| capillary fragility test | A tourniquet test used to determine presence of vitamin C deficiency or thrombocytopenia; a circle 2.5 cm in diameter, the upper edge of which is 4 cm below the crease of the elbow, is drawn on the inner aspect of the forearm, pressure midway between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure is applied above the elbow for 15 minutes, and a count of petechiae within the circle is made: 10, normal; 10 to 20, marginal zone; over 20, abnormal. See: Rumpel-Leede test. Synonym: capillary resistance test, vitamin C test. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| capillary fringe | A zone immediately above the water table in which water is drawn upward from the water table by capillary action. (09 Oct 1997) |
| capillary haemangioma | <dermatology> Red or purple-coloured vascular skin markings that develop shortly after birth. Most are usually painless and benign and sharply demarcated from surrounding skin, usually located on the head and neck, and grow rapidly. It is caused by proliferation of immature capillary vessels in active stroma, and is usually present at birth or occurs within the first two or three months of life. Some lesions (cavernous haemangioma) will disappear or become harder to see as the child approaches school age. Localised steroid injections have been used successfully to reduce the size of a birthmark but generally they undergo spontaneous regression and involution without scarring and normally require no treatment. (07 Mar 2000) |
| capillary lake | The total mass of blood contained in capillary vessels. (05 Mar 2000) |
| capillary leak syndrome | <syndrome> Extravasation of plasma fluid and proteins into the extravascular space, resulting in sometimes fatal hypotension and reduced oxygen perfusion. Clinical capillary leak syndrome is observed in patients who demonstrate a state of generalised leaky capillaries following shock syndromes, low-flow states, ischemia-reperfusion injuries, toxaemias, or poisoning. It can lead to generalised oedema and multiple organ failure., reperfusion injuries and clinical capillary leak syndrome. (12 Dec 1998) |
| capillary loops | Small blood vessels in the dermal papillae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| capillary nevus | Capillary haemangioma of the skin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| capillary pericyte | A cell with several slender processes that embraces the capillary wall in amphibia. Synonym: capillary pericyte. (05 Mar 2000) |
| capillary permeability | Property of blood capillary walls that allows for the selective exchange of substances. Small lipid-soluble molecules such as carbon dioxide and oxygen move freely by diffusion. Water and water-soluble molecules cannot pass through the endothelial walls and are dependent on microscopic pores. These pores show narrow areas (tight junctions) which may limit large molecule movement. (12 Dec 1998) |
| capillary permeability factor | A mixture of bioflavonoids extracted from plants (especially citrus fruits). It reduces the permeability and fragility of capillaries and is useful in the treatment of certain cases of purpura that are resistant to vitamin C therapy. See: hesperidin, quercetin, rutin. Synonym: capillary permeability factor, citrin, permeability vitamin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| capillary pulse | The alternate rhythmical blanching and reddening of a capillary area, as seen under the nails or in the lip, upon gentle compression; a sign of arteriolar dilation, well seen in aortic insufficiency. (05 Mar 2000) |
| capillary resistance | The resistance offered to the flow of blood through the capillary portion of the peripheral vascular bed. (12 Dec 1998) |
| capillary resistance test | A tourniquet test used to determine presence of vitamin C deficiency or thrombocytopenia; a circle 2.5 cm in diameter, the upper edge of which is 4 cm below the crease of the elbow, is drawn on the inner aspect of the forearm, pressure midway between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure is applied above the elbow for 15 minutes, and a count of petechiae within the circle is made: 10, normal; 10 to 20, marginal zone; over 20, abnormal. See: Rumpel-Leede test. Synonym: capillary resistance test, vitamin C test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| capillary vein | <zoology> A small vein; a veinlet; specifically, one of the small branches of the veins of the wings in insects. Origin: L. Venula, dim. From vena vein. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| capillary vessel | <anatomy> Any one of the minute vessels that connect the arterioles and venules, forming a network in nearly all parts of the body. Their walls act as semipermeable membranes for the interchange of various substances, including fluids, between the blood and tissue fluid. Synonym: vas capillare. Origin: L. Capillaris = hair like (16 Dec 1997) |