| free association | Spontaneous verbalization of whatever comes to mind. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| free bone flap | Portion of cranium removed and detached from overlying soft tissue structures. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free border | Unattached edge of a sturcture, often opposite the attached edge. See: free border of nail, free border of ovary. Synonym: margo liber, free margin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free border of nail | The distal border of the nail that overhangs the tip of the digit. Synonym: margo liber unguis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free border of ovary | The unattached, posterior margin of the ovary. Synonym: margo liber ovarii. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free calcium level | <biochemistry> The ionised calcium represents the calcium (Ca++) that is the metabolically active calcium. Normal values for ionised calcium in the bloodstream should be 4.4 to 5.3 mg/dl for adults and 4.4 to 6.0 mg/dl for children. Elevations may be seen in hyperparathyroidism, metastatic bone tumour, milk-alkali syndrome, multiple myeloma, Paget's disease, sarcoidosis, PTH-secreting tumours (paraneoplastic syndrome) and vitamin D intoxication. Lower than normal values may be seen in hypoparathyroidism, malabsorption, osteomalacia, pancreatitis, renal failure, rickets and vitamin D deficiency. (27 Sep 1997) |
| free-central | A placentation in which the ovules are borne on a free-standing central placenta within the ovary. (09 Oct 1997) |
| free electron | <radiobiology> An electron not bound to an atom, molecule, or other particle via electromagnetic forces. (09 Oct 1997) |
| free electrophoresis | Electrophoresis of substances placed in a solution in a U-shaped tube. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free energy | A thermodynamic term used to describe the energy that may be extracted from a system at constant temperature and pressure. In biological systems the most important relationship is: _G = RTln(Keq), where Keq is an equilibrium constant. (18 Nov 1997) |
| free field | A field (three-dimensional space) in a homogeneous, isotropic medium free from boundaries; in practice, a field in which boundary effects are negligible. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free flap | Island flap in which the donor vessels are severed proximally, the flap is transported as a free object to the recipient area, and the flap is revascularised by anastomosing its supplying vessels to vessels there. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free-floating anxiety | In psychoanalysis, a pervasive unrealistic expectation unattached to a clearly formulated concept or object of fear; observed particularly in anxiety neurosis and may be seen in some cases of latent schizophrenia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free gingiva | That portion of the gingiva that surrounds the tooth and is not directly attached to the tooth surface; the outer wall of the gingival sulcus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free graft | A graft transplanted without its normal attachments, or a pedicle, from one site to another. (05 Mar 2000) |