| per- | 1. <prefix> A prefix used to signify through, throughout, by, for, or as an intensive as perhaps, by hap or chance; perennial, that lasts throughout the year; perforce, through or by force; perfoliate, perforate; perspicuous, evident throughout or very evident; perplex, literally, to entangle very much. 2. <chemistry> Originally, denoting that the element to the name of which it is prefixed in the respective compounds exercised its highest valence; now, only that the element has a higher valence than in other similar compounds; thus, barium peroxide is the highest oxide of barium; while nitrogen and manganese peroxides, so-called, are not the highest oxides of those elements. (29 Oct 1998) |
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| per anum | By or through the anus. Origin: L. (05 Mar 2000) |
| per capita rate | <epidemiology> A rate which is proportional to the number of individuals in a population. (05 Dec 1998) |
| per contiguum | In contiguity; denoting the mode by which an inflammation or other morbid process spreads into an adjacent contiguous structure. Origin: per-+ L. Contiguus, touching, fr. Tango, to touch (05 Mar 2000) |
| per continuum | In continuity; continuous; denoting the mode by which an inflammation or other morbid process spreads from one part to another through continuous tissue. Origin: per-+ L. Continuus, holding together, continuous, fr. Teneo, to hold (05 Mar 2000) |
| per orally | To take a medication by mouth. (09 Oct 1997) |
| per os | By or through the mouth, denoting a method of medication. Origin: L. (05 Mar 2000) |
| per primam | By first intention. See: healing by first intention. Origin: L. (05 Mar 2000) |
| per rectum | By or through the rectum, denoting a method of medication. Origin: L. (05 Mar 2000) |
| per saltum | at a leap; at one bound; not gradually or through different stages. Origin: L. (05 Mar 2000) |
| per tubam | Through a tube. Origin: L. (05 Mar 2000) |
| per vias naturales | Through the natural passages; e.g., denoting a normal delivery, as opposed to cesarean section, or the passage in stool of a foreign body instead of its surgical removal. Origin: L. (05 Mar 2000) |
| microlecithal egg | An egg containing a small amount of deutoplasm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mosaic egg | <biology> At one time a distinction was drawn between those organisms in which the egg seemed to have a firmly committed fate map built in and regulating embryos. In the former, after the first cleavage one blastomere was committed to produce one set of tissues, the other blastomere a different set and removal of one blastomere led to the production of an incomplete embryo. This was particularly obvious in mollusc development where one blastomere had the polar lobe material. This early differentiation (or determination) of blastomeres for particular fates was in distinction to regulating embryos in which the removal of one blastomere did not matter, the other blastomere compensating and producing a full set of tissues. The distinction is, however, only based upon the timing of differentiative events and within a few divisions the regulating embryo also becomes a mosaic of determined cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
| haemorrhage per rhexis | Haemorrhage due to the rupture of a blood vessel. (05 Mar 2000) |