center
[sen´ter] 1. a point from which a process starts, especially a plexus or ganglion giving off nerves that control a function.
3. an agency or other site where services are offered to the public.
accelerating center the vasomotor center in the brainstem involved in acceleration of heart action.
apneustic center a
nerve center in the brainstem controlling normal respiration.
cardioinhibitory center a vasomotor center in the medulla oblongata that exerts an inhibitory influence on the heart.
cardiovascular control c's vasomotor centers.
community mental health center (CMHC) a mental health facility or group of affiliated agencies that provide services to a designated catchment area.
coughing center a
nerve center in the medulla oblongata, situated above the respiratory center, which controls the act of coughing.
deglutition center a
nerve center in the medulla oblongata that controls swallowing.
detente center a residential care center of the
kinlein type, using the
esca theory of moving as the basis for the staff's actions to maintain the independence of residents who are experiencing lessened physical or mental capacity.
C's for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services whose headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia. It is concerned with all phases of control of communicable, vector-borne, and occupational diseases and with the prevention of disease, injury, and disability. Its responsibilities include epidemiology, surveillance, detection, laboratory science, ecological investigations, training, disease control methods, chronic disease prevention, health promotion, and injury prevention and control. Its major tasks include the licensing of qualified clinical laboratories for interstate commerce, maintenance of laboratories as reference centers for microorganisms and infectious diseases, and operation of extensive research programs in the prevention, detection and control of disease. The CDC's name has changed several times to reflect its expanding role; it has been called the Communicable Disease Center (1946), the Center for Disease Control (1970), and the Centers for Disease Control (1980). The latest name change, enacted by Congress in 1992, reflects the expansion of the scope of the CDC's mission to include health promotion and education. Because of the widespread recognition of the acronym CDC, that acronym continues to be used by the agency. The mailing address of the CDC is Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, and the website is http://www.cdc.gov.
ejaculation center a
reflex center in the lumbar spinal cord that regulates ejaculation of semen during sexual stimulation.
erection center a
reflex center in the sacral spinal cord that regulates erection of the penis or clitoris. Called also
genital center.
feeding center a group of cells in the lateral hypothalamus that when stimulated cause a sensation of hunger; called also
hunger center.
germinal center the area in the center of a lymph node containing aggregations of actively proliferating lymphocytes.
health center 1. a community health organization providing ambulatory health care and referrals to appropriate service agencies, and coordinating the efforts of all health agencies.
2. an educational complex consisting of a medical college, nursing college, and various allied health professional schools.
micturition c's a
nerve center controlling the bladder and inhibiting the tension of the vesical sphincter, situated in the lumbar enlargement.
nursing center a site where public health or primary care services, including patient education, assessment, and screening and preventive services are provided and managed by registered nurses.
center of ossification any point in bones at which ossification begins.
pneumotaxic center a
nerve center in the upper pons that rhythmically inhibits inhalation.
rectovesical center a
reflex center in the spinal cord that regulates the rectum and bladder.
reflex center any
nerve center at which afferent sensory impressions are converted into efferent motor impulses.
respiratory c's a series of
nerve centers (the apneustic, pneumotaxic, and medullary respiratory centers) in the medulla and pons that coordinate respiratory movements.
satiety center a group of cells in the ventromedial hypothalamus that when stimulated suppress the desire for food.
senior center a program supported by Title XX funding, providing recreational activities and lunch for a small fee for older adults in need of socialization. Health assessments and education may also be provided.
thermoregulatory c's nerve centers in the hypothalamus that regulate the conservation and dissipation of heat.
thirst center a group of cells in the lateral hypothalamus that when stimulated cause a sensation of
thirst.
trauma center an institution officially designated as a site to which catastrophically injured patients can be brought quickly to receive specialized care. Trauma centers are classified as Level I, II, or III according to criteria developed by the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons, with Level I facilities having the equipment and personnel necessary to care for the most seriously injured patients.
vasoconstrictor center a
nerve center in the medulla oblongata and lower pons that controls contraction of the blood vessels.
vasomotor c's nerve centers in the medulla oblongata and the lower pons that regulate the caliber of the blood vessels and increase or decrease the heart rate and contractility. See also
vasoconstrictor c. and
vasodilator c. Called also
cardiovascular control c's.
vomiting center a center in the lower central region of the medulla oblongata; its stimulation causes
vomiting.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.