Condition in which arteries lose elasticity, becoming hard and narrow; occlusion or blockage can occur leading to infarction of surrounding area (e.g. myocardial infarction).
Letter: a
A surface where two anatomical structures (usually bones) meet.
The articular processes (zygapophyses) of a vertebra, two superior and two inferior, spring from the junctions of the pedicles and lamin. – The superior processes project upward from a lower vertebra, and their articular surfaces (coated with hyaline cartilage) are directed more or less backward. – The inferior processes project downward from a higher vertebra, and their articular surfaces are directed more or less forward and outward.
Paired cartilages that articulate with the cricoid cartilage of the larynx. The posterior ends of the vocal cords attach to the arytenoids. Tension on the cords is altered by inward and outward rotation of the arytenoids. SEE larynx.
Prevention of contact with microorganisms.
A term applied to practices followed to prevent contamination by microorganisms.
American Society for Healthcare Central Service Professionals
Describes a number of infections caused by the fungus Aspergillus. In the lung, a fungus ball.
Accidentally inhaling liquid into the windpipe and/or lungs.
A mode of ventilation in which both spontaneous and mechanically triggered breaths are supported by the ventilator. The mandatory breath rate is the minimum amount of breaths the machine will deliver in a minute. The patient can trigger additional machine breaths above the set rate. AC breaths can be pressure, volume or flow cycled.