Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «F»:
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Flavivirus
Flavivirus: A family of viruses transmitted by mosquitos and ticks that cause some important diseases, including
dengue, yellow fever, tick-borne encephalitis virus, and West Nile fever. The flaviviruses are positive-strand RNA viruses containing three structural proteins and a host-derived lipid bi...
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Flavivirus encephalitis
Flavivirus encephalitis: Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) due to a flavivirus, a virus transmitted by a mosquito or tick. Flavivirus encephalitis includes West Nile fever, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and Murray Valley encephalitis.
These diseases typically develop after...
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Flavoproteins
Flavoproteins: Flavoproteins are yellow proteins that serve as enzymes critical to the ability of cells in the body to respire, to breath. (The "flavo-" is borrowed from the Latin "flavus", yellow).
Flavoproteins are, in other words, respiratory enzymes. As enzymes they catalyze (speed) what are te...
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Flax seed
Flax seed: The seed of the common flax plant (also known as linseed and, botanically, Linum usitatissimum). Flax seed and flax seed oil are a rich souce of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), the only one of the omega-3 fatty acids that is essential in the sense that the body cannot make it so, if one is to...
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Flesh-eating bacteria
Flesh-eating bacteria: A popular media term for a type of strep bacteria (group A streptococcus) which rapidly destroys tissue and left untreated causes death. Surgical excision of dead and infected tissue is usually necessary to help control the infection. The rapid spread and destruction of tissue...
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Flexion
Flexion: The process of bending or the state of being bent.
Flexion of the fingers results in a clenched fist. ...
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Flexner Report
Flexner Report: "Medical Education in the United States and
Canada", quite possibly the most important written document in the
history of American and Canadian medical education. The report is
named for Abraham Flexner (1866-1959) who prepared it.
Abraham Flexner was not a doctor but was a secon...
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Flexural psoriasis
Flexural psoriasis: A form of psoriasis found in the armpits, groin, under the breasts and in other flexion creases (skin folds) such as those around the genitals and buttocks. This form of psoriasis appears as smooth, dry areas of skin that are red and inflamed but do not have the scaling associate...
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Floater
Floater: A blurry spot that seems to drift in front of the eyes but does not block vision. The blur is the result of debris from the vitreous of the eye casting a shadow on the retina. The spot is the image formed by a deposit of protein drifting about in the vitreous, the clear jelly-like substanc...
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Floating rib
Floating rib: One of the last two ribs. A rib is said to be "floating" if it does not attach to the sternum (the breast bone) or to another rib.
There are usually 12 pairs of ribs in all. Each pair of ribs is attached to the building blocks of the spine (the vertebrae) in the back. The 12 pairs of r...
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Floating-Harbor syndrome
Floating-Harbor syndrome: A genetic condition characterized by the triad of short stature apparent at birth with significantly delayed bone age; expressive language delay, usually in the presence of normal motor development; and a triangular face with a prominent nose and deep-set eyes. Other featur...
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Flood
Flood: See:
1. Flood readiness;
2. Flood supplies kit;
3. Flood warning;
4. Flood aftermath....
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Flood aftermath
Flood aftermath: What to do after a flood. This includes the precautions you should take, the cleanup, and the immunizations:
Precautions to take after a flood:
Power and Gas -- Electrical power and natural gas or propane tanks should be shut off to avoid fire, electrocution, or explosions. Try t...
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Flood readiness
Flood readiness: Getting ready for a possible flood.
Here are some basic steps to take to prepare well in advance for a possible flood:
Risk to the House -- Contact the local county geologist or county planning department to find out if your home is located in a flash-flood-prone area (or landslide...
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Flood supplies kit
Flood supplies kit: You and your family can cope
best by preparing for disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare
is by assembling a Disaster Supplies Kit. Once disaster hits, you
won't have time to shop or search for
supplies. But if you've gathered supplies in advance, your
family can endur...