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

community health nurse
a registered nurse whose work combines elements of both primary care nursing and public health practice and takes place mainly outside the therapeutic institution. Emphasis is on disease prevention and health promotion by measures such as early detection of disease and prompt intervention in cases of disease or high-risk behavi...

community nurse
British term for community health nurse.

community psychiatry
the branch of psychiatry concerned with the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders in a designated geographical area, with emphasis on environmental factors.

community psychology
the application of psychological principles to the study and support of the mental health of individuals in their social sphere.

Comolli sign
a sign of scapular fracture consisting of the appearance in the scapular region, shortly after the accident, of a triangular swelling reproducing the shape of the body of the scapula.

comorbid
(ko-mor´bid) pertaining to a disease or other pathological process that occurs simultaneously with another.

comorbidity
(ko″mor-bid´ĭ-te) a comorbid disease or condition. the state of being comorbid. the extent to which two pathological conditions occur together in a given population.

compact bone
bone substance that is dense and hard.

compact layer of endometrium
stratum compactum.

compaction
(kәm-pak´shәn) a complication of labor in twin births in which there is simultaneous full engagement of the leading fetal poles of both twins, so that the true pelvic cavity is filled and further descent is prevented.

comparative anatomy
description and comparison of the form and structure of different animals.

comparative pathology
that which considers human disease processes in comparison with those of other animals.

compartment syndrome
compartmental syndrome a condition in which increased tissue pressure in a confined anatomical space causes decreased blood flow leading to ischemia and dysfunction of contained myoneural elements, marked by pain, muscle weakness, sensory loss, and palpable tenseness in the involved compartment. Ischemia can lead to necros...

compatibility
(kәm-pat″ĭ-bil´ĭ-te) the quality of being compatible; see also histocompatibility.

compatible
(kәm-pat´ĭ-bәl) capable of harmonious coexistence; said of two or more medications that are suitable for simultaneous administration without nullification or aggravation of their effects. denoting a donor and recipient of a blood transfusion in which there is no transfusion reaction. ...

Compazine
(kom´pә-zēn) trademark for preparations of prochlorperazine, an antipsychotic agent and antiemetic.

compensated acidosis
a condition in which the compensatory mechanisms have returned the pH toward normal.

compensated alkalosis
a form in which compensatory mechanisms have returned the pH toward normal.

compensation
(kom″pәn-sa´shәn) the counterbalancing of any defect of structure or function. a mental process that may be either conscious or, more often, an unconscious defense mechanism by which a person tries to make up for real or imagined physical or psychological deficiencies. in cardiolo...

compensatory atrophy
atrophy, particularly of an endocrine organ, caused by negative feedback mechanisms when its paired organ or some other structure releases large amounts of a regulator similar to or identical with the normal product of the gland.

compensatory hypertrophy
that which results from an increased workload due to some physical defect, such as in an organ where one part is defective, or in one kidney when the other is absent or nonfunctional.

complement
(kom´plә-mәnt) a term originally used to refer to the heat-labile factor in serum that causes immune cytolysis (lysis of antibody-coated cells). It is now used to refer to the entire functionally related system comprising at least 20 distinct serum proteins, their cellular receptors, and related regulatory p...

complement control protein
(CCP) any of a superfamily of proteins involved in complement regulation, encoded in a closely linked gene cluster, and having one or more stretches of a common short consensus repeat encoding a 60 amino acid domain. Included are factor H, C4 binding protein, decay accelerating factor, membrane cofactor protein, a...

complement fixation
the combining of complement with the antigen-antibody complex, rendering the complement inactive, or fixed. Its presence or absence as free, active complement can be shown by adding sensitized blood cells to the mixture. If free complement is present, hemolysis occurs; if not, no hemolysis is observed. This reaction is th...

complement fixation tests
tests that use antigen-antibody reaction and result in hemolysis to determine the presence of various organisms in the blood; see also complement fixation.

complement receptors
membrane receptors that can bind activated complement components. For example, component C3b binds to complement receptors of neutrophils, B lymphocytes, and macrophages.

complement system
see complement.

complement-fixing antibody
antibody that activates complement when reacted with antigen; it is most often either immunoglobulin M or the immunoglobulin G subclass 1, 2, or 3.

complementary
(kom″plә-men´tә-re) supplying a defect, or helping to do so; making complete; accessory. in biochemistry, pertaining to the specific pairing between purine and pyrimidine bases in two nucleotide strands as a function of the base-pairing rules, so that the sequence of a strand defines the ...

complementary DNA
copy DNA(cDNA) DNA transcribed from a specific RNA in vitro through the reaction of the enzyme reverse transcriptase.

complementary genes
two or more nonallelic genes that act together to produce a phenotype that is produced by neither individually.

complementary medicine
complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) a large and diverse set of systems of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention based on philosophies and techniques other than those used in conventional Western medicine, often derived from traditions of medical practice used in other, non-Western cultures. Such pract...

complementary opposition sign
Hoover sign (def. 1).

complementation
(kom″plә-men-ta´shәn) the interaction between two sets of genes introduced into the same cell, such that the cell can function even though each set of genes carries a mutated, nonfunctional gene; it indicates that the defects are not identical.

complete abortion
complete expulsion of all the products of conception.

complete antibody
antibody capable of agglutinating cells in physiologic saline solution.

complete atrioventricular block
third degree atrioventricular block.

complete blood count
a series of tests of the peripheral blood, including the erythrocyte count, erythrocyte indices,leukocyte counts, and sometimes platelet count.

complete cataract
total cataract.

complete color blindness
monochromatic vision.

complete denture
an appliance replacing all the teeth of one jaw, as well as associated structures of the jaw.

complete dislocation
one in which the surfaces are entirely separated.

complete fistula
an abnormal passage extending from the skin to an internal body cavity.

complete fracture
one involving the entire cross section of the bone.

complete heart block
third degree heart block.

complete hernia
a type, usually an indirect inguinal hernia, in which the sac and its contents pass completely through the defect.

complete protein
one containing the essential amino acids in the proportion required in the human diet.

complex
(kom´pleks) the sum, combination, or collection of various things or related factors, like or unlike, such as a complex of symptoms. See also syndrome. sequence (def. 2). a group of interrelated ideas, mainly unconscious, that have a common emotional tone and strongly influence a person's att...

complex partial seizure
see partial seizure.

complex regional pain syndrome
(CRPS) a chronic pain syndrome, usually affecting a limb, characterized by intense burning pain, changes in skin color and texture, increased skin temperature and sensitivity, sweating, edema, and, in some cases, osteoporosis. It is classified as either type 1 (without demonstrable nerve injury; called also ...

complex simple fracture
a closed fracture in which there is considerable injury to adjacent soft tissues.

complexion
(kәm-plek´shәn) the color and appearance of the skin of the face.

compliance
(kәm-pli´әns) implementation by the patient of the therapeutic plan that has been established. the quality of yielding to pressure or force without disruption. a measurement of the ability to expand under pressure and not become disrupted, applied to the distensibility of an air- or ...

complicated cataract
secondary cataract.

complicated fracture
fracture with injury of the adjacent parts.

complicating disease
one that occurs as a complication in the course of some other disease.

complication
(kom″plĭ-ka´shәn) one or more disease(s) concurrent with another disease. the occurrence of two or more diseases in the same patient. an injury or disorder occurring in a patient with a pre-existing condition.

component
(kom-po´nәnt) a constituent element or part. one part of a prosthesis system. M component structurally homogeneous protein in serum or urine appearing as a sharp spike in the beta or gamma globulin region on protein electrophoresis. The protein is in most case...

compos mentis
(kom´pәs men´tis) Latin word meaning sound of mind, sane.

composite
(kәm-poz´it) made up of unlike parts. composite resin.

composite joint
compound joint a synovial joint in which more than two bones are involved.

composite resin
a synthetic resin, usually acrylic based, to which a high percentage of ceramic reinforcing filler has been added, such as particles of glass or silica coated with a coupling agent to bind them to the matrix; used chiefly in dental restorations. Called also composite.

compound
(kom´pound) made up of two or more parts or ingredients. in chemistry, a substance made up of two or more elements in union. The elements are united chemically, which means that each of the original elements loses its individual characteristics once it has combined with the other(s). When elements combine ...

compound aneurysm
one in which some of the layers of the wall of the vessel are ruptured and some merely dilated; called also mixed aneurysm.

compound astigmatism
that in which both principal meridians are either hyperopic (compound hyperopic astigmatism, with rays coming into focus behind the retina) or myopic (compound myopic astigmatism, with rays coming into focus in front of the retina).

compound dislocation
one in which the joint communicates with the outside air through a wound.

compound fracture
open fracture.

compound gland
one made up of a number of smaller units whose excretory ducts combine to form ducts of progressively higher order.

compound granule cell
gitter cell.

compound microscope
one consisting of two lens systems whereby the image formed by the system near the object is magnified by the one nearer the eye.

compound nevus
a type of melanocytic nevus composed of fully formed nests of nevus cells in the epidermis and newly forming ones in the dermis.

compound presentation
prolapse of one of the limbs of the fetus alongside the head in cephalic presentation or of one or both arms along with a breech presentation at the beginning of labor.

compound protein
conjugated protein one in which the protein molecule is united with nonprotein molecules or prosthetic groups, such as a glycoprotein, lipoprotein, or metalloprotein.

comprehensive health organization
(CHO) in Canada, a joint venture formed by community and provider interests operating a nonprofit corporation; these agencies combine the existing elements of the health care system into a unified whole and provide a range of health promotion and treatment services to a defined roster population.

compress
(kom´pres) a pad of gauze or similar dressing, for application of pressure or medication to a restricted area, or for local applications of heat or cold.

compressed-air disease
decompression sickness.

compression
(kәm-presh´әn) the act of pressing upon or together; the state of being pressed together. in embryology, the shortening or omission of certain developmental stages. the flattening of soft tissue to improve optical density in radiographic procedures such as mammography.

compression anesthesia
loss of sensation resulting from pressure on a nerve.

compression atrophy
atrophy of a part due to constant pressure.

compression fracture
one produced by compression.

compression myelopathy
myelopathy due to pressure on the spinal cord, as from a tumor.

compression paralysis
that caused by pressure on a nerve.

compression syndrome
crush syndrome.

compression therapy
treatment of venous insufficiency, varicose veins, or venous ulceration of the lower limbs by having the patient wear compressing garments such as support hose.

compressor
(kәm-pres´әr) something that causes compression. an instrument that compresses a vessel. a muscle that compresses or presses down on a part; see also constrictor. air compressor a device used to pressurize room air, which can then be used to power o...

compressor urethrae muscle
compressor muscle of urethra (only in females): origin, ischiopubic ramus on each side; insertion, blends with its partner on the other side, in front of the urethra; innervation, perineal branches of pudendal nerve; action, acts as an accessory urethral sphincter.

compulsion
(kәm-pul´shәn) a recurrent, unwanted, and distressing (ego-dystonic) urge to perform an act. an act or ritual that is repetitive and stereotyped and is performed to ward off something unpleasant, even though the person recognizes that the act does not do so in any realistic way. The ritual serv...

compulsive personality
compulsive personality disorder obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

computed tomography
(CT) computerized axial tomography(CAT) a radiologic imaging method that uses computer processing to generate an image (CAT scan) of the tissue density in a “slice” as thin as 1 to 10 mm in thickness through the patient's body. These images are spaced at intervals of 0.5 to 1 cm. Cross-se...

ConA
concanavalin.

conation
(ko-na´shәn) in psychology, the power that motivates effort of any kind; the conscious tendency to act.

conative
(kon´ә-tiv) pertaining to the basic strivings of a person, as expressed by behavior and actions.

concanavalin A
(ConA) (kon″kә-nav´ә-lin) a lectin isolated from the jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) that agglutinates mammalian erythrocytes and is a mitogen that stimulates predominantly T lymphocytes.

Concato disease
(kon-kah´tō) progressive malignant polyserositis with large effusions into the pericardium, pleura, and peritoneum.

concave
(kon-kāv´) rounded and somewhat depressed or hollowed out.

concave lens
one curved like a section of the interior of a hollow sphere; it disperses light rays. Called also diverging lens.

concavity
(kon-kav´ĭ-te) a depression or hollowed surface.

concealed accessory pathway
an accessory pathway that has only retrograde conduction; thus its PR and QRS complexes are normal on the electrocardiogram, but there is a tendency to develop premature supraventricular tachycardia. If atrial fibrillation develops, conduction will proceed across the atrioventricular node.

concealed conduction
conduction that is not seen on the surface electrocardiogram but may be detected by its effect on subsequent impulses; common examples are the incomplete penetration of the AV junction during atrial fibrillation, the Wenckebach type penetration during atrial flutter, and the retrograde incomplete penetration following ventricul...

concealed hemorrhage
internal hemorrhage.