Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A type of scavenging white blood cell involved in fighting infections that contains a segmented lobular nucleus and is colorless because of the lack of hemoglobin; eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophils are in this category. The most numerous of the white blood cells (also known as neutrophil). White blood cell that possesses a nucleus composed of…

Existing in multiple forms or having numerous morphologic types. The occurrence together of two or more distinct forms in the same population. The property of a chemical substance crystallizing (or simply existing) in two or more forms having different structures. For example, diamond and graphite are two different structures (manifestations) of the element carbon. Deoxyribonucleic…

Bone cement, a polymer of methylmethacrylate, which polymerizes in situ with curing temperatures exceeding 100 °C; completely nonbiodegradable.  

Chemical compound or compound mixtures created by molecular reaction to form larger organic molecules containing repeating structural units. A longchain hydrocarbon. A very large, complex molecule formed by chemically binding together a large number of identical smaller units or monomers. Compounds formed by the joining of smaller, usually repeating, units linked by covalent bonds. These…

Biodegradable, hydrophobic, thermoplastic, and aliphatic polyester derived from lactic acid. PLA can be processed in fiber and film and has extensive applicability. In the biomedical field, it is used in a number of applications, including sutures, drug delivery devices, membranes, and as a carrier for bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Called also polylactide.  

A collection of vertices, edges, and faces that defines the shape of a polyhedral object in 3D computer graphics and solid modeling. The faces usually consist of triangles, quadrilaterals, or other simple convex polygons.  

Biodegradable, rigid thermoplastic polymer of glycolic acid and the simplest linear, aliphatic polyester used as a material for the synthesis of absorbable sutures and barrier membranes and as a carrier for bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). When exposed to physiologic conditions, PGA is degraded by random hydrolysis and apparently also broken down by certain enzymes, especially…

Variety of resin‐ceramic composite materials for use as direct restorative materials or as CAD/CAM indirect restorative materials.  

A type of multifilament braided material made of purified lactides and glycosides used to fabricate absorbable sutures or membranes, or surgical mesh. An absorbable polymer used to manufacture sutures and surgical mesh.  

An abnormal increase in the proportion of red cells in the blood. Abnormal increase in the number of erythrocytes in the blood, often associated with pulmonary or heart disease, or exposure to high altitudes for a long period, but in many cases of unknown cause. Condition of increased numbers of red cells in the blood…