| proprioceptive mechanism | <physiology> The mechanism of sense of position and movement, by which muscular movements can be adjusted to a great degree of accuracy and equilibrium maintained. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| Schultze's mechanism | Expulsion of the placenta with the foetal surface foremost. (05 Mar 2000) |
| defense mechanism | A psychological means of coping with conflict or anxiety, e.g., conversion, denial, dissociation, rationalization, repression, sublimation, the psychic structure underlying a coping strategy, immunological mechanism vs. Non-specific defense mechanism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| double displacement mechanism | A special multisubstrate reaction in which, for a two-substrate, two-product (i.e., bi-bi) system, an enzyme reacts with one substrate to form a product and a modified enzyme, the latter then reacting with a second substrate to form a second, final product, and regenerating the original enzyme. An example of such a mechanism is found in the aminotransferases. More complex ping-pong mechanisms exist for enzymes having more than two substrates. Synonym: double displacement mechanism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Douglas mechanism | Mechanism of spontaneous evolution in transverse lie; extreme lateral flexion of the vertebral column with birth of the lateral aspect of thorax before the buttocks. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Duncan's mechanism | Passage of the placenta from the uterus with the rough side foremost. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immunological mechanism | The groups of cells (chiefly lymphocytes and cells of the reticuloendothelial system) that function in establishing active acquired immunity (induced sensitivity, allergy). (05 Mar 2000) |