induction

1. Production or causation. 2. Production of an electric current or magnetic state in a body by electricity or magnetism in another body close to the first body. 3. The period from the start of anesthesia to the establishment of a depth of anesthesia adequate for a surgical procedure. 4. In embryology, the influence exerted by an organizer or evocator on the differentiation of adjacent cells or on the development of an embryonic structure. 5. A modification imposed on the offspring by the action of environment on the germ cells of one or both parents. 6. In microbiology, the change from probacteriophage to vegetative phage that may occur spontaneously or after stimulation by certain physical and chemical agents. 7. In enzymology, the process of increasing the amount or the activity of a protein. SEE ALSO: inducer. 8. A stage in the process of hypnosis. 9. Causal analysis; a method of reasoning in which an inference is made from one or more specific observations to a more general statement. Cf.:deduction. [L. inductio, a leading in]

- electromagnetic i. electromagnetic waves propagated by i. in an electromagnetic field.

- lysogenic i. i. that occurs when prophage is transferred to a nonlysogenic bacterium by conjugation or by transduction.

- spinal i. the manner in which one sensory stimulus lowers the threshold for another.

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in·duc·tion in-'dək-shən n

1) the act of causing or bringing on or about <\induction of labor> specif the establishment of the initial state of anesthesia often with an agent other than that used subsequently to maintain the anesthetic state

2) the process by which an electrical conductor becomes electrified when near a charged body, by which a magnetizable body becomes magnetized when in a magnetic field or in the magnetic flux set up by a magnetomotive force, or by which an electromotive force is produced in a circuit by varying the magnetic field linked with the circuit

3 a) arousal of a part or area (as of the retina) by stimulation of an adjacent part or area

b) the process by which the fate of embryonic cells is determined (as by the action of adjacent cells) and morphogenetic differentiation brought about

in·duct in-'dəkt vt

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n.

1. (in obstetrics) the starting of labour by artificial means. Medical induction is carried out using such drugs as prostaglandin or oxytocin, which stimulate uterine contractions. Surgical induction is performed by amniotomy (artificial rupture of membranes), usually supplemented by oxytocic drugs. Induction of labour is carried out if the wellbeing or life of mother or child is threatened by continuance of the pregnancy.

2. (in anaesthesia) initiation of anaesthesia. General anaesthesia is usually induced by the intravenous injection of rapid short-acting narcotic drugs, e.g. thiopental.

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in·duc·tion (in-dukґshən) [L. inductio] 1. the act or process of inducing or causing to occur. See also under chemotherapy. 2. the production of a specific morphogenetic effect in the developing embryo through the influence of evocators or organizers. 3. the production of anesthesia or unconsciousness by use of appropriate agents. 4. the generation of an electric current or of magnetic properties in a body because of the presence of another electric current or magnetic field nearby.