| artificial selection | <genetics> The selective breeding by humans towards a desired trait in a plant, animal, or other organism which is of value (usually economic) to the humans. The process operates on the same principles as natural selection. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| artificial sphincter | A sphincter produced by surgical procedures to reduce speed of flow in the digestive system or to maintain continence of the intestine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| artificial stone | A specially calcined gypsum derivative similar to plaster of Paris, but stronger, because the grains are nonporous. (05 Mar 2000) |
| artificial tears | Mixtures of fluid compounds to substitute for naturally produced t's. (05 Mar 2000) |
| artificial ventilation | Application of mechanically or manually generated pressures, usually positive, to gas(es) in or about the airway as a means of producing gas exchange between the lungs and surrounding atmosphere. Synonym: artificial respiration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| artificial Vichy salt | A mixture of sodium bicarbonate, anhydrous magnesium sulfate, potassium carbonate, and sodium chloride; an antacid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| artificial wetland | <ecology> Wetlands created by the activities of man, either purposefully or accidentally. (09 Oct 1997) |
| cardiac pacing, artificial | Regulation of the rate of contraction of the heart muscles by an artificial pacemaker. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pacemaker, artificial | A device designed to stimulate, by electric impulses, contraction of the heart muscles. It may be temporary (external) or permanent (internal or internal-external). (12 Dec 1998) |
| pancreas, artificial | Devices for simulating the activity of the pancreas. They can be either electromechanical, consisting of a glucose sensor, computer, and insulin pump or bioartificial, consisting of isolated islets of langerhans in an artificial membrane. (12 Dec 1998) |
| membranes, artificial | Artificially produced membranes, such as semipermeable membranes used in artificial kidney dialysis, monomolecular and bimolecular membranes used as models to simulate biological membranes. These membranes are also used in the process of guided tissue regeneration. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pneumoperitoneum, artificial | Deliberate introduction of air into the peritoneal cavity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pneumothorax, artificial | Injection of air or a more slowly absorbed gas such as nitrogen, into the pleural space to collapse the lung. It was formerly used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| heart, artificial | A pumping mechanism that duplicates the output, rate, and blood pressure of the natural heart. It may replace the function of the entire heart or a portion of it, and may be an intracorporeal, extracorporeal, or paracorporeal heart. (12 Dec 1998) |
| saliva, artificial | A solution used for irrigating the mouth in xerostomia and as a substitute for saliva. (12 Dec 1998) |