| astacins | <enzyme> Astacin, a zinc endopeptidase from crayfish (Astacus), is the prototype for the astacin family of metallo endopeptidases. Family includes BMP1, Meprin A, Stromelysin 1 and thermolysin. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| astacus | <zoology> A genus of crustaceans, containing the crawfish of fresh water lobster of Europe, and allied species of western North America. See Crawfish. Origin: L. Astacus a crab, Gr. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astarte | <marine biology> A genus of bivalve mollusks, common on the coasts of America and Europe. Origin: Gr. A Phoenician goddess. (19 Mar 1998) |
| astasia | Inability, through muscular incoordination, to stand. Origin: G. Unsteadiness, from a-priv. + stasis, standing (05 Mar 2000) |
| astasia-abasia | The inability to either stand or walk in a normal manner; the gait is bizarre and is not suggestive of a specific organic lesion; often the patient sways wildly and nearly falls, but recovers at the last moment; a symptom of hysteria-conversion reaction. Synonym: Blocq's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| astatic | <physics> Having little or no tendency to take a fixed or definite position or direction: thus, a suspended magnetic needle, when rendered astatic, loses its polarity, or tendency to point in a given direction. <physics> Astatic pair, a pair of magnetic needles so mounted as to be nearly or quite astatic, as in some galvanometers. Origin: Pref. A- not + static. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astatine | <chemical> Astatine. A radioactive halogen with the atomic symbol at, atomic number 85, and atomic weight 210. Its isotopes range in mass number from 200 to 219 and all have an extremely short half-life. Astatine may be of use in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Chemical name: Astatine (12 Dec 1998) |