| consolidation | Solidification into a firm dense mass; applied especially to inflammatory induration of a normally aerated lung due to the presence of cellular exudate in the pulmonary alveoli. Origin: L. Consolido, to make thick, condense, fr. Solidus, solid (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| consolidation chemotherapy | Repetitive cycles of treatment during the immediate post-remission period, used especially for leukaemia. Synonym: intensification chemotherapy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| consolidation treatment | A course of treatment with anti-cancer drugs given to the patient whilst in remission with the aim of killing any remaining cancerous cells. (13 Nov 1997) |
| consonating rale | A resonant rale produced in a bronchial tube and heard through consolidated lung tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| consortium | A two- (or more) membered bacterial culture (or natural assemblage) in which each organism benefits from the other. (09 Oct 1997) |
| conspecific | Of the same species. Origin: L. Con-, with, + specific (05 Mar 2000) |
| conspecificity | <zoology> Conspecific subspecies are subspecies belonging to the same species. Conspecific applied to species names usually implies that the names refer to the same taxon i.e. Synonymous species. (09 Jan 1998) |
| conspicuity | The visibility of a structure of interest on a radiograph, a function of the inherent contrast of the structure and the complexity (noise) of the surrounding image. (05 Mar 2000) |
| constancy | The quality of being constant. Origin: L. Constantia, fr. Consto, to stand still (05 Mar 2000) |
| constancy phenomenon | In perception, the tendency for brightness, colour, size, or shape to remain relatively perceptually constant despite real changes in colour, size, shape or other conditions of observation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| constant | A quantity that, under stated conditions, does not vary with changes in the environment. (05 Mar 2000) |
| constant coupling | Where several premature beats are seen, the interval between each of them and the preceding normal beat is constant. Synonym: constant coupling. Variable coupling, where several extrasystoles are seen, the interval between each of them and the preceding sinus beat varies. (05 Mar 2000) |
| constant field equation | An equation derived to predict membrane potentials in terms of the membrane's permeability to ions and their concentrations on either side. Synonym: constant field equation, Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation, GHK equation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| constant infusion pump | An electrically driven device for delivery from a reservoir of a constant, often very small, volume of solution over a prolonged period of time. (05 Mar 2000) |
| constant region | The stem and forking part of the Y-shaped antibody protein, consisting of amino acid chains, that is exactly the same in all antibody molecules within the same individual. (The ends of the Y-shaped molecule will vary widely between different antibodies). (09 Oct 1997) |