| tension | 1. The act of stretching. 2. The condition of being stretched or strained, the degree to which anything is stretched or strained. 3. <physics> Voltage. 4. <chemistry> The partial pressure of a gas in a fluid, for example, of oxygen in blood. Origin: L. Tensio, Gr. Tonos (13 Jan 1998) |
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| tension, arterial | The pressure of the blood within an artery, the arterial pressure. Also called the intra-arterial pressure. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tension curve | The direction of the trabeculae in cancellous bone tissue adapted to resist stress. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tension headache | <neurology> A benign form of headache that results from the painful spasm (muscle tightness) and inflammation of muscles of the head and neck. Tension headache is one of the most common forms of headache. Spasm and contraction of the head and neck muscles may occur in response to fatigue, overuse, eye strain, excessive smoking, stress, anxiety or depression. Sleeping in an abnormal position or prolonged work involving immobilisation of the neck in one position (typing, computers, etc.) are considered common triggers. Exercising and stretching the muscles of the head and neck can reduce the occurrence of muscle tension headaches. (13 Jan 1998) |
| tension, intraocular | The pressure within the eye. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tension, intravenous | The pressure of the blood within a vein, the venous pressure. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tension pneumothorax | A variety of spontaneous pneumothorax in which air enters the pleural cavity and is trapped during expiration; intrathoracic pressure builds to values higher than atmospheric pressure, compresses the lung, and may displace the mediastinum and its structures toward the opposite side, with consequent disadvantageous effects on blood flow. Synonym: pressure pneumothorax, valvular pneumothorax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tension suture | <surgery> A heavy reinforcing suture placed deep within the muscles and fasciae of the abdominal wall to relieve tension on the primary suture line and thus obviate postoperative wound disruption. Synonym: tension suture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tissue tension | A theoretical condition of equilibrium or balance between the tissues and cells whereby overaction of any part is restrained by the pull of the mass. (05 Mar 2000) |
| absolute glaucoma | The final stage of blindness in glaucoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute angle closure glaucoma | <ophthalmology> An increase in pressure within the anterior chamber of the eye. There are two forms of glaucoma: acute angle closure and open angle glaucoma. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute glaucoma | <ophthalmology> A sudden blockage of the normal fluid circulation within the eyeball resulting in increased intraocular pressure. Increased pressure within the eyeball can cause damage to the optic nerve and blindness. Symptom include severe eye or facial pain, nausea, vomiting, decreased vision, blurred vision and seeing halos around objects. The eye appears red with a steamy cornea and a fixed (nonreactive) dilated pupil. Treatment is emergent with medications to lower the pressure within the eye. (27 Sep 1997) |
| alpha-chymotrypsin-induced glaucoma | Transient secondary glaucoma following the use of alpha-chymotrypsin in cataract extraction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| angle closure glaucoma | <ophthalmology> Primary glaucoma in which contact of the iris with the peripheral cornea excludes aqueous humor from the trabecular drainage meshwork causing a sudden blockage of the normal fluid circulation within the eyeball resulting in increased intraocular pressure. Increased pressure within the eyeball can cause damage to the optic nerve and blindness. Symptoms include severe eye or facial pain, nausea, vomiting, decreased vision, blurred vision and seeing halos around objects. The eye appears red with a steamy cornea and a fixed (nonreactive) dilated pupil. Treatment is emergent with medications to lower the pressure within the eye. Synonym: acute glaucoma, closed-angle glaucoma, narrow-angle glaucoma. (14 Aug 2000) |
| aphakic glaucoma | Glaucoma following cataract removal. (05 Mar 2000) |