| pulse | <cardiology, physiology> The impulse transmitted to arteries by contraction of the left ventricle of the heart. Customarily palpated at the radial artery in the wrist. The pulse can provide information concerning the number of cardiac contractions per minute (rate) and the overall regularity of the contractions (rhythm). (15 Dec 1997) |
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| pulse chase | <biochemistry> An experimental protocol used to determine cellular pathways, such as precursor product relationships. A sample organism, cell or cellular organelle), is exposed for a relatively brief time to a radioactively labelled molecule, the pulse. It is then replaced with an excess of the unlabelled molecule, the chase (cold chase). The sample is then examined at various later times to determine the fate of radioactivity incorporated during the pulse. (15 Dec 1997) |
| pulse curve | <physiology> A tracing, called a pulse tracing, consisting of a series of curves corresponding with the beats of the heart, obtained by the application of the sphygmograph. Origin: Gr. Pulse + -gram. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pulse deficit | The absence of palpable pulse waves in a peripheral artery for one or more heart beats, as is often seen in atrial fibrillation, the number of such missing pulse waves (usually expressed as heart rate minus pulse rate per minute). (05 Mar 2000) |
| pulse duration | The interval between onset of the leading edge and the end of the trailing edge of a pulse wave. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pulse field electrophoresis | <investigation> A method used for high resolution electrophoretic separation of very large (megabase) fragments of DNA. Electric fields 100 |
| pulse generator | A device that produces an electrical discharge with a regular or rhythmic wave form in which the electromotive force varies in a specific pattern in relation to time; e.g., in an electronic pacemaker, it produces an electric discharge at regular intervals, and these intervals may be modified by a sensory circuit which can reset the time-base for subsequent discharge on the basis of other electrical activity, such as that produced by spontaneous cardiac beating. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pulse granuloma | <pathology> An inflammatory infiltrate containing foreign body giant cells and eosinophilic material. Fragments of foreign material resembling vegetable matter may be included. Synonym: pulse granuloma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pulse height analyzer | Electronic circuitry that determines the energy of scintillations recorded by a detector, allowing use of a discriminator to select for photons of a specific type. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pulse period | The reciprocal of the repetition rate; e.g., the interval between leading edges of successive pulses. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pulse pressure | The variation in blood pressure occurring in an artery during the cardiac cycle; it is the difference between the systolic or maximum and diastolic or minimum pressure's. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pulse radiolysis | Use of a pulse of X-rays or fast electrons to generate free radicals for spectroscopic examination. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pulse rate | Rate of the pulse as observed in an artery; recorded as beats per minute. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pulse therapy | A short, intensive course of pharmacotherapy, usually given at intervals such as weekly or monthly; often used in chemotherapy of malignancy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pulse wave | The progressive expansion of the arteries occurring with each contraction of the left ventricle of the heart. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdominal pulse | The soft, compressible aortic pulse occurring in certain abdominal disorders. Synonym: pulsus abdominalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| alternating pulse | Mechanical alternation, a pulse regular in time but with alternate beats stronger and weaker, often detectable only with the sphygmomanometer and usually indicating serious myocardial disease. Synonym: pulsus alternans. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amplitude of pulse | See: average pulse magnitude, peak magnitude. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anacrotic pulse | A pulse wave showing one or more notches or indentations on its rising limb that are sometimes detectable by palpation. Synonym: pulsus anadicrotus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| asynchronous pulse generator | A generator in which the rate of discharge is independent of the natural activity of the heart. Synonym: fixed rate pulse generator. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atrial synchronous pulse generator | A ventricular stimulating pulse whose rate of discharge is directly determined by the atrial rate. Synonym: atrial triggered pulse generator. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atrial triggered pulse generator | A ventricular stimulating pulse whose rate of discharge is directly determined by the atrial rate. Synonym: atrial triggered pulse generator. (05 Mar 2000) |
| average pulse magnitude | <physics> The amplitude of pulse averaged throughout its duration; identical with peak amplitude for a square wave or pulse without droop. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bigeminal pulse | A pulse in which the beats occur in pairs. Synonym: bigemina, coupled pulse, pulsus bigeminus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bisferious pulse | An arterial pulse with peaks that may be palpable. Synonym: pulsus bisferiens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bulbar pulse | A jugular pulse supposed to indicate tricuspid insufficiency. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cannonball pulse | <radiology> Corrigan's sign: increased pulse at wrist, aortic insufficiency, widened pulse pressure due to increased stroke volume, diastolic regurgitation (12 Dec 1998) |
| capillary pulse | The alternate rhythmical blanching and reddening of a capillary area, as seen under the nails or in the lip, upon gentle compression; a sign of arteriolar dilation, well seen in aortic insufficiency. (05 Mar 2000) |
| radial pulse | The pulse as appreciated at the radial artery usually in the wrist. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vagus pulse | A slow pulse due to the inhibitory action of the vagus nerve on the heart. (05 Mar 2000) |