| fish-mouth meatus | A red and swollen condition of the orifice of the urethra (urinary meatus) in gonorrhoea. Internal acoustic meatus, a canal running from the opening of the internal acoustic meatus, through the petrous portion of the temporal bone, ending at the fundus where a thin plate of bone separates it from the vestibule; it gives passage to the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves together with the labyrinthine artery and veins. Synonym: meatus acusticus internus, internal auditory meatus. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| fundus meatus acustici interni | The thin cribriform plate of bone separating the cochlea and vestibule from the internal acoustic meatus; a transverse crest divides it into two regions; in the superior region are located the area nervi facialis and the area vestibularis superior; in the inferior region are located the area cochleae, area vestibularis inferior, and foramen singulare. Synonym: fundus meatus acustici interni, fundus of internal auditory meatus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fundus of internal acoustic meatus | The thin cribriform plate of bone separating the cochlea and vestibule from the internal acoustic meatus; a transverse crest divides it into two regions; in the superior region are located the area nervi facialis and the area vestibularis superior; in the inferior region are located the area cochleae, area vestibularis inferior, and foramen singulare. Synonym: fundus meatus acustici interni, fundus of internal auditory meatus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fundus of internal auditory meatus | The thin cribriform plate of bone separating the cochlea and vestibule from the internal acoustic meatus; a transverse crest divides it into two regions; in the superior region are located the area nervi facialis and the area vestibularis superior; in the inferior region are located the area cochleae, area vestibularis inferior, and foramen singulare. Synonym: fundus meatus acustici interni, fundus of internal auditory meatus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdominocardiac reflex | Mechanical stimulation (usually distention) of abdominal viscera causing changes (usually a slowing) in the heart rate or the occurrence of extrasystoles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Abrams' heart reflex | A contraction of the myocardium when the skin of the precordial region is irritated. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accommodation reflex | Increased convexity of the lens, due to contraction of the ciliary muscle and relaxation of the suspensory ligament, to maintain a distinct retinal image. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Achilles reflex | A contraction of the calf muscles when the tendo calcaneus is sharply struck. Synonym: ankle jerk, ankle reflex, tendo Achillis reflex, triceps surae reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acousticopalpebral reflex | A form of the wink reflex in which there is a contraction, sometimes very slight, of the orbicularis palpebrarum muscle when a sudden noise is made close to the ear; it is absent in labyrinthine disease with total deafness. Synonym: acousticopalpebral reflex, auropalpebral reflex, cochleo-orbicular reflex, startle reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acquired reflex | A reflex that is gradually developed by training and association through the frequent repetition of a definite stimulus. See: conditioning. Synonym: acquired reflex, behaviour reflex, trained reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acromial reflex | Contraction of the biceps muscle caused by a tap on the acromion or the coracoid process. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute reflex bone atrophy | Atrophy of bones, commonly of the carpal or tarsal bones, following a slight injury such as a sprain. See: causalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Synonym: acute reflex bone atrophy, posttraumatic osteoporosis, Sudeck's syndrome. Origin: L. English sweat (05 Mar 2000) |
| adductor reflex | Contraction of the adductors of the thigh caused by tapping the tendon of the adductor magnus muscle while the thigh is abducted. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anal reflex | Contraction of the internal sphincter gripping the finger passed into the rectum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ankle reflex | A contraction of the calf muscles when the tendo calcaneus is sharply struck. Synonym: ankle jerk, ankle reflex, tendo Achillis reflex, triceps surae reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |