| diamond disk | A steel disk with the cutting surface(s) covered with fine diamond chips, for use in a dental handpiece. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| disk | 1. A discus; a quoit. "Some whirl the disk, and some the javelin dart." (Pope) 2. A flat, circular plate; as, a disk of metal or paper. 3. <astronomy> The circular figure of a celestial body, as seen projected of the heavens. 4. <biology> A circular structure either in plants or animals; as, a blood disk; germinal disk, etc. 5. <botany> The whole surface of a leaf. The central part of a radiate compound flower, as in sunflower. A part of the receptacle enlarged or expanded under, or around, or even on top of, the pistil. 6. <zoology> The anterior surface or oral area of coelenterate animals, as of sea anemones. The lower side of the body of some invertebrates, especially when used for locomotion, when it is often called a creeping disk. In owls, the space around the eyes. Disk engine, a form of rotary steam engine. <zoology> Disk shell, any species of Discina. Origin: L. Discus, Gr. See Dish Alternative forms: disc. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| disk disease | A condition that results in the abnormal protrusion (bulging), herniation or prolapse of a vertebral disc from its normal position in the vertebral column. The displaced disc may exert force on a nearby nerve root causing the typical neurologic symptoms of radiating pain (to an extremity), numbness, tingling and weakness. Recurrent episodes of severe back pain are common. Treatment includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids and rest. More advanced cases may require surgical intervention (for example laminectomy, micro-disc surgery). (27 Sep 1997) |
| disk kidney | A disk-shaped organ produced by fusion of both poles of the contralateral kidney anlagen. Synonym: disk kidney. (05 Mar 2000) |
| disk sensitivity method | A procedure for testing the relative effectiveness of various antibiotics; small disks of paper (or other suitable material) are impregnated with known, appropriate amounts of antibiotic, and then placed on the surface of semisolid medium that has been previously inoculated with the organism being tested; after suitable periods of incubation at 37캜, the lack of growth in zones about the various disks indicates the relative effectiveness of the antibiotic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| disk-shaped cataract | Congenital cataract in which a central white membrane replaces the nucleus. Synonym: disk-shaped cataract, life-belt cataract, umbilicated cataract. (05 Mar 2000) |
| disk space | On radiographs of the spine, the radiolucent region between each pair of vertebral bodies. (05 Mar 2000) |
| disk syndrome | <syndrome> A constellation of symptoms and signs, including pain, paresthesias, sensory loss, weakness, and impaired reflexes, due to a compressive radiculopathy caused by intervertebral disk pressure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| I disk | <cell biology> The isotropic band of the sarcomere of striated muscle, where only thin filaments are found. Unlike the A band, the I band can vary in width depending upon the state of contraction of the muscle when fixed. (18 Nov 1997) |
| injury of intervertebral disk | traumatic cervical discopathy |
| intercalated disk | A specialised intercellular attachment of cardiac muscle comprising gap junctions, fascia adherens, and occasionally desmosomes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| intermediate disk | <cell biology> The line formed where actin filaments attach between two sarcomeres. (11 May 1997) |
| interpubic disk | The disk of fibrocartilage that unites the pubic bones at the pubic symphysis. Synonym: discus interpubicus, interpubic disk, lamina fibrocartilaginea interpubica. (05 Mar 2000) |
| intervertebral disk | <anatomy> The intervertebral discs or nucleus pulposus are a fibro-cartilaginous disc that lie between the vertebral bodies in the spine. These disks are composed of a central gelatinous-like material that provide a cushioning or shock absorbing quality to the spinal column to axial stress. Discs may herniate or rupture, resulting in a condition known as a radiculopathy. (27 Sep 1997) |
| intervertebral disk chemolysis | The dissolving of the nucleus pulposus of a displaced intervertebral disk, usually by the direct injection of a proteolytic enzyme, especially chymopapain, into the diseased disk. (12 Dec 1998) |