Patent (adjective)


Open, unobstructed, affording free passage.

Thus, for example, the bowel may be patent (as opposed to obstructed).

Pronounced “pa-tent” with the accent on the first syllable.

Read Also:

  • Patent (noun)

    A device giving exclusive control and possession. Before the commercialization of biomedical inventions, the word “patent” in this sense had no place in a medical dictionary. Now the patent is the foundation of the biotechnology industry.

  • Patent ductus arteriosus

    Failure for the ductus arteriosus, an arterial shunt in fetal life, to close on schedule. Before birth, blood pumped from the heart through the pulmonary artery toward the lungs is shunted into the aorta. This arterial shunt is a short vessel called the ductus arteriosus. When the shunt is open, it is said to be […]

  • Parasitemia

    The presence of parasites in the blood. In malaria, a measure called the parasitemia index reflects the severity of the disease.

  • Papillomavirus, human

    One of the family of more than 100 viruses that are responsible for causing warts. Abbreviated HPV. The majority of HPVs produce warts on the hands, fingers, or face. Most of these warts are innocuous, causing nothing more than cosmetic concerns. Several types of HPV are confined primarily to the moist skin of the genitals, […]

  • Papillomatosis, recurrent respiratory

    Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis involves the growth of numerous warty growths in the larynx on the vocal cords in children and young adults. A baby can contract recurrent respiratory papillomatosis by being contaminated with the human papilloma virus (HPV) during birth through the vaginal canal of a mother with genital warts (which are also due to […]


Disclaimer: Patent (adjective) definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.