| bowel sounds | Sounds heard when contractions of the lower intestines propel contents forward. The physician will listen to bowel sounds (using a stethoscope) as part of the normal physical examination of the abdomen. Their absence can indicate intestinal obstruction or ileus (paralysis of the bowel). (27 Sep 1997) |
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| bowen's disease | A persistent progressive non-elevated red scaly or crusted plaque which is due to an intradermal carcinoma and is potentially malignant. Atypical squamous cells proliferate through the whole thickness of the epidermis. The lesions may occur anywhere on the skin surface or on mucosal surfaces. The cause most frequently found is trivalent arsenic compounds. Freezing, cauterization or diathermy coagulation is often effective. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Bowen's precancerous dermatosis | A persistent progressive non-elevated red scaly or crusted plaque which is due to an intradermal carcinoma and is potentially malignant. Atypical squamous cells proliferate through the whole thickness of the epidermis. The lesions may occur anywhere on the skin surface or on mucosal surfaces. The cause most frequently found is trivalent arsenic compounds. Freezing, cauterization or diathermy coagulation is often effective. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Bowen, John | <person> U.S. Dermatologist, 1857-1941. See: Bowen's disease, Bowen's precancerous dermatosis, bowenoid papulosis, Bowenoid cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bowenite | <chemical> A hard, compact variety of serpentine found in Rhode Island. It is of a light green colour and resembles jade. Origin: From G.T.Bowen, who analyzed it in 1822. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Bowenoid cells | Cells characteristic of Bowen's disease; scattered large, round intraepidermal keratinocytes with a hyperchromatic nucleus and pole cytoplasm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bower | 1. Anciently, a chamber; a lodging room; especially, a lady's private apartment. "Give me my lute in bed now as I lie, And lock the doors of mine unlucky bower." (Gascoigne) 2. A rustic cottage or abode; poetically, an attractive abode or retreat. 3. A shelter or covered place in a garden, made with boughs of trees or vines, etc, twined together; an arbor; a shady recess. Origin: OE. Bour, bur, room, dwelling, AS. Bur, fr. The root of AS. Buan to dwell; akin to Icel. Bur chamber, storehouse, Sw. Bur cage, Dan. Buur, OHG. Pur room, G. Bauer cage, bauer a peasant. 97] Cf.Boor, Byre. 1. One who bows or bends. 2. An anchor carried at the bow of a ship. 3. A muscle that bends a limb, especially. The arm. "His rawbone arms, whose mighty brawned bowers" "Were wont to rive steel plates and helmets hew." (Spenser) Best bower, Small bower. See the Note under Anchor. Origin: From Bow. <veterinary> A young hawk, when it begins to leave the nest. Origin: From Bough, cf. Brancher. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bower bird | <zoology> An Australian bird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus or holosericeus), allied to the starling, which constructs singular bowers or playhouses of twigs and decorates them with brightcoloured objects; the satin bird. The name is also applied to other related birds of the same region, having similar habits; as, the spotted bower bird (Chalmydodera maculata), and the regent bird (Sericulus melinus). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bowery | Origin: D. Bouwerij. A farm or plantation with its buildings. "The emigrants [in new York] were scattered on boweries or plantations; and seeing the evils of this mode of living widely apart, they were advised, in 1643 and 1646, by the Dutch authorities, to gather into "villages, towns, and hamlets, as the English were in the habit of doing."" (Bancroft) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bowess | <veterinary> Same as Bower. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bowfin | <marine biology> A voracious ganoid fish (Amia calva) found in the fresh waters of the United States; the mudfish. Synonym: Johnny Grindle, and dogfish. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bowhead | <zoology> The great Arctic or Greenland whale. (Balaena mysticetus). See Baleen, and Whale. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Bowie's stain | <technique> A stain for juxtaglomerular granules in which the kidney sections are stained in a mixture of Biebrich scarlet red and ethyl violet; juxtaglomerular granules and elastic fibres are stained a deep purple, erythrocytes are amber, and background tissue appears in shades of red. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bowie, Donald James | <person> Canadian physician, *1887. See: Bowie's stain. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bowl | 1. A concave vessel of various forms (often approximately hemisherical), to hold liquids, etc. "Brought them food in bowls of basswood." (Longfellow) 2. Specifically, a drinking vessel for wine or other spirituous liquors; hence, convival drinking. 3. The contents of a full bowl; what a bowl will hold. 4. The bollow part of a thing; as, the bowl of a spoon. Origin: OE. Bolle, AS. Bolla; akin to Icel. Bolli, Dan. Bolle, G. Bolle, and perh. To E. Boil a tumour. Cf. Boll. 1. A ball of wood or other material used for rolling on a level surface in play; a ball of hard wood having one side heavier than the other, so as to give it a bias when rolled. 2. An ancient game, popular in Great Britain, played with biased balls on a level plat of greensward. "Like an uninstructed bowler, . . . Who thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straightforward upon it." (Sir W. Scott) 3. The game of tenpins or bowling. Origin: F. Boule, fr. L. Bulla bubble, stud. Cf. Bull an edict, Bill a writing. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |