| peak expiratory flow | The maximum flow at the outset of forced expiration, which is reduced in proportion to the severity of airway obstruction, as in asthma. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| peak expiratory flow rate | Measurement of the maximum rate of airflow attained during a forced vital capacity determination. Common abbreviations are pefr and pfr. (12 Dec 1998) |
| peak flow | <chest medicine, physiology> The maximum flow rate of air breathed out during forced expiration. (15 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| peak flow rate | Maximum urinary flow rate during voiding as measured by a uroflowmeter. (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) |
| forced expiratory flow | Expiratory flow during measurement of forced vital capacity; subscripts specify the exact parameter measured, e.g., peak instantaneous flow, the instantaneous flow at some specified point on the curve of volume expired versus time, or on the flow-volume curve, the mean flow between two expired volumes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| forced expiratory flow rates | Measurements of rates of airflow during a forced vital capacity determination. (12 Dec 1998) |
| biclonal peak | Two narrow electrophoretic bands thought to represent immunoglobulin of two cell lines. (05 Mar 2000) |
| peak | The top or upper limit of a graphic tracing or of any variable. Origin: M.E. Peke, pike, fr. Sp. Pico, beak, fr. L. Picus, magpie (05 Mar 2000) |
| peak magnitude | The greatest amplitude. (05 Mar 2000) |
| peak plasma drug concentration | <pharmacology> The highest level of drug that can be obtained in the blood usually following multiple doses. (09 Oct 1997) |
| monoclonal peak | A narrow band visible on electrophoresis or an abnormal arc seen on immunoelectrophoresis, thought to represent immunoglobulin of one cell clone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| widow's peak | A sharp point of hair growth in the midline of the anterior scalp margin, usually resulting from recession of hair of the temple areas, or occurring as a congenital configuration of scalp hair. (05 Mar 2000) |
| juxtaphrenic peak | On chest radiograph, a triangular density on top of the right diaphragmatic shadow, probably caused by tension of the phrenic nerve on the pleura over the diaphragm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| positive end-expiratory pressure | A technique used in respiratory therapy in which airway pressure greater than atmospheric pressure is achieved at the end of exhalation by introduction of a mechanical impedance to exhalation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| negative end-expiratory pressure | A subatmospheric pressure at the airway at the end of expiration. (05 Mar 2000) |