| paradoxical triceps reflex | Flexion of the forearm caused by tapping the olecranon. Synonym: paradoxical triceps reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| reversed paradoxical pulse | A pulse in which the amplitude increases with inspiration and decreases with expiration, as observed in some cases of tricuspid insufficiency and during A-V dissociation with sinus arrhythmia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Hunt's paradoxical phenomenon | In dystonia musculorum deformans, if an attempt is made at plantar flexion of the foot when the foot is in dorsal spasm the only response is an increase of the extensor, or dorsal, spasm; if, however, the patient is told to extend the foot which is already in a state of strong dorsal flexion, there will be a sudden movement of plantar flexion; the same phenomenon, mutatis mutandis, is observed when there is a condition of strong plantar flexion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| embolism, paradoxical | Passage of a clot (thrombus) from a vein to an artery. When clots in veins break off (embolise) , they travel first to the right side of the heart and, normally, then to the lungs where they lodge. The lungs act as a filter to prevent the clots from entering the arterial circulation. However, when there is a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart (an atrial septal defect), a clot can cross from the right to the left side of the heart, then pass into the arteries as a paradoxical embolism. Once in the arterial circulation, a clot can travel to the brain, block a vessel there, and cause a stroke (cerebrovascular accident). Because of the risk of stroke from paradoxical embolism, it is usually recommended that even small atrial septal defects be repaired. Also called crossed embolism. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Kussmaul's paradoxical pulse | An exaggeration of the normal variation in the pulse volume with respiration, becoming weaker with inspiration and stronger with expiration; characteristic of cardiac tamponade, rare in constrictive pericarditis; so called because these changes are independent of changes in the cardiac rate as measured directly or by electrocardiogram. Synonym: pulsus paradoxus, pulsus respiratione intermittens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdominal respiration | Breathing effected mainly by the action of the diaphragm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aerobic respiration | A form of respiration in which molecular oxygen is consumed and carbon dioxide and water are produced. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amphoric respiration | A sound like that made by blowing across the mouth of a bottle, heard on auscultation in some cases in which a large pulmonary cavity exists, or occasionally in pneumothorax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anaerobic respiration | Respiration under anaerobic conditions. The terminal electron acceptor, instead of oxygen in the case of regular respiration, can be: carbon dioxide, Fe2+, fumarate, nitrate, nitrite, nitrous oxide, sulphur, sulphate, etc. Note that anaerobic respiration still uses the electron transport chain to dump the electron while fermentation does not. (09 Oct 1997) |
| artificial respiration | Application of mechanically or manually generated pressures, usually positive, to gas(es) in or about the airway as a means of producing gas exchange between the lungs and surrounding atmosphere. Synonym: artificial respiration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| assisted respiration | Application of mechanically or manually generated positive pressure to gas(es) in or about the airway during inhalation as a means of augmenting movement of gases into the lungs. Synonym: assisted respiration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Biot's respiration | Completely irregular breathing pattern, with continually variable rate and depth of breathing; results from lesions in the respiratory centres in the brainstem, extending from the dorsomedial medulla caudally to the obex. Synonym: ataxic breathing, Biot's breathing, respiratory ataxia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bronchial respiration | A tubular blowing sound caused by the passage of air through a bronchus in an area of consolidated lung tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bronchovesicular respiration | Combined bronchial and vesicular respiration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vesicular respiration | The respiratory murmur heard on auscultating over the normal lung. Synonym: respiratory murmur, vesicular murmur. (05 Mar 2000) |