Glossary

Category: B

  • Biparietal suture

    The suture between the two parietal bones.  

  • Bifrontal suture

    The suture between the frontal and parietal bones.  

  • Basilar suture

    The suture between the occipital bone and sphenoid bone that persists until the 16th to 18th year as the anteroposterior growth center of the base of the skull; also called sphenooccipital synchondrosis.  

  • Breast conservation surgery

    Removal of a malignant growth from the breast and dissection of axillary lymph nodes without mastectomy. Breast conservation surgery (“lumpectomy”) is an alternative to mastectomy for patients with early stage breast cancer. Its outcomes are equivalent to those of mastectomy when used as part of a treatment plan that includes postoperative radiation therapy to the…

  • Bridle stricture

    A stricture caused by a band of membrane stretched across a tube, partially occluding it.  

  • Breaking strength

    The point at which an amount of applied force breaks a material. Also called tensile strength.  

  • Breast stimulation

    In pregnancy, nipple rolling or the application of heat to the breasts to elicit release of endogenous oxytocin and to generate uterine contractions. The procedure also has been used to evaluate placental sufficiency in the third trimester and to increase contractions in patients with ruptured membranes and when contractions are absent, rare, irregular, or of…

  • Binaural stethoscope

    A stethoscope designed for use with both ears. This is the commonly used stethoscope design. It has a bell or cup-shaped end made of metal or hard rubber. Two rubber tubes carry the sound from this end to the doctor’s ears.  

  • Bead sterilizer

    A device devised to remove bacteria from dental instruments, but found to be ineffective by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.). It consists of a container filled with millimeter-sized glass spheres heated to temperatures exceeding 217°C into which the instrument is placed, usually for 15 to 45 seconds.  

  • Biological standard

    That which is established by custom or authority as a model, criterion, or rule. The standardization of drugs or biological products (vitamins, hormones, antibiotics) by testing their effects on animals. It is used when chemical analysis is impossible or impracticable.