ACTINOMERE 



42 



ACUPUNCTURE 



Actinomere (ak-tin' -o-mir) [d/cr/c, ray; fiipog, a part]. 

 In zoology, one of the radiating partitions characteristic 

 of the Actinozoa. 



Actinomeric (ak-tin-o-mer'-ik) [d/cr/c, a ray ; fiepog, a. 

 part]. In biology, radiately divided. 



Actinomorphic (ak-tin-o-morf '-ik) [d/cr/c, a ray ; 

 fiofxpr), form]. Same as Actinomorphous. 



Actinomorphous [ak-tin-o-morf -us) [d/cr/c, ray; 

 pofxpq, form]. Regularly radiated, as flowers divis- 

 ible into similar portions in two or more vertical 

 planes. 



Actinomyces (ak-tin-om' -is-ez) [d/cr/c, a ray; /■ibur/g, 

 mushroom]. A genus of parasitic fungoid organisms. 

 One species, A. bovis, causes the disease actinomyco- 

 sis. Called also the Ray Fungus. 



Actinomycoma (ak-tin-o-mi-ko'-mah) [d/cr/c, a ray; 

 (iVKi/s, a fungus : pi. , Actinomycomala~\. A tumor such 

 as is characteristic of actinomycosis. 



Actinomycosis (ak-tin-o-mi-co' -sis) [d/cr/c, a ray ; (iviaig, 

 a fungus]. A parasitical, infectious, inoculable disease 

 first observed in cattle, and also occurring in man, 

 and characterized by the manifestations of chronic 

 inflammation, with or without suppuration, often re- 

 sulting in the formation of granulation tumors. The 

 disease is due to the presence of a characteristic micro- 

 parasite, the ray fungus, Actinomyces bovis, which is 

 composed of fine mycelial threads and club-shaped 

 bodies. The most frequent and most curable fonn 

 is when the abscesses form about the jaws and teeth. 

 The best mode of staining the threads is by Gram's 

 method. To stain the clubs as found in man is diffi- 

 cult ; the best results have been obtained with orange 

 rubin or eosin. The only treatment of the disease 

 is removal of the infected tissue. When the parasite 

 has found a nidus in the lungs or digestive tract, all 

 treatment is so far useless. The disease is often called 

 lumpy-jaw and holdfast. 



Actinomycotic (ak-tin-o-mi-kot'-ik) [d/cr/c, ray ; ftvtcqg, 

 fungus]. Pertaining to or affected with actinomy- 

 cosis. 



Actinophore (ak-tin' -o-for) [d/cr/c, a ray; (pepeiv, to 

 bear]. In biology, one of the peripheral elements 

 affording support to the true fin rays in typical fishes 

 and selachians. 



Actinophorous (ak-lin-off' '-o-rus) [d/cr/c, ray ; (pepeiv, 

 to bear]. In biology, bearing ray-like spines. 



Actinosoma {ak-tin-o-so' '-man) [d/cr/c, ray ; cu/na, 

 body]. In biology, the entire body of a simple or 

 composite actinozoan. 



Actinospora chartarum (ak-tin-o-spo'-rah char-ta'- 

 rum) [oktIv, ray ; aufia, body ; charta, paper] . A 

 parasitic fungus developing on paper and books. 



Actinost (ak'-tin-ost) [d/cr/c, ray; ooteov, a bone] . In 

 ichthyology, one of the bones supporting the pectoral 

 and ventral fins in true fishes. 



Actinosteophyte (ak-tin-os'-te-o-fit) [d/cr/c, a ray; 

 osteophyte] . An osteophyte of radiated form. 



Actinostome [ak-tin' -o-stom) [d/cr/c, ray; ar6fia, 

 mouth]. In biology, the mouth of an actinozoan. 



Actinotrichium (ak-tin-o-trik' '-c-itm) [d/cr/c, ray; Opix, 

 a hair]. In biology, a fiber In the tin-fold of an em- 

 bryo fish, the forerunner of the adult fin-ray. 



Actinotrocha I ak-tin -ot'-ro-ka/i) [d/cr/c, ray ; rpoxv, 

 ring] . The larva of certain gephyrean worms, char- 

 acterized by rings of cilia about the mouth and 

 anus. 



Actinozoa (ak-tin -o-zo'-ah) [d/cr/f, ray; C<"-x>v, an ani- 

 mal]. A division of celenterates including the sea- 

 anemones, coral-polyps, He., having rayed tentacles 

 about the mouth, and a digestive sac connected 

 to the body wall by radial dissepiments called mesen- 

 teries, i 



Actinula [ak-tin' -u-lah) [dim. of unrig, ray: pi., 

 Actinulce~\. In biology, the oval generative zooid of a 

 gymnoblastic hydroid, developing without interme- 

 diate metamorphosis into a hydroid of the adult form. 



Action (ak'-shun) [agere, to do, or perform] . In physi- 

 ology, a term used to denote the function of an organ. 

 A., Reflex, an involuntary movement of an organ or 

 part of the body resulting from an impression carried 

 by a sensory or afferent nerve to a subordinate center, 

 and then sent back by an efferent nerve to some point 

 at or near the source of irritation. 



Active (ak'-tiv) [agere, to do, or perform] . In medicine, 

 a term applied to treatment the reverse of passive , that 

 is, where the pathological conditions are acted upon 

 directly rather than partly controlled. Also, in a 

 growing condition ; opposed to dormant. A. Insuffi- 

 ciency of Muscles. See Insufficiency. A. Spots, 

 the cortical centers of the brain, especially those that 

 control definite muscular movements. 



Activity (ak-tiv'-il-e) [agere, to do or perform] . Capa- 

 city for acting ; sensibility; vitality; potency; energy. 



Actual (ak'-chu-al) [agere, to do]. Real, effective; 

 not potential. A. Cautery. See Cautery. 



Actuation (ak-chu-a' -shun) [agere, to do, or perform]. 

 That mental function that is exercised between the im- 

 pulse of volition and its actualization or perform- 

 ance. 



Acuchi (ah-koo'-che). The resin or balsam obtained 

 from Icica heterophylla, a tree of tropical America. It 

 is almost identical with elemi. Unof. 



Acufilopressure (ak-u-f -lo-pres-ur) [acus, needle ; 

 filuin, a thread ; pressure] . A combination of acupres- 

 sure and ligation. 



Acuity (ak-u' -it-e) [acuitas ; acuere, to sharpen] . 

 Acuteness or clearness of visual power in the percep- 

 tion of small or distant objects. 



Aculeate (ak-u'-le-dt) [aculeus, a sting, prickle]. In 

 botany, armed with prickles, i.e. , aculii ; as the rose and 

 brier. In biology, having a sting. 



Aculeiform (ak-u-le' -if-orm) [aculeus, prickle ; forma, 

 shape]. Resembling a prickle. 



Aculeolate (ak-u' -le-o-ldt) [aculeolus, a little prickle]. 

 In biology, beset with small prickles. 



Aculeus (ak-u'-le-t(s)[dim. of acus, aneedle: //., Aculei\ 

 In biology, a prickle or pointed excrescence of the bark, 

 as in the rose or raspberry ; the modified ovipositor or 

 sting of a hymenopterous insect. 



Acumeter (ak-oo' -met-er) [anoveiv, to hear ; fierpov, a 

 measure]. Instrument for testing hearing. 



Acuminate ( ak-u' -min-dt ) [ acuminatus, pointed, 

 acute]. Taper-pointed or sharp-pointed. 



Acuminose, or Acuminous (ak-u'-min-os, or -us) 

 [acumen, point]. In biology, same as Acuminate. 



Acuminulate (ak-u-min' -u-ldt) [dim. of acumen, a 

 point]. Slightly taper-pointed. 



Acupression (ak-u-presh' -un) [acus, a needle ;premere, 

 to press]. Acupressure. 



Acupressure (ak'-u-presh-ur) [acus, a needle \pretnere, 

 to press]. An operation to stop hemorrhage or aneu- 

 rysm by the compression of a needle inserted into the 

 tissues upon either side, either above or below the 

 vessel. There are a variety of methods of performing 

 acupressure. 



Acupuncturation (ak-u-pungk-chu-ra'-shun) [acus, a 

 needle; punctura, a puncture]. Acupuncture. 



Acupuncturator (ak-u-pungk'-chu-ra-tor) [acus, a 

 needle; punctura, a puncture]. An instrument used 

 in performing acupuncture. 



Acupuncture (ak'-u-punk-chftr) [acus, a needle ; pun- 

 gere, to prick] . Puncture of the skin or tissue by one 

 or more needles for the relief of pain, the exit of fluid, 

 the coagulation of blood in an aneurysm, etc. 



