| velum pendulum palati | The muscular part of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is directly behind the hard palate. It lacks bone and so is soft. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| pendulum | Origin: NL, fr. L. Pendulus hanging, swinging. See Pendulous. A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum. It is used to regulate the movements of clockwork and other machinery. The time of oscillation of a pendulum is independent of the arc of vibration, provided this arc be small. Ballistic pendulum. See Ballistic. Compensation pendulum, a clock pendulum in which the effect of changes of temperature of the length of the rod is so counteracted, usually by the opposite expansion of differene metals, that the distance of the center of oscillation from the center of suspension remains invariable; as, the mercurial compensation pendulum, in which the expansion of the rod is compensated by the opposite expansion of mercury in a jar constituting the bob; the gridiron pendulum, in which compensation is effected by the opposite expansion of sets of rodsof different metals. Compound pendulum, an ordinary pendulum; so called, as being made up of different parts, and contrasted with simple pendulum. Conical or Revolving, pendulum, a weight connected by a rod with a fixed point; and revolving in a horizontal cyrcle about the vertical from that point. Pendulum bob, the weight at the lower end of a pendulum. Pendulum level, a plumb level. See Level. Pendulum wheel, the balance of a watch. Simple or Theoretical, pendulum, an imaginary pendulum having no dimensions except length, and no weight except at the center of oscillation; in other words, a material point suspended by an ideal line. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pendulum rhythm | A condition in which the cadence of the heart sounds resembles that of the foetus, the first and second sounds becoming alike and evenly spaced; a sign of serious myocardial disease. Synonym: pendulum rhythm, tic-tac rhythm, tic-tac sounds. Origin: embryo-+ G. Kardia, heart (05 Mar 2000) |
| cor pendulum | An extreme form of cor mobile in which the heart appears to be suspended by the great vessels. Synonym: pendulous heart. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anthropology, physical | The comparative science dealing with the physical characteristics of man as related to his origin, evolution, and development in his total environment. (12 Dec 1998) |
| map, physical | A map of the locations of identifiable landmarks on chromosomes. Physical distance is measured in base pairs. The physical map differs from the genetic map which is based purely on genetic linkage data. In the human genome, the lowest-resolution physical map is the banding patterns of the 24 different chromosomes. The highest-resolution physical map is the complete nucleotide sequence of all chromosomes, a future goal. (12 Dec 1998) |
| restraint, physical | Use of a device for the purpose of preventing the individual from moving all or part of the body. The concept excludes splints and casts. (12 Dec 1998) |
| roentgen-equivalent physical | <radiobiology, unit> A roentgen equivalent physical is a unit of absorbed radiation approximately equivalent to a roentgen, an international unit of x- or gamma-radiation. An obsolete unit of measurement; that quantity of ionizing radiation of any kind which, upon absorption by living tissue, produces an energy gain per gram of tissue equivalent to that produced by 1 roentgen of X-rays or gamma-rays. Acronym: rep See: rad. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physical | Pertaining to the body, to material things or to physics. (18 Nov 1997) |
| physical age | The age in terms of structure rather than of function or of passage of time. Synonym: physical age. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physical allergy | Excessive response to factors in the environment such as heat or cold. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physical anthropology | The study of the physical attributes of human beings. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physical conditioning, animal | Physical conditioning of domestic, laboratory, and zoo animals. Includes exercising of animals. (12 Dec 1998) |
| physical containment | <cell culture> Creation of physical barriers to keep genetically engineered organisms inside the laboratory. (31 Dec 1997) |
| physical dependence | <pharmacology> Physiologic adaptation of the body to the presence of opioid is required to maintain the same level of analgesia. (31 Dec 1997) |