Category: A

An elastic bandage applied to an amputation stump to control postoperative edema and to shape the stump. The elastic bandage is applied in a recurrent or figure of eight fashion with more pressure applied to the distal, rather than the proximal, portion of the limb.  

Trade name for a woven elastic bandage available in various widths and lengths. It provides uniform pressure, yet permits joint movement.  

A single wide cravat or several narrow ones used to hold a dressing in place or to exert a moderate pressure.  

A very sensitive scale used in chemical analysis.  

Bacteria in the urine without symptoms of urinary tract infection or pyelonephritis. This condition may occasionally precede symptomatic urinary tract infection. It is common in elderly women and in patients with indwelling urinary catheters. In children, it may be a sign of underlying urinary tract abnormalities. Screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria is recommended for pregnant women…

A bacterium coated with an antibody that acts as an opsonin to make the bacterium more susceptible to phagocytosis.  

Condition in which some blood cells have azurophil granules.  

Blue discoloration of the base, or lunulae, of the fingernails. It may be seen in patients with hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson’s disease). Blue discoloration of the entire nail may be present in argyria and following therapy with quinacrine hydrochloride.  

A genus of gram-negative, aerobic bacilli that fixes atmospheric nitrogen in soil and water.  

A form of hereditary ataxia present in Portuguese families whose ancestors lived in the Azores. It is a degenerative disease of the nervous system. Symptoms vary but may include gait ataxia, limitation of eye movements, widespread muscle fasciculations, mild cerebellar tremor, loss of reflexes in lower limbs, and extensor plantar reflex response.