| physical examination | Systematic and thorough inspection of the patient for physical signs of disease or abnormality. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| physical fitness | A state of well-being in which performance is optimal, often as a result of physical conditioning which may be prescribed for disease therapy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| physical half-life | The time required for half the atoms of a radionuclide to undergo disintegration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physical map | <molecular biology> A map of the locations of identifiable landmarks on DNA (for example, restriction enzyme cutting site, genes), regardless of inheritance. Distance is measured in base pairs. For the human genome, the lowest-resolution physical map is the banding patterns on the 24 different chromosomes, the highest-resolution map wouldbe the complete nucleotide sequence of the chromosomes. (09 Oct 1997) |
| physical modalities | Therapeutic interventions that use physical methods, such as heat, cold, massage or exercise, to relieve pain. (16 Dec 1997) |
| physical sciences | The natural sciences dealing with inanimate matter or with energy, as physics, chemistry, astronomy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| physical sign | <clinical sign> A sign that is observed or elicited by auscultation, percussion, or palpation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physical therapist | A physical therapist is a specialist trained using exercise and physical activities to condition muscles and improve level of activity. Physical therapy is helpful in those with physical debilitating illness (for example stroke). (27 Sep 1997) |
| physical therapy | A physical therapist is a specialist trained using exercise and physical activities to condition muscles and improve level of activity. Physical therapy is helpful in those with physical debilitating illness (for example stroke). (27 Sep 1997) |
| physical therapy department, hospital | Hospital department which is responsible for the administration and provision of diagnostic and medical rehabilitation services to restore or improve the functional capacity of the patient. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diagnosis, physical | A diagnosis which is made by means of the physical examination of the patient. (27 Sep 1997) |
| adolescent medicine | A branch of medicine pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases occurring during the period beginning with puberty until the cessation of somatic growth. (12 Dec 1998) |
| aerospace medicine | <study> A field of medicine which specialises in the effects of atmospheric and space flight on human physical and psychological well-being. (09 Oct 1997) |
| alternative medicine | A catch-all phrase for a long list of treatments or medicinal systems including traditional systems such as Chinese or Ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy, various herbals and other miscellaneous treatments that have not been accepted by the mainstream, or Western, medical establishment. Alternative medicine is also referred to as complementary medicine (see). The designation alternative medicine is not equivalent to holistic medicine, which is a more narrow term. See: Holistic Medicine. (09 Oct 1997) |
| aviation medicine | The study and practice of medicine as it applies to physiologic problems peculiar to aviation. Synonym: aeromedicine. (05 Mar 2000) |