| function | The special, normal or proper physiologic activity of an organ or part. Origin: L. Functio, from fungi = to do (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| function corrector | A removable orthodontic appliance utilizing oral and facial muscle forces to move teeth and possibly change the relationship of the dental arches. (05 Mar 2000) |
| functional | 1. Pertaining to, or connected with, a function or duty; official. 2. <physiology> Pertaining to the function of an organ or part, or to the functions in general. <medicine> Functional disease, a disease of which the symptoms cannot be referred to any appreciable lesion or change of structure; the derangement of an organ arising from a cause, often unknown, external to itself opposed to organic disease, in which the organ itself is affected. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| functional albuminuria | A collective term denoting types of benign albuminuria that are associated with physical exertion or other conditions in which there are physiologic changes such as during pregnancy or adolescence. Synonym: physiologic albuminuria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| functional anatomy | Anatomy studied in its relation to function. Synonym: morphophysiology, physiological anatomy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| functional aphasia | Nonorganic aphasia related to conversion hysteria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| functional apoplexy | A condition simulating apoplexy without any cerebral lesion; a form of conversion hysteria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| functional blindness | Apparent loss of vision related to suggestibility. (05 Mar 2000) |
| functional cardiovascular disease | A euphemism for cardiovascular symptoms deemed to be psychogenic. More generally, sometimes used for abnormal cardiac function. (05 Mar 2000) |
| functional castration | Gonadal atrophy produced by prolonged treatment with sex hormones. (05 Mar 2000) |
| functional chew-in record | A record of the natural chewing movements of the mandible made on an occlusion rim by teeth or scribing studs. (05 Mar 2000) |
| functional congestion | Hyperaemia occurring during functional activity of an organ. Synonym: physiologic congestion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| functional contracture | Muscular shortening that ceases during sleep or general anaesthesia, caused by prolonged active muscle contraction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| functional deafness | Hearing loss without evidence of organic cause or malingering; often follows severe psychic shock. Synonym: functional deafness, hysterical deafness. (05 Mar 2000) |
| functional disease | A physical disorder with no known or detectable organic basis to explain the symptoms. See: behaviour disorder, neurosis. Synonym: dynamic disease, functional disease, functional illness. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acquired platelet function defect | <haematology> Platelet function can be affected by a number of different disease processes including polycythaemia vera, leukaemia, myelofibrosis, renal failure, multiple myeloma and some medications (for example penicillins, salicylates, phenothiazines). Disturbed blood clotting can be manifested by: easy bruising, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, abnormal vaginal bleeding, rectal bleeding, skin rash, vomiting blood, coughing up blood or blood in the urine. A measure of bleeding time and coagulation profile will be part of the evaluation. (29 Dec 1997) |
|---|---|
| allomeric function | The combined function of the several segments of the spinal cord and medulla, communicating with each other by means of the white matter. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aperture function | <microscopy> In a diffraction-limited optical system, the function that determines the relationship between the image and each point in the object. Modifying the aperture function changes the image according to the modified Fourier-filtering (or optical filtration) property of the aperture. (05 Aug 1998) |
| arousal function | The ability of a sensory event to arouse the cortex to vigilance or readiness. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atrial function | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the atria. (12 Dec 1998) |
| atrial function, left | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the left atrium. (12 Dec 1998) |
| atrial function, right | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the right atrium. (12 Dec 1998) |
| atrial transport function | The role of the atria in filling and stretching the ventricles by their presystolic contraction, without which the force of ventricular contraction and hence the cardiac output may significantly decrease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pancreatic function tests | Tests based on the biochemistry and physiology of the exocrine pancreas and involving analysis of blood, duodenal contents, feces, or urine for products of pancreatic secretion. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mapping function | In linkage analysis, a formula that converts the recombination fraction (which is on the probability scale) into map distance (in morgans). (05 Mar 2000) |
| ventricular function | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the ventricles. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ventricular function, left | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the left ventricle. Its measurement is an important aspect of the clinical evaluation of patients with heart disease to determine the effects of the disease on cardiac performance. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ventricular function, right | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the right ventricle. (12 Dec 1998) |
| path function | <chemistry> A property that is dependent on the path taken. (09 Jan 1998) |
| respiratory function tests | Measurement of the various processes involved in the act of respiration: inspiration, expiration, oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, lung volume and compliance, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |