| backache | Non-specific term used to describe back pain; generally refers to pain below the cervical level. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Bayer's patches | Sites of adhesion between the outer and cytoplasmic membranes of gram-negative bacteria. (18 Nov 1997) |
| relief | 1. The act of relieving, or the state of being relieved; the removal, or partial removal, of any evil, or of anything oppressive or burdensome, by which some ease is obtained; succor; alleviation; comfort; ease; redress. "He seec the dire contagion spread so fast, That, where it seizes, all relief is vain." (Dryden) 2. Release from a post, or from the performance of duty, by the intervention of others, by discharge, or by relay; as, a relief of a sentry. "For this relief much thanks;;tis bitter cold." (Shak) 3. That which removes or lessenc evil, pain, discomfort, uneasiness, etc.; that which gives succor, aid, or comfort; also, the person who relieves from performance of duty by taking the place of another; a relay. 4. A fine or composition which the heir of a deceased tenant paid to the lord for the privilege of taking up the estate, which, on strict feudal principles, had lapsed or fallen to the lord on the death of the tenant. 5. The projection of a figure above the ground or plane on wwhich it is formed. Relief is of three kinds, namely, high relief (altorilievo), low relief, (basso-rilievo), and demirelief (mezzo-rilievo). See these terms in the Vocabulary. 6. The appearance of projection given by shading, shadow, etc, to any figure. 7. The height to which works are raised above the bottom of the ditch. 8. <physics> The elevations and surface undulations of a country. Relief valve, a valve arranged for relieving pressure of steam, gas, or liquid; an escape valve. Synonym: Alleviation, mitigation, aid, help, succor, assistance, remedy, redress, indemnification. Origin: OE. Relef, F. Relief, properly, a lifting up, a standing out. See Relieve, and cf. Basrelief, Rilievi. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| relief area | In dentistry, the portion of the denture-bearing area over which the denture base is altered to reduce functional pressure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| relief chamber | A recess in the impression surface of a denture to reduce or eliminate pressure from that specific area of the mouth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| relief work | Assistance, such as money, food, or shelter, given to the needy, aged, or victims of disaster. It is usually granted on a temporary basis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mucosal relief radiography | Radiographic technique showing fine detail of gastrointestinal mucosa after coating it with a barium suspension and distending the organ with air or gas released from an ingested powder. (05 Mar 2000) |
| maximum | 1. The greatest possible or actual effect or quantity. 2. The acme of a disease or process. (18 Nov 1997) |
| maximum breathing capacity | The volume of air breathed when an individual breathes as deeply and as quickly as possible for a given time (e.g., 15 sec.). Synonym: maximum breathing capacity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| maximum occipital point | The point on the squama of the occipital bone farthest from the glabella. (05 Mar 2000) |
| maximum permissible dose | <radiobiology> Defined by the International Commission on Radiological Protection as the greatest dose of radiation which, in the light of present knowledge, is not expected to cause detectable bodily injury to a person at any time during his lifetime. This dose has been reduced with each Commission report. The MPD is given in terms of acute or chronic exposure of the whole body or of organs, systems, or regions of the body, and differs for persons who are occupationally exposed versus the public at large. (05 Mar 2000) |
| maximum permissible exposure level | The highest level of exposure to a substance, usually noxious, in the environment or during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, that a body can tolerate without injury. (12 Dec 1998) |
| maximum temperature | In bacteriology, denoting a temperature above which growth will not take place. (05 Mar 2000) |
| maximum urea clearance | The urea clearance when the urine flow exceeds 2 ml/min; normal value is about 75 ml blood/min per 1.73 m2 body surface area. (05 Mar 2000) |
| maximum velocity | The maximum rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction that can be achieved by progressively increasing the substrate concentration at a given enzyme concentration; in cases of substrate inhibition, Vmax is an extrapolated value in the absence of such inhibition; Cf.: Michaelis-Menten equation. The maximum initial rate of shortening of a myocardial fibre that can be obtained under zero load; used to evaluate the contractility of the fibre. (05 Mar 2000) |