Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Removal of the lining of the womb. Removing the uterine lining decreases menstrual flow or stops it completely. Ablation means removal or excision, usually surgically. The word comes from the Latin ablatum meaning to carry away. The endometrium is the inner layer of the uterus (womb), the uterine lining which is normally shed monthly in response to…

Removal or excision. Ablation is usually carried out surgically. For example, surgical removal of the thyroid gland (a total thyroidectomy) is ablation of the thyroid.

To remove. A tumor may be ablated. To ablate the thyroid gland is to remove it. The word “ablation” came from the Latin “ablatum” meaning to carry away.

Loss of function, or degeneration for reasons unknown.

1. Not associated with living organisms.2. Anything in the environment incapable of life, such as the soil or weather.3. Incompatible with life or antagonist to it.Also called abiological.

1. Not associated with living organisms.2. Anything in the environment incapable of life, such as the soil or weather.3. Incompatible with life or antagonist to it.Also called abiological.

The sampling of the blood levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the arteries, as opposed to the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in venous blood. Typically, the acidity, or pH, of the blood is measured simultaneously in ABG sampling.

An advanced technique to measure visual acuity that may replace conventional methods. Aberrometry measures the way a wavefront of light passes through the cornea and lens of the eye. Aberrations, or distortions that occur as light travels through the eye, are measured and correspond to specific vision defects. The previous methods for testing visual acuity only measure lower-order aberrations,…

(1) A deviation or irregularity. For example, a chromosome aberration is a deviation from the normal chromosome number or the normal chromosome structure. In this sense, aberration is also synonymous with deflection, departure, divergence, diversion, turning. (2) A mental aberration is a significant deviation from normal mental activity. In this sense, aberration is synonymous with…

Any muscle used to pull a body part away from the midline of the body. For example, the abductor muscles of the legs spread the legs away from the midline and away from one another. The word “abductor” comes from the Latin prefix “ab-” meaning “away from” + “ducere” meaning “to draw or lead” =…