| premalignant | <pathology> In a very early stage of cancer development and abnormal changes occur in tissue as a pre-determinant for possible future malignancy. (31 Dec 1997) |
|---|---|
| premammary abscess | An abscess in the subcutaneous tissue covering the mammary gland. (05 Mar 2000) |
| premaniacal | Preceding a manic attack. (05 Mar 2000) |
| premature | 1. Occurring before the proper time. 2. <paediatrics> A premature infant. Origin: L. Praematurus = early ripe (18 Nov 1997) |
| premature beat | A premature contraction of the heart that is independent of the normal rhythm and arises in response to an impulse in some part of the heart other than the sinoatrial node. Synonym: premature beat. (18 Nov 1997) |
| premature contact | A condition of tooth contact's which diverts the mandible from a normal path of closure to centric jaw relation. Synonym: cuspal interference, interceptive occlusal contact, premature contact. (05 Mar 2000) |
| premature contraction | A premature contraction of the heart that is independent of the normal rhythm and arises in response to an impulse in some part of the heart other than the sinoatrial node. Synonym: premature beat. (18 Nov 1997) |
| premature contraction of the heart | When a single heartbeat occurs earlier than normal. This phenomenon can be within normal limits or represent a medically significant arrhythmia. (12 Dec 1998) |
| premature delivery | Birth of a foetus before its proper time. See: premature birth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| premature labour | Onset of labour before the 37th completed week of pregnancy dated from the last normal menstrual period. (05 Mar 2000) |
| premature senility syndrome | <syndrome> Accelerated aging syndrome in which most of the characteristic stages of human senescence are compressed into less than a decade. Defect probably in DNA repair. (18 Nov 1997) |
| premature systole | A premature contraction of the heart that is independent of the normal rhythm and arises in response to an impulse in some part of the heart other than the sinoatrial node. Synonym: premature beat. (18 Nov 1997) |
| premature ventricular contraction | <cardiology> A cardiac arrhythmia which originates from within the ventricles. Isolated ventricular contractions are referred to as premature ventricular contractions. Frequent premature ventricular contractions can be potentially unstable and can degrade to a more serious rhythm or cardiac arrest. Acronym: PVC (31 Dec 1997) |
| premature ventricular contractions | Contractions of the lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles, which occur earlier than usual, because of abnormal electrical activity of the ventricles. The premature contraction is followed by a pause, as the heart electrical system resets itself and the contraction following the pause is usually more forceful than normal. These more forceful contractions are frequently perceived as palpitations. (12 Dec 1998) |
| prematurity | Historically, the definition of prematurity was 2500 grams (about 5 1/2 pounds) or less at birth. The current world health organisation definition of prematurity is a baby born before 37 weeks of gestation, counting from the first day of the last menstrual period (lmp). (12 Dec 1998) |