| frontal tuber | The most prominent portion of the frontal bone on either side. Synonym: tuber frontale, eminentia frontalis, frontal tuber. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| frontal veins | The superficial veins draining the frontal cortex and emptying into the superior sagittal sinus. Synonym: supratrochlear veins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| frontal zone contraction theory | Model proposed to account for the movement of giant amoebae in which cytoplasmic contraction at the front of the leading pseudopod (fountain zone) pulls viscoelastic cytoplasm forward in the centre of the cell and forms a tube of more rigid cytoplasm immediately below the plasma membrane behind the active region. The peripheral contracted cytoplasm relaxes into a weaker gel at the rear and is pulled forward in its turn. Contrasts with the ectoplasmic tube contraction model. (18 Nov 1997) |
| ABO blood group | <haematology> The major human blood type system which describes the oligosaccharide glycoprotein antigens found on the surface of human blood cells. According to the type of antigen present, a person may be assigned a blood type of A, B, AB or O. A second type of antigen, the Rh factor, renders a positive or negative blood type. The ABO blood group system is important because it determines who can donate blood to or accept blood from whom. Type A or AB blood will cause an immune reaction in people with type B blood and type B and AB blood will cause a reaction in people with type A blood. Conversely, type O blood has no A or B antigens, so people with type O blood are universal donors. And since AB blood already produces both antigens, people who are type AB can accept any of the other blood types without suffering an immune reaction. (04 Jul 1999) |
| actinobacteria group | A group of gram-positive, heterogeneous bacteria. This group encompasses a range of morphologically, physiologically, and chemically different organisms and includes bacteria that form cocci, short rods, irregular rods, and mycelia that fragment. (12 Dec 1998) |
| alkyl group | <chemistry> A funtional group on an organic molecule which is derived from an alkane which has lost a hydrogen atom. (13 Nov 1997) |
| aluminum group | Aluminum, boron, gallium, indium, and thallium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amino group | <biochemistry> An -NH2 group. Organic compounds which have this group are called amines. (09 Oct 1997) |
| anterior group of axillary lymph nodes | Lymph nodes located along the lateral thoracic vein; they receive the drainage of the pectoral region, including most of the drainage of the breast. Synonym: nodi lymphatici axillaris pectorales, anterior group of axillary lymph nodes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| apical group of axillary lymph nodes | The group of lymph node's located at the apex of the axillary fossa that receive lymphatic drainage from other groups of axillary node's and then drain in turn into the subclavian lymphatic trunk. Synonym: nodi lymphatici axillares apicales. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bethesda-Ballerup Group | A group of citrate-utilizing, slow lactose-fermenting bacteria (family Enterobacteriaceae) which share a similar series of antigens with the lactose-fermenting citrobacters; these organisms are now included in the genus Citrobacter without a distinction between prompt and slow lactose fermentation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blood group | <haematology> An inherited feature on the surface of the red blood cell. A series of related blood groups make up a blood group system such as the ABO system or the Rh system. Erythrocytic allotypes (or phenotypes) defined by one or more cellular antigenic structural groupings under the control of allelic genes. Blood groups, especially for man, are identified by agglutinins supported by specific human or animal antisera and by lectins extracted from certain plants. See: blood group antigen. (25 Jun 1999) |
| blood group antigen | <haematology, immunology> The set of cell surface antigens found chiefly, but not solely, on blood cells. More than fifteen different blood group systems are recognised in humans. There may be naturally occurring antibodies without immunisation, especially in the case of the ABO system and matching blood groups is important for safe transfusion. In most cases the antigenic determinant resides in the carbohydrate chains of membrane glycoproteins or glycolipids. See: Rhesus, Duffy, Kell, Lewis and MN. (25 Jun 1999) |
| blood group incompatibility | A mismatch between donor and recipient blood. Antibodies present in the recipient's serum are directed against antigens in the donor product. Such a mismatch may result in a transfusion reaction in which, for example, donor blood is haemolyzed. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood group substance | Blood group-specific substances A and B, solution of complexes of polysaccharides and amino acids that reduces the titre of anti-A and anti-B isoagglutinins in serum from group O persons; used to render group O blood reasonably safe for transfusion into persons of group A, B, or AB, but does not affect any incompatibility that results from various other factors, such as Rh. (05 Mar 2000) |