Originally Posted by Karstnator

K

Show

---

K-antigen:
The capsule material from enteric bacteria.

Karyotype:
The complete set of chromosomes of a cell or organism. Used especially for the display prepared fromphotographs of mitotic chromosomes arranged in homologous pairs.

Kawasaki disease:
Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; disease of children that may involve more serious phenomenasuch as cardiac disease.

Kell blood group system:
Blood type classification based on a group of erythrocyte antigens that is characterised by an antibodycalled anti-K.

Keratitis:
Inflammation of the cornea.

Kernicterus:
A severe form of neonatal jaundice resulting from high blood concentrations of bilirubin.

Ketal:
The product of a reaction that connects the carbonyl carbon of a ketone to the oxygens of two differentalcohols. Ketals are formed with many glycosidic bonds of polysaccharides.

Ketoacidosis:
A condition in which acidosis is accompanied by the accumulation of ketone bodies in the body tissuesand fluids as in diabetic acidosis and starvation acidosis.

Ketone:
A molecule which contains a carbonyl carbon covalently bonded to two other carbons.

KIA:
Kligler's iron agar (tube).

L

Show

---

Lactic acid fermentation:
A fermentation in which the major waste product is lactic acid.

Lactobacilli (sing. lactobacillus):
Lactic acid bacteria. Gram positive, rod-shaped, nonmotile, aerotolerant, anaerobic, catalase negativebacteria.

Laked blood:
Hemolyzed blood; hemolysis may be effected in various ways, but alternate freezing and thawing is asimple method.

Lamina propria :
A thin layer of connective tissue that supports the epithelium in tubular organs like the intestine.

Laminar flow:
Nonturbulent flow of air in layers (flowing in a vertical direction in the case of a biosafety hood).

Lapine:
Pertaining to or derived from rabbits.

Latent:
Not manifest; potential.

Latent period:
The time from the initiation of a virus infection until virus progeny are released.

Latex agglutination:
Agglutination of latex particles coated with antibody molecules when exposed to the correspondingantigen.

Leghemoglobin:
A hemoglobin-like molecule coded for by both the endosymbiotic bacteria in root nodules of leguminous plan

M

Show

---

M-protein:
A protein on the surface of the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes which helps it attach to host tissue.

MAC:
MacConkey (agar plate), a selective media which supports growth of many Gram negative entericbacteria and excludes growth of most Gram positive bacteria.

Macroconidia:
Large, usually multiseptate, club- or spindle-shaped fungal spores.


Malabsorption syndrome:
A variety of conditions in which digestion and absorption in the small intestine are impaired. Multiplecauses including lymphoma, amyloid and other infiltrations, Crohn's disease, gluten sensitiveenteropathy and the sprue syndrome in which the villi atrophy for unknown reasons.

Malassezia furfur:
A fungus belonging to the class Deuteromycetes which is responsible for tinea versicolor, a pigmentedfungal infection of the skin on the torso and upper legs.

Malignant tertian malaria:
Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum.

Malignant tumor:
A tumor which is cancerous.

Malnutrition:
Faulty or inadequate nutrition. Under nourishment.

Mammogram:
A low voltage X-ray photograph of the breast. It allows early detection of malignant or benign tumorsand other microcalcification-containing lesions.

Mass spectrometry:
Method for determining composition of a substance by observing its volatile products duringdisintegration and comparing them with known standards

N

Show

---

Nares:
External openings of nose (i.e., nostrils).

Nasopharyngeal:
Pertaining to the part of the pharynx above the level of the soft palate.

Necrosis:
Pathological death of a cell or group of cells.

Necrotic tissue:
Dead tissue.

Negri bodies:
Characteristic virally-induced inclusions present in rabies-infected brain cells.

Nematodes:
Wormlike animals, often known as roundworms.

Neisseria:
Gram negative, spherical, nonmotile, aerobic, oxidase positive bacteria.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae:
Causes the venereal disease gonorrhea.

Neisseria meningitidis:
Causes an inflammation of the meninges, known as meningitis.

Neonatal:
First 4 weeks after birth.

O

Show

---

Oligotrophic waters:
Bodies of water that are low in nutrients.

Omentum:
Sections of peritoneum that extend from the stomach to other abdominal organs and to the abdominalwall.

Onchocerca volvulus:
A parasitic roundworm (nematode) that causes onchocerciasis and is responsible for the disease knownas river blindness.

Oncogene:
A gene capable of causing malignant transformation.

Oncogenic:
Possessing the potential to cause normal cells to become malignant; causing cancer.

Oncogenic viruses:
Viruses that can cause cancer.

Oncologist:
A specialist in the treatment of cancer.

One-gene-one-enzyme hypothesis:
The idea that a region of DNA, called a gene, contains the information for making a functional enzyme.


Ontogeny:
the ontogeny of the brain refers to the events and processes by which the brain develops to attain its mature form and function.


Operculated ova:
Ova possessing a cap or lid.