| lepra | <medicine> Leprosy. The term lepra was formerly given to various skin diseases, the leprosy of modern authors being Lepra Arabum. See Leprosy. Origin: L. See Leper. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| lepra cells | Distinctive, large, mononuclear phagocytes (macrophages) with a foamlike cytoplasm, and also poorly staining saclike structures resulting from degeneration of such cell's, observed characteristically in leprous inflammatory reactions; indistinct staining results from numerous, fairly closely packed leprosy bacilli, which are acid-fast and resistant to staining by ordinary methods but may be vividly demonstrated by acid-fast staining procedures. (05 Mar 2000) |