| surface | 1. The exterior part of anything that has length and breadth; one of the limits that bound a solid, especially. The upper face; superficies; the outside; as, the surface of the earth; the surface of a diamond; the surface of the body. "The bright surface of this ethereous mold." (Milton) 2. Hence, outward or external appearance. "Vain and weak understandings, which penetrate no deeper than the surface." (V. Knox) 3. <geometry> A magnitude that has length and breadth without thickness; superficies; as, a plane surface; a spherical surface. 4. That part of the side which is terminated by the flank prolonged, and the angle of the nearest bastion. Caustic surface, Heating surface, etc. See Caustic, Heating, etc. Surface condensation, Surface condenser. See Condensation, and Condenser. Surface gauge, a plate having an accurately dressed flat surface, used as a standard of flatness by which to test other surfaces. Surface printing, printing from a surface in relief, as from type, in distinction from plate printing, in which the ink is contained in engraved lines. Origin: F. See Sur-, and Face, and cf. Superficial. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| surface active compound | <biochemistry> Usually, in biological systems, means a detergent like molecule that is amphipathic and that will bind to the plasma membrane or to a surface with which cells come in contact, altering its properties from hydrophobic to hydrophilic or vice versa. (18 Nov 1997) |
| surface anatomy | The study of the configuration of the surface of the body, especially in its relation to deeper parts. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surface coil | A detector coil applied directly to a body part for high resolution imaging; often a single loop of metal. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surface envelope model | <biology> A way of treating the hydrodynamics of a ciliary field by considering the whole surface of the ciliate to have an undulating surface. The undulations arise because of metachronism. (18 Nov 1997) |
| surface epithelium | A layer of celomic epithelial cells covering the gonadal ridges as they are formed on the medial border of the mesonephroi near the root of the mesentery, the mesothelial covering of the definitive ovary. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surface mucous cells of stomach | Cell's lining the gastric surface and foveolae; a glycoprotein product at the apical end of each cell is secreted and forms a mucous protective film. Synonym: theca cells of stomach. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surface plasmon resonance | <chemistry> Alteration in light reflectance as a result of binding of molecules to a surface from which total internal reflection is occuring. Used in the Biacore (Pharmacia Trademark) machine that detects the binding of ligand to surface immobilised receptor or antibody. (19 Jan 1998) |
| surface potential | <cell biology, physiology> The electrostatic potential due to surface charged groups and adsorbed ions at a surface. It is usually measured as the zeta potential at the Helmholtz slipping plane outside the surface. (19 Jan 1998) |
| surface tension | The expression of intermolecular attraction at the surface of a liquid, in contact with air or another gas, a solid, or another immiscible liquid, tending to pull the molecules of the liquid inward from the surface; dimensional formula: mt-2. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surface tension theory of narcosis | That substances which lower the surface tension of water pass more readily into the cell and cause narcosis by decreasing metabolism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surface thalamic veins | One or more veins running a subependymal course in a coronal plane over the thalamus, terminating in the internal cerebral vein. Synonym: lateral direct veins, surface thalamic veins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surface thermometer | A thermometer in the form of a disk or strip that indicates the temperature of the portion of the skin to which it is applied. (05 Mar 2000) |
| surface water | <ecology> Water present above the substrate or soil surface. (09 Oct 1997) |
| surface-active | Indicating the property of certain agents of altering the physicochemical nature of surfaces and interfaces, bringing about lowering of interfacial tension; they usually possess both lipophilic and hydrophilic groups. See: surfactant. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acromial articular surface of clavicle | A small oval facet on the lateral end of the clavicle for articulation with the acromion. Synonym: facies articularis acromialis claviculae, acromial articular facies of clavicle. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| anterior part of diaphragmatic surface of liver | The part of the diaphragmatic surface of the liver deep to the costal arches and the xiphoid process. Synonym: pars anterior faciei diaphragmatis hepatis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior surface | The surface of a structure or part of the body that faces forward. Synonym: facies anterior. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior surface of arm | Anterior articular surface of dens, the curved articular facet on the anterior aspect of the dens of the axis that articulates with the facet for the dens of the axis anterior arch of the atlas. Synonym: facies articularis anterior dentis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior surface of cornea | The external surface of the cornea. Synonym: facies anterior corneae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior surface of elbow | The area in front of the elbow, including the cubital fossa. Synonym: facies cubitalis anterior, regio cubitalis anterior, anterior cubital region, anterior surface of elbow. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior surface of eyelids | anterior surface of eyelids |
| anterior surface of forearm | Synonym: anterior region of forearm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior surface of iris | The anterior surface of the iris of the eye. Synonym: facies anterior iridis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior surface of kidney | The anterior surface of the kidney. Synonym: facies anterior renis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior surface of lens | The anterior surface of the lens of the eye. Synonym: facies anterior lentis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior surface of lower limb | The anterior surface of the inferior limb. Synonym: facies anterior membri inferioris. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior surface of maxilla | The surface of the maxilla below the orbit and lateral to the nasal aperture. Synonym: facies anterior corporis maxillae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior surface of pancreas | The anterior surface of the pancreas. Synonym: facies anterior pancreatis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior surface of patella | The anterior surface of the patella. Synonym: facies anterior patellae. (05 Mar 2000) |