Author: Glossary

Abnormally slow, as in development or growth.  

Electrochemical difference between the two sides of a nerve or cardiac cell membrane when the cell is not conducting an impulse. In most nerve and cardiac cells, the resting potential is negative— the interior of the cell is negatively charged as compared to the extracellular space. The resting potential in cardiac cells is about -90…

Organs and structures associated with breathing, gaseous exchange, and the entrance of air into die body. Included are the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx (upper respiratory tract); the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and lungs (lower respiratory tract); and associated muscles. The respiratory system comprises a network of air pathways stretching from the nasal cavity to the lung’s…

Rate of breathing at rest, about 14 breaths per minute in an adult.  

That part of the pons and medulla oblongata of the brain that controls the rate of breathing in response to changes in the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. A group of nerve cells in the pons and medulla that control breathing. A region in the medulla oblongata of the brainstem that…

Complete cessation of breathing for any of a number of possible reasons. Sudden stoppage of breathing which results from any process that strongly suppresses the function of the brain’s respiratory centre. It leads to lack of oxygen in the tissues and, if not remedied, to cardiac arrest, brain damage, coma and death. Treatment is artificial…

Drug, used in ointments for acne and certain other disorders and in dandruff shampoos, that causes the skin to peel. A drug that causes the skin to peel. It is applied to the skin in ointments to treat such conditions as acne, and used in hair lotions for dandruff. If the drug is absorbed into…

Ability to endure stress (physical or mental) and return to normal, even in situations that appear overwhelming; elasticity. Within the realm of psychiatry, there exists a profound concept known as resilience, which pertains to an individual’s capacity to exhibit positive responses and recover from adversity, trauma, or challenging life experiences. Resilience is not merely a…

Any of a number of inhaled bronchodilators, usually in an aerosol can form, taken for relief of acute respiratory symptoms, usually in either asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPDX These medications are not taken on a regular basis, but only as needed when symptoms occur that are not well controlled by the patient’s usual…

Return to baseline electrochemical state of either a nerve or muscle tissue following depolarization. Involves a shift or sodium, potassium, and calcium ions. The process in which the membrane of a nerve cell returns to its normal electrically charged state after a nerve impulse has passed. During the passage of a nerve impulse a temporary…