Blood-brain barrier
Blood-brain barrier: A protective network of blood vessels and cells that filters blood flowing to the brain.
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Blood-thinner: A common name for an anticoagulant agent used to prevent the formation of blood clots. Blood-thinners do not really thin the blood. They prevent it from clotting. Blood-thinners (anticoagulants) have various uses. Some are used for the prophylaxis (prevention) of thromboembolic disorders; others are used for the treatment of thromboembolism. (Thrombi are clots. Emboli […]
- Bloody nose
Bloody nose: Bleeding from the blood vessels of the nose. The nose is rich in blood vessels and is situated in a vulnerable position on the face. As a result, any trauma to the face can cause bleeding, which may be profuse. Nosebleeds can also occur spontaneously when the nasal membranes dry out, crust, and […]
- Bloody show
Bloody show: Literally, the appearance of blood, a classic sign of impending labor. The bloody show ‘consists of blood-tinged mucus created by extrusion and passage of the mucous plug that filled the cervical canal during pregnancy.
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Bloody sputum: Coughed up blood or bloody mucus. Bloody sputum can be caused by infection in the lungs and airways, such as acute bronchitis or pneumonia, or cancer. Whenever bloody sputum is present and cannot be attributed to a curable infectious condition, a complete lung evaluation is warranted, including bronchoscopy, to be certain cancer is […]
- Blot, Northern
Blot, Northern: A technique in molecular biology, used mainly to separate and identify pieces of RNA. Called a Northern blot only because it is similar to a Southern blot (which is named after its inventor, the British biologist M.E. Southern). There is also a Western blot.