incubation period (redirected from Latency time)

period /pe·ri·od/ (pēr´e-od) an interval or division of time.

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ejection period  the second phase of ventricular systole, being the interval between the opening and closing of the semilunar valves, during which the blood is discharged into the aortic and pulmonary arteries; it is divided into a p. of rapid ejection followed by a p. of reduced ejection.

gestation period  the duration of pregnancy, in humans being about 266 days (38 weeks) from the time of fertilization until birth. In obstetrics, it is instead considered to begin on the first day of the woman's last normal menstrual period prior to fertilization, thus being about 280 days (40 weeks).

incubation period 

1. the interval of time required for development.

2. the interval between the receipt of infection and the onset of the consequent illness or the first symptoms of the illness.

3. the interval between the entrance into a vector of an infectious agent and the time at which the vector is capable of transmitting the infection.

latency period 

1. latent p.

2. see under stage.

latent period  a seemingly inactive period, as that between exposure to an infection and subsequent illness, or that between the instant of stimulation and the beginning of response.

menstrual period , monthly period the time of menstruation.

pacemaker refractory period  the period immediately following either pacemaker sensing or pacing, during which improper inhibition of the pacemaker by inappropriate signals is prevented by inactivation of pacemaker sensing.

refractory period  the period of depolarization and repolarization of the cell membrane after excitation; during the first portion (absolute refractory p.), the nerve or muscle fiber cannot respond to a second stimulus, whereas during the relative refractory period, it can respond only to a strong stimulus.

safe period  the period during the menstrual cycle when conception is considered least likely to occur; it is approximately the ten days after menstruation begins and the ten days preceding menstruation.

sphygmic period  ejection p.

Wenckebach period  the steadily lengthening P–R interval occurring in successive cardiac cycles in Wenckebach block.

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incubation period

n.

1. See latent period.

2. See incubative stage.

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Incubation period

The interval from initial exposure to an infectious agent, such as a virus, and the first symptoms of illness.

Mentioned in: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E, Leprosy, Rubella

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incubation period

[in′kyəbā′shən]

Etymology: L, incubare, to lie on; Gk, peri, around, hodos, way

1 the time between exposure to a pathogenic organism and the onset of symptoms of a disease.

2 the time required to induce the development of an embryo in an egg or to induce the development and replication of tissue cells or microorganisms being grown in culture media or other special laboratory environment.

3 the time allowed for a chemical reaction or process to proceed.

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incubation [in″ku-ba´shun]

1. the provision of proper conditions for growth and development, as for bacterial or tissue cultures.

2. the development of an infectious disease from time of the entrance of the pathogen to the appearance of clinical symptoms.

3. the development of the embryo in the egg of oviparous animals.

4. the maintenance of an artificial environment for a newborn, especially a premature infant.

incubation period the interval of time required for development; especially the time between invasion of the body by a pathogenic organism and appearance of the first symptoms of disease. Incubation periods vary from a few days to several months, depending on the causative organism and type of disease.

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period [pēr´e-od]

an interval or division of time; the time for the regular recurrence of a phenomenon.

absolute refractory period the part of the refractory period from phase 0 to approximately −60 mV during phase 3; during this time it is impossible for the myocardium to respond with a propagated action potential, even with a strong stimulus. Called also effective refractory period.

blanking period a period of time during and after a pacemaker stimulus when the unstimulated chamber is insensitive to avoid sensing the electronic event in the stimulated chamber.

effective refractory period absolute refractory period.

ejection period the second phase of ventricular systole (0.21 to 0.30 sec), between the opening and closing of the semilunar valves, while the blood is discharged into the aorta and pulmonary artery. Called also sphygmic period.

gestation period see gestation period.

incubation period see incubation period.

isoelectric period the moment in muscular contraction when no deflection of the galvanometer is produced.

latency period

1. latent period.

2. latency stage.

latent period a seemingly inactive period, as that between exposure to an infection and the onset of illness (incubation period) or that between the instant of stimulation and the beginning of response (latency, def. 2).

refractory period the period of depolarization and repolarization of the cell membrane after excitation; during the first portion (absolute refractory period), the nerve or muscle fiber cannot respond to a second stimulus, whereas during the relative refractory period it can respond only to a strong stimulus.

relative refractory period the part of the refractory period from approximately −60 mV during phase 3 to the end of phase 3; during this time a depressed response to a strong stimulus is possible.

safe period the period during the menstrual cycle when conception is considered least likely to occur; it comprises approximately the ten days after menstruation begins and the ten days preceding menstruation. See the section on fertility awareness methods, under contraception.

sphygmic period ejection period.

supernormal period in electrocardiography, a period at the end of phase 3 of the action potential during which activation can be initiated with a milder stimulus than is required at maximal repolarization, because at this time the cell is excitable and closer to threshold than at maximal diastolic potential.

vulnerable period that time at the peak of the T wave during which serious arrhythmias are likely to result if a stimulus occurs.

Wenckebach's period a usually repetitive sequence seen in partial heart block, marked by progressive lengthening of the P–R interval; see also dropped beat.

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incubation period,

n the lapsed time between exposure to an infectious agent and the onset of symptoms of a disease.

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incubation

1. the provision of proper conditions for growth and development, as for bacterial or tissue cultures.

2. development of a disease by multiplication of an infectious agent within the host.

3. the development of the embryo in the eggs of oviparous animals. See also avian incubation periods.

4. the maintenance of an artificial environment for a neonate, especially a premature one.

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artificial incubation

use of a machine which warms, turns, humidifies bird eggs to incubate and eventually hatch them.

incubation behavior

see avian broodiness; almost non-existent in egg-laying birds; persists in meat strains and turkeys.

incubation period

the interval between effective exposure to a pathogenic infectious agent, leading to the invasion of the body and the establishment of the infection, and the appearance of the first clinical signs of the disease in question. Incubation periods vary from a few days to several years, depending on the causative organism and type of disease. See also extrinsic incubation period.

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incubation period

The time elapsed between infection and appearance of disease Sx. Cf Latent period Epidemiology A period of subclinical or inapparent pathologic changes after exposure, ending with the onset of Sx of an infection.