| characteristic curve | Sensitometric curve of radiographic film, a plot of the film density versus the logarithm of the relative exposure. Synonym: H and D curve, Hunter and Driffield curve. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| characteristic emission | Monochromatic radiation that is produced when an electron is ejected from an atom and another takes its place by jumping from another shell; the energy of the photon is the difference between that of the two shell positions. Synonym: characteristic emission. (05 Mar 2000) |
| characteristic radiation | Monochromatic radiation that is produced when an electron is ejected from an atom and another takes its place by jumping from another shell; the energy of the photon is the difference between that of the two shell positions. Synonym: characteristic emission. (05 Mar 2000) |
| characteristic X-ray | <microscopy> An X-ray having a unique energy that is emitted by an atom in the sample during its de-energization after ionization of one of its electrons by an incident electron. (05 Aug 1998) |
| characterization | The discernment, description, or attributing of distinguishing traits. (05 Mar 2000) |
| characterizing group | A group of atoms in a molecule that distinguishes the class of substances in which it occurs from all other classes; thus carbonyl (CO) is the characterizing group of ketones; COOH, of organic acids, etc. (05 Mar 2000) |
| charas | A resin obtained from mature leaves of selected varieties of Cannabis sativa; used for smoking. (05 Mar 2000) |
| charbon | Known also as anthrax, charbon is a serious bacterial infection. It is not primarily a human disease but rather an infection of animals. Cattle, sheep, horses, mules, and some wild animals are highly susceptible. Humans (and swine) are generally resistant to anthrax. Anthrax can take different forms. With the lung form of the disease. People inhale the anthrax spores and, if untreated, are likely to die. An intestinal form is caused by eating meat contaminated with anthrax. But most human anthrax comes from skin contact with animal products. Cutaneous (skin) anthrax was once well known among people who handled infected animals, like farmers, woolsorters, tanners, brushmakers and carpetmakers in the days when the brushes and carpets were animal products. The hallmark of skin anthrax is a carbuncle, a cluster of boils, that ulcerates in an ugly way. Typically this lesion has a hard black centre surrounded by bright red inflammation. This accounts for its name, anthrax , the Greek word for coal. Charbon in French means coal. (12 Dec 1998) |
| charcoal | <chemical> An amorphous form of carbon prepared from the incomplete combustion of animal or vegetable matter, e.g., wood. The activated form of charcoal is used in the treatment of poisoning. Pharmacological action: antidotes. Chemical name: Charcoal (12 Dec 1998) |
| Charcot's arteries | Any one of a variety of small artery's entering the base of the brain through the anterior perforated substance and supplying the striatum, globus pallidus, and internal capsule; most of these perforating arteries are branches of the M1 segment (clinical terminology) of the middle cerebral and and (rarely) of the anterior choroidal artery. Synonym: Charcot's arteries, lateral striate arteries. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Charcot's disease | A serious neurologic disease that results from the progressive degeneration of the motor neurons. (27 Sep 1997) |
| charcot's foot | A foot disease associated with diabetic neuropathy that results in destruction of joints and soft tissue. (09 Oct 1997) |
| Charcot's gait | The gait of hereditary ataxia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Charcot's intermittent fever | Fever, chills, right upper quadrant pain, and jaundice associated with intermittently obstructing common duct stones. (05 Mar 2000) |
| charcot's joint | A joint that is deprived of any pain or position sense due to severe osteoarthritis. May also occur as the result of tabes dorsalis, diabetic neuropathy, amyloidosis or leprosy. Often treated with surgical fusion. (27 Sep 1997) |