Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Caused by or responding to a painful stimulus. Referring to nerves which carry pain to the brain. Describing nerve fibers, endings, or pathways that are concerned with the condition of pain.  

A dental casting material that consists of gold, palladium, and silver with lesser amounts of iridium, ruthenium, and platinum. These metal alloys are used for inlays, onlays, complete metal crowns, and backings for ceramic baking. An alloy of two or more metals, one of which is a noble metal (gold, silver, platinum, or palladium). Noble-metal…

A metal consisting of elements that resist oxidation and corrosion in a moist or humid environment. A metal that resists corrosion or oxidation. Examples are gold, platinum, and silver.  

Occurs when the apparently normal, superficial layer of skin or oral mucosa may be rubbed off with slight trauma. Originally associated with pemphigus vulgaris, but can be seen in several bullous conditions. A condition seen in pemphigus, where the external layer of the skin can be detached from the basal layer and rubbed off by…

A calcium channel blocker that is antianginal and antihypertensive by depressing the contraction of cardiac and vascular smooth muscle. This increases heart rate and cardiac output, and decreases systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure. A coronary vasodilator drug that may be associated with gingival overgrowth. A class of drugs called calcium channel blockers that lower…

A central point or focus where a morbid process begins. Nucleus or center. A site where bacteria can settle and breed, which becomes a centre of infection. A place in which bacteria have settled and multiplied because of particularly suitable conditions: a focus of infection. A site of infection within the body from which it…

Dental casting alloys made primarily of nickel 70% and chromium 30% with trace amounts of molybdenum, manganese, silicon, carbon, and aluminum. The greater the nickel content, the more ductile the alloy; however, its strength, hardness, modulus of elasticity, and fusion temperature are adversely affected. Chromium, by its passivation effect, ensures corrosion resistance of the alloy.…

Unit of torque. Work performed by the application of 1 N from a distance of 1 m; equal to 1 J. In SI units, one newton per square meter. This is called one pascal (Pa). Thus 1 Pa = IN/m².  

Unit of rotational torque. Work performed by a force of 1 N applied at an arm distance of 1 cm.  

Unit of force required to accelerate a mass of 1 kg at a rate of 1 m/s2; equivalent to 0.2248 lb or 102 g. A unit of measure of force. The SI unit of force, equal to the force required to impart to 1 kilogram an acceleration of 1 meter per second per second. The…