| rod myopathy | A congenital myofibrillar abnormality in which small threadlike or rod-shaped bodies are scattered through the muscle fibres. It is marked by hypotonia and proximal muscle weakness. It is also called rod myopathy with reference to the threadlike (greek nema, thread) rods or myofibrils (latin fibrilla, a little fibre or threadlike structure). (12 Dec 1998) |
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| rod nuclear cell | <pathology> Immature neutrophils released from the bone marrow reserve in response to acute demand. (18 Nov 1997) |
| rod outer segment | <ophthalmology, physiology> Major photoreceptor cell of vertebrate retina (about 125 million in a human eye). Columnar cells (about 40m long, 1m diameter) having three distinct regions: a region adjacent to and synapsed with, the neural layer of the retina contains the nucleus and other cytoplasmic organelles, below this is the inner segment, rich in mitochondria, that is connected through a thin neck (in which is located a ciliary body) to the outer segment. The outer segment largely consists of a stack of discs membrane infoldings that are incompletely separated in cones) that are continually replenished near the inner segment and that are shed from the distal end and phagocytosed by the pigmented epithelium. The membranes of the discs are rich in rhodopsin, the pigment that absorbs light. (03 Jul 1999) |
| rod outer segments | The portion of the retinal rod cell between the inner segment and the pigment epithelium layer of the retina. (12 Dec 1998) |
| rod vision | Vision when the eye is dark-adapted. See: dark adaptation, dark-adapted eye. Synonym: night vision, rod vision, scotopia, twilight vision. (05 Mar 2000) |
| withe-rod | <botany> A North American shrub (Viburnum nudum) whose tough osierlike shoots are sometimes used for binding sheaves. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| harrington rod insertion | <orthopaedics> A procedure that involves fusing together two or more vertebrae in the spine using either bone grafts or metal rods (Harrington rods). This procedure may be used to correct kyphosis or scoliosis. It is also used in those who require spine stabilisation due to vertebral damage from ruptures discs, fractures, osteomyelitis, osteoarthritis or tumour. (27 Sep 1997) |
| enamel rod inclination | The direction of the enamel rods with reference to the outer surface of the enamel of a tooth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| enamel rod sheath | Organic covering of the individual enamel rod. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Abbe test plate | <equipment> A long, wedge-shaped coverslip about 0.20 mm thick at one end and 0.10 to 0.12 mm at the other end coated chemically with a silver film on which are ruled horizontal lines. at each variation in thickness of 0.01 mm there are vertical lines. By means of oblique illumination and by focusing on different portions of the plate, it is possible to determine the optimum coverslip thickness for any objective and also, for microscopes with drawtubes, the tube length for best objective performance. The approximate freedom from spherical and chromatic aberrations can also be estimated. Small isolated bits of silver near the edges of the lines form good objects for the star test (05 Aug 1998) |
| acetone test | A test for ketonuria; the suspected urine is shaken up with a few drops of sodium nitroprusside, and strong ammonia water is then gently poured over the mixture; if acetone is present, a magenta ring forms at the line of contact; tablets containing sodium nitroprusside and alkali are now more commonly used. (05 Mar 2000) |
| achievement test | A standardised test used to measure acquired learning, e.g., competence in a specific subject area such as reading or arithmetic, in contrast to an intelligence test which is a useful index of potential ability or learning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acidified serum test | Lysis of the patient's red cells in acidified fresh serum, specific for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Synonym: Ham's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid loading test | <nephrology> This is a test used in the diagnosis of renal tubular acidosis. The patient takes ammonium chloride capsules for 3 days to acidify the blood (lower blood pH). A sample of the urine and the blood is then collected and the results are interpreted. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acid perfusion test | <gastroenterology, investigation> A test used to diagnosis gastrooesophageal reflux disease. This investigation requires that the patient swallow 3 tiny tubes into the stomach. A mixture of hydrochloric acid (like stomach acid) and saline are alternatively injected into the tubes. The patient then reports any symptoms they may have. Some patients may vomit. (13 Nov 1997) |