Medical dictionary. 2011.
period — 1. A certain duration or division of time. 2. One of the stages of a disease, e.g., p. of incubation, p. of convalescence. SEE ALSO: stage, phase. 3. Colloquialism for menses. 4. Any of the horizontal rows of chemical elements in the … Medical dictionary
interval — A time or space between two periods or objects; a break in continuity. [L. inter vallum, space between breastworks in a camp, an i., fr. vallum, a rampart, wall] a c i. the i. between the onset of the a wave and that of the c wave of the jugular… … Medical dictionary
PEP — The abbreviation PEP stands for a number of things in medicine including post exposure prophylaxis. Prophylaxis means a defense or protection. Post exposure prophylaxis, for example, might concern the treatment of a health care worker exposed by… … Medical dictionary
systolic time intervals — (STI) any of several intervals measured for assessing left ventricular performance, particularly left ventricular ejection time (LVET), electromechanical systole (QS2), and preejection period (PEP); electrocardiography, phonocardiography, and… … Medical dictionary
electromechanical systole — the interval from the onset of the QRS complex on the electrocardiogram to the aortic component of the second heart sound; it is one of the systolic time intervals (q.v.), encompassing the left ventricular ejection time and the preejection period … Medical dictionary
Systole — The time period when the heart is contracting. The period specifically during which the left ventricle of the heart contracts. The final letter in systole is pronounced as a long e as in lee. The adjective for systole is systolic. The systolic… … Medical dictionary
