Month: December 2020

  • Precyst stage

    The stage immediately preceding cyst formation.  

  • Preconventional level of moral reasoning

    Kohlberg’s first level of the development of moral reasoning in which actions are judged by their external consequences and the expectation of reward or punishment.  

  • Precoital fluid

    An alkaline fluid secreted by the Cowper’s glands that lubricates the urethra and provides a safe environment for the passage of semen.  

  • Precocious sexuality

    The awakening of sexual desire at a prematurely early age.  

  • Preclinical study

    A stage in medical education consisting of intensive study in biochemistry, histology, physiology, embryology, and genetics. A study done to obtain information about a treatment’s safety and side effects when given at different doses to animals or to cells grown in the laboratory.  

  • Precipitous birth

    A delivery in which the time from the onset of labor until the birth is very short, usually less than 2 h.  

  • Precipitin

    A circulating antibody that functions in the precipitation of homologous antigen. An antibody which reacts to an antigen and forms a precipitate, used in many diagnostic tests. Antibody that combines with its antigen to form a complex that settles out of solution as a precipitate. This reaction is used to identify an unknown antigen or…

  • Precipitating cause

    The particular stress that precipitates a disorder.  

  • Precipitate

    A compound that causes substances in solution to settle out. A substance which is precipitated during a chemical reaction. To separate from solution; N. solid substance that has separated from solution. A deposit separated from a suspension or solution by precipitation, the reaction of a reagent that causes the deposit to fall to the bottom…

  • Precedent

    In law, a decision of the court that is used as the basis for determining the outcome of a like case or similar case that occurs subsequently. In law, an action, ruling, or verdict that may be used as an example to be followed in the future.