| ac | acceleration; acetyl; acid; acromioclavicular; acute; alternating current; antecubital; anterior cha... |
|---|---|
| Ap4CH | apical four-chamber plane |
| BCE | basal cell epithelioma; benign childhood epilepsy; bubble chamber equipment |
| EDCS | end-diastolic chamber stiffness; end-diastolic circumferential stress |
| PC | avoirdupois weight [Lat. pondus civile]; packed cells; paper chromatography; paracortex; parent cell... |
| ionization chamber | A chamber for detecting ionization of the enclosed gas; used for determining intensity of ionizing radiation. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| orientation chamber | <cell culture> Chamber designed by Zigmond in which to test the ability of cells (neutrophils) to orient in a gradient of chemoattractant. The chamber is similar to a haemocytometer, but with a depth of only ca. 20m. The gradient is set up by diffusion from one well to the other and the orientation of cells towards the well containing chemoattractant is scored on the basis of their morphology or by filming their movement. (18 Nov 1997) |
| endothelium of anterior chamber | A single layer of large, squamous cells that covers the posterior surface of the cornea. Synonym: endothelium camerae anterioris. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Zappert counting chamber | A special, standardised glass slide used for counting cells (especially erythrocytes and leukocytes) and other particulate material in a measured volume of fluid; the central portion is precisely ground in such a manner that the uniformly flat surface is exactly 0.1 mm lower than that of two parallel ridges on which a special, uniformly flat coverslip may be placed; accurately etched lines on the flat central portion form the boundaries of groups of squares of known areas, thereby providing the basis for determining the volume of fluid in which the cells are counted. Glass slides of this type are frequently known as haemocytometers. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Zigmond chamber | <cell culture> Chamber designed by Zigmond in which to test the ability of cells (neutrophils) to orient in a gradient of chemoattractant. The chamber is similar to a haemocytometer, but with a depth of only ca. 20m. The gradient is set up by diffusion from one well to the other and the orientation of cells towards the well containing chemoattractant is scored on the basis of their morphology or by filming their movement. (18 Nov 1997) |
| ABO blood group | <haematology> The major human blood type system which describes the oligosaccharide glycoprotein antigens found on the surface of human blood cells. According to the type of antigen present, a person may be assigned a blood type of A, B, AB or O. A second type of antigen, the Rh factor, renders a positive or negative blood type. The ABO blood group system is important because it determines who can donate blood to or accept blood from whom. Type A or AB blood will cause an immune reaction in people with type B blood and type B and AB blood will cause a reaction in people with type A blood. Conversely, type O blood has no A or B antigens, so people with type O blood are universal donors. And since AB blood already produces both antigens, people who are type AB can accept any of the other blood types without suffering an immune reaction. (04 Jul 1999) |
| Almen's test for blood | Glacial acetic acid, gum guaiac solution, and hydrogen peroxide are added to an aqueous suspension of the suspected stain; if occult blood or blood pigment is present, a blue colour develops. Synonym: guaiac test, Schonbein's test, van Deen's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| arterial blood | Blood that is oxygenated in the lungs, found in the left chambers of the heart and in the arteries, and relatively bright red. (05 Mar 2000) |
| arterial blood gas | A test which analyses arterial blood for oxygen, carbon dioxide and bicarbonate content in addition to blood pH. Used to test the effectiveness of respiration. Acronym: ABG (17 Oct 1997) |
| blood | <haematology> Considered a circulating tissue composed of a fluid portion (plasma) with suspended formed elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). Arterial blood is the means by which oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues, venous blood is the means by which carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported for excretion. (05 Jan 1998) |
| blood agar | <cell culture> An agar-based medium which hasbeen enriched with sterilised, defibinated blood (sheep, rabbit or horse). It is used for primary plating andsubculturing, especially to determine bacterial haemolysis. (09 Oct 1997) |
| blood-air barrier | The barrier between capillary blood and alveolar air comprising the alveolar epithelium and capillary endothelium with their adherent basement membranes and epithelial cell cytoplasm. Gaseous exchange occurs across this membrane. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood albumin | <protein> The serum level of the low molecular protein albumin. Albumin, produced by the liver, plays an important role in maintaining plasma oncotic pressure. Normal serum albumin should be 3.5-5.0 grams per decilitre. Low serum albumin can be found in cases of liver disease and malnutrition. (27 Sep 1997) |
| blood-aqueous barrier | The anatomical mechanism that prevents exchange of materials between the chambers of the eye and the blood. The tight junctions of the nonpigmented epithelium of the ciliary body, the junctions of the iris tissues, and iris blood vessels constitute the blood-aqueous barrier. Lipid-soluble substances such as oxygen and carbon dioxide penetrate the barrier at a high rate. Sodium, larger water-soluble ions, proteins, and other large and medium-sized molecules are restricted. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood bactericidal activity | Native bactericidal property of blood due to normally occurring antibacterial substances such as beta lysin, leukin, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |