F

Facet       a flattened, highly polished wear pattern on a tooth.

Faget's sign  /fazhàz'/     a falling pulse rate with a constant temperature, or a constant pulse with a rising temperature. It is a sign found in yellow fever. Also called Faget's law.

Fallopian tube  /fælò'pè×æn/     one of a pair of tubes opening at one end into the uterus and at the other end into the cavity over the ovary. Each tube is the passage through which an egg (ovum) is carried to the uterus and through which sperm move toward the ovary. The parts (fimbriae) at the open end of each tube drape in fingerlike bunches over the ovary. Also called oviduct, uterine tube.

Fascia  /fash'è×æ/     pl. fasciae, fiberlike connective tissue of the body that may be separated from other organized structures, as the tendons and the ligaments. It varies in thickness and weight and in the amounts of fat, fiber, and tissue fluid it contains. Kinds of fasciae are deep fascia, subcutaneous fascia, subserous fascia.-fascial, adj.

Fatigue       1. a state of exhaustion or a loss of strength or endurance, as may follow excess physical activity. 2. an inability of tissues to respond to stimulations that normally cause muscles to contract or other activity. Muscle cells generally need a recovery period after activity. During this time cells restore their energy supplies and release waste products. 3. a sense of weariness or tiredness. 4. an emotional state linked to extreme or extended exposure to psychic pressure, as in battle or combat fatigue.

Feces    /fè'sèz/     mostly solid waste from the digestive tract. It is formed in the intestine and released through the rectum. Feces consist of water, food remains, bacteria, and fluids of the intestines and liver. Also called stool..-fecal, adj.

Fecundity  /fikun'ditè/     the ability to produce offspring, especially in large numbers and rapidly; fertility.-fecund, adj.

Femoral  /fem'æræl/     referring to the thigh (femur).

Femur  /fè'mær/     the thigh bone.

Fertility       the ability to have children.

Fibril   /fí'bril/     a small threadlike structure that often is part of a cell.

Fibroids  /fí'broids/     a noncancerous tumor of the smooth muscle on the uterus. It appears firm, round, and gray-white. Multiple tumors of this kind develop most often in the wall of the uterus. They usually occur in women between 30 and 50 years of age. Also called fibromyoma uteri, leiomyoma uteri.

Fibromyoma uteri       See 7426fibroids.fibroids  /fí'broids/     a noncancerous tumor of the smooth muscle on the uterus. It appears firm, round, and gray-white. Multiple tumors of this kind develop most often in the wall of the uterus. They usually occur in women between 30 and 50 years of age. Also called fibromyoma uteri, leiomyoma uteri.

Fibula  /fib'yölæ/     a bone of the lower leg, next to and smaller than the shin bone (tibia). In relation to its length, it is the most slender of the long bones. Also called calf bone.

Filter       1. a device or material through which a gas or liquid is passed to separate out unwanted material. 2. in radiology. a device added to an x-ray machine that removes low-energy x-rays that cannot reach the film. Examples include bow-tie, compensating, and conic filters.

Flaccid  /flak'sid/     weak, soft, and flabby; lacking normal muscle tone, as flaccid muscles.

Flapping tremor       See 1716asterixis.asterixis  /as'tærik'sis/     a hand-flapping tremor. It often goes together with processing (metabolic) disorders. The tremor is usually seen when the arm is extended and the wrist is flexed backwards. Asterixis is seen often in patients in a coma from liver disease. Also called flapping tremor, liver flap.

Flatulence       an excess amount of air or gas in the stomach and intestines. It may cause the organs to bloat and in some cases mild to moderate pain.

Flexor carpi radialis       a muscle of the forearm. It flexes the hand.

Folie circulaire   /fölè'sèrkèler'/.-  (bipolar disorder)       a mental disorder characterized by periods of mania and depression. Characteristics of the manic phase are excess emotional displays, excitement, overactivity, excess joy, a high degree of energy, inability to concentrate, and reduced need for sleep, often coupled with unrealistic ideas about one's worth. In the depressive phase, apathy and underactivity are seen along with feelings of excess sadness, loneliness, guilt, and lowered sense of one's worth. Most people with this disorder respond well to the drug lithium.

Follicle       a pouchlike recessed spot, as the dental follicles that surround the teeth before they emerge or the hair follicles within the skin.-follicular, adj

Fornication       sexual intercourse between two people who are not married to each other. The specific legal definition varies from one area to another. In some, both persons are unmarried; in others, one is unmarried. Sometimes the charge is adultery rather than fornication if the woman is married, regardless of whether the man is married.

Forceps       any of a large number of surgery instruments, all of which have two handles or sides, each attached to a blade. Forceps are used to grasp, handle, press, pull, or join tissue, equipment, or supplies.

Foreskin       a loose fold of skin that covers the end of the penis or clitoris. Removing it is called circumcision. Also called prepuce.

Fornication       sexual intercourse between two people who are not married to each other. The specific legal definition varies from one area to another. In some, both persons are unmarried; in others, one is unmarried. Sometimes the charge is adultery rather than fornication if the woman is married, regardless of whether the man is married.

Fourchette    /förshet'/     a band of mucous membranes of the vagina connecting with the labia minora.

Fowler's position       the posture taken by the patient when the head of the bed is raised 18 or 20 inches and the patient's knees are raised.

Fragment , n. 1. broken part. 2.  bit. v. 3. break into fragments.  fragmentary, adj

Friction       1. the act of rubbing one object against another. See also 1822attrition. 2. a type of massage in which deeper tissues are stroked or rubbed, usually through strong circular movements of the hand.

Frontal bone       one of the bones that make up the front of the skull, located in the area of the forehead.

Fauces  /fô'èz/     the opening of the mouth into the throat.

Fundus  /fun'dæs/, pl. fundi  /fun'dí/     the base or the deepest part of an organ; the part farthest from the mouth of an organ, as the fundus of the uterus or the fundus of an eye.

Fusion       1. bringing together into a single thing, as in optical fusion. 2. the act of bringing together two or more bones of a joint. 3. the surgical joining together of two or more backbones.