| CIC | cardioinhibitor center; circulating immune complex; clean intermittent catheterization; completely i... |
|---|---|
| CIXA | constant infusion excretory urogram |
| CL | constant domain of L chain; lung compliance |
| CLV | cassava latent virus; constant linear velocity |
| const | constant |
| immunoglobulin constant region | That region of the immunoglobulin (antibody) molecule that is invariable in its amino acid sequence within any class of immunoglobulins. It confers the biological specificity to the ig and is grossly species specific. It comprises the c-terminus half of the light chains and three quarters or more of the heavy chains, all of the fc fragment, and the c-terminus half of the fab fragment. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| time constant | That part of a circuit that determines the time interval over which the rate of electrical events will be averaged; in pulmonary physiology, the factors determining rate of flow in the airways. (05 Mar 2000) |
| transformation constant | <physics, radiobiology> The fraction of the amount of a radionuclide that undergoes transition per unit time. Formally: Lamda=dP/dt Where dP is the probability of a given nucleus undergoing spontaneous nuclear transition in the time interval dt. (16 Dec 1997) |
| equilibrium constant | <chemistry> The ratio of the reverse and forward rate constants for a reaction of the type: A + B = AB at equilibrium the equilibrium constant (K) equals the product of the concentrations of reactants divided by the concentration of product and has dimensions of concentration. Kd = (concentration A.concentration B) / (concentration AB). The affinity constant (Ka) is the reciprocal of the equilibrium constant. Dimension: moles per litre. In general the concept of Kd is more readily understood than that of Ka, for example: in considering the conversion of A to AB by the binding of ligand B, the Kd = B when A = AB. Thus Kd is equal to the ligand concentration which produces half maximal conversion (response). (10 Jan 1998) |
| flotation constant | Characteristic sedimentation behaviour of a lipoprotein fraction of plasma in a centrifugal field in a medium of appropriate density, achieved by adding a salt or D2O to the plasma. Synonym: negative S, Svedberg of flotation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| law of constant numbers in ovulation | The number of ova discharged at each ovulation is nearly constant for any given species. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alveolar gas | The gas in the pulmonary alveoli, where O2-CO2 exchange with pulmonary capillary blood occurs. Synonym: alveolar air. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alveolar gas equation | The equation defining the steady state relation of the alveolar oxygen pressure to the barometric pressure, inspired gas composition, alveolar carbon dioxide pressure, and respiratory exchange ratio; the equation is used in various forms depending upon which simplifying assumptions are acceptable for different applications. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anaesthetic gas | A gas or a liquid with sufficient vapor pressure to produce general anaesthesia when breathed. (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) |
| bivalent gas gangrene antitoxin | Antitoxin specific for the toxins of Clostridium perfringens and C. Septicum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blood gas analysis | <investigation> 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. (27 Sep 1997) |
| blood gas monitoring, transcutaneous | The noninvasive measurement or determination of the partial pressure (tension) of oxygen and/or carbon dioxide locally in the capillaries of a tissue by the application to the skin of a special set of electrodes. These electrodes contain photoelectric sensors capable of picking up the specific wavelengths of radiation emitted by oxygenated versus reduced haemoglobin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| carbonic acid gas | <biochemistry, physiology> A metabolic byproduct of carbohydrate metabolism. Carbon Dioxide collects in the tissues, is cleared by the blood (via the veins) and removed from the body via the lungs when we exhale air. Abbreviation: CO2 (13 Nov 1997) |
| gas | Origin: Invented by the chemist Van Helmont of Brussels, who died in 1644. 1. An aeriform fluid; a term used at first by chemists as synonymous with air, but since restricted to fluids supposed to be permanently elastic, as oxygen, hydrogen, etc, in distinction from vapors, as steam, which become liquid on a reduction of temperature. In present usage, since all of the supposed permanent gases have been liquified by cold and pressure, the term has resumed nearly its original signification, and is applied to any substance in the elastic or aeriform state. 2. A complex mixture of gases, of which the most important constituents are marsh gas, olefiant gas, and hydrogen, artificially produced by the destructive distillation of gas coal, or sometimes of peat, wood, oil, resin, etc. It gives a brilliant light when burned, and is the common gas used for illuminating purposes. Laughing gas. Any irrespirable aeriform fluid. Gas is often used adjectively or in combination; as, gas fitter or gasfitter; gas meter or gas-meter, etc. <chemistry> Air gas, a kind of gas made by forcing air through some volatile hydrocarbon, as the lighter petroleums. The air is so saturated with combustible vapor as to be a convenient illuminating and heating agent. <physics> Gas battery, a kind of gas made by forcing steam over glowing coals, whereby there results a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This gives a gas of intense heating power, but destitute of light-giving properties, and which is charged by passing through some volatile hydrocarbon, as gasoline. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |