Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «M»:
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Metallomembrane endopeptidase
Metallomembrane endopeptidase: (MME) A molecule that is also known as CALLA (common acute lymphocytic leukemia antigen), a cell surface marker for the most common form of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). CALLA is also present on normal tissues and is abundantly present in the kidney on the glomerul...
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Metanalysis
Metanalysis: A technique currently popular in medical research, whereby all data from all available studies of something are combined, at times regardless of the quality of the data. The technique is used by researchers to get a maximum amount of statistical information (the most "power" possible),...
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Metaphase (cell cycle)
Metaphase (cell cycle): The stage in the
cell cycle (the sequence of events in the life of a cell) when a chromosome is most highly condensed (and stains most darkly in the laboratory) and so is easiest to distinguish and to study.
Metaphase chromosomes are therefore often chosen for karyotyping a...
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Metaphase chromosome
Metaphase chromosome: A chromosome in the stage of the
cell cycle (the sequence of events in the life of a cell) when a chromosome is most condensed and easiest to distinguish and so to study.
Metaphase chromosomes are often chosen for karyotyping and for chromosome analysis because they are read...
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Metaphyseal chondrodysplasia (McKusick type)
Metaphyseal chondrodysplasia (McKusick type): See: Cartilage hair hypoplasia syndrome....
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Metapneumovirus
Metapneumovirus: See: Human metapneumovirus....
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Metapneumovirus, human
Metapneumovirus, human: See: Human metapneumovirus....
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Metastasis
Metastasis: 1. The process by which cancer spreads from the place at which it first arose as a primary tumor to distant locations in the body.
2. The cancer resulting from the spread of the primary tumor. For example, someone with melanoma may have a metastasis in their brain. And a person with co...
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Metastasize
Metastasize: The spread from one part of the body to another.
When cancer cells metastasize and cause secondary tumors, the cells in the metastatic
tumor are like those in the original cancer. ...
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Metatarsal
Metatarsal: One of the five cylindrical bones extending from the heel (the tarsus) to the toes on each foot. The metatarsals are numbered from the inside out, so the first metatarsal extends to the big toe and the fifth metatarsal goes to the littlest toe....
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Metatarsals
Metatarsals: Five cylindrical bones extending from the heel (the tarsus) to the toes. The metatarsals are numbered from the inside out, so the first metatarsal extends to the big toe....
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Metatarsophalangeal
Metatarsophalangeal: Referring to both the metatarsus and the phalanges of the toes....
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Metatarsophalangeal joint sprain
Metatarsophalangeal joint sprain: An injury to the big toe due to forced hyperextension (bending back) of the toe. The damage is to the capsule of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and to the ligaments that connect the big toe to the foot. The big toe is painful, tender and swollen. Treatment is w...
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Metatarsus
Metatarsus: The part of the foot that lies just beyond the tarsus, between the tarsus and the toes. The skeleton of the metatarsus consists of five long bones termed the metatarsals that extend from the tarsus to the phalanges. From the Greek meta-, beyond + tarsos, the tarsus = beyond the tarsus....
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Meter, peak-flow
Meter, peak-flow: This hand-held device measures air flow (how fast air is blown out of the
lungs). Patients can use peak-flow meters to measure their own air flow regularly.
The use of a peak-flow meter allows patients to obtain a much earlier indication of an oncoming attack, for example, of exe...
