| contracture | <orthopaedics> A condition of fixed high resistance to passive stretch of a muscle, resulting from fibrosis of the tissues supporting the muscles or the joints or from disorders of the muscle fibres. Origin: L. Contractura (18 Nov 1997) |
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| contracture deformity | Deformity of a limb without discernable primary changes of bone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| contrafissura | Fracture of a bone, as in the skull, at a point opposite that where the blow was received. Origin: L. Contra, against, counter, + fissura, fissure (05 Mar 2000) |
| contraindicant | Indicating the contrary, i.e., showing that a method of treatment that would otherwise be proper is inadvisable by special circumstances in the individual case. (05 Mar 2000) |
| contraindication | Any condition, especially any condition of disease, which renders some particular line of treatment improper or undesirable. (18 Nov 1997) |
| contralateral | <anatomy> Pertaining to the opposite side. (27 Sep 1997) |
| contralateral partner | The corresponding structure on the opposite side. (05 Mar 2000) |
| contralateral reflex | <clinical sign> A physical examination finding that can indicate inflammation of the meninges (meningitis), performed in two forms: passive flexion of one leg results in a similar movement on the opposite side or if the neck is passively flexed, flexion occurs in the legs. (27 Sep 1997) |
| contralateral sign | <clinical sign> A physical examination finding that can indicate inflammation of the meninges (meningitis), performed in two forms: passive flexion of one leg results in a similar movement on the opposite side or if the neck is passively flexed, flexion occurs in the legs. (27 Sep 1997) |
| contransformation | The incorporation of two or more linked genes on the same fragment of foreign DNA into the genome of a bacterium. (09 Oct 1997) |
| contrapsin | <protein> Trypsin inhibitor (serpin) from rat. (18 Nov 1997) |
| contrast | A dye injected intravenously during X-ray studies, for example CT, to enhance the image of a tumour. In MR studies, the contrast is called gadolinium. The use of contrast may rarely result in some adverse effects: it also increases the cost (but also accuracy in many cases) of the scan. (16 Dec 1997) |
| contrast agent | A substance that is introduced into or around a structure and, because of the difference in absorption of X-rays by the contrast medium and the surrounding tissues, allows radiographic visualisation of the structure. (18 Nov 1997) |
| contrast bath | A bath in which a part is immersed in hot water for a period of a few minutes and then in cold, the hot and cold periods alternated regularly at intervals, usually half-hours; used to increase the blood flow to the part. (05 Mar 2000) |
| contrast echocardiography | The injection of contrast media of high echo reflectants (e.g., bubbles) to outline a chamber or delineate a shunt within the heart. (05 Mar 2000) |