| retrograde memory | Memory for that which occurred before an event such as a brain injury. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| retrograde menstruation | A flow of menstrual blood back through the fallopian tubes; it sometimes carries with it endometrial cells. Supplementary menstruation, bleeding from the navel or urinary tract due to endometriosis occurring at the time of menstruation. Suppressed menstruation, nonappearance of menstrual bleeding from whatever cause. Vicarious menstruation, bleeding from any surface other than the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity, occurring periodically at the time when the normal menstruation should take place. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retrograde metamorphosis | An effect whereby the productivity of a microbial strain used in a commercial process diminishes after repeated transfer from one culture media to another, often caused by genetic mutation. (14 Nov 1997) |
| retrograde pyelography | Pyelography in which contrast material is injected into the ureters from an endoscope in the bladder. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic retrograde | Fibreoptic endoscopy designed for duodenal observation and cannulation of vater's ampulla, in order to visualise the pancreatic and biliary duct system by retrograde injection of contrast media. Endoscopic (vater) papillotomy (sphincterotomy, endoscopic) may be performed during this procedure. (12 Dec 1998) |
| endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram | A diagnostic procedure to examine diseases of the liver, bile ducts and pancreas. It is uncomfortable but not painful, is performed under intravenous sedation, usually without general anaesthesia, and has a low incidence of complications. ERCP provides important information unobtainable by other diagnostic means. Therapeutic measures can often be take at the time of ERCP to remove stones in the bile ducts or to relieve obstructions of the bile ducts. (12 Dec 1998) |
| endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography | <investigation, procedure> A diagnostic-therapeutic procedure that involves the X-ray of the pancreatic duct and biliary tree after the selective introduction of a contrast material into the common bile duct and pancreatic duct. In this procedure, a flexible endoscope is passed through the mouth and down into the duodenum. A catheter is then passed through the endoscope and inserted into the pancreatic and bile ducts. It is uncomfortable but not painful, is performed under intravenous sedation, usually without general anaesthesia, and has a low incidence of complications. A contrast agent is injected into the catheter which highlights the coarse and calibre of the ducts. Narrowing, stones or ductal tumours can be identified with this procedure. Therapeutic measures can often be take at the time of ERCP to remove stones in the bile ducts or to relieve obstructions of the bile ducts, so that traditional open surgeries can be avoided. ERCP is increasingly accepted as the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure of choice in identifying and removing gallstones in the bile ducts. Acronym: ERCP (12 Dec 1998) |
| acid wave | A temporary increase in the acidity of the urine occurring during fasting. Synonym: acid wave. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alkaline wave | A period of urinary neutrality or even alkalinity after meals due to withdrawal of hydrogen ion for the purpose of secretion of the highly acid gastric juice. Synonym: alkaline wave. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha wave | Brain waves in the encephalogram which have a frequency of 8 to 13 per second. They are typical of the normal person awake and in a quiet resting state, and occur principally in the occipital region. (12 Dec 1998) |
| arterial wave | A wave in the jugular phlebogram due to transmission of carotid artery pulsation. B wave, the initial positive deflection in the electroretinogram, possibly arising from the inner nuclear layer of the retina. (05 Mar 2000) |
| A wave | The initial negative deflection in the electroretinogram, presumably reflecting retinal photoreceptor activity, an atrial deflection in an electrocardiogram recorded from within the atrium of the heart, the first positive deflection of the atrial and venous pulses due to atrial systole. (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta wave | <neurology> Brain waves in the electroencephalogram which have a frequency of 18 to 30 per second. They are typical during periods of intense activity of the nervous system, and occur principally in the parietal and frontal regions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| brain wave | Colloquialism for electroencephalogram. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brain wave complex | A specific combination of fast and slow electroencephalographic activity that recurs frequently enough to be identified as a discrete phenomenon. (05 Mar 2000) |