| epidural block | An obstruction in the epidural space; used inaccurately to refer to epidural anaesthesia. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| epidural cavity | The space between the walls of the vertebral canal and the dura mater of the spinal cord. Synonym: cavum epidurale, epidural space. (05 Mar 2000) |
| epidural haematoma | A serious type of head injury that is characterised by a collection of blood that lies outside of the dura mater (between the dura mater and the skull). Occurs secondary to major head trauma. The most common location on the skull for this type of injury is over the temple. The temporal bone when fractured can cause a tearing of an epidural blood artery. The progressive accumulation of blood (haematoma) in the epidural space leads to the development of neurologic symptoms and coma. Treatment includes surgical evacuation of the haematoma. (27 Sep 1997) |
| epidural meningitis | Inflammation of the outer surface of the dura mater. Synonym: epidural meningitis, external meningitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| epidural neoplasms | Neoplasms located in the epidural space, at or above the dura mater of the spinal cord. (12 Dec 1998) |
| epidural space | Space between the dura mater and the walls of the vertebral canal. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fractional epidural anaesthesia | Insertion of a catheter into the lumbar or caudal epidural space for the repeated injection of local anaesthetic solutions as a means of prolonging duration of anaesthesia. Synonym: fractional epidural anaesthesia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ABO blood group | <haematology> The major human blood type system which describes the oligosaccharide glycoprotein antigens found on the surface of human blood cells. According to the type of antigen present, a person may be assigned a blood type of A, B, AB or O. A second type of antigen, the Rh factor, renders a positive or negative blood type. The ABO blood group system is important because it determines who can donate blood to or accept blood from whom. Type A or AB blood will cause an immune reaction in people with type B blood and type B and AB blood will cause a reaction in people with type A blood. Conversely, type O blood has no A or B antigens, so people with type O blood are universal donors. And since AB blood already produces both antigens, people who are type AB can accept any of the other blood types without suffering an immune reaction. (04 Jul 1999) |
| Almen's test for blood | Glacial acetic acid, gum guaiac solution, and hydrogen peroxide are added to an aqueous suspension of the suspected stain; if occult blood or blood pigment is present, a blue colour develops. Synonym: guaiac test, Schonbein's test, van Deen's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| arterial blood | Blood that is oxygenated in the lungs, found in the left chambers of the heart and in the arteries, and relatively bright red. (05 Mar 2000) |
| arterial blood gas | A test which analyses arterial blood for oxygen, carbon dioxide and bicarbonate content in addition to blood pH. Used to test the effectiveness of respiration. Acronym: ABG (17 Oct 1997) |
| blood | <haematology> Considered a circulating tissue composed of a fluid portion (plasma) with suspended formed elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). Arterial blood is the means by which oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues, venous blood is the means by which carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported for excretion. (05 Jan 1998) |
| blood agar | <cell culture> An agar-based medium which hasbeen enriched with sterilised, defibinated blood (sheep, rabbit or horse). It is used for primary plating andsubculturing, especially to determine bacterial haemolysis. (09 Oct 1997) |
| blood-air barrier | The barrier between capillary blood and alveolar air comprising the alveolar epithelium and capillary endothelium with their adherent basement membranes and epithelial cell cytoplasm. Gaseous exchange occurs across this membrane. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood albumin | <protein> The serum level of the low molecular protein albumin. Albumin, produced by the liver, plays an important role in maintaining plasma oncotic pressure. Normal serum albumin should be 3.5-5.0 grams per decilitre. Low serum albumin can be found in cases of liver disease and malnutrition. (27 Sep 1997) |