| tumor | 1. <oncology> An abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division that is uncontrolled and progressive, also called a neoplasm. Tumours perform no useful body function. They may be either benign (not cancerous) or malignant. 2. Swelling, one of the cardinal signs of inflammations, morbid enlargement. Origin: L. Tumere = to swell (12 May 1997) |
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| tumor marker | <investigation, oncology> A substance in the body that usually indicates the presence of cancer. These markers are usually specific to certain types of cancer and are usually found in the blood or other tissue samples. Examples are alphafetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). They may be indicators of tumour stage and grade as well as useful for monitoring responses to treatment and predicting recurrence. Many chemical groups are represented including hormones, antigens, amino and nucleic acids, enzymes, polyamines, and specific cell membrane proteins and lipids. (18 Jul 2002) |
| tumor necrosis factor | <cytokine> Originally described as a tumour inhibiting factor in the blood of animals exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide or Bacille Calmette-Guerin. Preferentially kills tumour cells in vivo and in vitro, causes necrosis of certain transplanted tumours in mice and inhibits experimental metastases. Human Tumour Necrosis factor alpha is a protein of 157 amino acids and has a wide range of pro inflammatory actions. Usually considered a cytokine. Synonym: cachectin. Acronym: TNF (13 Nov 1997) |
| juxtaglomerular | Close to or adjoining a renal glomerulus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| juxtaglomerular apparatus | A collective term for the juxtaglomerular cells in a nephron. These are specialised cells containing secretory granules, located in the tunica media of the afferent glomerular arterioles. They are receptors thought to stimulate secretion of the adrenal hormone aldosterone and to play a major role in renal autoregulation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| juxtaglomerular body | A collection of cells around the renal glomerular arterioles that contain cytoplasmic granules, probably composed of renin. Synonym: periarterial pad. (05 Mar 2000) |
| juxtaglomerular cells | Cell's, located at the vascular pole of the renal corpuscle that secrete renin and form a component of the juxtaglomerular complex; they are modified smooth muscle cell's primarily of the afferent arteriole of the renal glomerulus. Synonym: Goormaghtigh's cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| juxtaglomerular complex | A complex consisting of the juxtaglomerular cells, which are modified smooth muscle cells in the wall of the afferent glomerular arteriole and sometimes also the efferent arteriole; extraglomerular mesangium lacis cells, which are located in the angle between the afferent and efferent glomerular arterioles; the macula densa of the distal convoluted tubule; and granular epithelial peripolar cells located at the angle of reflection of the parietal to the visceral capsule of the renal corpuscle; believed to provide some feedback control of extracellular fluid volume and glomerular filtration rate. Synonym: j-g complex, juxtaglomerular apparatus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| juxtaglomerular granules | Osmophilic secretory granule's present in the juxtaglomerular cells, thought to contain renin. (05 Mar 2000) |