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.
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.
a nerve center
in the medulla oblongata, situated above the respiratory center, which controls the act of coughing.
a nerve center
in the medulla oblongata that controls swallowing.
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.
a reflex center
in the lumbar spinal cord that regulates ejaculation of semen during sexual stimulation.
a reflex center
in the sacral spinal cord that regulates erection of the penis or clitoris. Called also genital 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.
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.
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.
a nerve center
in the upper pons that rhythmically inhibits inhalation.
a reflex center
in the spinal cord that regulates the rectum and bladder.
any nerve center
at which afferent sensory impressions are converted into efferent motor impulses.
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.
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.
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
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.
center (sent'er) [L. centrum, center fr Gr. kentron, point, needle, pivot]
1. The middle point of a body.
2. A group of nerve cells within the central nervous system that controls a specific activity or function.
The hearing center in the brain, located in the temporal lobe of the cerebrum.
adult day care center
A center for daytime supervision of adults. These centers provide supervised social, recreational, and health-related activities, usually in a group setting. The centers permit caregivers a respite and free them for other activities (work, play, appointments, socialization) during the day.
ambulatory surgery center
An outpatient surgical center for cardioversions, endoscopies, and other relatively minor operations that do not require prolonged confinement in a hospital.
A cluster of brainstem neurons, located in the lower pons, that regulate breathing by prolonging inhalation.
The center controlling associated movements.
The center for hearing in the anterior gyri of the transverse temporal gyri. See: auditory area
The center in the brain or spinal cord that regulates any of the activities under the control of the autonomic nervous system. Most centers are located in the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord.
An alternative nonhospital facility that provides family-oriented maternity care for women judged to be at low risk of experiencing obstetrical complications.
Broca center See: Broca, Pierre-Paul
A communications center that manages incoming and outgoing telephone calls with customers and clients. In health care, the center may help to manage appointments and messages or may provide patients with information about illnesses, health care resources, services provided, or self-management of disease.
The center in the medulla oblongata that gives rise to impulses that speed up the heart rate. Impulses reach the heart by way of sympathetic fibers.
The center in the medulla oblongata that gives rise to impulses that decrease the heart rate. Impulses reach the heart by way of the vagus (parasympathetic) nerves.
The center of cartilage formation.
The center in the spinal cord that transmits sympathetic impulses that dilate the pupils of the eyes.
day care center
A place for the care of preschool children when their parents are for any reason unable to care for them. Initially, such facilities were open during normal working hours, but many now offer early drop-off and late pickup.
Either of two centers, a medullary center located in the medulla oblongata and a spinal center located in the second to fourth sacral segments of the spinal cord. The anospinal center controls the reflex aspects of defecation.
A group of structures in the brain that controls swallowing. These structures are located in the medulla oblongata and in the inferior pons.
1. An area in the floor of the fourth ventricle of the brain.
2. A health care facility that provides specialized care to patients with diabetes mellitus.
The ossification center of the temporal bone, forming the upper and posterior part of the auditory capsule.
The part of the respiratory center, located dorsal to the inspiratory center, that promotes a forced exhalation.
An area in the ventrolateral nucleus of the hypothalamus that originates signals to the cerebral cortex that stimulate eating. See: satiety center; set point weight
A collection of B cells undergoing proliferation within the follicle of a lymph node or other lymphoid tissue after antigen stimulation.
The center, primarily in the parietal lobes, that feels and interprets taste. Synonym: taste center; taste area
Either of two centers, a heat loss and a heat production center, located in the hypothalamus. They regulate body temperature.
A center in any portion of the brain, in contrast to one in the spinal cord.
independent living center
A community facility that coordinates services for the disabled, including counseling, training, rehabilitation, assistance with devices, and respite care.
The respiratory center, located in the rostral half of the reticular formation overlying the olivary nuclei, that generates impulses that cause contraction of the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles.
A center in the brainstem or spinal cord.
A center that controls the reflexes of the urinary bladder. These are located in the second to fourth and fourth to sixth sacral segments of the cord. Higher centers are present in the medulla oblongata, hypothalamus, and cerebrum. See: illustration
motor cortical center
An area in the frontal lobe in which impulses for voluntary movements originate.
An area in the central nervous system or in a ganglion that is responsible for certain functions; examples include the motor areas in the frontal lobes of the cerebrum.
1. An embryonic group of cells that induces the development of another structure.
2. A region in an ovum that is responsible for the mode of development of the fertilized ovum.
The site or sites in bones where calcification begins and bone replaces fibrous connective tissue or cartilage. The region of bone formation at the center of the body of a long bone is called the primary (diaphyseal) ossification center. Most secondary ossification centers are found in the epiphyses.
panoramic rotational center
The axis on which the tube head and cassette of a panoramic x-ray machine rotate.
The center in the pons that rhythmically inhibits inspiration.
poison control center, poison center
A facility meeting the staffing and equipment standards of the American Association of Poison Control Centers and recognized to be able to give information about poisoning or treatment to patients suffering from poisoning. A poison information center consists of specially trained staff and a reference library but does not have treatment facilities. More than 400 poison centers are scattered throughout the U.S., offering 24-hr service. They are commonly associated with or are part of large hospitals or medical schools. A government agency (the Bureau of Drugs Division of the Poison Control Branch of the Food and Drug Administration, U.S, Department of Health and Human Services) is also active in poison control programs and in coordinating the efforts of individual centers. In the U.S., all poison control centers can be reached by calling 1-800-222-1222.
Any of the centers of the cerebral cortex concerned with voluntary muscular contractions.
A region within the brain or spinal cord where connections (synapses) are made between afferent and efferent neurons of a reflex arc.
A region in the medulla oblongata of the brainstem that regulates movements of respiration. This area consists of an inspiratory center and an expiratory center. The pons contains the apneustic center and the pneumotaxic center.
An area in the ventromedial hypothalamus that modulates the stimulus to eat by sending inhibitory impulses, following a meal, to the feeding center. Blood levels of nutrients and gastrointestinal hormones influence its activity.
A community building or meeting room where older adults gather for education, recreation, and services and activities that reflect their interests, enhance their dignity, support their independence, and encourage their involvement with the community. There are approx. 15,000 centers across the U.S., serving close to 10 million older adults annually. Most are supported by government and local nonprofit organizations. Since 1965, the Older Americans Act has provided some funding support to over 6000 senior centers through service contracts for program activities.
speech centerBroca area.
A tertiary care hospital that specializes in the care of patients with acute neurological dysfunction, esp. the administration of thrombolytic drugs to appropriately selected patients with acute ischemic stroke; the management of patient blood pressure, glucose levels, and electrolytes; early mobilization of patients; and the prevention of complications of stroke, including deep venous thrombosis, depression, malnutrition, and pressure ulcers.
suicide prevention center
A health care facility for preventing suicide by counseling and crisis intervention.
Any of the principal centers controlling perspiration located in the hypothalamus; secondary centers are present in the spinal cord.
taste centerGustatory center.
temperature centerThermoregulatory center.
A center in the hypothalamus that regulates heat production and heat loss, esp. the latter, so that a normal body temperature is maintained. It is influenced by nerve impulses from cutaneous receptors and by the temperature of the blood flowing through it. Synonym: temperature center
A regional hospital capable of providing care for critically injured patients. A surgical team, operating suite, surgical subspecialties, intensive care unit, and specialized nursing team are always available.
The center in the medulla oblongata that brings about the constriction of blood vessels.
The center in the medulla oblongata that brings about the dilation of blood vessels.
The center that controls the diameter of blood vessels; the vasoconstrictor and vasodilator centers.
A center in the occipital lobes of the cerebrum that receives visual information transmitted from the retina.
Any of the centers in the medulla concerned with respiration, heart rate, or blood pressure.
Medical Dictionary, © 2009 Farlex and Partners