| absence | Paroxysmal attacks of impaired consciousness, occasionally accompanied by spasm or twitching of cephalic muscles, which usually can be brought on by hyperventilation; depending on the type and severity of the absence, the EEG may show an abrupt onset of a 3/sec spike and wave pattern as in simple absence, or in atypical cases, a 4/sec spike and wave or faster spike complexes. The clinical states accompanying these EEG abnormalities may be classified as: 1) absence with no overt manifestations, e.g., simple absence; epileptic absence; subclinical absence; 2) absence with clonic movements, e.g., myoclonic absence; 3) absence with atonic states, e.g., atonic absence; 4) absence with tonic contractions, e.g., hypertonic muscular contraction; 5) absence with automatisms, e.g., various stereotyped movements, usually of the face or hands; 6) absence with atypical features, e.g., bizarre motor activity. Origin: L. Absentia (05 Mar 2000) |
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| absence seizure | <neurology> A type of seizure that in contrast to the grand mal seizure, are noted for their brevity and for the degree of loss of awareness (brief staring spell) accompanied by minimal motor manifestations. A common form of childhood epilepsy. (06 Oct 1997) |
| absent | 1. Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present. "Expecting absent friends." 2. Not existing; lacking; as, the part was rudimental or absent. 3. Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied; as, an absent air. "What is commonly called an absent man is commonly either a very weak or a very affected man." (Chesterfield) Synonym: Absent, Abstracted. These words both imply a want of attention to surrounding objects. We speak of a man as absent when his thoughts wander unconsciously from present scenes or topics of discourse; we speak of him as abstracted when his mind (usually for a brief period) is drawn off from present things by some weighty matter for reflection. Absence of mind is usually the result of loose habits of thought; abstraction commonly arises either from engrossing interests and cares, or from unfortunate habits of association. Origin: F, fr. Absens, absentis, p. Pr. Of abesse to be away from; ab + esse to be. Cf. Sooth. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| absent distal clavicle | <radiology> Cleidocranial dysostosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hyperparathyroidism (12 Dec 1998) |
| absent nasal septum | <radiology> Cocaine, Wegener's (midline lethal granuloma), surgery, trauma, syphilis, sarcoid (12 Dec 1998) |
| absent state | The saemiconscious state associated with an epileptic attack. Synonym: absent state. (05 Mar 2000) |
| absenteeism | Chronic absence from work or other duty. (12 Dec 1998) |