| mucronate | Synonym: xiphoid. Origin: L. Mucronatus, pointed (05 Mar 2000) |
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| mucronated | Ending abruptly in a sharp point; abruptly tipped with a short and sharp point; as, a mucronate leaf. Mu"cronately. Origin: L. Mucronatus, fr. Mucro a sharp point: cf. F. Mucrone. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| mucus | The free slime of the mucous membranes, composed of secretion of the glands, along with various inorganic salts, desquamated cells and leucocytes. (18 Nov 1997) |
| mucus colitis | A common gastrointestinal disorder characterised by abdominal pain, bloating, mucous in stools, and irregular bowel habits with alternating diarrhoea and constipation, symptoms that tend to be chronic and wax and wane over the years. Although mucus colitis can cause chronic recurrent discomfort, it appears to be an abnormal condition of gut contractions (motility) and does not lead to any serious organ problems. Diagnosis usually involves excluding other illnesses. Treatment is directed toward relief of symptoms and includes high fibre diet, exercise, relaxation techniques, avoidance of caffeine, milk products and sweeteners, and medications. Alternative names include irritable bowel syndrome, spastic colitis and nervous colon syndrome. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mucus glycoprotein sulfotransferase | <enzyme> Specific for gastric mucus sulfation Registry number: EC 2.8.2.- Synonym: mucus gp sulfotransferase (26 Jun 1999) |
| mucus impaction | Filling of the proximal bronchi, and also the bronchioles, with mucus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mucusin | <physiology> Mucin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| mud | <plant biology> Particles in siliciclastic sediment that are 0.0625 millimetres in size or smaller, according to the Udden-Wentworth scale. Particles classified as mud are often farther subdivided into silt and clay. (09 Oct 1997) |
| mud bed | A bed in which the mattress consists of semiliquid mud made from special clays, covered with a sheet of plastic material; used to widely distribute the pressure of the body weight over the dependent surface, for patients with burns or large anaesthetic areas. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mud fever | A leptospirosis caused by the grippotyphosa serovar of Leptospira interrogans. Synonym: bluecomb disease of turkeys. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mud therapy | The therapeutic use of mud in packs or baths. It includes mud, earth, clay, and peat. The original mud was fango, a volcanic mud from the battaglia thermal springs in italy, applied externally in the treatment of rheumatism and other diseases of the joints and muscles. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mudar | <botany> Either one of two asclepiadaceous shrubs (Calotropis gigantea, and C. Procera), which furnish a strong and valuable fibre. The acrid milky juice is used medicinally. Origin: Hind. Madar. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| mudarin | <chemistry> A brown, amorphous, bitter substance having a strong emetic action, extracted from the root of the mudar. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| muddy | 1. Abounding in mud; besmeared or dashed with mud; as, a muddy road or path; muddy boots. 2. Turbid with mud; as, muddy water. 3. Consisting of mud or earth; gross; impure. "This muddy vesture of decay." (Shak) 4. Confused, as if turbid with mud; cloudy in mind; dull; stupid; also, immethodical; incoherent; vague. "Cold hearts and muddy understandings." (Burke) "Dost think I am so muddy, so unsettled." (Shak) 5. Not clear or bright. Origin: Muddier; Muddiest. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| mudfish | <zoology> The European loach. The bowfin. The South American lipedosiren, and the allied African species (Protopterus annectens). See Lipedosiren. The mud minnow. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |