Prone
With the front (or ventral) surface downward. To lie prone is to lie face downward. Prone is as opposed to supine.
For a more complete listing of terms used in medicine for spatial orientation, please see the entry to “Anatomic Orientation Terms”.
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The first sulfa drug to be discovered. Largely of historic interest today. The discovery was made by the great German physician and chemist Gerhard Domagk (1895-1964). In 1925 Domagk was named Lecturer in Pathologic Anatomy (pathology) in the University of Munster (where he spend most of his long career). However, from 1927 to 1929 he […]
- Prophase chromosome
A chromosome at the prophase stage in the cell cycle, before metaphase (when a chromosome is most highly condensed). The chromosomes in prophase are distended and often tangled like a ball of twine within the nucleus of the cell. However, when fine chromosomal details are important, prophase chromosomes are frequently selected for high resolution chromosome […]
- Pronucleus
A cell nucleus with a haploid set of chromosomes (23 chromosomes in humans) resulting from meiosis (germ-cell division). The male pronucleus is the sperm nucleus after it has entered the ovum at fertilization but before fusion with the female pronucleus. Similarly, the female pronucleus is the nucleus of the ovum before fusion with the male […]
- Prophylactic
A preventive measure. The word comes from the Greek for “an advance guard,” an apt term for a measure taken to fend off a disease or another unwanted consequence. A prophylactic is a medication or a treatment designed and used to prevent a disease from occurring. For example, prophylactic antibiotics may be used after a […]
- Prophylactic cranial irradiation
Radiation therapy to the head that is intended to prevent cancer from spreading to the brain.