| barium meal | Oral administration of barium sulfate suspension for radiographic study of the upper gastrointestinal tract (British usage). (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| meal | 1. Grain (especially. Maize, rye, or oats) that is coarsely ground and unbolted; also, a kind of flour made from beans, pease, etc.; sometimes, any flour, esp. If coarse. 2. Any substance that is coarsely pulverized like meal, but not granulated. Meal beetle, the larva of a beetle (Tenebrio molitor) which infests granaries, bakehouses, etc, and is very injurious to flour and meal. Origin: OE. Mele, AS. Melu, melo; akin to D. Meel, G. Mehl, OHG. Melo, Icel. Mjol, SW. Mjol, Dan. Meel, also to D. Malen to grind, G. Mahlen, OHG, OS, & Goth. Malan, Icel. Mala, W. Malu, L. Molere, Gr. Mill, and E. Mill. Cf. Mill, Mold soil, Mole an animal, Immolate, Molar. The portion of food taken at a particular time for the satisfaction of appetite; the quantity usually taken at one time with the purpose of satisfying hunger; a repast; the ac or time of eating a meal; as, the traveler has not eaten a good meal for a week; there was silence during the meal. "What strange fish Hath made his meal on thee ?" (Shak) Origin: OE. Mel; akin to E. Meal a part, and to D. Maal time, meal, G. Mal time, mahl meal, Icel. Mal measure, time, meal, Goth. Ml time, and to E. Measure. See Measure. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| meal worm | The larva of beetles of the genus Tenebrio; both larvae and adults are important pests, destroying flour, meal, and other cereal products; they are also intermediate hosts of nematodes of the genus Gongylonema, and of various tapeworms of the genus Hymenolepis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| test meal | Toast and tea, or crackers and tea, or gruel or other bland food, given to stimulate gastric secretion before withdrawing gastric contents for analysis, administration of food containing a substance thought to be responsible for symptoms, such as an allergic reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| partial denture retention | The fixation of a removable partial denture by the use of clasps, indirect retainers, or precision attachments. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retention | 1. The persistent keeping within the body of matters normally excreted. 2. In cavity preparation, the prevention of displacement of a restoration. 3. <dentistry> The period during which the patient is wearing an appliance to maintain and stabilise the teeth in the position into which they were moved. 4. <psychology> The persistence to perform a learned behaviour (facts or experiences) after an interval has elapsed in which there has been no performance or practice of the behaviour. Origin: L. Retentio, from retentare = to hold firmly back (18 Nov 1997) |
| retention area | An area of a tooth provided during its preparation for restoration that will aid in holding the restoration in place. See: retention groove, retention point. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retention arm | A flexible segment of a removable partial denture that engages an undercut on an abutment and is designed to retain the denture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retention cyst | A cyst resulting from some obstruction to the excretory duct of a gland. Synonym: distention cyst, secretory cyst. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retention form | The shape of a cavity preparation that prevents displacement of the dental restoration by lateral or tipping forces as well as masticatory forces. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retention groove | One of the groove's forming opposing vertical constrictions in a tooth to aid in retention of a dental restoration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retention jaundice | Jaundice due to insufficiency of liver function or to an excess of bile pigment production; the bilirubin is unconjugated because it has not passed through the liver cells; van den Bergh test is indirect. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retention point | A provision made within a cavity preparation of a tooth to hold in place the first pieces of gold when placing a direct gold restoration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retention polyp | A smoothly rounded mucosal hamartoma of the large bowel, which may be multiple and cause rectal bleeding, especially in the first decade of life; it is not precancerous. Synonym: retention polyp. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retention suture | <surgery> A heavy reinforcing suture placed deep within the muscles and fasciae of the abdominal wall to relieve tension on the primary suture line and thus obviate postoperative wound disruption. Synonym: tension suture. (05 Mar 2000) |