| portal-systemic anastomoses | Naturally-occurring venous communications between tributaries of the portal venous system and tributaries of the systemic venous system. The major portal-systemic anastomoses include: 1) oesophageal branches of left gastric vein with oesophageal veins, 2) superior rectal vein with middle and inferior rectal veins, 3) paraumbilical veins with subcutaneous veins of anterior abdominal wall, 4) retroperitoneal veins with venous branches of veins of the colon and bare area of the liver, and 5) a patent ductus venosus connecting left branch of portal vein to inferior vena cava (rare). These anastomoses are important clinically, providing collateral circulation during portal obstruction or hypertension, at which time they may become varicose. See: caput medusae, oesophageal varices, haemorrhoids. Surgically-created communications between the portal vein and the inferior vena cava or their tributaries, to relieve portal hypertension. Synonym: portacaval anastomoses. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| portal-systemic encephalopathy | An encephalopathy associated with cirrhosis of the liver, attributed to the passage of toxic nitrogenous substances from the portal to the systemic circulation; cerebral manifestations may include coma. Synonym: hepatic encephalopathy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| scleroderma, systemic | A chronic, progressive dermatosis characterised by boardlike hardening and immobility of the affected skin, with visceral involvement, especially of lungs, oesophagus, kidneys and heart. It may be accompanied by calcinosis, raynaud's phenomenon, and telangiectasis (crest syndrome). It includes acrosclerosis and sclerodactyly. (12 Dec 1998) |
| systemic | <anatomy> Pertaining to or affecting the body as a whole. (18 Nov 1997) |
| systemic anaphylaxis | The immediate response, involving smooth muscles and capillaries throughout the body of a sensitised individual, that follows intravenous (and occasionally intracutaneous) injection of antigen (allergen). See: anaphylactic shock. Synonym: systemic anaphylaxis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| systemic anatomy | Anatomy of the systems of the body; an approach to anatomical study organised by organ systems, e.g., the cardiovascular system, emphasizing an overview of the system throughout the body; distinguished from regional anatomy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| systemic autoimmune diseases | A group of connective tissue disease's characterised by the presence of autoantibodies responsible for immunopathologically mediated tissue lesions; systemic lupus erythematosus is the prototype. (05 Mar 2000) |
| systemic blastomycosis | Infection with Blastomyces dermatitidis extending beyond the skin or the lung, the usual portals of entry; involvement of bone and genitourinary tract (especially. Prostate and epididymis) are most frequent. (05 Mar 2000) |
| systemic chondromalacia | A degenerative disease of cartilage producing a bizarre form of arthritis, with collapse of the ears, the cartilaginous portion of the nose, and the tracheobronchial tree; death may occur from chronic infection or suffocation because of loss of stability in the tracheobronchial tree of autosomal origin. Synonym: chronic atrophic polychondritis, generalised chondromalacia, Meyenburg's disease, Meyenburg-Altherr-Uehlinger syndrome, relapsing perichondritis, systemic chondromalacia, von Meyenburg's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| systemic circulation | The circulation of blood through the arteries, capillaries, and veins of the general system, from the left ventricle to the right atrium. Synonym: greater circulation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| systemic febrile diseases | Generic term for diseases characterised by fever. (05 Mar 2000) |
| systemic heart | The left atrium and ventricle, receiving the aerated blood from the lungs and propelling it throughout the body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| systemic hyalinosis | A rare recessively inherited deforming disorder of head, neck, and generalised cutaneous nodules or tumours in children with normal mentality; the lesions consist of fibroblasts separated by an eosinophilic hyalin stroma composed mostly of glycosaminoglycans. Synonym: systemic hyalinosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| systemic lupus erythematosus | <immunology, nephrology, rheumatology> A disease of humans, probably autoimmune with antinuclear and other antibodies in plasma. Immune complex deposition in the glomerular capillaries is a particular problem. Acronym: SLE (19 Jan 1998) |
| systemic mastocytosis | Infiltration of many organ systems by mast cells with varied clinical manifestations that can include fever, weight loss, flushing, bronchospasm, rhinorrhoea, palpitations, dyspnea, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal bleeding, and hypotension. Synonym: systemic mastocytosis. (05 Mar 2000) |