Dictionary

patellofemoral joint The joint formed by the kneecap (patella) and the femur. See also knee.

patellectomy An operation to remove a shattered patella.

patellar Pertaining to the patella (kneecap).

patella See kneecap.

Patau syndrome See trisomy 13 syndrome.

PAT Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia.

pasteurization A method of treating food by heating it to a certain point to kill disease-causing organisms but keep the flavor or quality of the food intact. Pasteurization is used with beer, milk, fruit juice, cheese, and egg products.

Pasteur, Louis A French chemist and biologist who invented pasteurization, developed the germ theory, founded the field of bacteriology, and created the first vaccines against anthrax and rabies.

passive smoking Inhalation of smoke that comes from someone else smoking. Passive smoking is associated with the same array of diseases as actual smoking, with an elevated risk of lung cancer and other diseases.

passive immunity Immunity produced by the transfer to one person of antibodies that were produced by another person. Protection from passive immunity diminishes in a relatively short time, usually a few weeks or months. For example, antibodies passed from the mother to the baby before birth confer passive immunity to the baby for the first…

Parvovirus B19 The virus responsible for the disease known as fifth disease. See also fifth disease.

parturition See labor.