| biomedical model | A conceptual model of illness that excludes psychological and social factors and includes only biological factors in an attempt to understand a person's medical illness or disorder. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| biomembrane | A structure bounding a cell or cell organelle; it contains lipids, proteins, glycolipids, steroids, etc. Synonym: membrana, membrane. (05 Mar 2000) |
| biometer | <physiology> A device which is used to measure the tiny amounts of carbon dioxide that functioning tissues give off. (21 Mar 1998) |
| biometrical genetics | <study> The mathematical approach to the study of the inheritance of different phenotypes, or physical characteristics, as a result of plant or animal breeding. (09 Oct 1997) |
| biometrical school | A group of British geneticists, followers of Galton and Karl Pearson, whose approach to genetics was quantitative rather than enumerative. (05 Mar 2000) |
| biometrician | One who specialises in the science of biometry. (05 Mar 2000) |
| biometrics | <study> The statistical approach to the study of biology, especially to biological events like births and deaths, and other biological observations. The calculation of life expectancy. (21 Mar 1998) |
| biometry | Measurement of life; calculation of the probable duration of human life. Origin: Gr. Life + -metry. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| biomicroscope | In ophthalmology, an instrument consisting of a combination of a microscope and a narrow beam of collimated light that can be narrowed into a slit and used to examine the eye. Synonym: biomicroscope, Gullstrand's slitlamp. (05 Mar 2000) Previous: slippery, slipping patella, slipping rib, slipping rib cartilage, slitNext: slit lamp, slit microscope, slit pores, slit-shellbiomicroscope -->slit lamp <apparatus, ophthalmology> A special type of examination of the anterior structures of the eye. These include the conjunctiva, sclera, lids, iris, cornea and anterior chamber. The slit lamp is a device which focuses a high intensity light beam (that can be focused as a slit) at the structures of the eye while the examiner looks through a magnifying scope. Eyedrops which numb the eyes and dilate the pupils will often be used prior to examination. The exam is not at all uncomfortable, just time consuming. Diagnoses such as foreign body (to conjunctiva, cornea or sclera), iritis, herpes keratoconjunctivitis, cornmeal ulcer, cataracts, glaucoma and corneal abrasions may be made using this exam. Some foreign bodies can even be removed using the enhanced image amplification of the slit lamp. (19 Jan 1998) |
| biomicroscopy | <procedure> The examination of tissues on a microscopic level. Could refer to the specific examination of the cornea or lens of the eye, using a corneal microscope and a slit lamp. (09 Oct 1997) |
| biomimetics | 1. <chemistry> A synthetic, chemical substance that performs some of the functions of a biological molecule. 2. <study> A branch of biology that uses biological systems as a model to develop synthetic systems. (21 Mar 1998) |
| biomolecule | <biochemistry, chemistry> Any organic molecule that is an essential part of a living organism. (13 Nov 1997) |
| biomphalaria | A genus of planorbid freshwater snails, species of which are intermediate hosts of schistosoma mansoni. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bion | <biology> The physiological individual, characterised by definiteness and independence of function, in distinction from the morphological individual or morphon. Origin: Gr. Living, of to live. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bionavigation | <zoology> The ability of certain animals to navigate by instinct to specific sites, apparently without using any landmarks. Examples are salmon returning to the same rivers where they were born, birds returning to the same nesting sites after annual migrations, or Florida green tortoises finding the same beaches upon which to lay their eggs. (13 Nov 1997) |