Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «S»:
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Serial amnioreduction
Serial amnioreduction: The repeated removal of large volumes of amniotic fluid by amniocentesis. The rationale for serial amnioreduction is to prevent preterm delivery related to polyhydramnios (too much amniotic fluid) and to improve fetal hemodynamics by decreasing pressure on the surface of the ...
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Serial transverse enteroplasty
Serial transverse enteroplasty: Abbreviated STEP. A surgical procedure designed to treat the short bowel syndrome. STEP is based on the idea that stapling V-shapes into alternating sides of the bowel will decrease its width and increase its length. A cutting stapler is used on alternate sides of the...
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Serine
Serine: An amino acid, one of the 20 building blocks of protein. A dietary nonessential amino acid, serine is present in many proteins participates in the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines, and is in the active sites of many enzymes. Symbol: Ser....
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SERM
SERM: Selective Estrogen-Receptor Modulator....
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Seroconversion
Seroconversion: The development of detectable antibodies in the blood directed against an infectious agent. It normally takes some time for antibodies to develop after the initial exposure to the agent.
Following seroconversion, a person tests positive in tests based on the presence of antibodies (s...
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Serositis
Serositis: Inflammation of the serous tissues of the
body. The serous tissues line the lungs (pleura), heart (pericardium), and the inner
lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) and organs within. ...
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Serotonin
Serotonin: A hormone, also called 5-hydroxytryptamine, in the pineal gland, blood platelets, the digestive tract, and the brain. Serotonin acts both as a chemical messenger that transmits nerve signals between nerve cells and that causes blood vessels to narrow.
Changes in the serotonin levels in t...
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Serotonin reuptake inhibitor, selective
Serotonin reuptake inhibitor, selective: A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is one of the commonly prescribed drugs for treating depression.
SSRIs affect the chemicals that nerves in the brain use to send messages to one another. These chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, are ...
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Serotype
Serotype: The kind of microorganism as characterized
by serologic
typing (testing for recognizable antigens on the surface of the
microorganism)....
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Serrated
Serrated: Finely notched like the cutting edge of a saw. The serratus muscles take their name from their serrated appearance. See: Serratus anterior; Serratus magnus; Serratus posterior inferior; Serratus posterior superior....
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Serration
Serration: A finely notching like that along the cutting edge of a saw. The serratus muscles take their name from their serrated appearance. See: Serratus anterior; Serratus magnus; Serratus posterior inferior; Serratus posterior superior....
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Serratus
Serratus: One of several muscles of the back and thorax. that have interdigitating slips that ressemble the notches on the cutting edge of a saw. (Serrated refers to a finely notched edge.)
See also: Serratus anterior; Serratus magnus; Serratus posterior inferior; Serratus posterior superior....
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Serratus anterior
Serratus anterior: One of the serratus muscles of the back and thorax. The serrautus anterior originates from the lateral aspect (the side) of first eight to nine ribs and inserts into the medial margin of the scapula (wing bone). The serratus anterior rotates the scapula and pulls it forward and el...
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Serratus magnus
Serratus magnus: One of the serratus muscles of the back and thorax. The serratus magnus originates from the lateral aspect (the side) of the first eight to nine ribs and inserts into the medial margin of the scapula (wing bone). The serratus anterior rotates scapula and pulls it forward and elevate...
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Serratus posterior inferior
Serratus posterior inferior: One of the serratus muscles of the back and thorax. The serratus posterior inferior muscle originates, together with latissimus dorsi, from the spinous processes of two lower thoracic vertebrae and the two upper lumbar vertebrae and it inserts into the lower borders of l...
