| ectoplasmic tube contraction | <cell biology> Model for amoeboid movement in which it is proposed that protrusion of a pseudopod is brought about by contraction of the sub plasmalemmal region everywhere else in the cell thus squeesing the central cytoplasm forwards. See: frontal zone contraction theory. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| tonic contraction | Sustained contraction of a muscle, as employed in the maintenance of posture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| escape contraction | Escaped beat, an automatic beat, usually arising from the A-V junction or ventricle, occurring after the next expected normal beat has defaulted; it is therefore always a late beat, terminating a longer cycle than the normal. Synonym: escape contraction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| escape ventricular contraction | An escape beat arising in the ventricle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| excitation contraction coupling | <physiology> Name given to the chain of processes coupling excitation of a muscle by the arrival of a nervous impulse at the motor end plate to the contraction of the filaments of the sarcomere. The crucial link is the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the analogy is often drawn between this and stimulus secretion coupling, that also involves calcium release into the cytoplasm. (18 Nov 1997) |
| uterine contraction | Contraction of the uterine muscle. (12 Dec 1998) |
| frontal zone contraction theory | Model proposed to account for the movement of giant amoebae in which cytoplasmic contraction at the front of the leading pseudopod (fountain zone) pulls viscoelastic cytoplasm forward in the centre of the cell and forms a tube of more rigid cytoplasm immediately below the plasma membrane behind the active region. The peripheral contracted cytoplasm relaxes into a weaker gel at the rear and is pulled forward in its turn. Contrasts with the ectoplasmic tube contraction model. (18 Nov 1997) |
| front-tap contraction | Contraction of the calf muscles when the anterior surface of the leg is struck. Synonym: Gowers' contraction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdominal ring | The opening in the transversalis fascia through which the ductus deferens (or round ligament in the female) and gonadal vessels enter the inguinal canal. Located midway between anterior superior iliac spine and pubic tubercle, it is bounded medially by the lateral umbilical ligament (inferior epigastric vessels) and inferiorly by the inguinal ligament. Indirect inguinal hernias exit the abdominal cavity via the deep inguinal ring Synonym: annulus inguinalis profundus, abdominal ring, annulus abdominalis, internal inguinal ring. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amnion ring | The ring formed by the attachment of the amnion to the umbilical cord at its point of emergence from the umbilicus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| annuloplasty ring | The dilated annulus is sutured, often to a prosthetic ring, thereby reducing it to its normal systolic size. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior limiting ring | The periphery of the cornea marking the termination of Descemet's membrane and the anterior border of the trabecular meshwork; an important landmark in gonioscopy. Synonym: Schwalbe's ring. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Balbani ring | An extremely large puff at a band of a polytene chromosome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Balbiani ring | <cell biology, genetics> The largest puffs seen on the polytene chromosomes of Diptera are called Balbiani rings after the nineteenth century microscopist who first described polytene chromosomes. (18 Nov 1997) |
| Bandl's ring | A constriction located at the junction of the thinned lower uterine segment with the thick retracted upper uterine segment, resulting from obstructed labour; this is one of the classic signs of threatened rupture of the uterus. Synonym: Bandl's ring, Baudelocque's uterine circle, Scanzoni's second os. (05 Mar 2000) |