| pine-needle oil | A volatile oil distilled with steam from the fresh leaf of Pinus mugo; has been used by inhalation and spray in catarrhal affections of the air passages, and locally in rheumatism; also used as a flavoring and in perfumery. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| pleural needle biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A pleural needle biopsy involves the use of a needle (inserted from the skin) to obtain a small sample of pleural tissue for microscopic analysis. The biopsy is done using a local anaesthetic. Abnormal results may reveal cancer (metastatic or primary), tuberculosis, a fungal disease, viral disease, a parasitic disease or collagen vascular disease. Risks include pneumothorax and internal bleeding. (21 Mar 1998) |
| couching needle | An obsolete instrument used in couching. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Hagedorn needle | A curved surgical needle flattened on the sides. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cutting needle | A surgical needle with angulated surface designed to puncture tough tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Salah's sternal puncture needle | A wide-bore needle for obtaining samples of red marrow from the sternum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sea needle | <zoology> See Garfish . Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| hypodermic needle | A hollow needle, similar to but smaller than an aspirating needle, attached to a syringe; used primarily for injection. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spatula needle | A minute needle with a flat (non-cutting) concave surface, used by eye surgeons. (05 Mar 2000) |
| needle | 1. A small instrument of steel, sharply pointed at one end, with an eye to receive a thread, used in sewing. In some needles(as for sewing machines) the eye is at the pointed end, but in ordinary needles it is at the blunt end. 2. See Magnetic needle, under Magnetic. 3. A slender rod or wire used in knitting; a knitting needle; also, a hooked instrument which carries the thread or twine, and by means of which knots or loops are formed in the process of netting, knitting, or crocheting. 4. <botany> One of the needle-shaped secondary leaves of pine trees. See Pinus. 5. Any slender, pointed object, like a needle, as a pointed crystal, a sharp pinnacle of rock, an obelisk, etc. Dipping needle. See Dipping. Needle bar, the reciprocating bar to which the needle of a sewing machine is attached. Needle beam, to shoring, the horizontal cross timber which goes through the wall or a pier, and upon which the weight of the wall rests, when a building is shored up to allow of alterations in the lower part. <botany> Needle furze, the garfish. Origin: OE. Nedle, AS. Ndl; akin to D. Neald, OS. Nadla, G. Nadel, OHG. Nadal, nadala, Icel. Nal, Sw. Nal, Dan. Naal, and also to G. Nahen to sew, OHG. Najan, L. Nere to spin, Gr, and perh. To E. Snare: cf. Gael. & Ir. Snathad needle, Gael. Snath thread, G. Schnur string, cord. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| needle bath | A bath in which water is projected forcibly against the body in many very fine jets. (05 Mar 2000) |
| needle biopsy | Removal of a sample of tissue from the breast using a wide-core needle with suction. (09 Oct 1997) |
| needle culture | A culture produced by inserting an inoculating needle with inoculum down the centre of a solid medium contained in a test tube. Synonym: needle culture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| needle-exchange programs | Organised services for exchange of sterile needles and syringes used for injections as a potential means of reducing the transmission of infectious diseases. (12 Dec 1998) |
| needle forceps | An instrument for grasping a needle in suturing. Synonym: needle forceps. (05 Mar 2000) |