Glossary

Category: M

  • Median plane

    A hypothetical plane passing from anterior to posterior that divides a body into right and left halves. An imaginary flat surface on the midline and at right angles to the coronal plane, which divides the body into right and left halves. A vertical plane through the trunk and head dividing the body into right and…

  • Median mandibular point

    An obsolete term referring to a point in the median sagittal plane that is in the center (measuring anterior to posterior) of the mandibular ridge.  

  • Median line

    A hypothetical line that divides the body into left and right halves. An imaginary line joining any two points in the periphery of the median plane of the body or one of its parts.  

  • Median jaw relation

    Any jaw relation when the mandible is in the median sagittal plane.  

  • Median

    Value that separates the highest 50% of the scores from the lowest 50%. Useful in describing the central tendency of abnormally distributed data, because it is less influenced by the outlier data (i.e., extreme values) that skew the distribution and can have a disproportionate effect on the mean. Situated in the middle This is the…

  • Mechanicoreceptor

    Nerve ending (receptor) that is excited by mechanical pressure. The mechanical pressure may result from muscle contraction, external pressure (including sound), or touch.  

  • Mechanical failure

    Failure of a component caused by mechanical forces. It may be catastrophic in nature or the result of wear, fatigue, or plastic deformation.  

  • Mean (Average; X Bar)

    Arithmetic average of a group of values. The mean is a common descriptive statistic best used to summarize the central tendency of normally distributed data. In this use, it is usually accompanied by the standard deviation. Defined as the quotient obtained by dividing the sum of a set of readings or observations by the number…

  • MDAF (abbrev)

    Macrophage‐derived angiogenic factor.  

  • McGill consensus statement

    Conclusion from a 2002 meeting of experts held at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, discussing implant overdenture therapy. Consensus on the use of overdentures was that a two‐implant supported overdenture was the first choice for restoration of the edentulous mandible and not a conventional denture.