Glossary

Category: F

  • Fibrous dysplasia

    A developmental abnormality in which changes occur in bony tissue, resulting in aching and a tendency to pathological fracture. In monostotic fibrous dysplasia one bone is affected; polyostotic fibrous dysplasia involves many bones. A rare disease in which areas of bone are replaced by fibrous tissue, rendering the bone fragile and liable to fracture. It…

  • Fibromyoma

    A tumor of muscular and fibrous material, usually occurring in the womb.  

  • Fibrodysplasia

    Abnormal development affecting connective tissue.  

  • Fibrinoid

    Resembling the protein fibrin. Fibrinoid material is found in the placenta in increasing amounts as pregnancy advances.  

  • Feulgen reaction

    A method of demonstrating the presence of DNA in cell nuclei. The tissue section under investigation, after hydrolysis with dilute hydrochloric acid, is treated with Schiff’s reagent. A purple coloration develops in the presence of DNA.  

  • Fenestra

    An opening resembling a window. The fenestra ovalis (fenestra vestibuli), or oval window, is the opening between the middle ear and the vestibule of the inner ear. It is closed by a membrane to which the stapes is attached. The fenestra rotunda (fenestra cochleae), or round window, is the opening between the scala tympani of…

  • Fatty degeneration

    Deterioration in the health of a tissue due to the deposition of abnormally large amounts of fat in its cells. The accumulation of fat in the liver and heart may seriously impair their functioning. The deposition of fat may be linked with incorrect diet, excessive alcohol consumption, or a shortage of oxygen in the tissues…

  • Fasciola

    A genus of flukes. F. hepatica, the liver fluke, normally lives as a parasite of sheep and other herbivorous animals but sometimes infects man. A genus of flukes belonging to the class Trematoda.  

  • Faradism

    The use of induced rapidly alternating electric currents to stimulate nerve and muscle activity. Therapeutic use of an interrupted current to stimulate muscles and nerves. Such a current is derived from the secondary, or induction, coil. The use of generated electrical currents for therapeutic purposes in physiotherapy.  

  • Farad

    The SI unit of capacitance, equal to the capacitance of a capacitor between the plates of which a potential difference of 1 volt appears when it is charged with 1 coulomb of electricity. A unit of electrical capacity. The capacity of a condenser that, charged with 1 coulomb, gives a difference of potential of 1…