| external sheath of optic nerve | <anatomy, nerve> The outer sheath around the optic nerve, continuous with the dura mater. Synonym: vagina externa nervi optici, dural sheath of optic nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| fascial sheath of eyeball | A condensation of connective tissue on the outer aspect of the sclera from which it is separated by a narrow cleftlike episcleral space; the sheath is attached to the sclera near the sclerocorneal junction and blends with the fascia of the extraocular muscles. Synonym: vagina bulbi, capsula bulbi, eye capsule, fascia bulbi, sheath of eyeball, Tenon's capsule, vagina oculi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| femoral sheath | The fascia enclosing the femoral vessels, formed by the transversalis fascia anteriorly and the iliac fascia posteriorly; two septa divide the sheath into three compartments, the lateral of which contains the femoral artery and the femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve, the middle the femoral vein, and the medial is the femoral canal. Synonym: crural sheath, infundibuliform sheath. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fenestrated sheath | A sheath with a window cut in the tip or lateral convexity, through which special cutting instruments can be passed. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ABC process | Purification of water or deodorization of sewage by a mixture of alum, blood, and charcoal. (05 Mar 2000) |
| accessory process | A small apophysis at the posterior part of the base of the transverse process of each of the lumbar vertebrae. Synonym: processus accessorius, accessory tubercle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acromial process | <anatomy> The lateral triangular projection of the spine of the scapula that forms the point of the shoulder and articulates with the clavicle. (27 Sep 1997) |
| activated sludge process | <procedure> A method of treating sewage and wastewater through microbial oxidation. Sewage previously treated in settling tanks is aerated to encourage the growth of nonpathogenic aerobic microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, moulds and protozoans) which break the organic matter down into carbon dioxide, water and simple salts. After this activated sludge is produced, the wastewater undergoes further processing through anaerobic digestion, filtering and chlorination. (29 Dec 1997) |
| adiabatic process | <chemistry> A process in which the system does not exchange heat with the surroundings. (15 Jan 1998) |
| agene process | Bleaching of flour with nitrogen trichloride (prohibited in the United States). (05 Mar 2000) |
| alar process | A small lateral expansion of the ethmoid bone from the front of the crista galli on each side that articulates with the frontal bone and forms the foramen caecum. Synonym: ala cristae galli, alar process. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alveolar process | That portion of bone in either the maxilla or the mandible which surrounds and supports the teeth. (12 Dec 1998) |
| anterior process of malleus | A slender spur running anteriorward from the neck of the malleus toward the petrotympanic fissure. Synonym: processus anterior mallei, Folli's process, follian process, long process of malleus, processus gracilis, processus ravii, Rau's process, Ravius' process, slender process of malleus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| apical process | The dendritic process extending from the apex of a pyramidal cell of the cerebral cortex toward the surface. Synonym: apical dendrite. (05 Mar 2000) |
| articular process | One of the small flat projections on the surfaces of the arches of the vertebrae on either side, at the point where the pedicles and laminae join, forming the zygapophysial joint surfaces; superior articular process, diapophysis; one of the anticular processes on the superior surface of the vertebral arch; inferior articular process, one of the articular processes on the inferior surface of the vertebral arch. Synonym: processus articularis, zygapophysis. (05 Mar 2000) |