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

basal cell carcinoma
the most common form of skin cancer, consisting of an epithelial tumor of the skin originating from neoplastic differentiation of basal cells. It appears most often on the sun-exposed skin of older persons with light skin; it is rarely metastatic but may be locally invasive and aggressive. Several subtypes have been disti...

basal cell layer
the stratum basale of the epidermis.

basal cell nevus syndrome
nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.

basal ganglia
basal nuclei.

basal granular cells
enteroendocrine cells.

basal joint reflex
finger-thumb reflex.

basal lamina
the layer of the basement membrane lying next to the basal surface of the adjoining cell layerm composed of an electron-dense lamina densa and an electron-lucent lamina lucida.

basal layer
stratum basale.

basal metabolic rate
an expression of the rate at which oxygen is utilized in a fasting subject at complete rest as a percentage of a value established as normal for such a subject. Abbreviated BMR.

basal neck fracture
fracture of the neck of the femur at its junction with the trochanteric region.

basal nuclei
specific interconnected subcortical masses of gray matter embedded in each cerebral hemisphere and in the upper brainstem, comprising the corpus striatum (caudate and lentiform nuclei), amygdaloid body, claustrum, and external, extreme, and internal capsules. Called also basal ganglia.

basal tuberculosis
pulmonary tuberculosis in the lower part of a lung.

basal vein
a vein that arises at the anterior perforated substance, passes backward and around the cerebral peduncle, and empties into the internal cerebral vein.

Basaljel
(ba´sәl-jel″) trademark for basic aluminum carbonate gel.

basaloid carcinoma
a nonspecific term referring to any of numerous carcinomas that resemble basal cell carcinoma. a rare transitional cell carcinoma of the anus, resembling basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Called also cloacogenic anal carcinoma.

basaloid cell
a type of tumor cell that resembles a basal cell, seen in certain types of skin cancer. Cf. basaloid carcinoma.

base
(bās) the lowest part or foundation of anything. See also basis. the main ingredient of a compound. the nonacid part of a salt; a substance that combines with acids to form salts. In the chemical processes of the body, bases are essential to the maintenance of a normal acid-base balance....

baseball finger
mallet finger.

Basedow disease
(bah´zә-do) Graves disease.

baseline
(bās´līn) an observation or value that represents the normal or beginning level of a measurable quality, used for comparison with values representing response to experimental intervention or an environmental stimulus, usually implying that the baseline and reponse values refer to the same individual or s...

baseline pain
the average intensity of pain experienced for 12 or more hours in a 24-hour period.

basement membrane
a sheet of amorphous extracellular material upon which the basal surfaces of epithelial cells rest; it is also associated with muscle cells, Schwann cells, fat cells, and capillaries, interposed between the cellular elements and the underlying connective tissue. It comprises two layers, the basal lamina and the reticular ...

basic
(ba´sik) pertaining to or having properties of a base. capable of neutralizing acids.

basic aluminum carbonate gel
an aluminum hydroxide–aluminum carbonate gel, used as an antacid, for treatment of hyperphosphatemia in renal insufficiency, and to prevent phosphate urinary calculi.

basicity
(bә-sis´ĭ-te) the quality of being a base, or basic. the combining power of an acid.

basidiobolomycosis
(bә-sid″e-ob″ә-lo-mi-ko´sis) entomophthoromycosis basidiobolae.

Basidiobolus
(bә-sid″e-ob´ә-lәs) a genus of perfect fungi of the group Phycomycetes, including B. rana´rum, the cause of entomophthoromycosis basidiobolae.

basidiospore
(bә-sid´e-o-spor) a type of sexual spore of certain higher fungi.

basidium
(bә-sid´e-әm) pl. basi´dia a clublike organ that occurs in some fungi and bears basidiospores.

basihyoid
(ba″sĭ-hi´oid) the body of the hyoid bone.

basilad
(bas´ĭ-lad) toward the base.

basilar
(bas´ĭ-lәr) pertaining to a base or basal part.

basilar artery
origin, from junction of right and left vertebral arteries; branches, pontine, anterior inferior cerebellar, mesencephalic, superior cerebellar, and posterior cerebral arteries; distribution, brainstem, internal ear, cerebellum, posterior cerebrum.

basilar artery syndrome
vertebrobasilar insufficiency.

basilar membrane
the lower boundary of the cochlear duct.

basilar plexus
a venous plexus of the dura mater located over the basilar part of the occipital bone and the posterior part of the body of the sphenoid bone, extending from the cavernous sinus to the foramen magnum.

basilateral
(ba″sĭ-lat´әr-әl) both basilar and lateral.

basilemma
(ba″sĭ-lem´ә) basement membrane.

basilic vein
the superficial vein that arises from the ulnar side of the dorsal rete of the hand, passes up the forearm, and joins with the brachial veins to form the axillary vein.

basiliximab
(bas″ĭ-liks´ĭ-mab) a monoclonal antibody that is an interleukin-2 receptor antagonist; used in prophylaxis of acute organ rejection after renal transplantation.

basion
(ba´se-on) the midpoint of the anterior border of the foramen magnum.

basipetal
(bә-sip´ә-tәl) descending toward the base; developing in the direction of the base.

basis
(ba´sis) pl. ba´ses the lower, basic, or fundamental part of an object, organ, or substance. Anatomic nomenclature for the base of a structure or organ, or the part opposite to or distinguished from the apex. basis pedunculi cerebri the large bundle of nerve fiber tracts forming the ...

basisphenoid
(ba″sĭ-sfe´noid) pertaining to the basisphenoid bone.

basisphenoid bone
an embryonic bone that becomes the back part of the body of the sphenoid bone.

basivertebral veins
venous sinuses in the cancellous tissue of the bodies of the vertebrae, which communicate with the plexus of veins on the anterior surface of the vertebrae and with the anterior internal and anterior external vertebral plexuses.

basket
(bas´kәt) a container made of material woven together, or something resembling such a container. Dormia basket a tiny apparatus consisting of four wires that can be advanced through an endoscope into a body cavity or tube, manipulated to trap a calculus or other object, and...

basket cell
a neuron of the cerebral cortex whose fibers form a basketlike nest in which a Purkinje cell rests.

basophil
(ba´so-fil) any structure, cell, or histologic element staining readily with basic dyes. a granular leukocyte with an irregularly shaped, pale-staining nucleus that is partially constricted into two lobes, and with cytoplasm containing coarse bluish-black granules of variable size; about 1 per cent bring a...

basophil adenoma
basophilic adenoma in a classification system formerly used for pituitary adenomas, an adenoma whose cells stain with basic dyes; most adenomas that secreted excessive amounts of adrenocorticotrophic hormone were in this group.

basophil degranulation test
an in vitro procedure testing allergic sensitivity to a specific allergen at the cellular level by measuring staining of basophils after exposure to the allergen; a reduction in the number of granulated cells is a positive result.

basophil granule
any granule staining with basic dyes. one of the coarse bluish-black granules found in basophils (def. 2). (in the pl.)beta granules (def. 2).

basophilia
(ba″so-fil´e-ә) abnormal increase of basophils in the blood, seen in myxedema, hypothyroid conditions, ulcerative colitis, certain types of anemia, and other conditions. Called also basophilic leukocytosis. the reaction of immature erythrocytes to basic dyes, so that they become blue or gray in...

basophilic
(ba-so-fil´ik) staining readily with basic dyes. pertaining to basophils. pertaining to or characterized by basophilia.

basophilic leukemia
a rare type of leukemia in which basophils predominate; both acute and chronic varieties have been observed.

basophilic leukocyte
basophil (def. 2).

basophilic leukocytosis
basophilia (def. 1).

basophilism
(ba-sof´ĭ-liz-әm) basophilia (def. 1).

basoplasm
(ba´so-plaz″әm) cytoplasm that stains with basic dyes.

basosquamous carcinoma
basosquamous cell carcinoma a type of carcinoma of the skin that has elements of both basal cell and squamous cell types.

Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome
(bas´әn korn´zwīg) abetalipoproteinemia.

Basset operation
a method of dissecting the inguinal glands in radical operations for cancer of the vulva.

Bassini operation
(bә-se´ne) plastic repair of inguinal hernia.

bath
(bath) a medium, such as water, vapor, sand, or mud, with which the body is washed or in which the body is wholly or partially immersed for therapeutic or cleansing purposes; application of such a medium to the body. the equipment or apparatus in which a body or object may be immersed. ...

bathmotropic
(bath″mo-tro´pik) influencing the response of tissue to stimuli.

bathrocephaly
(bath″ro-sef´ә-le) a developmental anomaly marked by a steplike posterior projection of the skull, caused by excessive growth of the lambdoid suture.

bathyanesthesia
(bath″e-an″es-the´zhә) loss of deep sensibility.

bathyesthesia
(bath″e-es-the´zhә) deep sensibility.

bathyhyperesthesia
(bath″e-hi″pәr-es-the´zhә) abnormally increased sensitiveness of deep body structures.

bathyhypesthesia
(bath″e-hip″es-the´zhә) abnormally diminished deep sensibility.

bathypnea
(bath″ip-ne´ә) deep breathing.

batrachian position
a lying position of infants in which the lower limbs are flexed, abducted, and resting on the bed on their outer aspects, resembling the legs of a frog. Called also frog leg or froglike position.

Batten disease
(bat´әn) Vogt-Spielmeyer disease. more generally, any or all of the group of disorders constituting neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

battered child syndrome
unexplained or inappropriately explained physical trauma and other manifestations of severe, repeated physical abuse of children, usually by a parent or other caretaker. See also child abuse.

battery
(bat´әr-e) a set or series of cells that yield an electric current. any set, series, or grouping of similar things, as a battery of tests.

Battle incision
Battle-Jalaguier-Kammerer incision Kammerer-Battle incision.

Battle sign
(bat´әl) a discoloration behind the ear in the line of the posterior auricular artery, often associated with a basilar skull fracture.

battledore placenta
one with the umbilical cord inserted at the edge.

bauxite
(bawk´sīt) an impure mixture of aluminum hydroxides, clay, and other metal oxides, the primary natural source of aluminum. See also bauxite pneumoconiosis.

bauxite pneumoconiosis
bauxite workers' disease a progressive form of pneumoconiosis caused by inhalation of bauxite fumes containing fine particles of alumina and silica. It begins with alveolitis and progresses to emphysema, often with pneumothorax. Called also Shaver disease. See also aluminosis.

Bayle disease
(bāl) general paresis.

Bayley Scales of Infant Development
a psychological test for assessing development of infants, using motor, mental, and behavioral developmental scales.

bayonet forceps
a forceps whose blades are offset from the axis of the handle.

Bayou virus
a virus of the genus Hantavirus that causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the southwestern United States.

Bazex syndrome
(bah-zeks´) eczematous and psoriasiform lesions on the ears, nose, cheeks, hands, feet, and knees in patients with carcinomas of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts.

Bazin disease
(bah-ză´) erythema induratum (def. 2).

BBT
basal body temperature.

BCG
bacille Calmette-Guérin.

BCG solution
an aqueous suspension of bacille Calmette-Guérin for instillation into the bladder to activate the immune system in treatment of superficial bladder cancers. It reduces the risk of a subsequent bladder cancer developing, although the exact mechanism of action is unknown.

BCG vaccine
bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine, a tuberculosis vaccine containing living, nonvirulent, bovine-strain tubercle bacilli (Mycobacterium bovis). It may be administered through the skin by a special technique using a multiple-puncture disk, or into the skin (intracutaneously or intradermally). THis vaccine cannot be given to a pati...

BCNU
carmustine.

Be
chemical symbol, beryllium.

beach ear
otitis externa caused by irritation from ocean water and other beach conditions.

beaded hair
hair marked with alternate swellings and constrictions; seen in monilethrix.

beaked pelvis
one with the pelvic bones laterally compressed and their anterior junction pushed forward.

beaker
(bēk´әr) a round laboratory vessel of various materials, usually with parallel sides and often with a pouring spout.

beaker cell
goblet cell.

Beale ganglion cells
bipolar cells with one process coiled around the other; found in cardiac ganglia.

BEAM
brain electric activity map; trademark name for a map of brainwave activity derived from a computerized enhancement of electroencephalographic records.

beam
(bēm) a unidirectional, or approximately unidirectional, emission of electromagnetic radiation or particles. useful beam in radiology, that part of the primary radiation that is permitted to emerge from the tubehead assembly of an x-ray machine, as limited by the aperture or...