Medical Dictionary # B
i Medical Dictionary is ideal for both medical professionals and anyone who wants to keep up with the burgeoning array of terminology found in today's medical news. By avoiding jargon, the dictionary offers concise and easily accessible information for users searching for descriptions of over-the-counter or prescription medications, medical abbreviations, test procedures, medical research topics, or illnesses.
babesiidae
A family of protozoan parasites (class Sporozoea, order Piroplasmida) occurring in the red blood cells of various mammals. The organisms are piriform, round, or oval in shape and reproduce by schizogony to form tetrads or by binary fission to form pairs in the red blood cells; transmission is effected by ticks. The family includes the genera Babesia, Echinozoon, and Entopolypoides; Aegyptianella, formerly included, is now thought to be a rickettsia.
babesia
A genus of tick-borne protozoan parasites that infests the red blood cells of mammals, including humans. There are many recognised species, and the distribution is world-wide.
bacterial antagonism
The inhibition of one bacterium by products of another.
bacteriofluorescin
A fluorescent material produced by bacteria.
bacteriolysin
Specific antibody that combines with bacterial cells (i.e., antigen) and, in the presence of complement, causes lysis or dissolution of the cells.
bacteriophage plaque
A clear circular zone in an otherwise confluent growth of bacteria on an agar surface resulting from bacterial lysis by bacterial viruses.
bacteriophytoma
A lesion resembling a tumour that is caused by bacteria.
bacteriorhodopsin
A light driven proton pumping protein (248 residues, 26 kD), similar to rhodopsin, found in purple patches in the cytoplasmic membrane of the bacterium Halobacterium halobium. It is composed of 7 transmembrane helices and contains the light absorbing chromophore, retinal. Light absorption maxima: 568 nm (light adapted), 558 nm (dark adapted). Each photon results in the movement of 2 protons from cytoplasmic to extracellular sides of the membrane. The resulting proton gradient is used (amongst other things) to drive chemiosmotic synthesis of ATP.
bacteriuria
The presence of bacteria in the urine with or without consequent urinary tract infection. Since bacteriuria is a clinical entity, the term does not preclude the use of urine/microbiology for technical discussions on the isolation and segregation of bacteria in the urine.
baenomere
One of the somites (arthromeres) that make up the thorax of Arthropods.
bafilomycin
Microbial toxin that is a specific inhibitor of the V-type ATPase.
baggenstoss change
Distention of pancreatic acini by proteinaceous secretion, seen in dehydration.
baggenstoss change
Distention of pancreatic acini by proteinaceous secretion, seen in dehydration.
balanced lethal system
A population with non-linked, recessive alleles of a gene, where an individual who has two copies of the recessive allele and is therefore homozygous is dead, while an individual who has only one copy of it, and one copy of a different allele (and is heterozygous) survives.
balancing side condyle
In dentistry, the mandibular condyle on the side away from which the mandible moves in a lateral excursion.
baldness
Alopecia. There are many types of baldness, each with a different cause. Baldness can be localised to the front and top of the head, such as in male pattern baldness; patchy, such as in alopecia areata; or involve the entire head, such as in alopecia capitis totalis.
balsamine
<botany> The Impatiens balsamina, or garden balsam.
Barclay-Baron disease
Dysphagia caused by food becoming lodged above the epiglottis.
bariatrics
That branch of medicine concerned with the management (prevention or control) of obesity and allied diseases.
barium solution
A liquid containing barium sulfate, which shows up on X-rays. It outlines organs of the body so they can be seen on X-ray film
baromacrometer
<medicine> An instrument for ascertaining the weight and length of a newborn infant.
barognosis
Ability to appreciate the weight of objects, or to differentiate objects of different weights.
Email to a friend