Artificial rupture of membrane Health Dictionary

The general name given to the membrane which lines many of the hollow organs of the body. These membranes vary widely in structure in di?erent sites, but all have the common character of being lubricated by MUCUS – derived in some cases from isolated cells on the surface of the membrane, but more generally from de?nite glands placed beneath the membrane, and opening here and there through it by ducts. The air passages, the gastrointestinal tract and the ducts of glands which open into it, and also the urinary passages, are all lined by mucous membrane.... mucous membrane

A popular name for HERNIA.... rupture

The ear-drum, which separates the external and middle ear. (See EAR.)... tympanic membrane

A form of ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (ARDS) found in premature infants and some of those born by CAESAREAN SECTION, characterised by the onset of di?culty in breathing a few hours after birth. Most require extra oxygen and many need mechanical ventilation for a few days or even weeks. Recovery is the rule, although the most severely affected may die or suffer damage from oxygen lack. In this condition the ALVEOLITIS and the ?ner BRONCHIOLES of the lungs are lined with a dense membrane. The cause of the condition is a de?ciency of SURFACTANT in the lung passages which adversely affects gas exchanges in the alveoli.

Treatment includes the full gamut of neonatal intensive care, as well as speci?c therapy with PULMONARY SURFACTANT.... hyaline membrane disease

See TEETH.... periodontal membrane

Membranes that line many internal organs and cavities, secreting a thin, lymph-like fluid, that lubricates and slowly circulates.... serous membranes

This forms the lining of the soft parts that enclose the cavity of a joint. (See JOINTS.)... synovial membrane

Forced introduction of air into the lungs of someone who has stopped breathing (see respiratory arrest) or whose breathing is inadequate. As an emergency first-aid measure, artificial respiration can be given mouth-to-mouth or mouth-tonose, which can prevent brain damage due to oxygen deprivation; a delay in breathing for more than 6 minutes can cause death. Cardiac compressions may also be necessary if poor respiration has led to cessation of the heartbeat (see cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Artificial respiration can be continued by use of a ventilator (see ventilation).... artificial respiration

A form of assisted conception in which semen is introduced artificially into the uterus, instead of by sexual intercourse, with the aim of inducing pregnancy.

There are 2 types of artificial insemination: , artificial insemination with the semen of the woman’s male partner; and , insemination with a donor’s sperm. is usually used for couples who are unable to have intercourse, or if the man has a low sperm count or a low volume of ejaculate. It is also used when semen has been stored from a man prior to treatment (such as chemotherapy) that has made him sterile. is available to couples if the man is infertile or is a carrier of a genetic disease. It may also be used by a woman who wants children but has no male partner.

Insemination is timed to coincide with natural ovulation or may be combined with treatment to stimulate ovulation.... artificial insemination

A layer of tissue that covers or lines a body surface or forms a barrier.... membrane

One of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (see BRAIN). Arachnoiditis is the name applied to in?ammation of this membrane.... arachnoid membrane

The design and study of computer systems that have properties resembling human intelligence, such as natural language, problem-solving, and analysis of novel situations.... artificial intelligence (ai)

See ARTHROPLASTY.... artificial joints

See DIALYSIS.... artificial kidney

See PROSTHESIS.... artificial limbs and other parts

See APPENDIX 1: BASIC FIRST AID.... artificial respiration

When we breathe in, the outward movement of the chest increases the volume of the lungs and the pressure in them falls below that of the outside world. Therefore, air is drawn in automatically. When we breathe out, some air exits because of the normal elastic recoil of the lungs, but we also force air out by using the muscles of the chest and the DIAPHRAGM. Replicating this arti?cially involves using a device to produce intermittent positive or negative pressure ventilation as described below.... artificial ventilation of the lungs

A mechanical device in the chest that enhances or takes over the pumping action of the HEART, thus maintaining the necessary level of circulation of blood through the lungs and other body structures. An arti?cial heart was ?rst used in humans in 1985 and the three types in use are: an intra-aortic balloon pump, driven by compressed air, which in?ates a balloon in the AORTA with every heartbeat, increasing the volume of circulating blood; an electrical device that assists the left VENTRICLE by pumping blood into the abdominal aorta; and a mechanical arti?cial heart that replaces a diseased heart that has been removed. As yet there is no arti?cial heart suitable for long-term use. Existing devices are intended to tide over a patient who is extremely ill until a live heart can be transplanted from a donor. The results from arti?cial hearts have been disappointing because of complications and also because the patients have usually been already dangerously ill.... heart, artificial

See DIALYSIS.... kidney, artificial

See PROSTHESIS.... limbs, artificial

See BRAIN; CROUP; DIPHTHERIA; labour (under PREGNANCY AND LABOUR).... membranes

The mucus-secreting skin that lines (and protects against the environment) all openings, cavities or entrances into the body, such as the intestinal tract, lungs, urinary tract, sinuses, vagina, etc.... mucous membranes (mucosa)

The membrane that lines and isolates abcesses.... pyogenic membrane

The common name for the machine used in dialysis.... artificial kidney

The procedure, usually carried out in an operating theatre or intensive-care unit, in which a device called a VENTILATOR takes over a person’s breathing. This is done for someone who is unable to breathe normally. Damage to the respiratory centre of the brain as a result of head injury, disease of the brain, or an overdose of sedative or narcotic drugs may affect the respiratory centre. Chest injuries, disease of the lungs, nerve or muscle disorders or surgery of the chest or abdomen can also affect breathing and require the use of a ventilator to maintain normal breathing. Arti?cial ventilation can also be carried out as an emergency by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. (See also ANAESTHESIA; ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION OF THE LUNGS.)... ventilation, artificial

Synthetic substitutes for sugar that are used by people on slimming diets and by the food industry.

Saccharin and aspartame are often recommended in calorie-controlled diets but are of questionable value because the appetite compensates for the lack of calories from sugar, and other foods are eaten to maintain the calorie intake.

Sorbitol is an artificial sweetener that is useful for diabetics, but it can cause diarrhoea and bloating when consumed in large quantities.... artificial sweeteners

A prosthesis to replace an eye that has been removed.

It is worn for cosmetic reasons.

Some movement of the artificial eye may be achieved by attaching the muscles that normally move the eye to the remaining conjunctival membrane (see conjunctiva) or to a plastic implant in the eye socket.... eye, artificial

The administration of nutrients other than by mouth, usually by way of a tube passed through the nose into the stomach or small intestine. If long-term artificial feeding is anticipated, a tube is inserted directly into the stomach or upper small intestine using endoscopic surgery. If the gastrointestinal tract is not functioning, nutrients must be introduced into the bloodstream. This type of feeding is known as parenteral nutrition.

Tube feeding may be necessary for people who have gastrointestinal disorders (for example, conditions resulting in malabsorption) or disorders affecting the nervous system or kidneys. Premature babies often require tube feeding if their sucking reflexes are undeveloped, as do critically ill patients due to their increased nutritional requirements. Intravenous feeding is usually given when large areas of the small intestine have been damaged by disease or have been surgically removed.... feeding, artificial

An implantable mechanical device that takes over the action of the heart or assists the heart in maintaining the circulation. There are 3 main types of artificial heart.

An intra-aortic balloon pump, comprising a balloon in the aorta that inflates with each heartbeat, increases the volume of blood entering the circulation. A left ventricular assist device takes blood from the left ventricle and pumps it electrically into the abdominal aorta. There are also mechanical hearts, which are powered from outside the body, usually by compressed air.

Problems with artificial hearts include the formation of blood clots within the device, and infection.

They are therefore used as a temporary measure until a heart transplant can be performed.... heart, artificial

A surgically created valve or other device used to treat or prevent urinary or faecal incontinence.... sphincter, artificial

See artificial sweeteners.... sweeteners, artificial

Preparations to supplement tear production in disorders that cause dry eye, such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and to relieve irritation.... tears, artificial

A complete tear in a tendon.

A tendon may rupture when the muscle to which it is attached contracts suddenly and powerfully, such as during vigorous exercise.

Rupture may also be due to an injury or joint disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms include a snapping sensation, impaired movement, pain, and swelling.

Diagnosis is usually obvious from the symptoms.

Surgery to repair the tendon may be needed.

In some cases, the tendon may heal if immobilized in a plaster cast.... tendon rupture

see ventricular assist device.... artificial heart

(ARM) see amniotomy.... artificial rupture of membranes

an apparatus designed to replace or support a *sphincter that is either absent or ineffective. See also neosphincter.... artificial sphincter

the thin delicate membrane that lies at the base of an *epithelium. It is composed of mucopolysaccharide and fibres of protein.... basement membrane

the use of enteral feeding tubes or cannulas to administer nutrients and fluids directly into the gastrointestinal tract or bloodstream when the oral route cannot be used owing to disability or disease. When other intensive treatments are judged *futile, artificial nutrition and hydration are considered *extraordinary means of prolonging life in patients who have no prospect of recovery. It is permissible to withdraw such treatment when it is no longer in the patient’s interests and when the primary intention is not to kill the patient, although death is foreseen (see doctrine of double effect). In cases of patients in a *persistent vegetative state in England and Wales, the matter must be referred to the courts following the case of Tony Bland. Where food and water are withdrawn it is still considered important to moisten the patient’s lips and to keep him or her comfortable until death.... artificial nutrition and hydration

a membrane in the *cochlea of the ear that separates two of the three channels (scalae) that run the length of the spiral cochlea. The organ of Corti is situated on the basilar membrane, inside the scala media.... basilar membrane

the transparent innermost layer of the *choroid, which is in contact with the retinal pigment epithelium (see retina). [K. W. L. Bruch (1819–84), German anatomist]... bruch’s membrane

the fibrous tissue in the anterior aspect of the neck between the lower border of the *thyroid cartilage (the ‘Adam’s apple’) and the upper border of the *cricoid cartilage, lying immediately below it. It is the site where certain emergency airway devices can be inserted.... cricothyroid membrane

the membrane that forms the deepest layer of the *stroma of the cornea of the eye. The endothelium lies between it and the aqueous humour. [J. Descemet (1732–1810), French anatomist]... descemet’s membrane

(cellophane maculopathy) a transparent membrane that forms on the retina, over the *macula. Contraction of this causes wrinkling of the retina (macular pucker) and hence distorted vision.... epiretinal membrane

(ECMO) a technique that is accepted as a rescue treatment for otherwise fatal respiratory failure in newborn babies or infants due to prematurity or overwhelming septicaemia (e.g. meningitis). It involves modified prolonged *cardiopulmonary bypass to support gas exchange, which allows the lungs to rest and recover. ECMO is only available in selected high-technology centres.... extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

the membranous structures that surround the embryo and contribute to the placenta and umbilical cord. They include the *amnion, *chorion, *allantois, and *yolk sac. In humans the allantois is always very small and by the end of pregnancy the amnion and chorion have fused into a single membrane and the yolk sac has disappeared.... extraembryonic membranes

the transparent membrane that surrounds the *vitreous humour of the eye, separating it from the retina.... hyaloid membrane

a bone that develops in connective tissue by direct *ossification, without cartilage being formed first. The bones of the face and skull are membrane bones.... membrane bone

see PROM; PPROM; labour.... premature rupture of membranes

the membrane that separates the scala vestibuli and the scala media of the *cochlea of the ear. [E. Reissner (1824–78), German anatomist]... reissner’s membrane

a membrane that allows the passage of some molecules but not others. Cell membranes (see cell) are semipermeable. Semipermeable membranes are used clinically in *haemodialysis for patients with kidney failure.... semipermeable membrane

an inherited disease of the kidneys in which the glomerular basement membrane, which filters waste material from the blood, is too thin, allowing small amounts of blood to pass across it. This can be a cause of benign familial haematuria and thin membrane disease is a common finding in renal biopsy series where the procedure has been carried out as part of the investigation of *haematuria. Thin membranes are also found in other conditions, e.g. in some cases of *Alport’s syndrome and *Berger’s nephropathy.... thin membrane disease

(serosa) a smooth transparent membrane, consisting of *mesothelium and underlying elastic fibrous connective tissue, lining certain large cavities of the body. The *peritoneum of the abdomen, *pleura of the chest, and *pericardium of the heart are all serous membranes. Each consists of two portions: the parietal portion lines the walls of the cavity, and the visceral portion covers the organs concerned. The two are continuous, forming a closed sac with the organs essentially outside the sac. The inner surface of the sac is moistened by a thin fluid derived from blood serum, which allows frictionless movement of organs within their cavities. Compare mucous membrane.... serous membrane