| upper GI haemorrhage | <gastroenterology> Diagnostic considerations: duodenal ulcer (40%), gastric ulcer (10-20%), diffuse erosive gastritis (15-20%), oesophageal varices (10%), Mallory-Weiss tears (10%), gastric carcinoma (less than 5%) (25 Jun 1999) |
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| upper GI series | <investigation, radiology> A series of X-rays of the oesophagus, stomach, and small intestine (upper gastrointestinal, or GI, tract) that are taken after the patient drinks a barium solution. (barium is a white, chalky substance that outlines the organs on the X-ray.) (12 Dec 1998) |
| upper hybrid waves | <radiobiology> Similar to lower hybrid waves, but at a higher frequency. Not truly propagating waves, but plasma oscillations. (09 Oct 1997) |
| upper jaw | The upper jaw bone, takes part in the formation of the orbit, hard palate and nasal cavity. (27 Sep 1997) |
| upper jaw bone | The upper jaw bone, takes part in the formation of the orbit, hard palate and nasal cavity. (27 Sep 1997) |
| upper lid | The superior, larger and more mobile of the two eyelids which covers most of the anterior surface of the eyeball, including the cornea, when closed; a portion of the lacrimal gland and the aponeurosis of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle extend into it, the muscle opening the closed eye and providing additional elevation when the gaze is directed upward. Synonym: palpebra superior, upper lid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| upper limb | The shoulder, arm, forearm, wrist, and hand. Synonym: membrum superius, superior limb, thoracic limb, upper extremity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| upper lip | The muscular fold forming the superior border of the mouth. Synonym: labium superius oris. (05 Mar 2000) |
| upper lobe of lung | The lobe of the right lung that lies above the oblique and horizontal fissures and includes the apical, posterior and anterior bronchopulmonary segments; in the left lung, the lobe lies above the oblique fissure and contains the apicoposterior, anterior, superior lingular and inferior lingular segments. Synonym: lobus superior pulmonis, upper lobe of lung. (05 Mar 2000) |
| upper/lower lobe predominance | <radiology> Upper lobe, usually site of greatest disease due to poorer clearance, bronchogenic carcinoma, pneumoconioses, histiocytosis X, sarcoidosis, ankylosing spondylitis, lower lobe, scleroderma (12 Dec 1998) |
| upper motor neuron | Clinical term indicating those neuron's of the motor cortex that contribute to the formation of the pyramidal or corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts, as distinguished from the lower motor neuron's innervating the skeletal muscles. Although not motor neuron's in the strict sense, these cortical neuron's became colloquially classified as motor neuron's because their stimulation produces movement and their destruction causes severe disorders of movement. See: motor neuron, motor cortex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| upper motor neuron lesion | Injury to cerebral descending (corticonuclear) fibres above the brainstem or spinal motor nerve nucleus. Synonym: upper motor neuron lesion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| upper nodal extrasystole | An obsolete term for a nodal extrasystole supposed to arise from the upper part of the A-V node; recognised in the electrocardiogram by a retrograde P wave preceding the QRS complex by an abnormally short P-R interval. (05 Mar 2000) |
| upper respiratory infection | Any number of viral or bacterial infections that includes infections of the throat, nasopharynx, sinuses, larynx, trachea or bronchi. (27 Sep 1997) |
| upper respiratory tract | The nasopharynx, oral cavity, and throat. (09 Oct 1997) |