Abducent nerve
Abducent nerve: The sixth cranial nerve, which emerges from the skull to operate the lateral rectus muscle. This muscle draws the eye toward the side of the head. Paralysis of the abducent nerve causes inward turning of the eye.
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Ablation: Removal or excision. Ablation is usually carried out surgically. For example, surgical removal of the thyroid gland (a total thyroidectomy) is ablation of the thyroid.
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ABG (arterial blood gas): The sampling of the blood levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the arteries, as opposed to the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in venous blood. Typically, the acidity, or pH, of the blood is measured simultaneously in ABG sampling.
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Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.
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Ablate: To remove. A tumor may be ablated. To ablate the thyroid gland is to remove it. The word “ablation” came from the Latin “ablatum” meaning to carry away.
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Abortifacient: A medication or substance that causes pregnancy to end prematurely.