Glossary

Author: Glossary

  • Equianalgesic dose

    A dose of one form of analgesic drug equivalent in pain-relieving effect to another analgesic. In pain control, this equivalence permits substitution of one analgesic to avoid undesired side effects from another.  

  • Divided dose

    Fractional portions of a dose administered at specified intervals. For example, a patient may be given 2 g of cephalexin daily, divided as 500 mg orally every 6 hr.  

  • Curative dose

    The dose required to heal an illness or disease.  

  • Cumulative dose

    The total medication or radiation dose to which an organism is exposed after repeated treatments. The cumulative dosage incurred due to repeated exposures to radiation.  

  • Bolus dose

    A quantity of fluid or medicine given intravenously at a controlled, rapid rate.  

  • Birth dose

    Any dose (e.g., of a vaccine) administered to a neonate. The term is commonly used to describe a neonatal injection of hepatitis B vaccine.  

  • Air dose

    The intensity of radiation measured in air at the target. The measurement of x-ray dose in roentgens at a specific location in unrestricted airspace, encompassing the combined radiation emitted by the primary x-ray beam as well as the scattered radiation originating from the surrounding air, is determined using the Victoreen R-meter.  

  • Dosage calculation for children

    Any means used to estimate the optimal treatment for a child that takes into account variables such as the smaller body mass and/or increased metabolic rate of pediatric patients.  

  • Dorsoplantar

    From the top to the bottom of the foot.  

  • Dorsal slit

    A surgical method of making the foreskin of the penis easily retractable. The foreskin is cut in the dorsal midline but not far enough to extend into the mucous membrane next to the glans.