| PLM | percent labeled mitoses; periodic leg movement; plasma level monitoring; polarized light microscopy |
|---|---|
| RL | radial line; radiation laboratory; reduction level; renal dysplasia-limb defects [syndrome]; resisti... |
| RLS | recursive least square; restless leg syndrome; Ringer lactate solution; Roussy-Levy syndrome |
| SL | sarcolemma; sclerosing leukoencephalopathy; secondary leukemia; segment length; sensation level; sen... |
| SLB | short-leg brace |
| lower nephron nephrosis | An obsolete term for acute tubular necrosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| lower nodal extrasystole | An obsolete term for a nodal extrasystole supposed to arise from the lower part of the A-V node, recognised in the electrocardiogram by the retrograde P wave that follows the QRS complex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lower oesophageal sphincter | <anatomy> A muscular sphincter located at the junction of the oesophagus and the stomach. On closure the lower oesophageal sphincter prevents the back wash (reflux) of stomach acid into the oesophagus where it may damage the mucosa. See: gastrooesophageal reflux disease. (16 Mar 1998) |
| lower respiratory tract | <anatomy> The trachea, bronchi, and lungs. (09 Oct 1997) |
| lower respiratory tract smear | A group of cytologic specimens containing material from the lower respiratory tract and consisting mainly of sputum (spontaneous, induced) and material obtained at bronchoscopy (aspirated, lavaged, brushed); used for cytologic study of cancer and other diseases of the lungs. Synonym: bronchoscopic smear, sputum smear. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Lower, Richard | <person> English anatomist and physiologist, 1631-1691. See: Lower's ring, Lower's tubercle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lower segment cesarian section | A Cesarian section in which the surgical incision (cut) is made in the lower segment of the uterus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Lower's ring | One of four fibrous rings that surround atrioventricular and arterial orifices of the heart, providing attachment for the valve leaflets and maintaining patency of the orifice. As part of the fibrous skeleton of the heart, the fibrous rings also provide origin and insertion for the myocardium. Synonym: annulus fibrosus cordis, annulus fibrosus, coronary tendon, fibrous ring, Lower's ring. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Lower's tubercle | The slight projection on the wall of the right atrium between the orifices of the venae cavae. Synonym: tuberculum intervenosum, Lower's tubercle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lower uterine segment | The inferior portion or isthmus of the uterus, the lower extremity of which joins with the cervical canal and, during pregnancy, expands to become the lower part of the uterine cavity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lower uterine segment cesarean section | A cesarean section in which the uterus is entered in its lower segment by a transperitoneal approach. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abortion, multiple | Couples who have had 2 or more miscarriages (spontaneous abortions) have about a 5% chance that one member of the couple is carrying a chromsome translocation responsible for the miscarriages. (12 Dec 1998) |
| advanced multiple-beam equalization radiography | A variant of scanning equalization radiography using several X-ray beams. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amyloidosis of multiple myeloma | Foci of amyloidosis in mesenchymal tissues of some persons with multiple myeloma; no direct relation between amyloid and Bence Jones protein is conclusively known. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cancer, multiple myeloma | A bone marrow cancer involving a type of white blood cell called a plasma (or myeloma) cell. The tumour cells can form a single collection (a plasmacytoma) or many tumours (multiple myeloma). Plasma cells are part of the immune system and make antibodies. Because patients have an excess of identical plasma cells, they have too much of one type of antibody. As myeloma cells increase in number, they damage and weaken the bones, causing pain and often fractures. When bones are damaged, calcium is released into the blood leading to hypercalcaemia (excess calcium in the blood) and that causes loss of appetite, nausea, thirst, fatigue, muscle weakness, restlessness, and confusion. Myeloma cells prevent the bone marrow from forming normal plasma cells and other white blood cells important to the immune system so patients may not be able to fight infections. The cancer cells can also prevent the growth of new red blood cells, causing anaemia. Excess antibody proteins and calcium may prevent the kidneys from filtering and cleaning the blood properly Cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: A lymphoma is a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system. The most common symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas is a painless swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are diagnosed with a biopsy of an enlarged lymph node. Follow-up examinations are important after lymphoma treatment. Most relapses occur in the first 2 years after therapy. (12 Dec 1998) |