| TEC | total electron count; total eosinophil count; total exchange capacity; transient erythroblastopenia ... |
|---|---|
| BPI | bacterial permeability-increasing [protein]; Basic Personality Inventory; beef-pork insulin; blood p... |
| PPb | postparotid basic protein |
| PPBP | pro-platelet basic protein |
| PRB | basic proline-rich protein; Prosthetics Research Board |
| major histocompatibility antigen | <immunology> A set of plasmalemmal glycoprotein antigens involved in rapid (e.g. 7 days in the mouse) graft rejection and other immune phenomena. The minor histocompatibility antigens are involved in much slower rejection phenomena. The major antigens show remarkable polymorphism and occur as Class I and Class II types in mammals, birds may have a Class III molecule as well. See: histocompatibility antigens, MHC restriction. (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| major histocompatibility complex | The set of gene loci specifying major histocompatibility antigens, for example HLA in man, H 2 in mice, RLA in rabbits, RT 1 in rats, DLA in dogs, SLA in pigs, etc. Acronym: MHC (18 Nov 1997) |
| major hypnosis | A state of extreme suggestibility in hypnosis in which the subject is insensible to all outside impressions except the commands of the hypnotist. (05 Mar 2000) |
| major hysteria | A syndrome, now rarely seen, described by Charcot and characterised by a first stage of aura, a second stage of epileptoid convulsions, a third stage of tonic and clonic spasms, a fourth stage of dramatic behaviour, and a fifth stage of delirium; the entire attack may last from a few minutes to half an hour. Sometimes used as a synonym for hysteroepilepsy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| major mood disorder | See: bipolar disorder, affective psychosis, endogenous depression, dysthymia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| major motor seizure | A grand mal seizure or other convulsive seizure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| major operation | An extensive, relatively difficult surgical procedure involving vital organs and/or in itself hazardous to life. (05 Mar 2000) |
| major salivary glands | A category of salivary gland's that includes the three largest gland's of the oral cavity that also secrete most of the saliva: the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual gland's. (05 Mar 2000) |
| major source | A source that emits, or has the potential to emit, a pollutant regulated under the Clean Air act in excess of a specified rate in a nonattainment area. (05 Dec 1998) |
| major sublingual duct | The duct that drains the anterior portion of the sublingual gland; it opens at the sublingual papilla. Synonym: ductus sublingualis major, Bartholin's duct. (05 Mar 2000) |
| major surgery | See: major operation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| major tranquilliser | |
| papilla duodeni major | Point of opening of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct into the duodenum; it is located posteriorly in the descending part of the duodenum. Synonym: papilla duodeni major, bile papilla, papilla of Vater, Santorini's major caruncle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vena azygos major | <anatomy, vein> A vein which arises from the right ascending lumbar vein or the vena cava, enters the thorax through the aortic orifice in the diaphragm, and terminates in the superior vena cava. (12 Dec 1998) |
| rectus capitis posterior major | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, spinous process of axis; insertion, middle of inferior nuchal line of occipital bone; action, rotates and draws head backward; nerve supply, dorsal branch of first cervical (suboccipital). See: suboccipital muscles. Synonym: musculus rectus capitis posterior major, greater posterior rectus muscle of head, musculus rectus capitis posticus major. (05 Mar 2000) |