foreign

foreign

 [for´en]

1. not normal or usual to a place.

2. in immunology, pertaining to substances not recognized as “self” and capable of inducing an immune response.

foreign body reaction a granulomatous inflammatory response evoked by the presence of a foreign body in the tissues; a characteristic feature of this is the formation of foreign body giant cells (see giant cell).

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

foreign

(fôr′ĭn, fŏr′-)

adj.

1. Situated in an abnormal or improper place in the body and typically introduced from outside: a foreign object in the eye.

2. Subject to the jurisdiction of another political unit.

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for′eign·ness n.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.