R



R




racemose grape-like. R. cells cells arranged round central duct. R. glands compound, lobulated in structure, e.g. salivary glands, breast cells, cervical glands.


rachi(o)- word element meaning ‘spine’.


rachitic pelvis bony pelvis with flat pelvic brim, similar to platypelloid pelvis, caused by childhood rickets. See pelvis.


radial relating to radius. R. artery artery at wrist. R. palsy wrist drop seen soon after birth, usually resolves spontaneously.


radical dealing with root or cause of disease. R. hysterectomy complete removal of uterus, cervix, part of vagina, occasionally also ovaries, fallopian tubes, local lymph nodes.


radioactive emitting electromagnetic waves, alpha (α), beta (β) or gamma (γ), naturally, e.g. radium, or artificially e.g. radioactive iodine.


radiographer healthcare professional in diagnostic X-ray department or radiotherapy department.


radiography diagnostic X-ray examination, rarely performed in pregnancy, because of possible adverse fetal effects.


radioimmunoassay (RIA) sensitive assay method to measure minute quantities of specific antibodies or any antigen, e.g. hormone or drug, against which specific antibodies can be raised; standard laboratory test for measuring hormones; also used for therapeutic drug monitoring and drug abuse screening.


radioisotope radioactive element consisting of unstable atoms that undergo radioactive decay emitting alpha, beta or gamma radiation, occurring naturally, e.g. radium, uranium, or created artificially.


radio-opaque capable of obstructing passage of X-rays, e.g. dyes used for radiographic diagnostic tests.


radiotelemetry measurement based on data transmitted by radio waves from subject to recording apparatus; radiotelemetry of fetal heart may be used when mother is ambulant in labour.


radiotherapy treatment of disease (mainly malignant) with ionising radiation, either directed from outside patient’s body or by isotope implanted or instilled into abnormal tissue or body cavity.


radium metallic element, symbol Ra; naturally occurring radioactive metal.


Ramstedt’s operation pyloromyotomy; division of hypertrophied pyloric sphin cter to relieve pyloric stenosis.


ramus branch, as of pubic bone, which has upper and lower branch. Pl rami.


random blood sugar test blood glucose test undertaken when pregnant mother presents with unexplained glycosuria; if result is suspicious, glucose load or glucose tolerance test may be performed.


randomised controlled trial research trial in which study subjects are chosen at random from suitable group of potential participants to increase extent to which sample is representative of target population; usually involves control and experimental groups; difficult to obtain totally random sample because of informed consent requirements.


ranitidine H2 receptor antagonist, given to women in labour before general anaesthesia to inhibit hydrochloric acid production, thus reducing risk of mendelson’s syndrome.


rapid diagnostic techniques See fluorescent in situ hybridisation and quantitative fluorescence-polymerase chain reaction.


raphe seam or ridge of tissue indicating juncture of two equal parts, e.g. median raphe of perineal body, anococcygeal raphe.


rash temporary skin eruption. Heat r. miliaria. Napkin r. cutaneous localised reaction of baby’s buttocks, caused by irritants such as ammonia in decomposed urine, improperly washed nappies, etc.


raspberry leaf pharmacological herbal medicine thought to prepare uterus for labour, facilitating cervical ripening, enhancing uterine efficiency; should be commenced at 30–32 weeks’ gestation, increased gradually to maximum 4 cups or tablets daily, but decreased if Braxton Hicks contractions become excessively strong; contraindicated in women with uterine scar, history of preterm or precipitate labour, multiple pregnancy, antepartum haemorrhage or if elective Caesarean section is indicated. Recent research suggests it may lengthen, rather than shorten, pregnancy and labour duration. Midwives should be adequately trained to advise on herbal medicines.


raspberry mark congenital haemangioma.


Rastelli’s operation surgical procedure to treat transposition of great vessels; blood circulation through heart is diverted to effect adequate oxygenation.


rate speed or frequency with which event or circumstance occurs per unit of time, population or other standard of comparison. Glomerular filtration r. quantity of glomerular filtrate formed each minute in kidney nephrons, calculated by measuring clearance of specific substances, e.g. insulin or creatinine. See also basal metabolic rate, birth rate, mortality rate.


ratio expression of quantity of one substance or entity in relation to that of another; relationship between two quantities expressed as quotient of one divided by other. Lecithinsphingomyelin r. ratio of lecithin to sphingomyelin in amniotic fluid, indicator of fetal lung maturity.


reabsorption process of absorbing again, e.g. absorption by kidneys of substances (glucose, proteins, sodium, etc.) already secreted into renal tubules.


reaction response to application of stimulus; evidence of acidity or alkalinity; pH of solution.


reagent substance employed to produce chemical reaction to detect, measure or produce other substances.


real-time scanner ultrasound scanner that gives moving visual display.


reasonable person test See bolam test.


receptor 1. molecule on surface of or within cell that recognises and binds to specific molecules, producing some effect in cell, e.g. cell-surface receptors of immunocompetent cells that recognise antigens, complement components or lymphokines, or receptors of neurons and target organs that recognise neurotransmitters or hormones. 2. sensory nerve ending that responds to various stimuli.


recession receding or drawing back. Rib r. or sternal r. inwards movement of ribs or sternum, commonly seen in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.


recessive tending to recede; in genetics opposite of dominant – capable of expression only when carried by both of pair of homologous chromosomes, i.e. homozygous and not heterozygous.


recipient one who receives, e.g. blood transfusion, tissue or organ graft. Universal r. person able to receive blood of any type without agglutination of donor cells.


recombinant 1. new cell or individual resulting from genetic recombination. 2. pertaining or relating to such cells or individuals. R. DNA technology process of taking gene from one organism and inserting it into DNA of another; gene splicing.


record keeping in midwifery midwives are required to keep accurate, comprehensive and contemporaneous records of maternal and fetal/neonatal conditions, all observations, clinical decisions and interactions between mother/baby and midwife/doctor ; in UK records must be retained for 25 years for legal reasons.


rectal relating to rectum. R. examination digital examination of rectum or adjacent structures; performed at conclusion of perineal repair to ensure no sutures have penetrated rectal mucosa.


rectocele hernia of rectum caused by overstretching of vaginal wall at childbirth, treated by posterior colporrhaphy.


rectovaginal pertaining to rectum and vagina. R. fistula See fistula.


rectovesical pertaining to or communicating with rectum and bladder.


rectum lower 15 cm (6 in) of large intestine extending from pelvic colon to anal canal.


rectus abdominis pair of muscles running vertically on either side of midline from symphysis pubis to xiphisternum, separated by linea alba; in combination with other abdominal muscles they raise intra-abdominal pressure and assist in flexing spine and controlling pelvic girdle tilt; poor muscle tone will adversely affect flexion of lumbar spine and cause difficulty with pelvic tilting, leading to increased lumbar lordosis and postural problems in pregnancy. Diastasis of r. a. pregnant women may suffer over- stretching of rectus abdominis by growing uterus; more common in multiparous women; uterus can sometimes be seen bulging through the abdominal wall beneath the skin; treatment consists of helping mother to cope with backache and other related discomforts and encouraging postnatal exercises to strengthen muscles.


recumbent lying down.


recurrent occurring again, as in some cases of miscarriage.


red blood cells See erythrocytes.


referral directing to another source of help, e.g. to doctor when mother’s condition deviates from normal parameters of midwifery practice, to physiotherapist for management of antenatal backache.


referred pain pain occurring at distance from place of origin, related to distribution of sensory nerve, e.g. right shoulder pain associated with gall bladder disease.


reflection process of conscious, systematic thinking about one’s actions; review, analysis and synthesis of situations that have occurred, usually after event; active process by which midwives learn from experience, with view to improving future practice.


reflex reflected or thrown back. R. action involuntary movement resulting from stimulus, e.g. knee jerk, or from withdrawal of limb from pinprick; certain reflexes are present in term baby, e.g. sucking, swallowing and moro reflexes. Conditioned r. reflex acquired by regular association of physiological event with unrelated outside event, e.g. ‘let down’ reflex causes myoepithelial cells in breast to contract around acini cells at sight or sound of hungry baby making milk supply immediately available.


reflexology, reflex zone therapy

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Jun 18, 2016 | Posted by in MIDWIFERY | Comments Off on R

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