| elastance | A measure of the tendency of a structure to return to its original form after removal of a deforming force. In medicine and physiology, usually a measure of the tendency of a hollow viscus (e.g., lung, urinary bladder, gallbladder) to recoil toward its original dimensions upon removal of a distending or compressing force, the recoil pressure resulting from a unit distention or compression of the viscus; the reciprocal of compliance. The relationship between elasticity and elastance is of the same nature as that between the specific inductive capacity of an insulator material and the capacitance of a particular condenser made from that material. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| elastase | <enzyme> Serine protease that will digest elastin and collagen type IV, inhibited by _ 1 protease inhibitor of plasma. (18 Nov 1997) |
| elastic | Susceptible of resisting and recovering from stretching, compression or distortion applied by a force. Origin: L. Elasticus (18 Nov 1997) |
| elastic artery | <anatomy, artery> A large artery, such as the aorta or pulmonary artery, which has many elastic lamella in its tunica media. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elastic band fixation | The stabilization of fractured segments of the jaws by means of intermaxillary elastics applied to splints or appliances. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elastic bandage | A bandage containing stretchable material; used to make local pressure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elastic bougie | A bougie made of rubber, latex, or other similarly flexible material. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elastic cartilage | A cartilage in which the cells are surrounded by a territorial capsular matrix outside of which is an interterritorial matrix containing elastic fibre networks in addition to the collagen fibres and ground substance. Synonym: yellow cartilage. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elastic cone | Thicker lower portion of the elastic membrane of the larynx, extending between the cricoid cartilage and the vocal ligaments, the latter actually being a thickening of the free, superior margin of the conus elasticus. Synonym: cricovocal membrane, elastic cone. Synonym: cricothyroid ligament. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elastic fibres | Fibre's that are 0.2 to 2 um in diameter but may be larger in some ligaments; they branch and anastomose to form networks and fuse to form fenestrated membranes; the fibre's and membranes consist of microfibrils about 10 nm wide and an amorphous substance containing elastin. Synonym: yellow fibres. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elastic lamella | A thin sheet or membrane composed of elastic fibres; distinguished from elastic membrane, which usually refers to a condensed mass of fibres, as in an artery, whereas an elastic lamella may be a looser elastic layer such as found in a vein or the respiratory tract. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elastic layers of arteries | elastic laminae of arteries |
| elastic layers of cornea | See: anterior limiting layer of cornea, posterior limiting layer of cornea. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elastic ligature | A rubber ligature that slowly constricts, in orthodontics, a stretchable threadlike material that may be tied from a tooth to an archwire or from tooth to tooth to gain movement of these units. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elastic limit | The greatest stress to which a material may be subjected and still be capable of returning to its original dimensions when the forces are released. (05 Mar 2000) |