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| This glossary contains: 19186 medical terms |
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Dreams
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DreamsThoughts, visions, and other sensations that occupy the mind in sleep. Dreams occur during that part of sleep when there are rapid eye movements (REMs). We have 3 to 5 periods of REM sleep per night. They usually come at intervals of 1-2 hours and are quite variable in length. An episode of REM sleep may be brief and last but 5 minutes. Or it may be much longer and go for over an hour. About 20% of sleep is REM sleep. If you sleep 7-8 hours a night, perhaps an hour and half of that time, 90 minutes, is REM sleep. REM sleep is characterized by a number of other features besides REM, including rapid, low-voltage brain waves on the electroencephalographic (EEG) recording, irregular breathing and irregular heart rate and -- what may be most evident to someone else -- involuntary muscle jerks. Non-REM (NREM) sleep is dreamless sleep. During NREM, the brain waves on the EEG are typically slow and of high voltage, the breathing and heart rate are both slow and regular, the blood pressure is low, and the sleeper is relatively still. NREM sleep is divided into 4 stages of increasing depth. About 80% of sleep is NREM sleep. If you sleep 7-8 hours a night, all but maybe an hour and a half is spent in dreamless NREM sleep. Dreams are penetrable; it has been found experimentally that one can communicate with a person who is dreaming.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Dreams
Thoughts, visions, and other sensations that occupy the mind in sleep. Dreams occur during that part of sleep when there are rapid eye movements (REMs). We have 3 to 5 periods of REM sleep per night. They usually come at intervals of 1-2 hours and are quite variable in length. An episode of REM sleep may be brief and last but 5 minutes. Or it may be much longer and go for over an hour. About 20% of sleep is REM sleep. If you sleep 7-8 hours a night, perhaps an hour and half of that time, 90 minutes, is REM sleep. REM sleep is characterized by a number of other features besides REM, including rapid, low-voltage brain waves on the electroencephalographic (EEG) recording, irregular breathing and irregular heart rate and -- what may be most evident to someone else -- involuntary muscle jerks. Non-REM (NREM) sleep is dreamless sleep. During NREM, the brain waves on the EEG are typically slow and of high voltage, the breathing and heart rate are both slow and regular, the blood pressure is low, and the sleeper is relatively still. NREM sleep is divided into 4 stages of increasing depth. About 80% of sleep is NREM sleep. If you sleep 7-8 hours a night, all but maybe an hour and a half is spent in dreamless NREM sleep. Dreams are penetrable; it has been found experimentally that one can communicate with a person who is dreaming.
REM
Rapid eye movement. The phase of sleep associated with dreaming and distinguished from the other stages of sleep by rapid movement of the eyes.
Brain
"That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called ""hemispheres."" "
Breathing
The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through the mouth or nose due to muscle contraction, and then exhaled due to muscle relaxation.
Heart
The hollow, muscular organ responsible for pumping blood through the circulatory system.
Muscle
Tissue made up of bundles of long, slender cells that contract when stimulated.
Blood
The life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Dream, pre-sleep
Also called a hypnagogic hallucination, this type of dream is characteristically vivid and occurs as one is falling asleep or awakening.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
DPT immunization
Immunization to protect against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus. DPT immunizations are given in a series of 5 shots at 2, 4, 6, 18 months of age and 4-6 years of age. Thanks to vaccination programs, these diseases have become less common. However, there are still unvaccinated individuals capable of carrying and passing diphtheria and pertussis to others who are not vaccinated. Tetanus bacteria are prevalent in natural surroundings, such as contaminated soil.
Draft DNA sequence
Sequence of a DNA with less accuracy than a finished sequence. In a draft sequence, some segments are missing or are in the wrong order or are oriented incorrectly. A draft sequence is as opposed to a finished DNA sequence.
Drain
A device for removing fluid from a cavity or wound. A drain is typically a tube or wick.
DRE (digital rectal exam)
An exam done to detect abnormalities that can be felt (palpated) from within the rectum. The doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels for anything that is not normal. The digital rectal exam is an important screening test for the detection of tumors of the rectum and prostate abnormalities, including benign enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and cancer of the prostate.
Dream, pre-sleep
Also called a hypnagogic hallucination, this type of dream is characteristically vivid and occurs as one is falling asleep or awakening.
Dreams
Dressler syndrome
Pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium, the sac-like covering of the heart) after a heart attack.
Drill, dental
A device that dentists use to drill into teeth.
Drinox
Trade name of the insecticide aldrin.
Drip
In medical usage, a drip is not a dull, unattractive person but a device for administering a fluid drop-by-drop into a vein. It is an intravenous (IV) fluid dripping into a vein, an intravenous fluid drip, a solution (usually a balanced electrolyte solution) administered directly into the venous circulation. It is, for short, an IV.
Drosophila
The fruit fly. One species, Drosophila melanogaster, is a favorite model organism in genetics and developmental biology.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Dreams
Thoughts, visions, and other sensations that occupy the mind in sleep. Dreams occur during that part of sleep when there are rapid eye movements (REMs). We have 3 to 5 periods of REM sleep per night. They usually come at intervals of 1-2 hours and are quite variable in length. An episode of REM sleep may be brief and last but 5 minutes. Or it may be much longer and go for over an hour. About 20% of sleep is REM sleep. If you sleep 7-8 hours a night, perhaps an hour and half of that time, 90 minutes, is REM sleep. REM sleep is characterized by a number of other features besides REM, including rapid, low-voltage brain waves on the electroencephalographic (EEG) recording, irregular breathing and irregular heart rate and -- what may be most evident to someone else -- involuntary muscle jerks. Non-REM (NREM) sleep is dreamless sleep. During NREM, the brain waves on the EEG are typically slow and of high voltage, the breathing and heart rate are both slow and regular, the blood pressure is low, and the sleeper is relatively still. NREM sleep is divided into 4 stages of increasing depth. About 80% of sleep is NREM sleep. If you sleep 7-8 hours a night, all but maybe an hour and a half is spent in dreamless NREM sleep. Dreams are penetrable; it has been found experimentally that one can communicate with a person who is dreaming.
REM
Rapid eye movement. The phase of sleep associated with dreaming and distinguished from the other stages of sleep by rapid movement of the eyes.
Brain
"That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called ""hemispheres."" "
Breathing
The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through the mouth or nose due to muscle contraction, and then exhaled due to muscle relaxation.
Heart
The hollow, muscular organ responsible for pumping blood through the circulatory system.
Muscle
Tissue made up of bundles of long, slender cells that contract when stimulated.
Blood
The life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Dream, pre-sleep
Also called a hypnagogic hallucination, this type of dream is characteristically vivid and occurs as one is falling asleep or awakening.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
DPT immunization
Immunization to protect against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus. DPT immunizations are given in a series of 5 shots at 2, 4, 6, 18 months of age and 4-6 years of age. Thanks to vaccination programs, these diseases have become less common. However, there are still unvaccinated individuals capable of carrying and passing diphtheria and pertussis to others who are not vaccinated. Tetanus bacteria are prevalent in natural surroundings, such as contaminated soil.
Draft DNA sequence
Sequence of a DNA with less accuracy than a finished sequence. In a draft sequence, some segments are missing or are in the wrong order or are oriented incorrectly. A draft sequence is as opposed to a finished DNA sequence.
Drain
A device for removing fluid from a cavity or wound. A drain is typically a tube or wick.
DRE (digital rectal exam)
An exam done to detect abnormalities that can be felt (palpated) from within the rectum. The doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels for anything that is not normal. The digital rectal exam is an important screening test for the detection of tumors of the rectum and prostate abnormalities, including benign enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and cancer of the prostate.
Dream, pre-sleep
Also called a hypnagogic hallucination, this type of dream is characteristically vivid and occurs as one is falling asleep or awakening.
Dreams
Dressler syndrome
Pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium, the sac-like covering of the heart) after a heart attack.
Drill, dental
A device that dentists use to drill into teeth.
Drinox
Trade name of the insecticide aldrin.
Drip
In medical usage, a drip is not a dull, unattractive person but a device for administering a fluid drop-by-drop into a vein. It is an intravenous (IV) fluid dripping into a vein, an intravenous fluid drip, a solution (usually a balanced electrolyte solution) administered directly into the venous circulation. It is, for short, an IV.
Drosophila
The fruit fly. One species, Drosophila melanogaster, is a favorite model organism in genetics and developmental biology.
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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.
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