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

biotic
(bi-ot´ik) pertaining to all plant and animal life or living organisms. pertaining to the biota.

biotin
(bi´o-tin) a sulfur-containing member of the vitamin B complex that plays an essential role in gluconeogenesis and the synthesis of fatty acids. Food sources include liver, egg yolk, soy flour, cereals, and yeast.

biotoxicology
(bi″o-tok″sĭ-kol´ә-je) scientific study of poisons produced by living organisms, their cause, detection, and effects, and treatment of conditions produced by them.

biotoxin
(bi´o-tok″sin) a poisonous substance produced by a living organism.

biotransformation
(bi″o-trans″for-ma´shәn) the series of chemical alterations of a compound (such as a drug) occurring within the body, as by enzymatic activity.

biotype
(bi´o-tīp) a group of individuals having the same genotype. biovar.

biovar
(bi´o-vahr) (bi´o-var) in bacteriology, a variant strain of a species having differentiable physiological or biochemical characteristics; called also biotype.

biovular
(bi-ov´u-lәr) binovular.

biparental
(bi″pә-ren´tәl) derived from two parents, male and female.

biparous
(bip´ә-rәs) producing two offspring or eggs at one time.

bipedicle flap
a pedicle flap with two vascular attachments.

bipennate muscle
pennate muscle.

bipenniform
(bi-pen´ĭ-form) doubly feather-shaped; said of muscles whose fibers are arranged on each side of a tendon like barbs on a feather shaft.

biperiden
(bi-per´ĭ-den) a synthetic anticholinergic used as an antidyskinetic to reduce the tremors of parkinsonism and for the treatment of drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions; administered orally as the hydrochloride salt and intramuscularly or intravenously as the lactate salt. Side effects are minor and include drynes...

biphenotypic acute leukemia
(BAL) acute leukemia in which cells of a single population express the markers of more than one cell lineage, usually those of myeloid and either B or T cells, but occasionally those of B and T cells or of all three (B. T, and myeloid) lineages.

biphenyl
(bi-fen´әl) diphenyl. polybrominated biphenyl(PBB) any of various brominated derivatives of biphenyl; uses and toxic hazards are similar to those of polychlorinated biphenyls. They typically are deposited in body fat stores and are rarely mobilized except through l...

bipolar
(bi-po´lәr) having two poles or pertaining to both poles. describing a neuron with processes at both ends. pertaining to mood disorders in which both manic or hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes occur.

bipolar cell
a neuron with two processes.

bipolar disorders
mood disorders with a history of manic, mixed, or hypomanic episodes, usually with present or previous history of one or more major depressive episode(s). Included are bipolar I disorder, characterized by one or more manic or mixed episode(s); bipolar II disorder, characterized by one or more hypomanic episode(s) but no manic episode...

bipolar lead
a configuration in which two electrodes are in contact with the organ being stimulated; this type is less susceptible to external electromagnetic interference than a unipolar lead is.

bipolar limb lead
any bipolar array in which both electrodes are attached to limbs. See also lead I, lead II, and lead III.

bipolar neuron
a neuron having two processes, one projecting from each end of the cell body; these may be either one axon and one dendrite or two dendrites.

bipolar pacemaker
an implanted pacemaker in which the lead contains both electrodes, anode and cathode, and is thus a complete circuit.

bipolar retinal cells
various types of bipolar neurons that are the second, intermediate, neurons in the vertical linkage of the retina and are analogous to the spinal ganglia. See also visual cells.

bipolar version
turning done by acting upon both poles of the fetus by either external or combined version.

bipotentiality
(bi″po-ten″she-al´ĭ-te) ability to develop or act in either of two different ways.

biramous
(bi-ra´mәs) having two branches.

Birbeck granules
rod- or tennis racquet–shaped inclusions with a central linear, longitudinally striated nucleus, found in the cytoplasm of Langerhans' cells.

birch tar oil
a pyroligneous oil obtained by dry distillation of the bark and wood of various birches, used topically in the treatment of eczema and other types of dermatitis.

bird breeder's lung
bird handler's lung pigeon breeder's lung.

birefractive
(bi″re-frak´tiv) doubly refractive.

birefringence
(bi″re-frin´jәns) the quality of transmitting light unequally in different directions.

Birkett hernia
synovial hernia.

Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome
(bәrt´ hog´ dūb´) an autosomal dominant disorder of proliferation of ectodermal and mesodermal components, caused by a mutation on chromosome 17p and characterized by multiple acrochordons, trichodiscomas, and fibrofolliculomas on the head, chest, back, and arms; kidney tumors; spontaneous pneumothorax; and i...

birth canal
the canal through which the fetus passes in birth.

birth certificate
a written, authenticated record of the birth of a child, required in most countries of the world. After a birth is registered, the certificate is issued, representing legal proof of parentage, age, and citizenship. Birth certificates are of great personal and legal importance; they are required for many legal, business, a...

birth control
the concept of limiting the size of families by measures designed to prevent conception. This term has largely been superseded by the term family planning, which means planning the arrival of children to correspond with the desire and resources of the parent or parents. See also contraception.

birth palsy
birth paralysis obstetric paralysis.

birth rate
the number of live births in a geographic area in a defined period, usually one year, relative to some specified population. For the crude birth rate, it is the average total population or the midyear population in the area during the period. Specific birth rates for subsets of the population may also be calculated, for e...

birthing room
a hospital room that is utilized for labor and delivery. It is decorated in a homelike, comfortable fashion and contains a specially equipped bed that can be adjusted for delivery. Specialized equipment is often concealed.

birthmark
(burth´mahrk) a congenital blemish or spot on the skin, usually visible at birth or shortly after; those appearing later are often at the location of a skin defect present at birth. See also nevus. vascular birthmark hemangioma.

bis in die
(bis in de´a) Latin phrase meaning twice a day; abbreviated b.i.d.

bisacodyl
(bis-ak´ә-dәl) (bis″ә-ko´dәl) a contact laxative used before procedures involving the colon; administered orally or by rectal suppository, either as the base or as a complex with tannic acid (bisacodyl tannex).

bisacromial
(bis-ә-kro´me-әl) pertaining to the two acromial processes.

bisection
(bi-sek´shәn) division into two parts by cutting.

bisexual
(bi-sek´shoo-әl) of or pertaining to bisexuality; see also ambisexual and unisexual. an individual exhibiting bisexuality.

bisexuality
(bi-sek″shoo-al´ĭ-te) true hermaphroditism; the condition of having gonads of both sexes. sexual attraction to persons of both sexes; exhibition of both homosexual and heterosexual behavior. existence of the psychological qualities of both sexes, both masculinity and femininity, in the s...

bisferious
(bis-fe´re-әs) having two beats, as a bisferious pulse.

bisferious pulse
pulsus bisferiens.

Bishop score
(bish´әp) a score for estimating the prospects of induction of labor, arrived at by evaluating the extent of cervical dilatation, effacement, the station of the fetal head, consistency of the cervix, and the cervical position in relation to the vaginal axis.

bishydroxycoumarin
(bis″hi-drok″se-koo´mә-rin) former name for dicumarol.

bisiliac
(bis-il´e-ak) pertaining to the two iliac bones or to any two corresponding points on them.

bismuth
(Bi) (biz´mәth) a chemical element, atomic number 83, atomic weight 208.980. Its salts have been used for their antacid and mild astringent properties in relief of inflammatory diseases of the stomach and intestines, and as topical protectants in skin and anorectal disorders. ...

bismuth line
a thin blue-black line along the gingival margin in bismuth poisoning.

bismuth poisoning
poisoning from excessive or chronic ingestion of bismuth or its salts; symptoms include anuria, stomatitis, dermatitis, and diarrhea. Called also bismuthosis.

bismuthosis
(biz″mә-tho´sis) chronic bismuth poisoning, with anuria, stomatitis, dermatitis, and diarrhea.

bisoprolol
(bis″o-pro´lol) a synthetic beta-adrenergic blocking agent, used as the fumarate salt; administered orally as an antihypertensive agent.

bisphosphonate
(bis-fos´fә-nāt) diphosphonate.

bistoury
(bis´tdbobr-re) a long, narrow surgical knife, straight or curved, used for incising abscesses and enlarging sinuses, fistulas, etc. Bistoury.

bisulfate
(bi-sul´fāt) an acid sulfate combining a sulfate radical with a monovalent metal and a hydrogen ion.

bite
(bīt) seizure with the teeth. a wound or puncture made by a living organism. an impression made by closure of the teeth upon some plastic material, such as wax. occlusion (def. 2).

bite reflex
strong closure of the jaws when the teeth or gums are stimulated.

bite-wing
(bīt´wing) a wing or fin attached along the center of the tooth side of a dental x-ray film and bitten on by the patient, permitting production of a bite-wing radiograph.

bitemporal
(bi-tem´pә-rәl) pertaining to both temples or temporal bones.

biteplate
(bīt´plāt) bite plate an appliance, usually plastic or wire, worn in the palate as a diagnostic or therapeutic adjunct in orthodontics or prosthodontics.

Bitis
(bi´tis) a genus of poisonous, brightly colored, thick-bodied snakes with heart-shaped heads. It includes the puff adder (B. arie´tans), Gaboon viper (B. gabon´ica), and rhinoceros viper (B. nasicor´nis).

bitolterol
(bi-tol´tәr-ol) a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist used as a bronchodilator; administered by inhalation as the mesylate salt in the treatment of bronchospasm associated with asthma and the treatment and prophylaxis of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive airway disease, including bronchitis and pulmonary emp...

Bitot spots
foamy gray triangular spots of keratinized epithelium on the conjunctivae, a sign of vitamin A deficiency.

bitrochanteric
(bi″tro-kan-ter´ik) pertaining to both trochanters on one femur or to both greater trochanters.

bitter almond oil
the fixed oil expressed from the bitter almond; see also almond oil (def. 1). the volatile oil distilled from Prunus dulcis var. amara, or from other kernels containing amygdalin; it contains hydrogen cyanide and so has been replaced by benzaldehyde, which is not toxic, as a pharmaceutical flavoring agent.

bitter orange oil
a volatile oil obtained from the peel or flowers of the bitter orange, used as a flavoring agent.

bituminosis
(bi-too″mĭ-no´sis) a mild type of pneumoconiosis caused by inhaling dust from bituminous (soft) coal.

biuret
(bi´u-rәt) a urea derivative that forms a chelate having an intense violet-red color with copper sulfate in alkaline solution; this reaction is known as the biuret reaction. The same reaction also occurs when compounds having two or more adjacent peptide bonds (for example, proteins), are reacted with copper...

bivalent
(bi-va´lәnt) divalent. the structure formed by a pair of homologous chromosomes joined by synapsis along their length during the zygotene and pachytene stages of the first meiotic prophase. After each homologous chromosome splits into two sister chromatids during the pachytene stage, this structure is call...

bivalirudin
(bi-val´ĭ-roo-din) an inhibitor of the clot-promoting activity of thrombin, used in conjunction with aspirin as an anticoagulant in patients with unstable angina pectoris who are undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; administered intravenously.

biventral
(bi-ven´trәl) having two bellies. digastric muscle.

biventricular
(bi″ven-trik´u-lәr) pertaining to or affecting both ventricles of the heart.

biventricular pacing
that in which a lead is used to deliver current directly to the left ventricle, in addition to those used to deliver current to the right atrium and ventricle, so that the ventricles can be induced to pump in synchrony.

bizarre delusion
one that is patently absurd, with no possible basis in fact.

bizygomatic
(bi″zi-go-mat´ik) pertaining to the two most prominent points of the two zygomatic arches.

Björnstad syndrome
(byorn´stahd) an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by congenital sensorineural deafness and pili torti.

Bk
berkelium.

BK virus
a virus of the genus Polyomavirus that is a common cause of infection in childhood and remains dormant in the person who has been infected. It is believed to cause hemorrhagic cystitis and nephritis in immunocompromised persons.

black cataract
black or dark-colored opacity occurring in senile nuclear sclerotic cataract.

Black Creek Canal virus
a virus of the genus Hantavirus that causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, found in warm regions of the Americas; the vectors are rodents, especially cotton rats of genus Sigmodon.

black death
bubonic plague; see plague.

black fever
visceral leishmaniasis.

black induration
the hardening and pigmentation of the lung tissue seen in coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

black lung
coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

black substance
substantia nigra.

black tongue
black hairy tongue hairy tongue in which the hypertrophied filiform papillae are brown or black.

black widow spider antivenin
antivenin (Latrodectus mactans).

Blackfan-Diamond anemia
(blak´fan di´mәnd) Blackfan-Diamond syndrome congenital hypoplastic anemia.

blackhead
(blak´hed) a plug of keratin and sebum within the dilated orifice of a hair follicle. The dark color is caused not by dirt but by the discoloring effect of air on the sebum in the clogged pore. Infection may cause it to develop into a pustule or boil. See also acne vulgaris. Called also open comedo.

blackout
(blak´out) temporary loss of vision and momentary unconsciousness due to diminished circulation to the brain and retina. Blackout refers specifically to a condition which sometimes occurs in aviators resulting from increased acceleration, which causes a decrease in blood supply to the brain cells. The term can als...

blackwater fever
a severe complication of malaria characterized by intravascular hemolysis, hemoglobinuria, renal failure, and passage of dark brown or red urine, seen in association with intermittent quinine therapy, with Plasmodium falciparum infection in the nonimmune, or with interrupted exposure in the partially immune.

bladder
(blad´әr) a membranous sac, such as one serving as a receptacle for secretion. Called also cyst and vesica. urinary bladder.

bladder calculus
vesical calculus.

bladder cancer
malignancy of the urinary bladder; this is the most common site of malignancy of the urinary system. It affects men more often than women, and it is seen more often in persons over age 50. Suspected contributing factors include exposure to industrial substances such as aniline dyes, and to the toxins in cigarette smoke. T...

bladder cells
swollen cells in the epidermis of the tips of the fingers and toes of the embryo. Called also Zander cells.