| maximal | The greatest possible, allowable or appreciable, the reverse of minimal. (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| maximal dose | <pharmacology> The largest amount of a drug or physical procedure that an adult can take with safety. (05 Mar 2000) |
| maximal expiratory flow rate | <chest medicine, physiology> Measurement of rate of airflow during the first liter expired after the first 200 ml have been exhausted during a forced vital capacity determination. Common abbreviations are MEFR, FEF 202-1200, and fef 0.2-1.2. Acronym: MEFR (21 Jun 2000) |
| maximal expiratory flow-volume curve | <chest medicine> Curves depicting maximal expiratory flow in liters/second at each point of lung inflation (expressed in liters or percentage of forced vital capacity) during a forced vital capacity determination. Common abbreviation is mefv. (12 Dec 1998) |
| maximal Histalog test | A test for measurement of maximal production of gastric acidity or anacidity; it is similar to the histamine test, but uses Histalog (betazole hydrochloride), an analogue of histamine. Synonym: maximal Histalog test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| maximal midexpiratory flow rate | Measurement of rate of airflow over the middle half of a forced vital capacity determination (from the 25 percent level to the 75 percent level). Common abbreviations are mmfr and fef 25%-75%. (12 Dec 1998) |
| maximal stimulus | A stimulus strong enough to evoke a maximal response. (05 Mar 2000) |
| maximal voluntary ventilation | Measure of the maximum amount of air that can be breathed in and blown out over a sustained interval such as 15 or 20 seconds. Common abbreviations are mvv and mbc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| point of maximal impulse | The point on the chest wall at which the maximal cardiac impulse is seen and/or felt. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anodal closure contraction | An obsolete term for the momentary contraction of a muscle under the influence of the positive pole when the electrical circuit is established. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anodal opening contraction | An obsolete term for the momentary contraction of a muscle under the influence of the positive pole when the circuit is broken. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atrial premature contraction | <cardiology> An premature heartbeat of atrial origin. Generally nonserious and typically exacerbated by stimulant use (for example alcohol, decongestants, caffeine, nicotine). (27 Sep 1997) |
| automatic contraction | In contrast to forced beat, an ectopic beat that arises de novo and is not precipitated by the preceding beat; thus escaped and parasystolic beat's are automatic. Synonym: automatic contraction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| braxton hicks contraction | Rhythmic uterine muscle activity which occurs during the course of a pregnancy which causes no pain for the patient. (27 Sep 1997) |
| paradoxical contraction | A tonic contraction of the anterior tibial muscles when a sudden passive dorsal flexion of the foot is made. (05 Mar 2000) |