| free tenia | See: teniae coli. Synonym: tenia libera. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| free thyroxine index | An arbitrary value obtained by multiplying the triiodothyronine uptake by the serum thyroxine concentration; it largely corrects for variations in thyroid-bound globulin concentration by providing a clinically valid estimate of the physiologically active free thyroxine; direct assay or laboratory measurement of free serum thyroxine yields a more accurate value. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free villus | A chorionic villus that is not attached to the decidua basalis, but is "free" in the maternal blood of the intervillous spaces. Synonym: floating villus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free water | Water in the body that can be removed by ultrafiltration and in which substances can be dissolved. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free water clearance | The amount of water excreted in the urine beyond that which would accompany the excreted solutes if the urine were isosmotic with plasma; it represents the loss of body water in excess of solute tending to raise body osmolality and making urine hyposmotic. Unlike other clearance's, it is calculated by subtracting the osmolal clearance from the actual volume of urine excreted per minute. A negative value for free water clearance represents the amount of water that the body has reclaimed from isosmotic tubule fluid to make the urine hyperosmotic and to lower body osmolality. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free wave | <radiobiology> A wave (for example, electromagnetic) traveling in a homogeneous infinite medium (no boundary conditions). (09 Oct 1997) |
| free will | 1. A will free from improper coercion or restraint. "To come thus was I not constrained, but did On my free will." (Shak) 2. The power asserted of moral beings of willing or choosing without the restraints of physical or absolute necessity. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| free-central | A placentation in which the ovules are borne on a free-standing central placenta within the ovary. (09 Oct 1997) |
| free-floating anxiety | In psychoanalysis, a pervasive unrealistic expectation unattached to a clearly formulated concept or object of fear; observed particularly in anxiety neurosis and may be seen in some cases of latent schizophrenia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free-hand knife | A manually operated knife or blade usually used to take split-thickness skin grafts; e.g., Blair-Brown knife, Humby knife, Theirsh knife. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free-hearted | Open; frank; unreserved; liberal; generous; as, free-hearted mirth. Free"-heartedly, Free"-heartedness. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| free-milling | Yielding free gold or silver; said of certain ores which can be reduced by crushing and amalgamation, without roasting or other chemical treatment. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| free-swimming | <zoology> Swimming in the open sea; said of certain marine animals. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| freedle index | An index of the quality of spawning gravel obtained by dividing geometric mean diameter of particle size by the sorting coefficient. (09 Oct 1997) |
| freedom | The rights of individuals to act and make decisions without external constraints. (12 Dec 1998) |