| peripheral nerves | The nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, including the autonomic, cranial, and spinal nerves. Peripheral nerves contain non-neuronal cells and connective tissue as well as axons. The connective tissue layers include, from the outside to the inside, the epineurium, the perineurium, and the endoneurium. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| muscles of thorax | The muscles attaching to the rib cage including the pectoral muscles, serratus anterior, subclavius, levator muscles, intercostal muscles, transverse thoracic muscle, subcostal muscles, and diaphragm. Synonym: musculi thoracis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| semispinal muscle of thorax | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, transverse processes of fifth to eleventh thoracic vertebrae; insertion, spinous processes of first four thoracic and fifth and seventh cervical vertebrae; action, extends vertebral column; nerve supply, dorsal primary rami of cervical and thoracic spinal nerves. Synonym: musculus semispinalis thoracis, musculus semispinalis dorsi, semispinal muscle of thorax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spinal muscle of thorax | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, spinous processes of upper lumbar and two lower thoracic vertebrae; insertion, spinous processes of middle and upper thoracic vertebrae; action, supports and extends vertebral column; nerve supply, dorsal primary rami of thoracic and upper lumbar. Synonym: musculus spinalis thoracis, musculus spinalis dorsi, spinal muscle of thorax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| thorax | 1. <anatomy> The part of the trunk between the neck and the abdomen, containing that part of the body cavity the walls of which are supported by the dorsal vertebrae, the ribs, and the sternum, and which the heart and lungs are situated; the chest. In mammals the thoracic cavity is completely separated from the abdominal by the diaphragm, but in birds and many reptiles the separation is incomplete, while in other reptiles, and in amphibians and fishes, there is no marked separation and no true thorax. 2. <zoology> The middle region of the body of an insect, or that region which bears the legs and wings. It is composed of three united somites, each of which is composed of several distinct parts.The second, or middle, region of the body of a crustacean, arachnid, or other articulate animal. In the case of decapod Crustacea, some writers include under the term thorax only the three segments bearing the maxillipeds; others include also the five segments bearing the legs. 3. A breastplate, cuirass, or corselet; especially, the breastplate worn by the ancient Greeks. Origin: L, fr. Gr. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| transverse muscle of thorax | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, dorsal surface of xiphoid cartilage and lower portion of dorsal surface of body of sternum; insertion, second to sixth costal cartilages; action, contributes to depression of ribs, narrowing chest; nerve supply, intercostal. Synonym: musculus transversus thoracis, musculus triangularis sterni, sternocostalis muscle, transverse muscle of thorax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| catheterization, peripheral | Insertion of a catheter into a peripheral artery, vein, or airway for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. (12 Dec 1998) |
| peripheral | <anatomy> Pertaining to or situated at or near the periphery, situated away from a centre or central structure. (18 Nov 1997) |
| peripheral aneurysm | A saclike aneurysm springing from one side of an artery, an aneurysm of one of the smaller branches of an artery. (05 Mar 2000) |
| peripheral anterior synechia | Adhesion of the iris to the posterior surface of the cornea in the angle of the anterior chamber; associated with angle-closure glaucoma. Synonym: peripheral anterior synechia. Origin: G. Gonia, angle, + synechis, holding together (05 Mar 2000) |
| peripheral arteriosclerosis | Arteriosclerosis in any of the vessels beyond the aorta; most often refers to the lower extremities. (05 Mar 2000) |
| peripheral blood stem cell transplantation | A procedure that is similar to bone marrow transplantation. Doctors remove healthy immature cells (stem cells) from a patient's blood and store them before the patient receives high-dose chemotherapy and possibly radiation therapy to destroy the leukaemia cells. The stem cells are then returned to the patient, where they can produce new blood cells to replace cells destroyed by the treatment. (12 Dec 1998) |
| peripheral cataract | A cataract in which the opacity affects the cortex of the lens. Synonym: peripheral cataract. (05 Mar 2000) |
| peripheral chemoreceptor | The chemoreceptor's in the carotid and aortic bodies that are stimulated by chemical changes in the composition of the blood such as hypoxia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| peripheral dysostosis | Dysostosis of the metacarpals and metatarsals, accompanied by variable facial features; possibly autosomal dominant inheritance. (05 Mar 2000) |