| frontal sinus aperture | One of a pair of openings in the floor of the frontal sinuses in the nasal part of the frontal bone, through which the frontal sinuses communicate with the ethmoidal infundibulum via the frontonasal duct. Synonym: apertura sinus frontalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| frontal sinusitis | Inflammation of the frontal sinus; in most cases the infection is caused by the bacteria streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenzae. This condition may be acute or chronic. (12 Dec 1998) |
| frontal squama | The tabular or squamous portion of occipital bone. Synonym: squama occipitalis, occipital squama, frontal squama. (05 Mar 2000) |
| frontal suture | The suture between the two halves of the frontal bone, usually obliterated by about the sixth year; if persistent it is called a metropic suture. Synonym: sutura frontalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| frontal triangle | A triangle bounded above by the maximum frontal diameter and laterally by lines joining the extremities of this diameter with the glabella. (05 Mar 2000) |
| frontal tuber | The most prominent portion of the frontal bone on either side. Synonym: tuber frontale, eminentia frontalis, frontal tuber. (05 Mar 2000) |
| frontal veins | The superficial veins draining the frontal cortex and emptying into the superior sagittal sinus. Synonym: supratrochlear veins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| frontal zone contraction theory | Model proposed to account for the movement of giant amoebae in which cytoplasmic contraction at the front of the leading pseudopod (fountain zone) pulls viscoelastic cytoplasm forward in the centre of the cell and forms a tube of more rigid cytoplasm immediately below the plasma membrane behind the active region. The peripheral contracted cytoplasm relaxes into a weaker gel at the rear and is pulled forward in its turn. Contrasts with the ectoplasmic tube contraction model. (18 Nov 1997) |
| abdominal abscess | <surgery> A localised pus-forming (suppurative) bacterial infection that occurs within the abdominal cavity as the result of a perforated viscus or post operative complication. Treatment requires either percutaneous or open surgical drainage. (27 Sep 1997) |
| abscess | <microbiology, surgery> A localised collection of pus caused by suppuration buried in tissues, organs or confined spaces. Usually due to an infective process. Origin: L. Abscessus, from ab = away, cedere = to go (18 Nov 1997) |
| abscess, peritonsillar | A persistent collection of pus behind the tonsil. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abscess scan | <investigation> This is a nuclear scan that utilises radioactively tagged white blood cells. The patients white blood cells (taken from a small tube of blood) are tagged with radioactive indium. Later, the cells are then reinjected into the bloodstream. The coarse of the white blood cells can then be mapped using a gamma camera (radiation detecting device). The net result is a picture that shows the location of the radioactive white blood cells. The location of the white cells can indicated the presence of infection or inflammation. This test is useful in detecting a hidden source of bacterial infection, such as an abscess. (11 Mar 1998) |
| abscess, skin | Medical term for a common boil. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute abscess | A recently formed abscess with little or no fibrosis in the wall of the cavity. Synonym: hot abscess. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alveolar abscess | A pocket of pus adjacent to or within (apical abscess) the tooth's root caused by plaque and calculus invasion. Symptoms include tooth pain and tenderness that may be accompanied by facial swelling and a fever. Treatment includes antibiotics and a thorough cleansing of the infected site by a dentist. See: apical abscess. (27 Sep 1997) |