| accessory tragus | Small nodules present at birth, anterior to the tragus, derived from first branchial arch remnants and often containing central cartilage. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| accessory tubercle | A small apophysis at the posterior part of the base of the transverse process of each of the lumbar vertebrae. Synonym: processus accessorius, accessory tubercle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accessory vertebral vein | <anatomy, vein> A vein that accompanies the vertebral vein but passes through the foramen of the transverse process of the seventh cervical vertebra and opens independently into the brachiocephalic vein. Synonym: vena vertebralis accessoria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accessory visual apparatus | The eyelids, with lashes and eyebrows, lacrimal apparatus, conjunctival sac, and extrinsic muscles of the eyeball. Synonym: organa oculi accessoria, accessory organs, accessory visual apparatus, adnexa oculi, appendages of eye. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accessory volar ligaments | The fibrocartilaginous plates, one located on the anterior aspect of each metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, that are firmly attached to the bases of the phalanges and the heads of the next proximal bones; they are grooved to accommodate the long flexor tendons. Synonym: ligamenta palmaria, accessory volar ligaments. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acciaccatura | A short grace note, one semitone below the note to which it is prefixed; used especially in organ music. Now used as equivalent to the short appoggiatura. Origin: It, from acciaccare to crush. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| accident | 1. Literally, a befalling; an event that takes place without one's foresight or expectation; an undesigned, sudden, and unexpected event; chance; contingency; often, an undesigned and unforeseen occurrence of an afflictive or unfortunate character; a casualty; a mishap; as, to die by an accident. "Of moving accidents by flood and field." (Shak) "Thou cam'st not to thy place by accident: It is the very place God meant for thee." (Trench) 2. A property attached to a word, but not essential to it, as gender, number, case. 3. A point or mark which may be retained or omitted in a coat of arms. 4. <logic> A property or quality of a thing which is not essential to it, as whiteness in paper; an attribute. A quality or attribute in distinction from the substance, as sweetness, softness. 5. Any accidental property, fact, or relation; an accidental or nonessential; as, beauty is an accident. "This accident, as I call it, of Athens being situated some miles from the sea." (J. P. Mahaffy) 6. Unusual appearance or effect. Accident, in Law, is equivalent to casus, or such unforeseen, extraordinary, extraneous interference as is out of the range of ordinary calculation. Origin: F. Accident, fr. L. Accidens, -dentis, p. Pr. Of accidere to happen; ad + cadere to fall. See Cadence, Case. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| accident neurosis | Any functional nervous disorder following an accident or injury. See: posttraumatic stress disorder. Synonym: accident neurosis, posttraumatic neurosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accident proneness | Tendency toward involvement in accidents. Implies certain personality characteristics which predispose to accidents. (12 Dec 1998) |
| accident-prone | 1. Having a greater number of accidents than would be expected of the average person in similar circumstances. 2. Having personality characteristics predisposing one to accidents. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accidental | Happening unexpectedly or by chance. (18 Nov 1997) |
| accidental abortion | Abortion due to a fall, blow, or other injury. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accidental falls | Falls due to slipping or tripping which result in injury. (12 Dec 1998) |
| accidental host | One that harbors an organism which usually does not infect it. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accidental hypothermia | Unintentional decrease in body temperature, especially in the newborn, infants, and elderly, particularly during operations. (05 Mar 2000) |