| AOTA | American Occupational Therapy Association |
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| AOTF | American Occupational Therapy Foundation |
| APTA | American Physical Therapy Association |
| APTF | American Physical Therapy Foundation |
| AT | abdominal thrusts; achievement test; Achilles tendon; Achard-Thiers [syndrome]; adaptive thermogenes... |
| Mach Zehnder system | Interferometric system in which the original light beam is divided by a semi transparent mirror: object and reference beams pass through separate optical systems and are recombined by a second semi transparent mirror. Interference fringes are displaced if the optical path difference for the reference beam is greater and this can be compensated with a wedge shaped auxiliary object. The position of the wedge allows the phase retardation of the object to be measured. The Mach Zehnder system was used in a microscope designed by Leitz. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| Galton's system of classification of fingerprints | A system of classification based on the variations in the patterns of the ridges, which are grouped into arches, loops, and whorls (A.L.W. Or arch-loop-whorl system). "Arches are formed when the ridges run from one side to the other of the bulb of the digit, without making any backward turn, but no twist; whorls, when there is a turn through at least one complete circle; they are also considered to include all duplex spirals." The abbreviations used in making a record of fingerprint's are: a, arch; l, loop; w, whorl; i, loop with an inner (thumb side) slope; o, loop with an outer (little-finger side) slope. The ten digits are registered in four groups as follows, distinguished by capital letters: A, the fore, middle, and ring fingers of the right hand; B, the fore, middle, and ring fingers of the left hand; C, the thumb and little finger of the right hand; D, the thumb and little finger of the left hand. See: dermatoglyphics. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gamma motor system | The reflex arc consisting of small anterior horn cells and neuroma, their small fibres projecting to the intrafusal bundle producing its contraction, which initiates the afferent impulses that pass through the posterior root to the anterior horn cells, inducing a stretch reflex. Synonym: gamma motor neurons, gamma motor system, Granit's loop. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vascular system | The cardiovascular and lymphatic system's collectively. Synonym: circulatory system. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vasomotor system | The neural systems which act on vascular smooth muscle to control blood vessel diameter. The major neural control is through the sympathetic nervous system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| gastric plexuses of autonomic system | The plexus's along the greater and lesser curvatures of the stomach derived from the coeliac plexus; also known as inferior and superior plexus. Synonym: plexus gastrici systematis autonomici. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vegetative nervous system | <anatomy> Neurons that are not under conscious control, comprising two antagonistic components, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The autonomic nervous system regulates key functions including the activity of the cardiac (heart) muscle, smooth muscles (e.g., of the gut), and glands. The autonomic nervous system has two divisions: 1. The sympathetic nervous system that accelerates the heart rate, constricts blood vessels, and raises blood pressure. 2. The parasympathetic nervous system slows the heart rate, increases intestinal and gland activity, and relaxes sphincter muscles. (03 Jul 1999) |
| ventral nervous system defective | <molecular biology> A Drosophila gene encoding an integral membrane glycoprotein related to amyloidogenic glycoprotein. (12 Jan 1998) |
| genital system | The complex system consisting of the male or female gonads, associated ducts, and external genitalia dedicated to the function of reproducing the species. Synonym: reproductive system. (05 Mar 2000) |
| genitourinary system | The organs concerned in the production and excretion of urine, together with the organs of reproduction. (12 Dec 1998) |
| parasympathetic nervous system | <anatomy, neurology> One of the two divisions of the vertebrate autonomic nervous sytem. Parasympathetic nerves emerge cranially as pre ganglionic fibres from oculomotor, facial, glossopharyngeal and vagus and from the sacral region of the spinal cord. most neurons are cholinergic and responses are mediated by muscarinic receptors. The parasympathetic system innervates, for example: salivary glands, thoracic and abdominal viscera, bladder and genitalia. Compare:. Sympathetic nervous system. (18 Nov 1997) |
| vertebral-basilar system | The arterial complex comprising the two vertebral arteries joining to form the basilar artery, and their immediate branches. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vertebral venous system | Any of four interconnected venous networks surrounding the vertebral column; anterior external vertebral venous plexus, the small system around the vertebral bodies; posterior external vertebral venous plexus, the extensive system around the vertebral processes; anterior internal vertebral venous plexus, the system running the length of the vertebral canal anterior to the dura; posterior internal vertebral venous plexus, the system running the length of the vertebral canal posterior to the dura; the latter two constitute the epidural venous plexus. Synonym: plexus venosus vertebralis, Batson's plexus, vertebral venous plexus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cartilaginous part of skeletal system | The part of the skeleton composed of cartilage. Synonym: pars cartilaginosa systematis skeletalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| masticatory system | The organs and structures primarily functioning in mastication: the jaws, teeth with their supporting structures, temporomandibular joint, muscles of mastication, tongue, lips, cheeks, and oral mucosa. Synonym: dental apparatus, masticatory apparatus. (05 Mar 2000) |