| tonic contraction | Sustained contraction of a muscle, as employed in the maintenance of posture. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| 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) |
| access opening | 1. A coming to, or near approach; admittance; admission; accessibility; as, to gain access to a prince. "I did repel his letters, and denied His access to me." (Shak) 2. The means, place, or way by which a thing may be approached; passage way; as, the access is by a neck of land. "All access was thronged." 3. Admission to sexual intercourse. "During coverture, access of the husband shall be presumed, unless the contrary be shown." (Blackstone) 4. Increase by something added; addition; as, an access of territory. [In this sense accession is more generally used] "I, from the influence of thy looks, receive Access in every virtue." (Milton) 5. An onset, attack, or fit of disease. "The first access looked like an apoplexy." (Burnet) 6. A paroxysm; a fit of passion; an outburst; as, an access of fury. Origin: F. Acces, L. Accessus, fr. Accedere. See Accede. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| anodal opening tetanus | An obsolete term for a tonic contraction in a muscle, to which the anode is applied, when the circuit is opened. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aortic opening | The opening in the diaphragm bounded by the two crura, the vertebral column, and the median arcuate ligament, through which pass the aorta and thoracic duct. Synonym: hiatus aorticus, aortic foramen, aortic opening. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac opening | The trumpet-shaped opening of the oesophagus into the stomach. Synonym: ostium cardiacum, cardiac opening, oesophagogastric orifice. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vaginal opening | The narrowest portion of the canal, in the floor of the vestibule posterior to the urethral orifice. Synonym: ostium vaginae, orificium vaginae, vaginal opening. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vertical opening | The length of the face determined by the distance of separation of jaws. Occlusal vertical dimension (ovd or vdo) or contact vertical dimension is the lower face height with the teeth in centric occlusion. Rest vertical dimension (vdr) is the lower face height measured from a chin point to a point just below the nose, with the mandible in rest position. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cathodal opening clonus | An obsolete term for a clonus produced near a cathode when the flow of current is stopped. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cathodal opening tetanus | An obsolete term for a tonic contraction in a muscle, to which the cathode is applied; when the circuit is opened, the contraction is suddenly interrupted. (05 Mar 2000) |