| sentinel | 1. One who watches or guards; specifically, a soldier set to guard an army, camp, or other place, from surprise, to observe the approach of danger, and give notice of it; a sentry. "The sentinels who paced the ramparts." (Macaulay) 2. Watch; guard. "That princes do keep due sentinel." 3. <zoology> A marine crab (Podophthalmus vigil) native of the Indian Ocean, remarkable for the great length of its eyestalks. Synonym: sentinel crab. Origin: F. Sentinelle (cf. It. Sentinella); probably originally, a litle path, the sentinel's beat, and a dim. Of a word meaning, path; cf. F. Sente path. L. Semita; and OF. Sentine, sentele, senteret, diminutive words. Cf. Sentry. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| sentinel animal | An animal deliberately placed in a particular environment to detect the presence of an infectious agent, such as a virus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sentinel gland | A single enlarged lymph node in the omentum that may be an indication of an ulcer opposite to it in the greater or lesser curvature of the stomach. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sentinel loop sign | In gastrointestinal radiology, dilatation of a segment of large or small intestine, indicative of localised ileus from nearby inflammation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sentinel pile | A circumscribed thickening of the mucous membrane at the lower end of a fissure of the anus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sentinel spinous process fracture | Fracture of the spinous process with undetected deeper fracture's of the vertebral arch. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sentinel surveillance | Monitoring of rate of occurrence of specific conditions to assess the stability or change in health levels of a population. It is also the study of disease rates in a specific cohort, geographic area, population subgroup, etc. To estimate trends in larger population. (12 Dec 1998) |
| sentinel tag | Projecting edematous skin at the lower end of an anal fissure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdominal wall fat pad biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> The removal of a small specimen of the abdominal wall fat pad for microscopic examination. Often used in the diagnosis of amyloidosis. Performed with a local anaesthetic. (25 Jun 1999) |
| aspiration biopsy | Removal of a sample of tissue from the breast using a wide-core needle with suction. (09 Oct 1997) |
| biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A biopsy refers to a procedure that involves obtaining a tissue specimen for microscopic analysis to establish a precise diagnosis. Biopsies can be accomplished with a biopsy needle (passed through the skin into the organ in question) or by open surgical incision. See: abdominal wall fat pad biopsy, endometrial biopsy, heart biopsy, muscle biopsy, needle biopsy, nerve biopsy, open lung biopsy, pleural needle biopsy, salivary gland biopsy. (07 Apr 1998) |
| biopsy, endometrial | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure by which a sample is taken of the endometrial lining of the uterus. This may be performed with or without an anaesthetic. Risks include bleeding after the procedure. This test is usually performed in the evaluation of abnormal menses, heavy menstruation or post-menopausal bleeding. It may be part of an infertility evaluation. Endometrial biopsy can reveal uterine cancer, uterine fibroids, uterine polyps and adenomyosis. Often performed in those with endometriosis as part of the evaluation. (21 Mar 1998) |
| biopsy, heart | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of cardiac muscle tissue for microscopic analysis. This is generally performed at the same time as a cardiac catheterisation or as a very similar, yet separate, procedure. A small piece of heart tissue is taken via a small forceps inserted into the cardiac catheter site (usually threaded through a vein in the neck). This test may reveal the cause of a cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, amyloidosis or a heart transplant rejection. (21 Mar 1998) |
| biopsy, muscle | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of muscle tissue for microscopic analysis. A muscle biopsy is used to distinguish between neurological and myopathic (muscle disease) disorders, identify muscular dystrophy, diagnose muscle infections and identify connective tissue disorders (necrotising vasculitis). (21 Mar 1998) |
| biopsy, myocardial | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of cardiac muscle tissue for microscopic analysis. This is generally performed at the same time as a cardiac catheterisation or as a very similar, yet separate, procedure. A small piece of heart tissue is taken via a small forceps inserted into the cardiac catheter site (usually threaded through a vein in the neck). This test may reveal the cause of a cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, amyloidosis or a heart transplant rejection. (21 Mar 1998) |