| mixed discrete-continuous random variable | <statistics> A random variable that may assume some values with probabilities and others with probability densities. For example, in a 35-year-old man with familial polyposis of the colon, the distribution of time until malignant disease occurs consists of a probability that he already has cancer (which would be assigned the waiting time 0), a probability density of developing it in the future and a probability that he will die of some other cause before he develops cancer. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| motion therapy, continuous passive | Movement of a body part initiated and maintained by a mechanical or electrical device to restore normal range of motion to joints, muscles, or tendons after surgery, prosthesis implantation, contracture flexion, or long immobilization. (12 Dec 1998) |
| continuous | Not interrupted, having no interruption. Origin: L. Continuus (18 Nov 1997) |
| continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis | Method of peritoneal dialysis performed in ambulatory patients with influx and efflux of dialysate during normal activities. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous bar retainer | A metal bar, usually resting on lingual surfaces of teeth, to aid in their stabilization and to act as indirect retainer's. Synonym: continuous clasp. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous beam | In dentistry, a beam that continues over three or more supports, those supports not at the beam ends being equally free supports. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous capillary | A capillary in which small vesicles (caveolae) are numerous and pores are absent. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous culture | <cell culture> A culture of microorganisms in a liquid medium which is maintained under constant conditions with a constant nutrient supply so that it can grow steadily for an extended period of time. Compare: batch culture. (11 Jan 1998) |
| continuous epidural anaesthesia | Insertion of a catheter into the lumbar or caudal epidural space for the repeated injection of local anaesthetic solutions as a means of prolonging duration of anaesthesia. Synonym: fractional epidural anaesthesia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous loop wiring | The formation of wire loops on both maxillary and mandibular teeth, for the placement of intermaxillary elastics; used in reduction and fixation of fractures. Synonym: Stout's wiring. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous murmur | A murmur that is heard without interruption throughout systole and into diastole. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous passive motion | A technique in which a joint, usually the knee, is moved constantly in a mechanical splint to prevent stiffness and to increase the range of motion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous phase | The medium or fluid in which a disperse is suspended. Synonym: continuous phase, dispersion medium, dispersion phase, external medium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous positive airway pressure | A technique of respiratory therapy, in either spontaneously breathing or mechanically ventilated patients, in which airway pressure is maintained above atmospheric pressure throughout the respiratory cycle by pressurization of the ventilatory circuit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous positive pressure breathing | Artificial ventilation in which all inspirations are provided by positive pressure applied to the airway. Synonym: continuous positive pressure breathing, continuous positive pressure ventilation, intermittent positive pressure breathing, intermittent positive pressure ventilation. (05 Mar 2000) |