latent period

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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latent period

n.

1. The period elapsing between the application of a stimulus and the obvious response, such as the contraction of a muscle.

2. The interval between exposure to an infectious organism or a carcinogen and the clinical appearance of disease. Also called incubation period.

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Latent period

Also called incubation period, the time between infection with a disease-causing agent and the development of disease.

Mentioned in: AIDS

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latent period,

the interval between the time of exposure to an injurious dose of radiation and the response.

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latent,

adj hidden; beneath the surface; not obvious or active.

latent image,

n See image, latent.

latent period,

n See period, latent.

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latent

dormant or concealed; not manifest; potential. See also latent image, infection.

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latent period

a seemingly inactive period, as that between exposure of tissue to an injurious agent and the manifestations of response, or that between the instant of stimulation and the beginning of response. The latent period in virus replication defines the period from adsorption, penetration and uncoating of the virus until the first progeny virus are released from the cell.