| Koch's phenomenon | The phenomenon of infection immunity; living tubercle bacilli (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) do not cause reinfection when inoculated into tuberculous guinea pigs (i.e., the animals are "immune" to reinfection) even though the original infections continue to develop and eventually cause death of the animals, rise of temperature and increase of the local lesion, in a tuberculous subject, following an injection of tuberculin. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Kohnstamm's phenomenon | Involuntary arm abduction that follows sustained isometric contraction of the deltoid and supraspinatus muscles (usually performed by pushing the upper extremity forcibly and against an immovable vertical surface while standing closely beside it). Synonym: Kohnstamm's phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Kuhne's phenomenon | When a constant current is passed through a muscle, an undulation is seen to pass from the positive to the negative pole. (05 Mar 2000) |
| finger phenomenon | A sign of organic hemiplegia; with the patient's elbow resting on a table, the patient's wrist is grasped by the examiner's hand, the thumb of which is used to exert pressure on the radial side of the patient's pisiform bone; if the hemiplegia is organic, some or all of the patient's fingers become extended and spread out in a fanlike form. Synonym: Gordon's sign. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Flynn phenomenon | A pupillary response to light, the reverse of that expected; e.g., contraction of the pupil in response to turning the lights off. Synonym: Flynn phenomenon, paradoxical pupillary phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Friedreich's phenomenon | The tympanitic percussion sound over a pulmonary cavity is slightly raised in pitch on deep inspiration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Leclef phenomenon | Enhanced phagocytosis by leukocytes of microorganisms in the presence of immune serum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Leede-Rumpel phenomenon | Appearance of petechiae in an area following application of vascular constriction, such as by a tourniquet, usually after 10 minutes but can appear after shorter period, such as following application of tourniquet to draw blood specimen or use of blood pressure cuff. Due to capillary fragility or abnormal platelet numbers (e.g. Thrombocytopenia) or function. (05 Mar 2000) |
| leg phenomenon | In tetany, spasm both of the extensor muscles of the knee and of the calf muscles when the extended leg is flexed at the hip. Synonym: leg phenomenon, Pool-Schlesinger sign, Schlesinger's sign. In tetany, contraction of the arm muscles following the stretching of the brachial plexus by elevation of the arm above the head with the forearm extended, resembles the contraction resulting from stimulation of the ulnar nerve. Synonym: arm phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Leichtenstern's phenomenon | <clinical sign> Tapping gently one of the bones of the extremities causes the patient to draw back violently, sometimes with a loud cry; noted in cases of cerebrospinal meningitis. Synonym: Leichtenstern's phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |
| LE phenomenon | The formation of LE cells in bone marrow or blood on adding serum from patients with disseminated lupus erythematosus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Lucio's leprosy phenomenon | An acute form occurring in pure diffuse lepromatous leprosy presenting irregularly shaped, intensely erythematous, tender plaques, especially of the legs, with tendency to ulceration and scarring. Synonym: lazarine leprosy, Lucio's leprosy phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |