| complement membrane attack complex | The assembly of complement plasma glycoproteins c5b, c6, c7, c8, and polymeric c9 as a group on biological membranes. The complex forms transmembrane channels which displace lipid molecules and other constituents, thus disrupting the phospholipid bilayer of target cells leading to cell lysis by osmotic leakage. The formation of the membrane attack complex is the terminal step in the complement cascade. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| complex | Complicated, not simple. Origin: L. Complexus = woven together, encompassing (18 Nov 1997) |
| complex carbohydrate | <biochemistry> The combination of carbohydrates and fibre. (05 Jan 1998) |
| complex closure | <surgery, technique> A sutural repair that may involve multi-layered closure, debridement or advanced tissue repair (plasty). (05 Jan 1998) |
| complex febrile convulsion | A febrile convulsion that is prolonged (greater than 15 minutes' duration) or is associated with focal neurological deficits. (05 Mar 2000) |
| complex ion | The colour, texture, and general appearance of the skin of the face. Origin: L. Complexio, a combination, (later) physical condition (05 Mar 2000) Previous: complex carbohydrate, complex closure, complex febrile convulsion, complexinNext: complex ion, complexity, complex learning processescomplex ion <chemistry> An ion formed by the combination of a central metal ion and ligands. (05 Jan 1998) |
| complex learning processes | Those process's that require the use of symbolic manipulations, as in reasoning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| complex liver mass in kids | <radiology> Epithelial, FNH (uncommon, F greater than M), hepatic adenoma (uncommon, F greater than M), hepatoma (increased aFP in 90%), hepatoblastoma (increased aFP, less than 2 years of age), mesenchymal, hamartoma, cavernous haemangioma, haemangioendothelioma, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (obstructs common bile duct; less than 5 years of age), undifferentiated sarcoma, teratoma, abscess / haematoma / complicated cyst (12 Dec 1998) |
| complex locus | A set of closely linked genetic loci with a common function, as in the major histocompatibility complex locus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| complex medium | <cell culture> A medium whose precise chemical composition is unknown. Compare: defined medium. (05 Jan 1998) |
| complex odontoma | <tumour> An odontoma in which the various odontogenic tissues are organised in a haphazard arrangement with no resemblance to teeth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| complex partial seizure | <neurology> Seizures with elaborate and multiple sensory, motor, and/or psychic components. A common feature is the clouding of consciousness and amnesia for the event. Some clinical manifestations may include more complex behaviours like burst of anger, emotional outbursts, fear or automatisms. The EEG often reveals spike discharges in the temporal lobe during sleep. (05 Jan 1998) |
| complex precipitated epilepsy | A form of reflex epilepsy initiated by specialised sensory stimuli, e.g., certain visual patterns. (05 Mar 2000) |
| platelet glycoprotein gpib-ix complex | Platelet membrane glycoprotein complex essential for normal platelet adhesion and clot formation at sites of vascular injury. It is composed of three polypeptides, gpib alpha, gpib beta, and gpix. Glycoprotein ib functions as a receptor for von willebrand factor and for thrombin. Congenital deficiency of the gpib-ix complex results in bernard-soulier syndrome. The platelet glycoprotein gpv associates with gpib-ix and is also absent in bernard-soulier syndrome. (12 Dec 1998) |
| platelet glycoprotein gpiib-iiia complex | Platelet membrane glycoprotein complex important for platelet adhesion and aggregation. The complex is an integrin which recognises the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (rgd) sequence present on several adhesive proteins. As such, it is a receptor for fibrinogen, von willebrand factor, fibronectin, vitronectin, and thrombospondin. A deficiency of gpiib-iiia results in glanzmann's thrombasthenia. (12 Dec 1998) |