Glossary

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CAD	Computer-aided design
Calibration	To check, adjust, or standardise systematically the graduations of a quantitative measuring instrument
Cannula	A small duct tube for insertion into a body cavity, duct or vessel
Cardiac monitor (including cardiotachometer and rate alarm)	A device used to measure the heart rate from an analog signal produced by an electrocardiograph, vector cardiograph, or blood pressure monitor. This device may sound an alarm when the heart rate falls outside preset upper and lower limits
Cardiovascular system	The heart with a network of blood vessels that circulates blood around the body
Catheter	A flexible tubular device for insertion into a narrow opening used to deliver a balloon and/or a stent during angioplasty
Catheter guide wire	A catheter guide wire is a coiled wire that is designed to fit inside a percutaneous catheter for the purpose of directing the catheter through a blood vessel
Central nervous system	The brain, meninges and spinal cord
Central venous Nutrition	Nutrition administered through a catheter place in a large, centrally located vein
Chemotactic	Pertaining to the orientation of a cell along a chemical gradient or movement in the direction of the gradient
Coding	Identifying objects or events with the use of recognizable symbols, typically visual or auditory, utilizing readily apparent variables such as color, shape, size, direction, pitch, or duration
Colostomy	The surgical creation of an opening betwen the colon and the surface of the body
Computerised Tomography (CT)	Cross- sectional images of body generated by x-ray and computers
Contrast Agent	A substance, opaque to x- rays, which is introduced into an organ, duct or vessel for the purpose of defining its size, shape or location radiographically
Coronary artery	A vessel which delivers oxygenated blood to the heart muscle
Cost-benefit	Economic analysis of benefit that assigns a numerical value to the effectiveness of a measure
Custom-made device	Any device specifically made in accordance with a duly qualified medical practitioner's written prescription which gives, under his responsibility, specific design characteristics and is intended for the sole use of a particular patient
Cyclotron	A circular ion accelerator used in medicine to produce radioisotopes
Cytology	Study of cells; refers to specimen collected at time of endoscopy