| 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) |
|---|---|
| impression compound | A thermoplastic material usually composed of gum damar and prepared chalk, used especially for making dental impressions. Synonym: impression compound, modeling composition, modeling compound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inclusion compound | The mechanical trapping of small molecules within spaces between other molecules; e.g., the inclusion of iodine molecules by starch molecules to form the well-known red-to-black "addition compound" (05 Mar 2000) |
| inorganic compound | A compound in which the atoms or radicals consist of elements other than carbon and are typically held together by electrostatic forces rather than by covalent bonds; often are capable of dissociation into ions in polar solvents (e.g., H2O). Compare: organic compound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| isocyclic compound | Any compound in which the constituent atoms, or any part of them, form a ring. Used mainly in organic chemistry where: 1) numerous compound's contain rings of carbon atoms (carbocyclic compound's) or carbon atoms plus one or more atoms of other types (heterocyclic compound's), usually nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur; 2) where the atoms in the ring are all of the same element (homocyclic or isocyclic compound); 3) where the ring is saturated or contains nonconjugated double bonds (alicyclic compound), the compound is similar in properties to the corresponding acyclic compound (e.g., cyclohexane resembles hexane); 4) where the ring contains conjugated double bonds in a closed loop in which there are 4n + 2 (where n is an integer) delocalised π electrons (Huckel's rule) (aromatic compound; e.g., benzene, pyridine), it is more stable than the corresponding saturated ring and exhibits unusual chemical properties characteristic of itself and not of other types of rings or of acyclic compound's. These aromatic compounds have the ability to sustain an induced ring current. Synonym: closed chain compound, ring compound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| open chain compound | An organic compound in which the chain does not form a ring. Synonym: aliphatic compound, open chain compound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| organic compound | <chemistry> A compound containing carbon. (11 Jan 1998) |
| lens, compound | <microscopy> A lens composed of two or more separate pieces of glass or other optical maternal. These component pieces or elements may or may not be cemented together. A common form of compound lens is a two-element objective, one element being a converging lens of crown glass and the other a diverging lens of flint glass. The combination of suitable glasses or other optical materials (plastics, minerals) properly ground and polished reduces aberrations normally present in a single lens. (05 Aug 1998) |
| abducens nerve | <anatomy, nerve> The 6th cranial nerve. The abducens nerve originates in the abducens nucleus of the pons and sends motor fibres to the lateral rectus muscles of the eye. Damage to the nerve or its nucleus disrupts horizontal eye movement control. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abducent nerve | <anatomy> The abducent nerve enervates a muscle which moves the eyeball. Lesions of the sixth cranial nerve result in deviation of the eyeball outward and double vision. Synonym: cranial nerve VI. (27 Sep 1997) |
| accessory nerve | <anatomy, nerve> The accessory nerve enervates the sternocleidomastoid muscles and the trapezius muscles. Lesions of the eleventh result in drooping of the shoulder and inability to rotate the head away from the affected side. Synonym: cranial nerve XI. (27 Sep 1997) |
| accessory nerve lymph nodes | The nodes of the lateral deep cervical group that are located along the accessory nerve; their efferent vessels pass to the supraclavicular lymph nodes. Synonym: companion lymph nodes of accessory nerve, nodi lymphatici comitantes nervi accessorii. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accessory nerve trunk | Part of the accessory nerve formed within the cranial cavity by the union of the cranial and spinal roots, which then divides within the jugular foramen into internal and external branches, the former uniting with the vagus, the latter exiting the foramen as in independent branch which is commonly considered to be the accessory nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accessory portion of spinal accessory nerve | <anatomy, nerve> The roots of the accessory nerve which arise from the medulla; the nerve fibres of the cranial root join the intracranial portion of the vagus nerve and are distributed to the pharyngeal plexus, providing the motor innervation of the soft palate (except the tensor veli palati) and the pharynx. Synonym: pars vagalis nervi accessorii, radices craniales, accessory portion of spinal accessory nerve, cranial roots, vagal part of accessory nerve, vagal part. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accommodation of nerve | <anatomy, nerve> The property of a nerve by which it adjusts to a slowly increasing strength of stimulus, so that its threshold of excitation is greater than it would be were the stimulus strength to have risen more rapidly. (05 Mar 2000) |