| tension | 1. The act of stretching. 2. The condition of being stretched or strained, the degree to which anything is stretched or strained. 3. <physics> Voltage. 4. <chemistry> The partial pressure of a gas in a fluid, for example, of oxygen in blood. Origin: L. Tensio, Gr. Tonos (13 Jan 1998) |
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| tension, arterial | The pressure of the blood within an artery, the arterial pressure. Also called the intra-arterial pressure. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tension curve | The direction of the trabeculae in cancellous bone tissue adapted to resist stress. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tension headache | <neurology> A benign form of headache that results from the painful spasm (muscle tightness) and inflammation of muscles of the head and neck. Tension headache is one of the most common forms of headache. Spasm and contraction of the head and neck muscles may occur in response to fatigue, overuse, eye strain, excessive smoking, stress, anxiety or depression. Sleeping in an abnormal position or prolonged work involving immobilisation of the neck in one position (typing, computers, etc.) are considered common triggers. Exercising and stretching the muscles of the head and neck can reduce the occurrence of muscle tension headaches. (13 Jan 1998) |
| tension, intraocular | The pressure within the eye. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tension, intravenous | The pressure of the blood within a vein, the venous pressure. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tension pneumothorax | A variety of spontaneous pneumothorax in which air enters the pleural cavity and is trapped during expiration; intrathoracic pressure builds to values higher than atmospheric pressure, compresses the lung, and may displace the mediastinum and its structures toward the opposite side, with consequent disadvantageous effects on blood flow. Synonym: pressure pneumothorax, valvular pneumothorax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tension suture | <surgery> A heavy reinforcing suture placed deep within the muscles and fasciae of the abdominal wall to relieve tension on the primary suture line and thus obviate postoperative wound disruption. Synonym: tension suture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tissue tension | A theoretical condition of equilibrium or balance between the tissues and cells whereby overaction of any part is restrained by the pull of the mass. (05 Mar 2000) |
| low tension glaucoma | Optic nerve atrophy and excavation with typical field defects of glaucoma but without abnormal increase in intraocular pressure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdominal wall fat pad biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> The removal of a small specimen of the abdominal wall fat pad for microscopic examination. Often used in the diagnosis of amyloidosis. Performed with a local anaesthetic. (25 Jun 1999) |
| anterior wall of middle ear | It contains the carotid canal and the opening of the auditory tube. Synonym: paries caroticus cavi tympani, anterior wall of middle ear, carotid wall of middle ear. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior wall of stomach | The part of the gastric wall that faces the peritoneal cavity. Synonym: paries anterior gastris. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior wall of tympanic cavity | It contains the carotid canal and the opening of the auditory tube. Synonym: paries caroticus cavi tympani, anterior wall of middle ear, carotid wall of middle ear. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior wall of vagina | It is somewhat shorter than the posterior wall and at its upper end is penetrated by the cervix of the uterus. Synonym: paries anterior vaginae. (05 Mar 2000) |