| absorb | <chemistry> To take up liquid or other matter. See: absorption. (15 Jan 1998) |
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| absorbable gelatin film | A sterile, nonantigenic, absorbable, water-insoluble, thin sheet of gelatin prepared by drying a gelatin-formaldehyde solution on plates; used in the closure and repair of defects in membranes such as the dura mater or the pleura; it undergoes absorption over a period of 1 to 6 months. (05 Mar 2000) |
| absorbable gelatin sponge | A sterile, absorbable, water-insoluble gelatin base sponge, used to control capillary bleeding in surgical operations; it is left in situ and is absorbed in from 4 to 6 weeks. (05 Mar 2000) |
| absorbable surgical suture | A surgical suture material prepared from a substance that can be digested by body tissues and is therefore not permanent; it is available in various diameters and tensile strengths, and can be treated to modify its resistance to absorption and be impregnated with antimicrobial agents. (05 Mar 2000) |
| absorbance | 1. <chemistry, investigation> Absorbance is defined as a logarithmic function of the percent transmission of a wavelength of light through a liquid. 2. <microbiology> This can be used as a measure of the amount of light absorbed by a suspension of bacterial cells or a solution of an organic molecule, it is measured by a colourimeter or spectrophotometer. Absorbance values are used to plot the growth of bacteria in suspension cultures and to gauge the purity and concentration of molecules (such as proteins) in solution. See: absorption. (15 Jan 1998) |
| absorbancy | 1. <chemistry, investigation> Absorbance is defined as a logarithmic function of the percent transmission of a wavelength of light through a liquid. 2. <microbiology> This can be used as a measure of the amount of light absorbed by a suspension of bacterial cells or a solution of an organic molecule, it is measured by a colourimeter or spectrophotometer. Absorbance values are used to plot the growth of bacteria in suspension cultures and to gauge the purity and concentration of molecules (such as proteins) in solution. See: absorption. (15 Jan 1998) |
| absorbancy index | Absorbance (of light) per unit path length (usually the centimeter) and per unit of mass concentration. Compare: molar absorption coefficient. Synonym: absorbancy index, absorptivity, extinction coefficient, specific extinction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| absorbed dose | The amount of energy absorbed per unit mass of irradiated material at the target site; in radiation therapy, the former unit for absorbed dose is the rad; the current (S.I.) unit is the gray. (05 Mar 2000) |
| absorbefacient | 1. Causing absorption. 2. Any substance possessing such quality. Origin: L. Ab-sorbeo, to suck in, + facio, to make (05 Mar 2000) |
| absorbency | 1. <chemistry, investigation> Absorbance is defined as a logarithmic function of the percent transmission of a wavelength of light through a liquid. 2. <microbiology> This can be used as a measure of the amount of light absorbed by a suspension of bacterial cells or a solution of an organic molecule, it is measured by a colourimeter or spectrophotometer. Absorbance values are used to plot the growth of bacteria in suspension cultures and to gauge the purity and concentration of molecules (such as proteins) in solution. See: absorption. (15 Jan 1998) |
| absorbent | 1. Anything which absorbs. "The ocean, itself a bad absorbent of heat." (Darwin) 2. <medicine> Any substance which absorbs and neutralizes acid fluid in the stomach and bowels, as magnesia, chalk, etc.; also a substance e. G, iodine) which acts on the absorbent vessels so as to reduce enlarged and indurated parts. 3. <physiology> The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in plants. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| absorbent cotton | Cotton from which all fatty matter has been extracted, so that it readily takes up fluids. (05 Mar 2000) |
| absorbent points | Cones of paper or paper products used for drying or maintaining medicaments during root canal therapy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| absorbent system | <anatomy> The tissues and organs (including the bone marrow, spleen, thymus and lymph nodes) that produce and store cells that fight infection and the network of vessels that carry lymph. (12 May 1997) |
| absorbent vessels | The vessels that convey the lymph; they anastomose freely with each other. Synonym: vasa lymphatica, absorbent vessels, lymphatic vessels, lymphatics. (05 Mar 2000) |