| locus minoris resistentiae | A place of less resistance, in latin. For example, a damaged heart valve may act as a locus minoris resistentiae where bacteria released into the blood stream (bacteraemia) tend to settle. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| locus niger | A large cell mass, crescentic on transverse section, extending forward over the dorsal surface of the crus cerebri from the rostral border of the pons into the subthalamic region; it is composed of a dorsal stratum of closely spaced pigmented (i.e., melanin-containing) cells, the pars compacta, and a larger ventral region of widely scattered cells, the pars reticulata; the pars compacta in particular includes numerous cells that project forward to the striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen) and contain dopamine, which acts as the transmitter substance at their synaptic endings; other, apparently non-dopaminergic cells of the substantia nigra project to a rostral part of the ventral nucleus of thalmus, the middle layers of the superior colliculus and to restricted parts of the reticular formation of the midbrain; the nigrostriatal projection is reciprocated by a massive striatonigral fibre system with multiple neurotransmitters, chief among which is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA); substantia n. Receives smaller afferent projections from the subthalamic nucleus, the lateral segment of the globus pallidus, the dorsal nucleus of the raphe and the pedunculopontine nucleus of the midbrain. The pars reticulata forms part of the output system for the striate body. The substantia n. Is involved in the metabolic disturbances associated with Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Synonym: locus niger, nucleus niger, Soemmerring's ganglion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| locus of control | A theoretical construct designed to assess a person's perceived control over his/her own behaviour; classified as internal if the person feels in control of events, external if others are perceived to have that control. (05 Mar 2000) |
| locus perforatus anticus | A region at the base of the brain through which numerous small branches of the anterior and middle cerebral arteries (lenticulostriate arteries) enter the depth of the cerebral hemisphere; it is bordered medially by the optic chasm and anterior half of the optic tract, rostrally and laterally by the lateral olfactory stria; its anteromedial part corresponds to the olfactory tubercle. Synonym: substantia perforata anterior, locus perforatus anticus, olfactory area. (05 Mar 2000) |
| locus perforatus posticus | The bottom of the interpeduncular fossa at the base of the midbrain, extending from the anterior border of the pons forward to the mamillary bodies, and containing numerous openings for the passage of perforating branches of the posterior cerebral arteries. Synonym: substantia perforata posterior, locus perforatus posticus, Malacarne's space. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aberrant complex | An anomalous electrocardiographic complex, more specifically an abnormal ventricular complex caused by abnormal intraventricular conduction of a supraventricular impulse. (05 Mar 2000) |
| activated complex | <chemistry> State of highest energy during a reaction. When reactants form the activated complex, bond breaking and bond formation is occurring. Synonym: transition state. (09 Jan 1998) |
| AIDS dementia complex | <immunology> A frequent cerebral condition in people with AIDS that results in the loss of cognitive capacity, affecting the ability to function in a social or occupational setting. Its cause has not been determined exactly, but may result from HIV infection of cells in the brain or an inflammatory reaction to such infection. (09 Oct 1997) |
| aids-related complex | A prodromal phase of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Laboratory criteria separating aids-related complex (arc) from aids include elevated or hyperactive B-cell humoral immune responses, compared to depressed or normal antibody reactivity in aids; follicular or mixed hyperplasia in arc lymph nodes, leading to lymphocyte degeneration and depletion more typical of aids; evolving succession of histopathological lesions such as localization of kaposi's sarcoma, signaling the transition to the full-blown aids. (12 Dec 1998) |
| alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex | See: alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase. Anaerobic dehydrogenase, an enzyme (usually a pyridinoenzyme) catalyzing the transfer of hydrogen from some metabolite to some acceptor molecule (e.g., NAD+, cytochrome) other than oxygen; e.g., lactate dehydrogenase's, isocitrate dehydrogenase's, and others in EC class 1, excluding those listed under aerobic dehydrogenase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex | alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase |
| amygdaloid complex | Almond-shaped group of basal nuclei anterior to the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle of the brain, within the temporal lobe. The amygdala is part of the limbic system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| anomalous complex | A complex in the electrocardiogram differing significantly from the physiologic type in the same lead. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antennal complex | <cell biology> Light harvesting complexes (LHC) of protein and pigment in or on photosynthetic membranes of bacteria are organised into arrays, called antennae. They transfer photon energy to reaction centres. (18 Nov 1997) |
| antennapedia complex | A set of mutations that cause developmental defects in the limbs and appendages of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, such as the development of legs (-pedia) in the places where antennae are supposed to be. (09 Oct 1997) |