| transmembrane potential | <physiology> More correctly, transmembrane potential difference: the electrical potential difference across a plasma membrane. See: resting potential, action potential. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| end plate potential | <physiology> Depolarisation of the sarcolemma as a result of acetylcholine release from the motoneuron causing an influx of sodium ions. The endplate potential is the sum of quantal miniature endplate potentials. Development of the end plate potential is blocked by curare. (18 Nov 1997) |
| equilibrium potential | <physiology> The membrane potential at which a particular type of ion or other particle does not diffuse through the membrane in either direction. (09 Oct 1997) |
| evoked potential | An event-related potential, elicited by, and time-lockied to a stimulus. See: evoked response. (05 Mar 2000) |
| excitatory junction potential | Discrete partial depolarisation of smooth muscle produced by stimulation of excitatory nerves; similar to small end-plate potentials. They summate with repeated stimuli. (05 Mar 2000) |
| excitatory postsynaptic potential | The change in potential which is produced in the membrane of the next neuron when an impulse which has an excitatory influence arrives at the synapse; it is a local change in the direction of depolarisation; summation of these potential's can lead to discharge of an impulse by the neuron. (05 Mar 2000) |
| junction potential | <physiology> Potential difference at the boundary between dissimilar solutions, arises from differences in diffusion constants between ions. (18 Nov 1997) |
| years of potential life lost | Measure of the relative impact of various diseases and lethal forces on society, computed by estimating the years that people would have lived if they had not died prematurely from injury, cancer, heart disease, etc. (05 Mar 2000) |
| zeta potential | <chemistry> The electrostatic potential of a molecule or particle, for example cell measured at the plane of hydrodynamic slippage outside the surface of the molecule or cell. Usually measured by electrophoretic mobility. Related to the surface potential and a measure of the electrostatic forces of repulsion the particle or molecule is likely to meet when encountering another of the same sign of charge. See: cell electrophoresis. (18 Nov 1997) |
| zoonotic potential | The potential for infections of subhuman animals to be transmissible to humans. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Langhans giant cell | Multinucleate cells formed by fusion of epithelioid macrophages and associated with the central part of early tubercular lesions. Similar to foreign body giant cells, but with the nuclei peripherally located. (18 Nov 1997) |
| Langhans'-type giant cells | Multinucleated giant cell's seen in tuberculosis and other granulomas; the nuclei are arranged in an arciform manner at the periphery of the cell's. Synonym: Langhans'-type giant cells. Synonym: cytotrophoblastic cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foreign body giant cell | <pathology> Syncytium formed by the fusion of macrophages in response to an indigestible particle too large to be phagocytosed for example talc, silica or asbestos fibres). There may be as many as 100 nuclei randomly distributed: similar cells but with the nuclei more peripherally located (Langhans cells) are found at the centre of tuberculous lesions. (06 Mar 1998) |
| low malignant potential tumour | A neoplasm of the ovary, usually arising in young women, composed of complex epithelial hyperplasia without stromas invasion; may recur if incompletely removed surgically, but is clinically less aggressive than carcinoma. Synonym: low malignant potential tumour. (05 Mar 2000) |