur regularly in the reproductive organs of nonpregnant female mammals. the period of sexual reproduction in an organism that also reproduces asexually.

sex gland
sexual gland gonad.

sex hormones
glandular secretions involved in the regulation of sexual functions. The principal sex hormone in the male is testosterone, produced by the testes. In the female the principal sex hormones are the estrogens and progesterone, produced by the ovaries. These hormones influence the secondary sex characters, such as the shape and contour ...

sex ratio
the proportion of one sex to the other; by tradition the number of males in a population to the number of females, usually stated as the number of males per 100 females.

sex-influenced
(seks-in´floo-әnst) pertaining to something differing between the sexes; see sex-influenced trait.

sex-influenced inheritance
the inheritance of a trait expressed differently in males and females; see sex-influenced trait.

sex-influenced trait
an inherited trait carried on an autosome but expressed more often or to a greater extent in one sex; for example, androgenetic alopecia.

sex-limited
(seks-lim´it-әd) affecting individuals of one sex only; see sex-limited trait.

sex-limited inheritance
the inheritance of a trait expressed in one sex only; see sex-limited trait.

sex-limited trait
an inherited trait carried on an autosome but expressed in one sex only; for example, lactation.

sex-linked
(seks´linkt) carried on one of the sex chromosomes, as a sex-linked gene. by extension, sexually determined, as an inherited trait determined by such a gene (sex-linked trait).

sex-linked gene
a gene carried on a sex chromosome (X or Y); the term is sometimes used when X-linked gene is meant, because the human Y chromosome carries so few genes and defects in X-linked genes are the ones with clinical significance.

sex-linked inheritance
the pattern of inheritance shown by genes carried on a sex (X or Y) chromosome, which is different for males and females. See also sex-linked gene and sex-linked trait.

sex-linked trait
an inherited trait determined by a gene on a sex chromosome, and therefore having a different pattern of expression in males and females. The term is usually used to mean an X-linked trait.

sexduction
(seks-duk´shәn) F-duction.

sexology
(seks-ol´ә-je) the scientific study of sex and sexual relations.

sextant
(seks´tәnt) one of the six equal parts into which the dental arch may be divided: maxillary right, left, and anterior and mandibular right, left, and anterior.

sextipara
(seks-tip´ә-rә) a woman who has had six pregnancies that resulted in viable offspring; para VI.

sextuplet
(seks-tup´lәt) any one of six offspring produced at the same birth.

sexual
(sek´shoo-әl) pertaining to, characterized by, involving, or endowed with sex, sexuality, the sexes, or the reproductive organs and their functions. characterized by the property of maleness or femaleness. pertaining to reproduction that involves both male and female gametes. im...

sexual abuse
any act of a sexual nature performed in a criminal manner, as with a child or with a nonconsenting adult, including rape, incest, oral copulation, and penetration of genital or anal opening with a foreign object. The term also includes lewd or lascivious acts with a child; any sexual act that could be expected to trouble or off...

sexual arousal disorders
sexual dysfunction characterized by alterations in sexual arousal; see female sexual arousal disorder and male erectile disorder.

sexual aversion disorder
feelings of repugnance for and active avoidance of genital contact with a partner, causing substantial distress or interpersonal difficulty.

sexual desire disorders
sexual dysfunctions characterized by alteration in sexual desire; see hypoactive sexual desire disorder and sexual aversion disorder.

sexual development
the biologic and psychosocial changes that lead to sexual maturity; see also reproductive organs. An early work that studied children's normal psychosexual development was a group of essays on sexuality published by Sigmund Freud in 1905. Although Freud failed to recognize differences in the sexual development of males and fema...

sexual deviation
sexual behavior or fantasy outside that which is morally, biologically, or legally sanctioned, often specifically one of the paraphilias.

sexual disorders
any disorders involving sexual functioning, desire, or performance. more specifically, any such disorders that are caused at least in part by psychological factors. Those characterized by decrease or other disturbance of sexual desire are called sexual dysfunctions, and those characterized by unusual or bizarre se...

sexual generation
production of a new organism from the cell formed by the union of a male gamete (spermatozoon) and a female gamete (oocyte).

sexual pain disorders
sexual dysfunctions characterized by pain associated with intercourse; it includes dyspareunia and vaginismus not due to a general medical condition.

sexual reflex
the reflex of erection and ejaculation produced by stimulation of the genitals.

sexual reproduction
reproduction by the fusion of female and male germ cells or by the development of an unfertilized oocyte.

sexuality
(sek″shoo-al´ĭ-te) the characteristic quality of the male and female reproductive systems and physiologic processes. the constitution of an individual in relation to sexual attitudes or activity, including aspects of the physical, psychological, social, and emotional makeup and the manner in whi...

sexually transmitted disease
(STD) a disease that can be transmitted by means of sexual intercourse or by intimate contact with the reproductive organs, mouth, or rectum. There were traditionally five “classic” ones: gonorrhea, syphilis, chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, and granuloma inguinale. Now numerous other conditions have bee...

Sézary cell
an abnormal mononuclear T lymphocyte with small and large cell variants, characteristic of the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma variants mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome.

Sézary syndrome
(sa´zah-re) a form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma manifested by generalized exfoliative erythroderma, intense pruritus, peripheral lymphadenopathy, and abnormal T-lymphocytes called Sézary cells in the skin, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood.

Sf
Svedberg flotation unit.

SGOT
serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase; see aspartate transaminase.

SGPT
serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase; see alanine transaminase.

shadow cell
ghost cell..

shadow test
(shad´o) retinoscopy.

shadow-casting
(shad´o-kast´ing) application of a coating of gold, chromium, or other metal for the purpose of increasing the visibility of ultramicroscopic specimens under the microscope.

shaft
(shaft) a long, slender part of any structure. diaphysis. hair shaft the major portion of a hair, designating especially the portion that extends beyond the surface of the skin.

Shah-Waardenburg syndrome
(shah´ vahr´den-boorg) Waardenburg syndrome type 4.

shake culture
a culture made by inoculating warm liquid agar culture medium in a tube and shaking to distribute contents evenly. Incubation of the resolidified culture allows the development of separated colonies; especially adaptable to obligate anaerobes.

shaking palsy
old name for Parkinson disease.

sham feeding test
(for assessment of completeness of a vagotomy) an appetizing meal is served and chewed but not swallowed, stimulating gastric acid secretion solely by vagal pathways; if vagotomy has been successful, there will be no acid secretion.

shank
(shangk) leg (def. 1). crus (def. 2).

shaping
(shāp´ing) a technique in behavior therapy in which new behavior is produced by providing reinforcement for progressively closer approximations of the final desired behavior. Called also successive approximation.

shared psychotic disorder
a delusional system that develops in one or more persons as a result of a close relationship with someone who already has a psychotic disorder with prominent delusions. It most commonly involves only two people and then is usually called folie à deux.

sharp dissection
separation of tissues by means of the sharp edge of a knife or scalpel, or with scissors.

sharp wave
a wave on an electroencephalogram that has a sharp peak but is longer in duration than a spike.

Sharpey fibers
collagenous fibers that pass from the periosteum and are embedded in the outer circumferential and interstitial lamellae of bone. terminal portions of principal fibers that insert into the cementum of a tooth.

shave biopsy
biopsy of a skin lesion by excising it with a cut parallel to the surface of the surrounding skin.

Shaver disease
(sha´vәr) bauxite pneumoconiosis.

shear
(shēr) an applied force that tends to cause an opposite but parallel sliding motion of the planes of an object. Such motions cause tissues and blood vessels to move in such a way that blood flow may be interrupted, placing the patient at risk for pressure ulcers. An example of a shearing force is seen when a ...

sheath
(shēth) a tubular case or envelope.

sheath of Key and Retzius
endoneurium.

sheath of Schwann
neurilemma.

sheath tumor
nerve sheath tumor.

Sheehan syndrome
(she´әn) postpartum pituitary necrosis.

sheep cell agglutination test
(SCAT) any agglutination test using sheep red blood cells, such as the Rose-Waaler test.

shell shock
old term for posttraumatic stress disorder.

shellfish poisoning
an acute intoxication caused by ingestion of bivalve mollusks contaminated with the neurotoxin (saxitoxin) secreted by certain dinoflagellates, protozoa that are an important component of marine plankton. One form, paralytic shellfish poisoning, is caused by species of Gonyaulax, and is characterized by paresthesias of the mouth, lip...

Shenton line
a curved line seen in radiographs of the normal hip, formed by the top of the obturator foramen; it is used to determine the relationship between the head of the femur and the acetabulum.

Shepherd fracture
fracture of the astragalus, with detachment of the outer protecting edge.

Sherrington phenomenon
the response of the hind limb musculature of an experimental animal on stimulation of a motor nerve that has previously been degenerated.

Shibley sign
in the presence of consolidation of the lung or a collection of fluid in the pleural cavity, all spoken vowels are heard through the stethoscope as “ah.”

shield
(shēld) any protecting structure. in radiology, a protective device, often made of lead, through which particualr types of rays cannot pass; used to avoid the effects of ionizing radiation.

shift
(shift) a change or deviation.

shift to the left
a change in the blood picture, with a preponderance of young neutrophils. an increased oxygen affinity of hemoglobin.