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

bimanual
(bi-man´u-әl) with both hands.

bimastoid
(bi-mas´toid) pertaining to both mastoid processes.

bimatoprost
(bĭ-mat´o-prost) a synthetic prostaglandin analogue that acts as an ocular hypotensive; applied topically to the conjunctiva in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

binary
(bi´nә-re) made up of two elements or parts. denoting a number system with a base of two.

binaural
(bi-naw´rәl) pertaining to both ears; called also binotic.

binaural distorted speech tests
tests of the capacity of the central nervous system to coordinate two incoming speech patterns, each of which is incomplete.

binauricular
(bi″naw-rik´u-lәr) biauricular.

bind
(bīnd) to wrap with a binder or bandage. to form a weak, reversible chemical bond, such as antigen to antibody or hormone to receptor.

binder
(bīnd´әr) a support bandage that wraps around the chest or abdomen and is secured with ties or Velcro. a substance that attaches to another, such as to facilitate its removal from the body; see bind (def. 2). phosphate binder a substance such as aluminum hydroxide...

binding protein
transport protein. any protein able to specifically and reversibly bind other substances, such as ions, sugars, nucleic acids, or amino acids; they are believed to function in transport.

binding site
in an enzyme or other protein, the three-dimensional configuration of specific groups on specific amino acids that binds particular compounds such as substrates or effectors, with high affinity and specificity. See also catalytic site.

binding-in
(bīnd´ing-in″) bonding.

Binet test
(be-na´) a method of testing the mental capacity of children and youth by asking a series of questions adapted to and standardized upon the capacity of normal children of various ages. See also Stanford-Binet test. Called also Binet-Simon test.

Binet-Simon test
(be-na´ se-maw´) Binet test.

Bing test
(bing) a tuning fork test in which the vibrating fork is held against the mastoid process and the auditory meatus is alternately occluded and left open; an increase and decrease in loudness (positive Bing) is perceived by the normal ear and in sensorineural hearing loss, whereas lack of a difference in loudness (negative Bing...

Bing-Neel syndrome
(bing´ nāl´) the central nervous system manifestations of Waldenström macroglobulinemia; symptoms may include encephalopathy, hemorrhage, stroke, convulsions, delirium, and coma.

binge
(binj) a period of uncontrolled or excessive self-indulgent activity, particularly of eating or drinking. to engage in such activity; see also binge eating.

binge-eating disorder
an eating disorder characterized by repeated episodes of binge eating, as in bulimia nervosa, but not followed by inappropriate compensatory behavior such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercise.

bingeing
(binj´ing) engaging in a binge.

binocular
(bĭ-nok´u-lәr) pertaining to both eyes. having two eyepieces, as in a microscope.

binocular diplopia
double vision in which the images of an object are formed on noncorresponding points of the retinas.

binocular microscope
one with two eyepieces, permitting use of both eyes simultaneously.

binocular vision
the use of both eyes together, without diplopia.

binomial
(bi-no´me-әl) composed of two terms, such as names of organisms that are formed by combination of genus and species names.

binotic
(bin-ot´ik) binaural.

binovular
(bin-ov´u-lәr) pertaining to or derived from two distinct oocytes or ova.

Binswanger dementia
Binswanger disease (bin´swahng-әr) a progressive dementia of presenile onset due to demyelination of the subcortical white matter of the brain, with sclerotic changes in the blood vessels supplying it. Called also subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy.

binuclear
(bi-noo´kle-әr) having two nuclei.

binucleation
(bi″noo-kle-a´shәn) formation of two nuclei within a cell through division of the nucleus without division of the cytoplasm.

binucleolate
(bi-noo-kle´o-lāt) having two nucleoli.

bioactive
(bi″o-ak´tiv) having an effect on or eliciting a response from living tissue.

bioamine
(bi´o-ә-mēn″) a nitrogen-containing organic compound that serves as a neurotransmitter, such as norepinephrine, serotonin, or dopamine.

bioaminergic
(bi″o-am″in-ur´jik) of or pertaining to neurons that secrete bioamines.

bioassay
(bi″o-as´a) determination of the active power of a drug sample by comparing its effects on a live animal or an isolated organ preparation with those of a reference standard.

bioavailability
(bi″o-ә-vāl″ә-bil´ĭ-te) the degree to which a drug or other substance becomes available to the target tissue after administration.

biochemical genetics
the branch of genetics concerned with the chemical and physical nature of genes and the mechanisms by which they function at the molecular level, specifically the roles of genes in controlling steps in metabolic pathways.

biochemistry
(bi″o-kem´is-tre) the chemistry of living organisms and of their chemical constituents and vital processes.

biocidal
(bi″o-si´dәl) destructive to living organisms; see also antibiotic.

biocompatibility
(bi″o-kom-pat″ĭ-bil´ĭ-te) the quality of not having toxic or injurious effects on biological systems. adj., biocompat´ible., adj.

biodegradable
(bi″o-de-grād´ә-bәl) susceptible of breakdown into simpler components by biological processes, as by bacterial or other enzymatic action.

biodegradation
(bi″o-deg″rә-da´shәn) the series of processes by which living systems render chemicals less noxious to the environment.

bioengineering
(bi″o-en″jĭ-nēr´ing) biomedical engineering.

bioequivalence
(bi″o-e-kwiv´ә-lәns) the relationship between two preparations of the same drug in the same dosage form that have a similar bioavailability. adj., bioequiv´alent., adj.

bioethics
(bi″o-eth´iks) the application of ethics to the biological sciences, medicine, nursing, and health care, including the practical ethical questions raised in everyday health care.

biofeedback
(bi″o-fēd´bak) the provision of visual or auditory evidence to a person of the status of his or her own involuntary vital body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, or respiratory rate; this is a method of teaching control of the responses of certain organs that were previously thought to be exc...

biofilm
(bi´o-film″) a thin layer of microorganisms adhering to the surface of a structure, which may be organic or inorganic, together with the polymers that they secrete.

biogenesis
(bi″o-jen´ә-sis) the theory, opposed to spontaneous generation, that living matter always arises by the agency of preexisting living matter.

biogenic
(bi″o-jen´ik) originating in a biological process.

bioimplant
(bi″o-im´plant) denoting a prosthesis made of biosynthetic material.

bioincompatible
(bi″o-in″kәm-pat´ә-bәl) inharmonious with life; having toxic or injurious effects on life functions.

bioinformatics
(bi″o-in″for-mat´iks) the organization and use of biological information, particularly computer-driven storage, processing, and analysis of data and databases in the fields of molecular biology and genetics.

biokinetics
(bi″o-kĭ-net´iks) the science of the movements within organisms. the application of therapeutic exercise in rehabilitative treatment or performance enhancement.

biologic
(bi-o-loj´ik) biological (def. 1).

biological
(bi-o-loj´ĭ-kәl) pertaining to biology. a medicinal preparation made from living organisms and their products, such as a serum or vaccine.

biological adaptation
the adaptation of living things to environmental factors for the ultimate purpose of survival, reproduction, and an optimal level of functioning.

biological assay
bioassay; determination of the potency of a drug or other substance by comparing the effects it has on animals with those of a reference standard.

biological clock
the physiologic mechanism that governs the rhythmic occurrence of certain biochemical, physiologic, and behavioral phenomena in living organisms. See also biological rhythms.

biological monitoring
examination of materials such as blood or urine that come from living organisms, to determine if there has been exposure to given chemical substances.

biological psychiatry
that which emphasizes biochemical, pharmacological, and neurological causes and treatment approaches.

biological rhythm
biorhythm.

biological system
a system composed of living material; such systems range from a collection of separate molecules to an assemblage of separate organisms.

biological therapy
treatment of disease by injection of substances that produce a biological reaction in the organism, such as sera, antitoxins, vaccines, and nonspecific proteins.

biologist
(bi-ol´ә-jist) a specialist in biology. cell biologist a specialist in cell biology.

biology
(bi-ol´ә-je) scientific study of living organisms. adj., biolog´ic, biolog´ical., adj. cell biology the study of the origin, structure, function, behavior, growth, and reproduction of cells and their components. Called also cytology. molecular biolog...

bioluminescence
(bi″o-loo″mĭ-nes´әns) the production of light by chemicals (as in fireflies) occurring in living cells.

biomarker
(bi´o-mahr″kәr) a biological molecule used as a marker for a substance or process of interest. tumor marker.

biomass
(bi´o-mas″) the entire assemblage of living organisms of a particular region, considered collectively.

biomaterial
(bi″o-mә-tēr-e-әl) any substance (other than a drug), synthetic or natural, that can be used as a system or part of a system that treats, augments, or replaces any tissue, organ, or function of the body; especially, material suitable for use in prostheses that will be in contact with living ...

biome
(bi´ōm) a large, distinct, easily differentiated community of organisms arising as a result of complex interactions of climatic factors, flora, fauna, and substrate; usually designated according to kind of vegetation present, such as tundra, coniferous forest, deciduous forest, or grassland.

biomechanics
(bi″o-mә-kan´iks) the application of mechanical laws to living structures. See also kinesiology.

biomedicine
(bi″o-med´ĭ-sin) clinical medicine based on the principles of the natural sciences such as biology and biochemistry. adj., biomed´ical., adj.

biomembrane
(bi″o-mem´brān) any membrane of an organism, such as a cell membrane. adj., biomem´branous., adj.

biometrics
(bi″o-met´riks) biometry.

biometry
(bi-om´ә-tre) the application of statistical methods and measurement methods to biological phenomena.

biomicroscope
(bi″o-mi´krә-skōp) a microscope for examining living tissue in the body.

biomicroscopy
(bi″o-mi-kros´kә-pe) microscopic examination of living tissue in the body.

biomimetic
(bi″o-mĭ-met´ik) imitating something that exists in nature; said of a synthetic product or process.

biomodulator
(bi″o-mod´u-la″tәr) biological response modifier.

biomolecule
(bi″o-mol´ә-kūl) a molecule produced by living cells, such as that of a protein, carbohydrate, lipid, or nucleic acid.

bionecrosis
(bi″o-nә-kro´sis) necrobiosis.

bionics
(bi-on´iks) scientific study of how functions, characteristics, and phenomena observed in the living world can be applied to nonliving systems.

biophysics
(bi-o-fiz´iks) the science dealing with the application of physical methods and theories to biological problems. adj., biophys´ical., adj.

biophysiology
(bi″o-fiz-e-ol´ә-je) that portion of biology including organogenesis, morphology, and physiology.

bioprosthesis
(bi″o-pros-the´sis) a prosthesis made of biological material.

biopsy
(bi´op-se) removal and examination, usually microscopic, of tissue from the living body, often to determine whether a tumor is malignant or benign; biopsies are also done for diagnosis of disease processes such as infections.

biopsy needle
a hollow needle with an inner needle that detaches tissue for biopsy and brings it to the surface of its lumen; types include the Menghini and Silverman needles. See also needle biopsy.

biopsychology
(bi″o-si-kol´ә-je) psychobiology (def. 1).

bioreversible
(bi″o-re-vur´sĭ-bәl) capable of being changed back to the original biologically active chemical form by processes within the organism; said of drugs.

biorhythm
(bi´o-rith-әm) the established regularity with which certain phenomena recur in living organisms, such as a circadian rhythm. Called also biological rhythm.

bioscience
(bi″o-si´ens) the study of biology wherein all the applicable sciences (such as physics, chemistry, and others) are applied.

biosocial
(bi″o-so´shul) pertaining to interrelationships between biological and social phenomena.

biosphere
(bi´o-sfēr″) that part of the universe in which living organisms are known to exist; see also atmosphere. the sphere of action between an organism and its environment.

biostatistics
(bi″o-stә-tis´tiks) the application of statistics to biology, medicine, nursing, and other health-related professions.

biosynthesis
(bi″o-sin´thә-sis) creation of a compound by physiologic processes in a living organism. adj., biosynthet´ic., adj.

biosynthetic pathway
the metabolic pathway synthesizing a specific end product in a living organism.

Biot respiration
Biot sign breathing characterized by irregular periods of apnea alternating with periods in which four or five breaths of identical depth are taken; seen in patients with increased intracranial pressure associated with spinal meningitis and other central nervous system disorders.

biota
(bi-o´tә) all the living organisms of a particular area; the combined flora and fauna of a region.

biotechnology
(bi″o-tek-nol´ә-je) any application of technology that uses biological systems, organisms, or their derivatives, to create new products or processes or modify existing ones. Broadly used, the term includes processes traditional to agriculture and food production, but it may be used more narrowly to enc...

biotelemetry
(bi″o-tә-lem´ә-tre) the use of telemetry to record and measure certain vital phenomena occurring in living organisms.

bioterrorism
(bi″o-ter´әr-iz-әm) the use, or threat of use, of biological agents to negatively affect the health of a population; the objective is to instill fear and disrupt the normal functioning of a society or culture.