| blue baby | A baby born with various defects in the structure of the heart and major blood vessels such as tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the great vessels. The net result is the inability to oxygenate the blood resulting in cyanosis (bluish discolouration to the skin). Immediate surgical procedures are currently available to correct these genetic abnormalities. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| blue-bonnet | 1. A broad, flat Scottish cap of blue woolen, or one waring such cap; a Scotchman. 2. <botany> A plant. Same as Bluebottle. 3. <zoology> The European blue titmouse (Parus coeruleus); the bluecap. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blue cataract | Coronary cataract of bluish colour. Synonym: cataracta cerulea. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blue cone monochromatism | Impaired, but not absent, colour vision with less severely reduced visual acuity than in complete achromatopsia; inherited as an autosomal recessive or as an X-linked disorder (blue cone monochromism; pi cone monochromatism ). (05 Mar 2000) |
| blue cross | A prepaid health insurance plan for hospital costs and related services. It usually excludes physicians' services (which are covered under blue shield). (12 Dec 1998) |
| blue dextran | High molecular weight dextran containing a blue chlorotriazine dye, Cibacron Blue; used to measure the void volumes in gel filtration columns. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blue disease | <infectious disease> An acute febrile (feverish) disease initially recognised in the Rocky Mountain states, caused by Rickettsia rickettsii transmitted by hard-shelled (ixodid) ticks. Occurs only in the Western Hemisphere. The disease is characterised by sudden onset of headache, chills and fever which can persist for 2-3 weeks, muscle pain. A characteristic rash appears on the extremities and trunk about the 4th day of illness. The rickettsiae grow within damaged cells lining blood vessels which may become blocked by clots. Blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) is widespread Early recognition of the condition and prompt antibiotic treatment is important in reducing mortality. Synonym: spotted fever, tick fever, and tick typhus. (25 Jun 1999) |
| blue dome cyst | Cyst in the breast filled with serum and/or blood. With time they look blue. (16 Dec 1997) |
| blue dot sign | <clinical sign> A blue or black spot visible beneath the skin on the cranial aspect of testis or epididymis. This is a torsed testicular appendage and is usually quite tender. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blue-eye | <zoology> The blue-cheeked honeysucker of Australia. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blue-eyed grass | <botany> A grasslike plant (Sisyrinchium anceps), with small flowers of a delicate blue colour. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blue fever | An acute tick-borne illness caused by the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii. The disease is characterised by sudden onset of headache, chills and fever which can persist for 2-3 weeks. A characteristic rash appears on the extremities and trunk about the 4th day of illness. (27 Sep 1997) |
| blue grass | <botany> A species of grass (Poa compressa) with bluish green stems, valuable in thin gravelly soils; wire grass. Kentucky blue grass, a species of grass (Poa pratensis) which has running rootstocks and spreads rapidly. It is valuable as a pasture grass, as it endures both winter and drought better than other kinds, and is very nutritious. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blue-green algae | The former name for the blue-green bacteria, now classified as Cyanobacteria. A group of prokaryotes. Synonym: Cyanobacteria. (05 May 2002) |
| blue-green bacteria | <organism> Modern term for the blue green algae, prokaryotic cells that use chlorophyll on intracytoplasmic membranes for photosynthesis. The blue green colour is due to the presence of phycobiliproteins. Found as single cells, colonies or simple filaments. In Anabaena, in which the cells are arranged as a filament, heterocysts capable of nitrogen fixation occur at regular intervals. According to the endosymbiont theory Cyanobacteria are the progenitors of chloroplasts. (18 Nov 1997) |