| implantation cone | <cell biology> Tapering region between a neuron's cell body and its axon. This region is responsible for summating the graded inputs from the dendrites and producing action potentials if the threshold is exceeded. (12 Mar 1998) |
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| inverted cone bur | A rotary cutting instrument in the shape of a truncated cone with the smaller end attached to the shaft; generally used for entering carious pits or creating undercuts in cavity preparations. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ocular cone | The cone of light in the interior of the eyeball with the base formed by the rays entering through the pupil and the apex focused on the retina. (05 Mar 2000) |
| outer cone fibre | Located between the inner segment and the cell body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| theca interna cone | The conical thickening of thecal cells of an ovarian follicle with its apex pointed toward the surface. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elastic cone | Thicker lower portion of the elastic membrane of the larynx, extending between the cricoid cartilage and the vocal ligaments, the latter actually being a thickening of the free, superior margin of the conus elasticus. Synonym: cricovocal membrane, elastic cone. Synonym: cricothyroid ligament. (05 Mar 2000) |
| twin cone | Two retinal cone's fused together. (05 Mar 2000) |
| l-cone | Long wavelength sensitive cone (red cone). (05 Mar 2000) |
| long cone technique | The use of a cone distance of 14 inches or more in making oral roentgenographs. (05 Mar 2000) |
| loss cone | In a magnetic mirror machine, particles with a large velocity parallel to the magneitc field and a small velocity perpendicular to the field will be able to escape past the magnetic mirror (see magnetic mirror). In that case the velocity distribution function (see distribution function) will be almost zero in the region of velocity space that allows particles to escape. The shape of that region (in a velocity space diagram with parallel velocity and perpendicular velocity as the axes) is a cone. When a particle undergoes a collision, its velocity gets somewhat randomised. Particles that are scattered into that cone are lost very quickly (in one mirror bounce time). Thus it is called a loss cone. Because of the loss cone, the theoretical maximum particle confinement time of a magnetic mirror machine can be only a few times the particle collision time, this is generally seen as a showstopper for mirror-based fusion research. (09 Oct 1997) |
| 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) |
| aspiration biopsy | Removal of a sample of tissue from the breast using a wide-core needle with suction. (09 Oct 1997) |
| biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A biopsy refers to a procedure that involves obtaining a tissue specimen for microscopic analysis to establish a precise diagnosis. Biopsies can be accomplished with a biopsy needle (passed through the skin into the organ in question) or by open surgical incision. See: abdominal wall fat pad biopsy, endometrial biopsy, heart biopsy, muscle biopsy, needle biopsy, nerve biopsy, open lung biopsy, pleural needle biopsy, salivary gland biopsy. (07 Apr 1998) |
| biopsy, endometrial | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure by which a sample is taken of the endometrial lining of the uterus. This may be performed with or without an anaesthetic. Risks include bleeding after the procedure. This test is usually performed in the evaluation of abnormal menses, heavy menstruation or post-menopausal bleeding. It may be part of an infertility evaluation. Endometrial biopsy can reveal uterine cancer, uterine fibroids, uterine polyps and adenomyosis. Often performed in those with endometriosis as part of the evaluation. (21 Mar 1998) |
| biopsy, heart | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of cardiac muscle tissue for microscopic analysis. This is generally performed at the same time as a cardiac catheterisation or as a very similar, yet separate, procedure. A small piece of heart tissue is taken via a small forceps inserted into the cardiac catheter site (usually threaded through a vein in the neck). This test may reveal the cause of a cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, amyloidosis or a heart transplant rejection. (21 Mar 1998) |