| ICU | infant care unit; immunologic contact urticaria; intensive care unit; intermediate care unit |
|---|---|
| MCU | malaria control unit; maximum care unit; micturating cystourethrography; motor cortex unit |
| NICU | neonatal intensive care unit; neurological intensive care unit; neurosurgical intensive care unit; n... |
| MODS | Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome |
| BFO | balanced forearm orthosis; ball-bearing forearm orthosis; blood-forming organ |
| enamel organ | Epithelial cells surrounding the dental papilla and differentiated into three layers: the inner enamel epithelium, consisting of ameloblasts which eventually form the enamel, and the enamel pulp and external enamel epithelium, both of which atrophy and disappear before and upon eruption of the tooth, respectively. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| end organ | The special structure containing the terminal of a nerve fibre in peripheral tissue such as muscle, tissue, skin, mucous membrane, or glands. See: ending. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Jacobson's organ | A specialised part of the olfactory system located anteriorly in the nasal cavity within the nasal septum. Chemosensitive cells of the vomeronasal organ project via the vomeronasal nerve to the accessory olfactory bulb. The primary function of this organ appears to be in sensing pheromones which regulate reproductive and other social behaviours. While the structure has been thought absent in higher primate adults, data now suggests it may be present in adult humans. (12 Dec 1998) |
| floating organ | An organ with loose attachments, permitting its displacement. Synonym: floating organ, ptotic organ. (05 Mar 2000) |
| flower-spray organ of Ruffini | One of the two types of sensory nerve ending associated with the neuromuscular spindle (the other being the annulospiral ending); in this type, the fibre branches spread out upon the surface of the intrafusal fibres like a spray of flowers. Synonym: flower-spray organ of Ruffini. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foetal organ maturity | <embryology> Functional competence of specific foetal organs or body systems. In humans, it is usually assessed by analysis of amniotic fluid, as in the assessment of foetal lung maturity by analysis for components of pulmonary surfactant. (08 Mar 2000) |
| lateral line sense organ | A structure in fish consisting of a long groove or canal extending along each side of the trunk and tail and branching in the head region; the groove or tube is lined with neuroepithelial cells, some of which are in groups known as neuromasts; its function appears to be the detection of vibrations of low frequency. Synonym: neuromast organ. (05 Mar 2000) |
| absolute unit | A unit whose value is constant regardless of place or time and not derived from dependent on gravitation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alexin unit | The smallest amount (highest dilution) of complement that will cause haemolysis of a unit of red blood cells in the presence of a haemolysin unit. Synonym: alexin unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Allen-Doisy unit | The quantity of oestrogen capable of producing in a spayed mouse a characteristic change in the vaginal epithelium, namely, disappearance of leukocytes and appearance of cornified cells, as determined by a vaginal smear; equal approximately to one-half of an estrone unit. Synonym: mouse unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amboceptor unit | haemolysin unit |
| androgen unit | The androgenic activity of 100 ug (0.1 mg) of crystalline androsterone as assayed by the comb growth response in capons. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antigen unit | The smallest amount of antigen that, in the presence of specific antiserum, will fix 1 complement unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antitoxin unit | A unit expressing the strength or activity of an antitoxin; in general, determined with reference to a preserved standard preparation of antitoxin. See: L doses. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antivenene unit | The amount of antivenum which, injected in the ear vein, will protect 1 g weight of rabbit against a fatal dose of snake venom. (05 Mar 2000) |