Author: Glossary
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Transient flora
Microbes inhabiting a body surface or cavity for a brief period of time, usually as a result of their promotion and selection by antibiotic therapy, chemotherapy, hospitalization, illness, or surgery.
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Flood
A pathological uterine hemorrhage.
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Flocculence
Resemblance to shreds or tufts of cotton.
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Flip-flop
A condition in which the reduction in fraction of inspired oxygen to reduce hypoxemia in infants causes a persistent and greater-than-expected decrease in oxygen tension (Pa02).
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Flinders island spotted fever
A febrile spotted fever transmitted to humans by the bite of Ixodes ticks infected with Ricksettsia honei. It is found primarily in Victoria and Tasmania, Australia, and is similar to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in the U.S.
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Flicker phenomenon
A sensation of continuous light caused by an intermittent light stimulus produced at a certain rate.
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Flicker
The visual sensation of alternating intervals of brightness caused by rhythmic interruption of light stimuli.
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Sigmoid flexure
An S-like curve (in the left iliac fossa) of the descending colon as it joins the rectum. Former name for sigmoid colon. The section of the colon that lies between the descending colon and the rectum.
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Duodenojejunal flexure
A sharp curve at the meeting point of the jejunum and duodenum. The duodenojejunal flexure hangs from the diaphragm by a thin muscle, the suspensory muscle of the diaphragm.
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Anorectal flexure
The sharp forward bend at the anorectal junction as the rectum passes through the pelvic diaphragm muscles. This acute bend, which is normally maintained by the puborectalis sling muscles, helps to keep feces in the rectum. During defecation the pelvic diaphragm muscles relax (so the puborectalis sling relaxes) and the sharp bend between rectum and…