fractionation

fractionation /frac·tion·a·tion/ (frak″shun-a´shun)

1. in radiology, division of the total dose of radiation into small doses administered at intervals.

2. in chemistry, separation of a substance into components, as by distillation or crystallization.

3. in histology, isolation of components of living cells by differential centrifugation.

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frac·tion·a·tion (frksh-nshn)

n.

1. The process of dividing or separating into parts; breaking up.

2. The division of a total therapeutic dose of radiation into small doses to be administered over a period of days or weeks.

3. The separation of a chemical compound into components, as by distillation.

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Fractionation

A laboratory test or process in which blood or another fluid is broken down into its components. Fractionation can be used to assess the proportions of the different types of cholesterol in a blood sample.

Mentioned in: Cholesterol Test, Radiation Therapy

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fractionation

[frak′shənā′shən]

Etymology: L, frangere, to break

1 (in neurology) a mechanism within the neural arch of the vertebrae whereby only a portion of the efferent nerves innervating a muscle reacts to a stimulus, even when the reflex requirement is maximal, so that a reserve of neurons remains to respond to additional stimuli. Through this phenomenon muscle tension is maintained.

2 (in chemistry) the separation of a substance into its basic constituents by using such procedures as fractional distillation or crystallization.

3 (in bacteriology) the process of isolating a pure culture by successive culturing of a small portion of a colony of bacteria.

4 (in histology) the process of isolating the different components of living cells by centrifugation.

5 also called dose fractionation, fractionation radiation. (in radiology) the process of administering a dose of radiation in smaller units over time to minimize tissue damage rather than in a single large dose.

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fractionation [frak″shun-a´shun]

1. in radiology, division of the total dose of radiation into small doses given at intervals.

2. in chemistry, separation of a substance into components, as by distillation or crystallization.

3. in histology, isolation of components of living cells by differential centrifugation.

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fractionation

(frak´shnā´shn),
n 1. the separation of a substance into its basic constituents.
2. the process of isolating a pure culture by sucessive culturing of a small portion of a colony of bacteria.
3. the process of isolating different components of living cells by centrifugation.
4. the process of administering a dose of radiation in smaller units over time to minimize tissue damage.

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fractionation

1. in radiotherapy, division of the total dose of radiation into small doses given at intervals.

2. in chemistry, separation of a substance into components, as by distillation or crystallization.

3. in histology, isolation of components of living cells by differential centrifugation.

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fractionation

Radiation oncology The parceling of a dose of radiation over time. See Accelerated fractionation, Hyperfractionation, Radiation therpy.