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

deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) (de-ok″se-ri″bo-noo-kle´ik) a nucleic acid of complex molecular structure occurring in cell nuclei as the basic structure of the genes; it is present in all body cells of every species, including unicellular organisms and DNA viruses. Its molecules are linear polymers of small molecules ...

deoxyribonucleoprotein
(de-ok″se-ri″bo-noo″kle-o-pro´tēn) a nucleoprotein in which the sugar is D-2-deoxyribose.

deoxyribonucleoside
(de-ok″se-ri″bo-noo´kle-o-sīd) a nucleoside having a purine or pyrimidine base bonded to deoxyribose.

deoxyribonucleotide
(de-ok″se-ri″bo-noo´kle-o-tīd) a nucleotide having a purine or pyrimidine base bonded to deoxyribose, which in turn is bonded to a phosphate group.

deoxyribose
(de-ok″se-ri´bōs) an aldopentose found in deoxyribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleotides, and deoxyribonucleosides.

deoxyuridine suppression test
(for folate or cobalamin deficiency) lack of 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate inhibits incorporation of deoxyuridine into DNA, so that deoxyuridine fails to inhibit incorporation of 3H-thymidine.

Depage position
a prone position with the pelvis raised to form the apex of an inverted V, while the trunk and lower limbs form the branches of the V.

dependence
(de-pen´dәns) a need for something. drug dependence.

dependency
(de-pen´dәn-se) a state of relying on another for love, affection, mothering, comfort, security, food, warmth, shelter, protection, and the like.

dependent
(de-pen´dәnt) pertaining to dependence or to dependency. hanging down.

dependent edema
edema of the lowermost parts of the body relative to the heart; it is affected by gravity and position, so that the lower limbs are affected if the individual is standing, but the buttocks are affected if the individual is supine.

dependent personality disorder
a personality disorder in which a person has excessive need to be taken care of, with submissiveness, clinging, and preoccupation with fears of abandonment. Individuals with the disorder have difficulty making decisions, and avoid taking initiative or responsibility. They allow others to assume responsibility for major ar...

dependent variable
in a mathematical equation or relationship between two or more variables, a variable whose value depends on those of others; it represents a response, behavior, or outcome that the researcher wishes to predict or explain.

Dependovirus
(dә-pen´do-vi″rәs) a genus of viruses of the family Parvoviridae that require simultaneous infection (coinfection) with an adenovirus or herpesvirus as a helper for replication. Human infection without symptoms is common.

depersonalization
(de-pur″sәn-әl-ĭ-za´shәn) alteration in the perception of the self so that the usual sense of one's own reality is lost, manifested in a sense of unreality or self-estrangement, in changes of body image, or in a feeling that one does not control one's own actions and speech; seen in di...

depersonalization disorder
a dissociative disorder in which there are feelings of unreality and strangeness in one's perception of self or of one's body image. Persons with this disorder may feel as though they are in a dream or are not totally in control of their actions. Episodes of depersonalization are usually accompanied by dizziness, anxiety,...

dephosphorylation
(de-fos″for-ә-la´shәn) removal of a phosphate group from an organic molecule.

depigmentation
(de-pig″mәn-ta´shәn) removal or loss of pigment, especially melanin, such as in amelanosis, leukoderma, vitiligo, and other conditions.

depilate
(dep´ĭ-lāt) to remove hair.

depilation
(dep″ĭ-la´shәn) removal of hair by the roots; called also epilation.

depilatory
(dә-pil´ә-tor″e) removing or destroying hair. an agent that does this. Called also epilatory.

depletion
(dә-ple´shәn) the act or process of emptying or removing, as of fluid from a body compartment.

Depo-Provera
(dep″o-pro-ver´ә) trademark for a preparation of medroxyprogesterone acetate for intramuscular injection, a progestational agent used in treatment of dysmenorrhea, metastatic cancer, and other conditions, as hormone replacement therapy, and as a long-acting contraceptive.

Depo-Testosterone
(dep″o-tes-tos´tәr-ōn) trademark for a sustained-action preparation of testosterone cypionate, used in treatment of hypogonadism or delayed puberty in males and certain forms of metastatic breast cancer in females.

depolarization
(de-po″lәr-ĭ-za´shәn) the reduction of a membrane's resting potential so that it becomes less negative. In cardiac physiology there are several forms: the normal slow diastolic depolarization of pacemaker cells; the slow but normal depolarization of cells of the atrioventricular and sinoatrial nod...

depolarization block
failure of an excitable cell to respond to a stimulus, because the membrane is depolarized.

depolarizing electrode
an electrode that has a resistance greater than that of the portion of the body enclosed in the circuit.

depolarizing stimulus
a stimulus that lowers the resting potential, making the inside of a fiber less negative. In cardiac fibers this means bringing the resting potential from −90 mV to −70 mV.

depolymerization
(de″pә-lim″әr-ĭ-za´shәn) the conversion of a polymer into its component monomers.

deposit
(de-poz´it) sediment or dregs. extraneous inorganic matter collected in the tissues or in an organ of the body.

depot
(de´po) (dep´o) a body area in which a substance (such as a drug) can be accumulated, deposited, or stored and from which it can be distributed. fat depot a site in the body in which large quantities of fat are stored, as in adipose tissue.

depressant
(de-pres´әnt) diminishing any function or activity; see also depressor. an agent that retards any function, especially a drug that acts on the central nervous system to depress activity at all levels by stabilizing neuronal membranes. Central nervous system depressants such as barbiturates and inhala...

depressed
(de-prest´) carried below the normal level. characterized by or associated with depression.

depressed fracture
depressed skull fracture fracture of the skull in which a fragment is depressed.

depression
(de-presh´әn) a hollow or depressed area. a lowering or decrease of functional activity. in psychiatry, a mental state of altered mood characterized by feelings of sadness, discouragement, and despair; it must be distinguished from grief, which is a realistic and proportionate response ...

depressive
(de-pres´iv) tending to lower. of or pertaining to depression.

depressive delusion
a delusion that is congruent with a predominant depressed mood, such as a delusion of serious illness, poverty, or spousal infidelity.

depressive disorders
mood disorders in which depression is unaccompanied by episodes of mania or hypomania, including major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder. See also bipolar disorders.

depressive personality disorder
a personality disorder characterized by a persistent and pervasive pattern of depressive thoughts and behaviors, such as chronic unhappiness, low self-esteem, pessimism, critical and derogatory attitudes toward oneself and others, feelings of guilt or remorse, and an inability to relax or feel enjoyment.

depressive syndrome
depression (def. 3).

depressomotor
(de-pres″o-mo´tәr) retarding or abating motor activity. an agent that so acts.

depressor
(de-pres´әr) anything that depresses, such as a muscle, agent, or instrument. See also depressant. depressor nerve. tongue depressor an instrument for pressing down the tongue, allowing better visualization of the oropharynx.

depressor anguli oris muscle
depressor muscle of angle of mouth: origin, lower border of mandible; insertion, corner (angle) of mouth; innervation, facial nerve; action, pulls down corner of mouth.

depressor fibers
afferent nerve fibers that when stimulated reflexly cause diminished vasomotor tone and thus decreased arterial pressure.

depressor labii inferioris muscle
depressor muscle of lower lip: origin, anterior portion of lower border of mandible; insertion, orbicularis oris muscle and skin of lower lip; innervation, facial nerve; action, depresses (pushes down) lower lip.

depressor nerve
a nerve that lessens the activity of an organ. an afferent nerve whose stimulation causes a fall in blood pressure.

depressor reflex
a response to stimulation resulting in decreased motor activity.

depressor septi nasi muscle
depressor muscle of nasal septum: origin, incisor fossa of maxilla; insertion, ala and septum of nose; innervation, facial nerve; action, contracts nostril and depresses ala.

depressor substance
vasodepressor. depressant.

depressor supercilii muscle
a name given a few fibers of the orbital part of the orbicularis oculi muscle that are inserted in the eyebrow, which they depress (push down).

deprivation
(dep″rĭ-va´shәn) loss or absence of something, such as a part, organ, or capability. emotional deprivation deprivation of adequate and appropriate interpersonal or environmental experience, usually in the early developmental years. maternal deprivation ...

deprivation disease
deficiency disease.

deprivation dwarfism
severe growth retardation in infants as a result of emotional deprivation, as in the maternal deprivation syndrome.

depth psychology
the study of unconscious mental processes.

deradelphus
(der″ә-del´fәs) malformed twins fused at or near the navel and having one head.

derailment
(de-rāl´ment) disordered thought or speech characteristic of schizophrenia and marked by constant jumping around from one topic to another before the first is fully realized, the topics often being clearly but indirectly related or unrelated.

derangement
(de-rānj´mәnt) older term for a mental disorder. disarrangement of a part or organ.

Dercum disease
(dur´kәm) adiposis dolorosa.

derealization
(de-re″әl-ĭ-za´shәn) loss of sensation of the reality of one's surroundings; the feeling that something has happened, that the world has been changed and altered, that one is detached from one's environment. It is seen most frequently in schizophrenia. See also depersonalization.

dereism
(de´re-iz-әm) dereistic thinking.

dereistic
(de″re-is´tik) directed away from reality; not using normal logic.

derencephalus
(der″en-sef´ә-lәs) a fetus with a rudimentary skull and bifid cervical vertebrae, the brain resting in the bifurcation.

derepression
(de″re-presh´әn) removal of repression of a gene or operon, leading to or enhancing gene expression.

derived protein
derivatives of the protein molecule formed by hydrolytic changes, including coagulated proteins, peptones, and peptides.

dermabrader
(dur″mә-brād´әr) a surgical instrument used for removal or rounding out of scars and for other plastic surgery procedures.

dermabrasion
(dur″mә-bra´zhәn) planing of the skin done by mechanical means such as sandpaper or wire brushes.

Dermacentor
(dur″mә-sen´tәr) a genus of ticks that are important transmitters of disease. D. anderso´ni is parasitic in various wild mammals and transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, tularemia, and tick paralysis. D. varia´bilis, is usually parasitic in dogs but also attacks cattle, horses, rabbit...

dermal
(dur´mәl) pertaining to the dermis. pertaining to the skin; cutaneous; dermic.

dermal analogue tumor
membranous adenoma.

dermal duct tumor
a small, intradermal, papular, eccrine lesion occurring on the head and neck in older adults.

dermal graft
a skin graft of dermis, used instead of fascia in any of various procedures.

dermal papilla
one of the conical extensions of the fibers, capillary blood vessels, and sometimes nerves of the dermis into corresponding spaces among downward- or inward-projecting rete ridges on the undersurface of the epidermis.

dermal pneumonia
a condition produced by injection of virulent pneumococci into the skin of rabbits.

dermal ridges
ridges of the skin produced by the projecting dermal papillae on the palm of the hand and sole of the foot; they produce the fingerprint or footprint that is characteristic of the individual. Called also cristae cutis.

dermal sinus
a congenital sinus tract extending from the surface of the body, between the bodies of two adjacent lumbar vertebrae, to the spinal canal.

dermal-epidermal junction
dermoepidermal junction the plane of meeting between the dermis and epidermis.

Dermanyssus
(dur″mә-nis´әs) a genus of mites. D. galli´nae is the bird or chicken mite, which sometimes infests humans.

dermatan sulfate
a glycosaminoglycan found mostly in the skin but also in blood vessels, tendons, heart valves, and pulmonary connective tissues. It consists of repeating disaccharide units in specific linkage, each composed of a ©-4) sulfated N-acetylgalactosamine linked to a uronic acid, generally L-iduronic acid, which is sometimes sulfated....

dermatitides
(dur″mә-tit´ĭ-dēz) plural of dermatitis; inflammatory conditions of the skin considered collectively.

dermatitis
(dur″mә-ti´tis) pl. dermati´tides Inflammation of the skin; it can result from various animal, vegetable, and chemical substances, from heat or cold, from mechanical irritation, from certain forms of malnutrition, or from infectious disease. In some cases, dermatitis may have a psychologic rather than a...

dermatitis calorica
(dur″mә-ti´tis kә-lor´ĭ-kә) any of the types caused by heat or cold; see erythema ab igne and cold erythema.

dermatitis exfoliativa neonatorum
(dur″mә-ti´tis eks-fo″le-ә-ti´v´ ne″o-na-tor´әm) exfoliative dermatitis occurring as part of bullous impetigo. Called also Ritter disease.

dermatitis gangrenosa infantum
(dur″mә-ti´tis gang″grә-no´sә in-fan´tәm) a rare gangrenous skin disease of young children, usually seen on the lower back and buttocks, in which multiple small erosive and pustular lesions coalesce to form extensive areas of sloughing. It may occur as a primary condition or be second...

dermatitis herpetiformis
(dur″mә-ti´tis hәr-pet″ĭ-for´mis) a chronic, relapsing multisystem disease with mainly cutaneous symptoms, presenting as a pruritic eruption with various combinations of grouped, erythematous, symmetrical, papular, papulovesicular, vesicular, eczematous, and bullous lesions, that usually ...

dermatitis vegetans
(dur″mә-ti´tis vej´ә-tanz) the Hallopeau type of pemphigus vegetans.

dermatoautoplasty
(dur″mә-to-aw´to-plas″te) transplantation of skin from one part of the body to another.

Dermatobia
(dur″mә-to´be-ә) a genus of botflies. The larvae of D. ho´minis are parasitic in the skin of humans, mammals, and birds.

dermatofibroma
(dur″mә-to-fi-bro´mә) a fibrous tumorlike nodule of the skin, usually on the leg. Its etiology is not known, but it is most likely a neoplastic disorder. Although it is benign, itching and pain can be a source of severe discomfort.

dermatofibrosarcoma
(dur″mә-to-fi″bro-sahr-ko´mә) a fibrosarcoma of the skin, arising from the dermis and invading deeper subcutaneous tissue such as fat, fascia, and muscle. dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans a locally aggressive, bulky, protruding, nodular, fibrotic neoplasm in the der...

dermatogenic cataract
syndermatotic cataract.

dermatoglyphics
(dur″mә-to-glif´iks) study of fingerprints and similar patterns of skin ridges of the hands and feet; done in anthropology and law enforcement to establish identity and in medicine, both clinically and as a genetic indicator, such as of chromosomal abnormalities like the trisomy 21 syndrome.

dermatographism
(dur″mә-tog´rә-fiz″әm) urticaria due to physical allergy in which a pale, raised welt or wheal with a red flare on each side is elicited by stroking or scratching the skin with a dull instrument. adj., dermatograph´ic., adj.

dermatoheteroplasty
(dur″mә-to-het´әr-o-plas″te) the grafting of skin derived from an individual of another species.

dermatologic
(dur″mә-to-loj´ik) pertaining to dermatology; of or affecting the skin.

dermatological
(dur″mә-to-loj´ĭ-kәl) dermatologic.

dermatologist
(dur″mә-tol´o-jist) a specialist in dermatology.

dermatology
(dur″mә-tol´ә-je) the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases.

dermatolysis
(dur″mә-tol´ә-sis) cutis laxa.

dermatome
(dur´mә-tōm) the area of skin supplied with afferent nerve fibers by a single posterior spinal root. Anterior and posterior views of the dermatomes. Each segment is named for the principal spinal nerve serving it. V, trigeminal segments; C, cervical segments; T, thoracic segme...

dermatomere
(dur´mә-to-mēr″) any segment of the embryonic integument.