| amorphous fraction of adrenal cortex | Noncrystalline residue of an acetone extract of the adrenal cortex after crystalline steroids, e.g., corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, etc., have been isolated. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| bilateral adrenal mass | <radiology> Acute granulomatous disease (e.g., TB), metastases (bilateral in 15%), pheochromocytoma (bilateral in 10%), adrenal hyperplasia (adenoma), spontaneous adrenal haemorrhage (12 Dec 1998) |
| carcinoma, adrenal cortical | A malignant neoplasm of adrenal cortical cells demonstrating partial or complete histological and functional differentiation. They are rare, comprising between only 0.05% and 0.2% of all cancers. Women develop functional adrenal cortical carcinomas more commonly than men, but men develop nonfunctioning ones more often than women. Hypercortisolism is the most common presentation for this cancer. Virilism and cushing's syndrome may also result. (12 Dec 1998) |
| paraganglioma, extra-adrenal | A relatively rare, usually benign neoplasm originating in the chemoreceptor tissue of the carotid body, glomus jugulare, and aortic bodies. It consists histologically of rounded or ovoid hyperchromatic cells that tend to be grouped in an alveolus-like pattern within a scant to moderate amount of fibrous stroma and a few large thin-walled vascular channels. They are uncommon before the age of 20, with a female predominance in some series. (12 Dec 1998) |
| medulla of adrenal gland | It is composed principally of anastomosing cords of cells in the core of the gland; the cells display a chromaffin reaction because of the presence of epinephrine and norepinephrine in their granules. Synonym: medulla glandulae suprarenalis, medulla of adrenal gland. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pituitary-adrenal system | The interactions between the anterior pituitary and adrenal glands, in which corticotropin (acth) stimulates the adrenal cortex and adrenal cortical hormones suppress the production of corticotropin by the anterior pituitary. (12 Dec 1998) |
| congenital adrenal hyperplasia | <endocrinology> A genetic disorder present at birth characterised by a deficiency of the hormones aldosterone and cortisol and an overproduction of male sex hormones (androgens). In males this may manifest as enlarged penis, small testes and early development of masculine characteristics. In females features include ambiguous genitalia, failure to menstruate, deep voice and excessive hair. Origin: Gr. Plassein = to form (27 Sep 1997) |
| congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia | A series of inherited inborn errors of metabolism with hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex and overproduction of virilizing hormones. Most common forms are due to partial or complete 21-hydroxylase deficiency, leading to increased ACTH production by the pituitary, stimulating adrenal growth and function. Severe form is characterised by salt-losing state. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foetal adrenal cortex | An extensive area of the adrenal gland present in primates during foetal life and for a short period after birth; located between the definitive cortex and the medulla, it contains large steroid-secreting cells arranged in a reticular pattern; involution of this zone in humans is largely completed by three months after birth. Synonym: androgenic zone, foetal reticularis, foetal zone, provisional cortex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior white commissure | A narrow band of white substance bordering on the anterior median fissure of the spinal cord in front of the anterior gray commissure, and consisting of nerve fibres crossing over from one half of the spinal cord to the other. Synonym: commissura alba, anterior white commissure, commissura ventralis alba, ventral white column. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blue white colour selection | <molecular biology, procedure> Method for identifying bacterial clones containing plasmids with inserts. Many modern vectors have their polycloning site within a part of the LacZ gene encoding _ galactosidase, which provides _ complementation in an appropriate mutant E. Coli strain. This means that a re ligated (empty) vector will produce blue colonies when grown on plates containing IPTG and X gal, but colonies with a substantial insert in their plasmid's polycloning site are unable to produce functional _ galactosidase and so produce white colonies. (16 Dec 1997) |
| Bouffardi's white mycetoma | <dermatology> A form of mycetoma common in India and found occasionally in Somalia, caused by the organism Streptomyces somaliensis; in this variety, the muscles, tendons, and bones of the foot are destroyed by the disease process; numerous draining sinuses discharge yellowish grains, clustered like fish roe. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Brumpt's white mycetoma | Mycetoma caused by Pseudallescheria boydii, occurring in temperate and subtropical areas in India; small, white to yellow, hard to soft granules are discharged through the draining sinuses. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ventral white column | A narrow band of white substance bordering on the anterior median fissure of the spinal cord in front of the anterior gray commissure, and consisting of nerve fibres crossing over from one half of the spinal cord to the other. Synonym: commissura alba, anterior white commissure, commissura ventralis alba, ventral white column. (05 Mar 2000) |
| matter, white | The part of the brain that contains myelinated nerve fibres. The white matter is white because it is the colour of myelin, the insulation covering the nerve fibres. The white matter is as opposed to the gray matter (the cortex of the brain which contains nerve cell bodies). (12 Dec 1998) |