| menstrual period | <medicine> The catamenial or menstrual discharge, a periodic flow of blood or bloody fluid from the uterus or female generative organs. Origin: L. Mensis month, pl. Menses months, and the monthly courses of women. Cf. Month. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| last | 1. A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs, but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs. 2. The burden of a ship; a cargo. Origin: As. Hlaest, fr. Hladan to lade; akin to OHG. Hlast, G, D, Dan, & Sw. Last: cf. F. Laste, last, a last, of German or Dutch origin. See Lade. 1. Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the last man in a line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last chance. "Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God." (Neh. Viii. 18) "Fairest of stars, last in the train of night." (Milton) 2. Next before the present; as, I saw him last week. 3. Supreme; highest in degree; utmost. "Contending for principles of the last importance." (R. Hall). 4. Lowest in rank or degree; as, the last prize. 5. Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused of theft. at last, at the end of a certain period; after delay. "The duke of Savoy felt that the time had at last arrived." . At the last. [Prob. Fr. AS. On laste behind, following behind, fr. Last race, track, footstep. See Last mold of the foot] At the end; in the conclusion. "Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the last." . Last heir, the person to whom lands escheat for want of an heir. On one's last legs, at, or near, the end of one's resources; hence, on the verge of failure or ruin, especially in a financial sense. To breathe one's last, to die. To the last, to the end; till the conclusion. "And blunder on in business to the last." (Pope) Synonym: at Last, At Length. These phrases both denote that some delayed end or result has been reached. at length implies that a long period was spent in so doing; as, after a voyage of more than three months, we at Length arrived safe. At last commonly implies that something has occurred (as interruptions, disappointments, etc) which leads us to emphasize the idea of having reached the end; as, in spite of every obstacle, we have at last arrived. Origin: OE. Last, latst, contr. Of latest, superl. Of late; akin to OS. Lezt, lazt, last, D. Laatst, G. Letzt. See Late, and cf. Latest. A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed. "The cobbler is not to go beyond his last." (L'Estrange) Darning last, a smooth, hard body, often egg-shaped, put into a stocking to preserve its shape in darning. Origin: AS. Lasttrace, track, footstep; akin to D. Leest a last, G. Leisten, Sw. Last, Dan. Laest, Icel. Leistr the foot below the ankle, Goth. Laists track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Cf. Last, Learn, Delirium. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| menstrual | Relating to the menses. Synonym: catamenial, emmenic. Origin: L. Menstrualis (05 Mar 2000) |
| menstrual age | The age of the conceptus computed from the start of the mother's last menstrual period. (05 Mar 2000) |
| menstrual colic | Intermittent cramp-like lower abdominal pains associated with menstruation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| menstrual cycle | The reproductive cycle of female humans. The cycle is characterised by a monthly discharge of blood, mucus, and tissues from the uterus (called menstruation) and involves changes to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) during the rest of the month including a few days of fertility after an ovum (egg) is released by an ovary. (09 Oct 1997) |
| menstrual extraction abortion | A technique for aspiration of early products of conception from the uterus a few days after the first missed menstrual period. (05 Mar 2000) |
| menstrual molimina | <syndrome> A combination of emotional, physical, psychological, and mood disturbances that occur after ovulation and normally end with the onset of the menstrual flow. (12 Dec 1998) |
| menstrual oedema | Retention of water and increase in weight, which occurs during or preceding menstruation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| menstrual pains | Lower abdominal and pelvic pain that is associated with menses. Recurrent monthly menstrual pains (not explained by other causes) are often referred to as primary dysmenorrhoea. (27 Sep 1997) |
| menstrual sclerosis | A slowly progressive sclerosis in the walls of the ovarian arteries which commences after puberty. Synonym: menstrual sclerosis, ovulational sclerosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| absolute refractory period | The period following excitation when no response is possible regardless of the intensity of the stimulus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alabama period | <geology> A period in the American eocene, the lowest in the tertiary age except the lignitic. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| anaesthesia recovery period | The period of emergence from general anaesthesia, where different elements of consciousness return at different rates. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Gap1 period | The period of the cell cycle after cell division when there is synthesis of RNA and protein; it may last for a few hours in rapidly growing tissue or a lifetime in non-renewing cells such as nerve cells. Synonym: Gap1 phase, postmitotic phase. (05 Mar 2000) |