|
|
bacteria
A microscopic single-celled organism lacking a nucleus or any membrane-bound organelles and classified in the kingdom Procaryotae. Although most bacteria are rendered harmless by the body’s immune system or beneficial, some bacteria are infectious and can cause disease.
|
|
|
|
benign
Not malignant; does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body.
|
|
|
|
blastoma
A neoplasm composed of embryonic cells.
|
|
|
blastomycosis
Disease caused by the fungus, Blastomyces dermatididis. The disease usually results in respiratory infection but can infect other areas such as the eyes, skin, reproductive tract, bones, and central nervous system.
|
|
|
blindness
Inability to see; can be due to opthalmologic or neurological disorders. Cortical blindness is caused by damage to the visual area of the brain's occipital lobe.
|
|
|
blood
The fluid that flows through the circulatory system (i.e. heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins) delivering oxygen and nutrients to the body's cells. The main components of blood are plasma (liquid), erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells) and thrombocytes (platelets). A laboratory test, called a complete blood count (CBC), determines the number and type of blood cells present and a blood chemistry panel determines the quantities of various other substances in the plasma.
|
|
|
blood glucose test
A common test in a chemistry panel which measures the amount of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood. The test can check for diabetes or hypoglycemia.
|
|
|
blood pressure monitor
Purpose: Automatic non-invasive measurement of the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of arteries. Adequate blood pressure is essential to maintain the blood supply and function of vital organs. Measurement of blood pressure is therefore a key part of the monitoring of patients during anaesthesia and critical care. How Works: A single cuff is applied to the patients leg, and the machine inflates it to a level assumed to be greater than systolic pressure (i.e. peak arterial pressure when the ventricles contract). The cuff is deflated gradually. A sensor then measures the tiny oscillations in the pressure of the cuff caused by the pulse. Systolic is taken to be when the pulsations start, mean pressure (i.e. average arterial pressure throughout cardiac cycle) is when they are maximal, and diastolic (i.e. lowest arterial pressure during resting phase) is when they disappear.
|
|
|
|
blood-brain barrier (BBB)
A specialized system of capillary endothelial cells as well as certain processes from astrocytes that strictly limits transport into the brain through both physical (tight junctions) and metabolic (enzymes) barriers. Certain microscopic objects (e.g. bacteria, toxins, etc.) are restricted while others essential for brain function (e.g. oxygen, glucose) are allowed to pass.
|
|
|
|
botulism
A type of food poisoning caused by a pre-formed neurotoxin (botulin) produced by the growth of the microogranism Clostridium botulinum generally found in improperly canned or preserved foods.
|
|
|
brachial
Relating to the arm.
|
|
|
brachial plexus
A collection of nerves in the axilla region (arm pit) which originate from the spinal cord and give rise to the individual nerves that supply the forelimbs.
|
|
|
|
bradycardia
Slower than normal heart rate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
brainstem auditory-evoked response (BAER) test
A test using electrodiagnostic equipment to screen for deafness and evaluate brainstem function.
|
|
|
brominism
Poisoning caused by the overuse of bromine or a bromine compound (e.g. potassium bromide) marked by such neurological signs as mental dullness, drowsiness, unsteady gait, and skin lesions; also call bromide toxicity or bromism.
|
|
|
brucellosis
An infectious disease of dogs caused by a bacteria (Brucella canis) primarily affecting the reproductive system.
|
|
|
bulbar
Pertaining to a rounded mass (bulb); involving the medulla oblongata.
|
|
|
bulla
A large vessicle; the bony portion of the middle ear.
|
|