| ability | The quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, etc.; in the plural, faculty, talent. "Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren." (Acts xi. 29) "Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study." (Bacon) "The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of ability." (Macaulay) Ability and capacity come into comparison when applied to the higher intellectual powers. Ability has reference to the active exercise of our faculties. It implies not only native vigor of mind, but that ease and promptitude of execution which arise from mental training. Thus, we speak of the ability with which a book is written, an argument maintained, a negotiation carried on, etc. It always something to be done, and the power of doing it. Capacity has reference to the receptive powers. In its higher exercises it supposes great quickness of apprehension and breadth of intellect, with an uncommon aptitude for acquiring and retaining knowledge. Hence it carries with it the idea of resources and undeveloped power. The word abilities, in the plural, embraces both these qualities, and denotes high mental endowments. See: able. Synonym: Capacity, talent, cleverness, faculty, capability, efficiency, aptitude, aptness, address, dexterity, skill. Origin: F. Habilete, earlier spelling habilite (with silent h), L. Habilitas aptitude, ability, fr. Habilis apt. (11 Mar 1998) |
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| kidney concentrating ability | The ability of the kidney to excrete in the urine high concentrations of solutes from the blood plasma. (12 Dec 1998) |
| asymmetric motor neuropathy | Neuropathy in which the loss of function is more marked in the extremities of one side of the body, old term for diabetic polyradiculopathy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| autonomic motor neuron | See: motor neuron. (05 Mar 2000) |
| autonomic motor neurons | (preganglionic neuron's), by contrast, innervate smooth muscle fibres or glands only by the intermediary of a second, peripheral, neuron (postganglionic or ganglionic m. Neuron) located in an autonomic ganglion. See: motor endplate, autonomic nervous system. Synonym: anterior horn cell, motoneuron. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bender Visual Motor Gestalt test | <psychology> A psychological test used by neurologists and clinical psychologists to measure a person's ability to visually copy a set of geometric designs. It consists of nine geometric designs on cards. The subject is asked to redraw them from memory after each one is presented individually. It is useful for measuring visuospatial and visuomotor coordination to detect brain damage. Synonym: Bender Visual Motor Gestalt test. (14 Aug 2000) |
| gamma motor neurons | The reflex arc consisting of small anterior horn cells and neuroma, their small fibres projecting to the intrafusal bundle producing its contraction, which initiates the afferent impulses that pass through the posterior root to the anterior horn cells, inducing a stretch reflex. Synonym: gamma motor neurons, gamma motor system, Granit's loop. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gamma motor system | The reflex arc consisting of small anterior horn cells and neuroma, their small fibres projecting to the intrafusal bundle producing its contraction, which initiates the afferent impulses that pass through the posterior root to the anterior horn cells, inducing a stretch reflex. Synonym: gamma motor neurons, gamma motor system, Granit's loop. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ganglionic motor neuron | See: motor neuron. (05 Mar 2000) |
| major motor seizure | A grand mal seizure or other convulsive seizure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| visceral motor neuron | See: motor neuron. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minor motor seizure | Old term for nonconvulsive seizure seen in patients with secondary generalised epilepsies. (05 Mar 2000) |
| motor | <neurology, physiology> A muscle, nerve or centre that effects or produces movement. (18 Nov 1997) |
| motor abreaction | The release of an unconscious thought, idea, or impulse through motor or muscular expression. (05 Mar 2000) |
| motor activity | The physical activity of an organism as a behavioural phenomenon. (12 Dec 1998) |