refractory (redirected from refractoriness)

refractory /re·frac·to·ry/ (re-frak´tor-e)

1. resistant to treatment.

2. not responding to a stimulus.

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re·frac·to·ry (r-frkt-r)

adj.

1. Resistant to treatment, as a disease.

2. Unresponsive to stimuli, as a muscle or nerve fiber.

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refractory (rēfrak´trē),

adj pertaining to the ability to withstand the high temperatures used in certain dental laboratory procedures. See also cast, refractory.

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refractory

not readily yielding to treatment.

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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.

myocardial refractory state

the myocardium is refractory to stimulation during the action potential period, excitability returning in the repolarization phase; initially there is a period of supernormality.

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refractory adjective Intolerable, resistant to therapy, intractable, unresponsive, stubborn