| pistol-shot femoral sound | A shotlike systolic sound heard over the femoral artery in high output states, especially aortic insufficiency; presumably due to sudden stretching of the elastic wall of the artery; pistol-shot sounds may also be heard over other relatively large arteries, e.g., brachial, radial. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| pistol-shot sound | Sound created by lightly compressing an artery during aortic regurgitation; sometimes is audible without compression. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pistole | The name of certain gold coins of various values formerly coined in some countries of Europe. In Spain it was equivalent to a quarter doubloon, or about $3.90, and in Germany and Italy nearly the same. There was an old Italian pistole worth about $5.40. Origin: F, probably a name given in jest in France to a Spanish coin. Cf. Pistol. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| piston | <machinery> A sliding piece which either is moved by, or moves against, fluid pressure. It usually consists of a short cylinder fitting within a cylindrical vessel along which it moves, back and forth. It is used in steam engines to receive motion from the steam, and in pumps to transmit motion to a fluid; also for other purposes. Piston head, a slide valve, consisting of a piston, or connected pistons, working in a cylindrical case which is provided with ports that are traversed by the valve. Origin: F. Piston; cf. It. Pistone piston, also pestone a large pestle; all fr. L. Pinsere, pistum, to pound, to stamp. See Pestle, Pistil. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| piston pulse | <radiology> Corrigan's sign: increased pulse at wrist, aortic insufficiency, widened pulse pressure due to increased stroke volume, diastolic regurgitation (12 Dec 1998) |