| para | 1. <obstetrics> A woman who has given birth to one or more infants. Para followed by a roman numeral or preceded by a Latin prefix (primi-, secundi-, terti-, quadri-, etc.) designates the number of times a pregnancy has culminated in a single or multiple birth; e.g. Para I, primipara; a woman who has given birth for the first time, para II, secundipara; a woman who has given birth for the second time to one or more infants. Compare: gravida. Origin: L. Pario, to bring forth 2. <prefix> A prefix signifying alongside of, beside, beyond, against, amiss; as parable, literally, a placing beside; paradox, that which is contrary to opinion; parachronism. Denotes a departure from the normal, involvement of two like parts or a pair, adjacent, alongside, near, etc. 3. (p-). In chemistry, and italicised prefix two substitutions in the benzene ring arranged symmetrically, i.e., linked to opposite carbon atoms in the ring. Compare: ortho-, meta-. Origin: G. Alongside of, near (05 Mar 2000) |
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| para grass | <botany> A valuable pasture grass (Panicum barbinode) introduced into the Southern United States from Brazil. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| para nut | <botany> The Brazil nut. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| para-actinomycosis | Chronic infection, usually pulmonary, resembling actinomycosis; ordinarily caused by nocardiosis. Synonym: pseudoactinomycosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| para-aortic bodies | Small masses of chromaffin cells found near the sympathetic ganglia along the abdominal aorta. They serve as chemoreceptors responsive to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen ion concentration, and help to control respiration. (12 Dec 1998) |
| para-appendicitis | Inflammation of the tissue surrounding the vermiform appendix. Synonym: para-appendicitis. Periappendicitis decidualis, the presence of decidual cells in the peritoneum of the vermiform appendix in cases of right tubal pregnancy with adhesions between the fallopian tube and the appendix. (05 Mar 2000) |
| para-sellar mass | <radiology> Mnemonic: SATCHMO, S sphenoid sinus tumour, A aneurysm / adenoma of pituitary, T teratoid lesion, C craniopharyngioma, H hypothalamic glioma / histiocytoma, M meningioma / metastasis, O optic glioma less common lesions: germinoma, epidermoid, hamartoma, chordoma, arachnoid cyst (12 Dec 1998) |
| paraaminobenzoic acid | A factor in the vitamin B complex, a part of all folic acids and required for its formation; neutralises the bacteriostatic effects of the sulfonamides since it furnishes an essential growth factor for bacteria, the utilization with which the sulfonamides interfere; used as an ultraviolet screen in lotions and creams. Synonym: paraaminobenzoic acid, vitamin Bx. Acronym: PABA (05 Mar 2000) |
| paraballism | Severe jerking movements of both legs. Origin: para-+ G. Ballismos, jumping about (05 Mar 2000) |
| parabanic | <chemistry> Pertaining to, or designating, a nitrogenous acid which is obtained by the oxidation of uric acid, as a white crystalline substance (C3N2H2O3); also called oxalyl urea. Origin: Gr. To pass over. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| parabanic acid | The cyclic (end-to-end) amide anhydride of oxaluric acid; an oxidation product of uric acid. Synonym: oxalourea, parabanic acid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| parabasal body | A term formerly equivalent to the DNA kinetoplast, part of the giant mitochondrion of certain parasitic flagellates. The parabasal body plus the basal body were previously thought to comprise a kinetoplast, or locomotory apparatus, but kinetoplast is now restricted to part of the DNA giant mitochondrion and parabasal body is a distinct structure near the nucleus, probably equivalent to the metazoan Golgi apparatus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| parabasal filament | Term formerly used for rhizoplast. (05 Mar 2000) |
| parabens | <chemical> Proprietary name for the methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid. They have been approved by the FDA as antimicrobial agents for foods and pharmaceuticals. Pharmacological action: food preservatives, preservatives, pharmaceutical. (12 Dec 1998) |
| parabiosis | <surgery> Surgical linkage of two organisms so that their circulatory systems interconnect. (18 Nov 1997) |
| corpora para-aortica | Small masses of chromaffin cells found near the sympathetic ganglia along the abdominal aorta. They serve as chemoreceptors responsive to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen ion concentration, and help to control respiration. (12 Dec 1998) |
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