| rheostat | <physics> A contrivance for adjusting or regulating the strength of electrical currents, operating usually by the intercalation of resistance which can be varied at will. Rheostat"ic. Origin: Gr. + standing still. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| rheostosis | A hypertrophying and condensing osteitis which tends to run in longitudinal streaks or columns, like wax drippings on a candle, and which involves a number of the long bones. Synonym: flowing hyperostosis, streak hyperostosis. Origin: rheo-+ G. Osteon, bone, + -osis, condition (05 Mar 2000) |
| rheotaxis | <cell biology> Tactic response taxis to the direction of flow of a fluid. (18 Nov 1997) |
| rheotome | <physics> An instrument which periodically or otherwise interrupts an electric current. Origin: Gr. To flow + to cut. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| rheotrope | <physics> An instrument for reversing the direction of an electric current. Alternative forms: reotrope. Origin: Gr. To flow + to turn. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| rheotropism | A movement contrary to the motion of a current, involving part of an organism, rather than the organism as a whole, as in rheotaxis. Origin: rheo-+ G. Tropos, a turning (05 Mar 2000) |
| Rhese projection | Oblique radiographic view of the skull to show the optic foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rhestocythemia | The presence of broken down red blood cells in the peripheral circulation. Origin: G. Rhaio, to destroy, + kytos, a hollow (a cell), + haima, blood (05 Mar 2000) |
| rhesus | <zoology> A monkey; the bhunder. Origin: L. Rhesus, a proper name, Gr. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Rhesus blood group | <haematology> Human blood group system with allelic red cell antigens C, D and E. The D antigen is the strongest. Red cells from a Rhesus positive foetus cross the placenta and can sensitise a Rehesus negative mother, expecially at parturition. The mother's antibody may then, in a subsequent pregnancy, cause haemolytic disease of the newborn if the foetus is Rhesus positive. The disease can be prevented by giving antiD IgG during the first 72 hours after parturition to mop up D red cells in the maternal circulation. 1st ed (18 Nov 1997) |
| rhesus disease | Sensitization of the mother during pregnancy to Rh factor in foetal blood, leading to erythroblastosis foetalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rhesus incompatibility | <haematology> A blood incompatibility between the mother and her baby. During childbirth if the mother is Rh negative and the baby is Rh positive, blood can enter the maternal circulation (from the baby) sensitising the mother against Rh factor. The mother's immune system will produce antibodies to Rh factor. In subsequent pregnancies, these maternal Rh antibodies can mix into the foetal circulation during childbirth. This will cause the rupture (haemolytic anaemia) of the baby's red blood cells. See: newborn jaundice. (27 Sep 1997) |
| rhetic | <chemical> Same as Rhaetic. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| rhetizite | <chemical> Same as Rhaetizite. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| rheum | <botany> A genus of plants. See Rhubarb. Origin: NL, from L. Rha the river Volga, on the banks of which it grows. See Rhubarb. <medicine> A serous or mucous discharge, especially one from the eves or nose. "I have a rheum in mine eyes too." (Shak) Salt rheum. <medicine> See Salt rheum, in the Vocab. Origin: OF. Reume, rheume, F. Rhume a cold, L. Rheuma rheum, from Gr, fr. To flow, akin to E. Stream. See Stream, and cf. Haemorrhoids. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |