conjugate

1. Joined or paired. SYN: conjugated. 2. C. diameters of the pelvis. The distance between any two specified points on the periphery of the pelvic canal. [L. conjugatus, joined together. See conjugata]

- anatomical c. [TA] measure of pelvic dimension describing the distance between the sacral promontory and the inferior border of the pubic symphysis, measured manually per vagina or by ultrasonography. It is used to extrapolate the true c.. SYN: conjugata anatomica [TA].

- diagonal c. [TA] the anteroposterior dimension of the inlet that measures the clinical distance from the promontory of the sacrum to the lower margin of the symphysis pubica. SYN: conjugata diagonalis [TA], diagonal c. diameter, false c. (1).

- effective c. the internal c. measured from the nearest lumbar vertebra to the symphysis, in spondylolisthesis. SYN: false c. (2).

- external c. [TA] the distance in a straight line between the depression under the last spinous process of the lumbar vertebrae and the upper edge of the pubic symphysis. SYN: conjugata externa [TA], external c. diameter.

- false c. 1. SYN: diagonal c.. 2. SYN: effective c..

- folic acid c. a folate with three molecules of glutamic acid (pteropterin) instead of one, or with seven (pteroylheptaglutamic acid or vitamin B_c c.).

- internal c. SYN: median c..

- median c. [TA] distance from the promontory of the sacrum to the upper posterior edge of the pubic symphysis. SYN: anteroposterior diameter of the pelvic inlet, c. axis, c. diameter of pelvic inlet, c. of pelvic inlet, internal c..

- obstetric c. SYN: true c..

- obstetric c. of pelvic outlet the c. of the pelvic outlet lengthened by the posterior displacement of the coccyx.

- c. of pelvic inlet SYN: median c..

- c. of pelvic outlet SYN: straight c.. SEE ALSO: obstetric c. of pelvic outlet.

- straight c. [TA] the distance from the tip of the coccyx to the lower edge of the pubic symphysis. SYN: conjugata recta [TA], c. diameter of pelvic outlet, c. of pelvic outlet.

- true c. [TA] the diameter that represents the shortest diameter through which the head must pass in descending into the superior strait and measures, by means of x-ray, the distance from the promontory of the sacrum to a point on the inner surface of the symphysis a few millimeters below its upper margin. SYN: conjugata vera [TA], obstetric c. diameter, obstetric c..

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con·ju·gate 'kän-ji-gət, -jə-.gāt adj

1) functioning or operating simultaneously as if joined <\conjugate eye movements>

2) of an acid or base related by the difference of a proton <the acid NH₄⁺ and the base NH₃ are \conjugate to each other>

con·ju·gate·ly adv

con·ju·gate -jə-.gāt vb, -gat·ed; -gat·ing vt to unite (as with the elimination of water) so that the product is easily broken down (as by hydrolysis) into the original compounds <benzoic acid is conjugated with glycine to hippuric acid in the body> vi

1) to pair and fuse in conjugation

2) to pair in synapsis

conjugate -ji-gət, -jə-.gāt n a chemical compound formed by the union of two compounds or united with another compound

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n.

the distance between the front and rear of the pelvis measured from the most prominent part of the sacrum to the back of the pubic symphysis. Since the true conjugate cannot normally be measured during life it is estimated by subtracting 1.3-1.9 cm from the diagonal conjugate, the distance between the lower edge of the symphysis and the sacrum (usually about 12.7 cm). If the true conjugate is less than about 10.2 cm, delivery of an infant through the natural passages may be difficult or impossible, and Caesarean section may have to be performed.

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con·ju·gate (konґjə-gāt) [L. conjugatus yoked together] 1. paired, or equally coupled; working in unison. 2. the distance between two specified opposite points on the periphery of the pelvic inlet. Called also conjugate diameter and pelvic c. 3.conjugata vera pelvis. 4. the product of chemical conjugation.