Glossary

Author: Glossary

  • Triple point

    The temperature and pressure that allow the solid, liquid, and vapor forms of a substance to exist in equilibrium.  

  • Tender point

    One of the anatomic locations used to identify fibromyalgia. The deep diffuse muscular pain is localized to a number of reproducible (from patient to patient) areas that are tender when palpated. Tender points differ from trigger points in that pain does not radiate to referred areas.  

  • Supra-auricular point

    The point on the skull on the posterior root of the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, directly above the auricular point.  

  • Subnasal point

    The center of the base of the anterior nasal spine.  

  • Silver point

    An elongated, tapered silver plug used to fill the root canal in the endodontic treatment of teeth.  

  • Principal point

    One of two points so situated that the optical axis is cut by the two principal planes.  

  • Nodal point

    Either of a pair of points situated on the axis of an optical system so that any incident ray sent through one will produce a parallel emergent ray sent through the other.  

  • Point of no return

    A colloquial term describing a critical biochemical event that indicates lethal, irreversible changes in cells following ischemic cell injury.  

  • Motor point

    The point usually about the middle of a muscle where a motor nerve enters the muscle at which a minimal electrical stimulus to the overlying skin will elicit a visible contraction. Point on the skin over the muscle where pressure or stimulation will cause contraction of that muscle.  

  • Maximum occipital point

    The point on the occipital bone farthest from the glabella.