| bench | Origin: OE. Bench, benk, AS. Benc; akin to Sw. Bank, Dan baenk, Icel. Bekkr, OS, D, & G. Bank. Cf. Bank, Beach. 1. A long seat, differing from a stool in its greater length. "Mossy benches supplied the place of chairs." (Sir W. Scott) 2. A long table at which mechanics and other work; as, a carpenter's bench. 3. The seat where judges sit in court. "To pluck down justice from your awful bench." (Shak) 4. The persons who sit as judges; the court; as, the opinion of the full bench. See King's Bench. 5. A collection or group of dogs exhibited to the public; so named because the animals are usually placed on benches or raised platforms. 6. A conformation like a bench; a long stretch of flat ground, or a kind of natural terrace, near a lake or river. Bench mark, a projecting course at the base of a building, or round a pillar, sufficient to form a seat. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| bench mark | A fixed, more or less permanent reference point or object of known elevation, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) installs brass caps in bridge abutments or otherwise permanently sets bench marks at convenient locations nationwide, the elevations on these marks are referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD), also commonly known as mean sea level (MSL), locations of these bench marks on USGS topographic maps are shown as small triangles, since the marks are sometimes destroyed by construction or vandalism, the existence of any bench mark should be field verified before planning work which relies on a particular reference point, the USGS or local state surveyors office can provide information on the existence, exact location and exact elevation of bench marks. (09 Oct 1997) |
| bench testing | Testing of a device against specifications in a simulated (nonliving) environment. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ambulatory surgery | <surgery> Operative procedures performed on patients who are admitted to and discharged from a hospital on the same day. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aseptic surgery | The performance of an operation with sterilised hands, instruments, etc., and utilizing precautions against the introduction of infectious microorganisms from without. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiovascular surgery | The use of surgery to fix disorders of the heartand/or blood vessels. (09 Oct 1997) |
| radical surgery | Surgery designed to remove all possible diseased tissue, for example, all possible tumour tissue. (12 Dec 1998) |
| major surgery | See: major operation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vascular surgery | A branch of medicine dealing with the use of surgery to diagnose/treat diseases of the blood vessels. (09 Oct 1997) |
| general surgery | A surgical specialty that involves largely the surgical management of diseases of the bowel, gallbladder, stomach and other digestive organs. (27 Sep 1997) |
| reconstructive surgery | The surgical specialty or procedure concerned with the restoration, construction, reconstruction, or improvement in the shape and appearance of body structures that are missing, defective, damaged, or misshapen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| video-assisted thoracic surgery | A less morbid alternative to "open" thoracotomy that employs cameras, optic systems, percutaneous stapling devices, and assorted endoscopic graspers, retractors, and forceps. Also called video thoracoscopic surgery, it can be selectively applied to various pulmonary, pleural, and pericardial lesions. (05 Mar 2000) |
| perineal surgery | An operation to remove the prostate gland through an incision made between the scrotum and the anus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| micro-disc surgery | This describes a newer form of orthopaedic back surgery involving the insertion of a special hardware device through a small incision in the lower back. This form of surgery is indicated for those with intractable (unresponsive to medical therapy alone) disk disease of the lower spine (typically lumbar). The prolapsed disk is suction out of the back via a small tube inserted through the incision. (27 Sep 1997) |
| microscopically controlled surgery | Minimally invasive surgery, operative procedure performed in a manner derived to result in the smallest possible incision or no incision at all; includes laparoscopic, laparoscopically assisted, thoracoscopic, and endoscopic surgical procedures. Synonym: Mohs' chemosurgery. (05 Mar 2000) |