| CMC | carboxymethylcellulose; care management continuity; carpometacarpal; cell-mediated cytolysis or cyto... |
|---|---|
| EC | effective concentration; ejection click; electrochemical; electron capture; embryonal carcinoma; eme... |
| MCC | mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; medial cell column; Medical Council of Canada; metacerebr... |
| MEC | median effective concentration; middle ear canal; middle ear cell; minimum effective concentration |
| MIC | maternal and infant care; medical intensive care; Medical Interfraternity Conference; microscopy; mi... |
| osmolar concentration | The concentration of osmotically active particles in solution expressed in terms of osmoles of solute per liter of solution. Osmolality is expressed in terms of osmoles of solute per kilogram of solvent. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| urinary concentration test | A test of renal tubular function whereby the patient is dehydrated for a measured period of time and the specific gravity of the urine is subsequently determined. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Fishberg concentration test | A test of renal water conservation; after overnight fluid deprivation, morning urine samples are collected and specific gravity is measured. (05 Mar 2000) |
| critical | 1. Denoting or of the nature of a crisis. 2. Denoting a morbid condition in which death is possible. 3. In sufficient quantity as to constitute a turning point. (05 Mar 2000) |
| critical angle | The angle of incidence at which a ray of light, in passing between two media, changes from refraction to total reflection. Synonym: limiting angle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| critical care | Health care provided to a critically ill patient during a medical emergency or crisis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| critical care unit | A hospital facility for provision of intensive nursing and medical care of critically ill patients, characterised by high quality and quantity of continuous nursing and medical supervision and by use of sophisticated monitoring and resuscitative equipment; may be organised for the care of specific patient groups, e.g., neonatal or newborn ICU, neurological ICU, pulmonary ICU. Synonym: critical care unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| critical flicker fusion frequency | The minimal number of flashes of light per second at which an intermittent light stimulus no longer stimulates a continuous visual sensation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| critical gradient | <botany> The maximum stable inclination of an unsupported slope under the most adverse conditions that it will likely experience, as determined by current engineering technology. (09 Oct 1997) |
| critical habitat | <ecology> Specific areas within the geographic area occupied by a species at the time it is listed in accordance with the Endangered Species act. Specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by a species at the time it is listed if there is a determination that such areas are essential for conservation of the species. (09 Oct 1997) |
| critical illness | A disease or state in which death is possible or imminent. (12 Dec 1998) |
| critical illness polyneuropathy | A diffuse axon loss sensorimotor polyneuropathy seen in severely ill patients, usually in the intensive care unit; most patients have been on multiple drugs, and cannot be weaned from ventilatory support; electrodiagnostic studies show evidence of an axon loss polyneuropathy, predominantly motor; of unknown aetiology. (05 Mar 2000) |
| critical mass | <chemistry, radiobiology> The minimum amount of mass of a combination of radioactive substances needed for the substances to generate and lose an exactly balanced number of neutrons to make a chain reaction which will keep going by itself. (09 Oct 1997) |
| critical organ | The organ or physiologic system that for a given source of radiation would first reach its legally defined maximum permissible radiation exposure as the dose of radiopharmaceutical is increased; e.g., the kidney is the critical organ when 197Hg-chlormerodrin is given. (05 Mar 2000) |
| critical pathway | Schedules of medical and nursing procedures, including diagnostic tests, medications, and consultations designed to effect an efficient, coordinated program of treatment. (12 Dec 1998) |