Pain Dictionary
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- Pathogen
- Disease producing micro-organism.
- Pathogenicity
- The ability to produce pathological changes and disease.
- Peptide
- Short linear molecule composed of amino acids, bound together by so called peptide bonds. See polypeptide.
- Phagocyte
- General term for a phagocytic cell, that is, a cell such as a macrophage or neutrophil that is specialized to take up particles or microorganisms by phagocytosis.
- Phagocytosis
- Process by which particulate material, such as necrotic tissue, bacteria and cellular debris, is endocytosed (“eaten”) by a cell. Prominent in macrophages and neutrophils.
- Phenotype
- The observable character of a cell or an organism. That is, an organism has one genotype but can express different phenotypes, depending on changes of environmental factors.
- Plasma membrane
- See Cell membrane.
- Plasminogen
- Inactive precursor of plasmin, which is a hydrolytic enzyme that degrades fibrin.
- Platelet
- Small cell-like structures, that lack nucleus and genetic material, found in large numbers in the bloodstream. They are important for blood coagulation and for haemostasis. Platelets release granules, containing lysosomal enzymes, following injury to initiate the clotting cascade. Platelets also release platelet-derived growth factor, which contributes to tissue repair by stimulating fibroblast proliferation.
- Polyneuropathy
- is a neurological disorder that occurs when many peripheral nerves throughout the body malfunction simultaneously.
- Polypeptide
- Line ar polymer composed of multiple amino acids. Proteins are large polypeptides, and the two terms can be used interchangeably.
- Polysaccharide
- Line ar or branched polymer of monosaccharides. These include glycogen, hyaluronic acid and cellulose.
- Primary Intention
- The process of healing a wound with minimal tissue loss where the wound edges can be brought together e.g. surgical wounds. Within 48 hours the epidermis will have sealed the wound so that healing can continue below the surface. These wounds heal mainly due epithelialisation in the maturation phase of healing and is much quicker than wounds healing by secondary intention.
- Procaryotic cell
- Organisms, namely bacteria, characterised by a simple DNA chromosome, usually of circular structure, without a nuclear membrane. They are smaller and not advanced as eucaryotic cells and generally possess no other organelles than plasma membrane and ribosomes.
- Propylene glycol alginate (PGA)
- A propylene glycol ester of algenic acid, used as a vehicle or carrier for the amelogenin protein in Xelma.
- Protease (proteinase, proteolytic enzyme)
- Enzyme such as trypsin that degrades proteins by hydrolysing some of their peptide bonds.
- Protein
- The major macromolecular constituent of cells. A linear polymer of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds in a specific sequence.
- Proteoglycan
- A high molecular weight complex of glucosaminoglycans (polysaccharides) attached to a core protein, characteristic of structural tissues such as bone and cartilage, but also present on cell surfaces.
- Proteases
- Also called proteinases. Enzymes that hydrolyse proteins, e.g. elastase.
- Proteolysis
- Degradation of a protein, usually by hydrolysis at one or more of its peptide bonds.
- Punch biopsy
- A punch skin biopsy is a procedure to remove a small piece of skin tissue for examination under a microscope. It is usually carried out to determine or confirm a diagnosis. A skin punch biopsy needle is gently inserted into the skin, rotated and a small circle of skin carefully removed. The biopsy site usually bleeds slightly straight after the procedure, but this will stop when pressure is applied to the site.
- Pus
- Thick fluid usually indicative of infection; contains leukocytes, bacteria, and cellular debris.
- Pyogenic
- Bacterial infections that make pus or form abscesses.
