| continuous passive motion | A technique in which a joint, usually the knee, is moved constantly in a mechanical splint to prevent stiffness and to increase the range of motion. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| continuous phase | The medium or fluid in which a disperse is suspended. Synonym: continuous phase, dispersion medium, dispersion phase, external medium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous processing | A method of bioprocessing in which new materials are added and products removed continuously at a rate that maintains the volume at a specific level. (14 Nov 1997) |
| continuous random variable | Continuous variable that may randomly assume any value in its domain but any particular value has no probability of occurring, only a probability density. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous spectrum | A spectrum in which there are no absorption bands or lines. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous spinal anaesthesia | Insertion of a catheter into the spinal subarachnoid space and leaving it in situ to permit serial intermittent injection of local anaesthetic solution for prolonged spinal anaesthesia. Synonym: fractional spinal anaesthesia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous suture | An uninterrupted series of stitches using one suture; the stitching is fastened at each end by a knot. Synonym: spiral suture, uninterrupted suture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous time model | <epidemiology> A model in which the system changes continuously over time. Derivatives (e.g. DY/dt ) are the mathematical formalism for describing such continuous change. The differential equation which embodies a model provides the values of these derivatives at any particular time point; calculus or a computer can then be used to move the state of the model forwards in time. Continuous models have the advantage over discrete time models in that they are more amenable to algebraic manipulation, although they are slightly harder to implement on a computer. The same as a differential equation model. (05 Dec 1998) |
| continuous tremor | A tremor that is constant, whether the subject is at rest or moving. Synonym: continuous tremor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous variable | A variable that may take on any value in an interval or intervals (its domain). (05 Mar 2000) |
| CD4-positive T-lymphocytes | A critical subpopulation of regulatory T-lymphocytes involved in the induction of most immunological functions. The HIV virus has selective tropism for the t4 cell which expresses the CD4 phenotypic marker, a receptor for HIV. In fact, the key element in the profound immunosuppression seen in HIV infection is the depletion of this subset of T-lymphocytes, which includes both the helper-inducer (T-lymphocytes, helper-inducer) and suppressor-inducer (T-lymphocytes, suppressor-inducer) T-cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| CD8-positive T-lymphocytes | A critical subpopulation of regulatory T-lymphocytes involved in MHC class I-restricted interactions. They include both cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (T-lymphocytes, cytotoxic) and suppressor T-lymphocytes (T-lymphocytes, suppressor-effector). (12 Dec 1998) |
| gram-positive | <microbiology> Bacteria that retain the stain or that are resistant to decolourisation by alcohol during Gram's method of staining. This is a primary characteristic of bacteria whose cell wall is composed of a thick layer of peptidologlycan containing teichoic and lipoteichoic acid complexed to the peptidoglycan. See: gram-negative (06 Oct 1997) |
| gram-positive asporogenous rods | <microbiology> A gram-positive, non-spore-forming group of bacteria comprising organisms that have morphological and physiological characteristics in common. (12 Dec 1998) |
| gram-positive asporogenous rods, irregular | <microbiology> A group of irregular rod-shaped bacteria that stain gram-positive and do not produce endospores. (12 Dec 1998) |