| paradoxical | Occurring at variance with the normal rule. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| paradoxical contraction | A tonic contraction of the anterior tibial muscles when a sudden passive dorsal flexion of the foot is made. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paradoxical diaphragm phenomenon | In pyopneumothorax, hydropneumothorax, and some cases of injury, the diaphragm on the affected side rises during inspiration and falls during expiration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paradoxical embolism | Passage of a clot (thrombus) from a vein to an artery. When clots in veins break off (embolise) , they travel first to the right side of the heart and, normally, then to the lungs where they lodge. The lungs act as a filter to prevent the clots from entering the arterial circulation. However, when there is a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart (an atrial septal defect), a clot can cross from the right to the left side of the heart, then pass into the arteries as a paradoxical embolism. Once in the arterial circulation, a clot can travel to the brain, block a vessel there, and cause a stroke (cerebrovascular accident). Because of the risk of stroke from paradoxical embolism, it is usually recommended that even small atrial septal defects be repaired. Also called crossed embolism. (12 Dec 1998) |
| paradoxical extensor reflex | <clinical sign> Extension of the great toe and abduction of the other toes instead of the normal flexion reflex to plantar stimulation, considered indicative of pyramidal tract involvement ("positive" Babinski). Synonym: Babinski reflex, Babinski's phenomenon, great-toe reflex, paradoxical extensor reflex, toe phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paradoxical flexor reflex | Dorsal flexion of the great toe produced by firm lateral pressure on the calf muscles. Synonym: paradoxical flexor reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paradoxical incontinence | Involuntary loss of urine associated with overdistention of the bladder, with or without a detrusor contraction. Synonym: paradoxical incontinence. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paradoxical movement of eyelids | Spontaneous, involuntary elevation or lowering of the eyelids, associated with movement of extraocular muscles or muscles of mastication (external pterygoids). See: jaw winking. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paradoxical patellar reflex | A tap on the patellar tendon causes contraction of the adductor, sudden passive extension of the leg causes a contraction of the extensor muscles of the leg. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paradoxical pulse | An exaggeration of the normal variation in the pulse volume with respiration, becoming weaker with inspiration and stronger with expiration; characteristic of cardiac tamponade, rare in constrictive pericarditis; so called because these changes are independent of changes in the cardiac rate as measured directly or by electrocardiogram. Synonym: pulsus paradoxus, pulsus respiratione intermittens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paradoxical pupil | See: paradoxical pupillary reflex. Pinhole pupil, an extremely constricted pupil. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paradoxical pupillary phenomenon | A pupillary response to light, the reverse of that expected; e.g., contraction of the pupil in response to turning the lights off. Synonym: Flynn phenomenon, paradoxical pupillary phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paradoxical pupillary reflex | A pupillary response to light, the reverse of that expected; e.g., contraction of the pupil in response to turning the lights off. Synonym: Flynn phenomenon, paradoxical pupillary phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paradoxical reflex | Any reflex in which the usual response is reversed or does not conform to the pattern characteristic of the particular reflex. Synonym: inverted reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paradoxical respiration | Deflation of the lung during inspiration and inflation of the lung during the phase of expiration; seen in the lung on the side of an open pneumothorax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reversed paradoxical pulse | A pulse in which the amplitude increases with inspiration and decreases with expiration, as observed in some cases of tricuspid insufficiency and during A-V dissociation with sinus arrhythmia. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Hunt's paradoxical phenomenon | In dystonia musculorum deformans, if an attempt is made at plantar flexion of the foot when the foot is in dorsal spasm the only response is an increase of the extensor, or dorsal, spasm; if, however, the patient is told to extend the foot which is already in a state of strong dorsal flexion, there will be a sudden movement of plantar flexion; the same phenomenon, mutatis mutandis, is observed when there is a condition of strong plantar flexion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| embolism, paradoxical | Passage of a clot (thrombus) from a vein to an artery. When clots in veins break off (embolise) , they travel first to the right side of the heart and, normally, then to the lungs where they lodge. The lungs act as a filter to prevent the clots from entering the arterial circulation. However, when there is a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart (an atrial septal defect), a clot can cross from the right to the left side of the heart, then pass into the arteries as a paradoxical embolism. Once in the arterial circulation, a clot can travel to the brain, block a vessel there, and cause a stroke (cerebrovascular accident). Because of the risk of stroke from paradoxical embolism, it is usually recommended that even small atrial septal defects be repaired. Also called crossed embolism. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Kussmaul's paradoxical pulse | An exaggeration of the normal variation in the pulse volume with respiration, becoming weaker with inspiration and stronger with expiration; characteristic of cardiac tamponade, rare in constrictive pericarditis; so called because these changes are independent of changes in the cardiac rate as measured directly or by electrocardiogram. Synonym: pulsus paradoxus, pulsus respiratione intermittens. (05 Mar 2000) |