online medical dictionary | definition of phono

<prefix>

1. A combining form meaning from sound, speech, voice, tone, such as, phonograph, phonology.

2. <entomology> A South American butterfly (Ithonia phono) having nearly transparent wings.

(21 Jun 2000)

<cardiology> Recording and analysis of the audible frequency-intensity components of the bruit of turbulent arterial blood flow through a stenotic lesion.

Origin: phono-+ G. Angeion, vessel, + grapho, to write

(05 Mar 2000)

<cardiology> A record of the heart sounds made by means of a phonocardiograph.

(05 Mar 2000)

<apparatus>

An instrument, utilizing microphones, amplifiers, and filters, for graphically recording the heart sounds, which are displayed on an oscilloscope or analog tracing.

Linear phonocardiograph, a phonocardiograph that records all chest wall vibrations resulting from cardiac activity, with emphasis on low frequency vibrations due to its filter characteristics.

Logarithmic phonocardiograph, a phonocardiograph that records only theoretically audible vibrations with emphasis on the higher frequencies due to filter characteristics designed to imitate the logarithmic frequency-intensity response of the human auditory apparatus.

Spectral phonocardiograph, an instrument for recording the heart sounds in which the electrical changes created by the latter pass from a microphone through a series of filters, each of which is tuned to a particular frequency band; output from each filter activates a separate light source of brightness proportional to the intensity of the sound transmitted through that filter; the lights are arranged vertically in descending order of frequencies. A record is obtained by photographing the vertical row of lights.

Stethoscopic phonocardiograph, a phonocardiograph that records all sound vibrations, audible and inaudible, conveyed by the stethoscope; however, very low frequency vibrations (in the range of body movements) are filtered out.

(05 Mar 2000)

Graphic registration of the heart sounds picked up as vibrations and transformed by a piezoelectric crystal microphone into a varying electrical output according to the stresses imposed by the sound waves.

The electrical output is amplified by a stethograph amplifier and recorded by a device incorporated into the electrocardiograph or by a multichannel recording machine.

(12 Dec 1998)

A cardiac catheter with diminutive microphone housed in its tip, for recording sounds and murmurs from within the heart and great vessels.

(05 Mar 2000)

1. A letter, character, or mark used to represent a particular sound. "Phonograms are of three kinds: (1) Verbal signs, which stand for entire words; (2) Syllabic signs, which stand for the articulations of which words are composed; (3) Alphabetic signs, or letters, which represent the elementary sounds into which the syllable can be resolved." (I. Taylor (The Alphabet))

2. A record of sounds made by a phonograph.

Origin: Phono- + -gram.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. A character or symbol used to represent a sound, especially. One used in phonography.

2. <physics> An instrument for the mechanical registration and reproduction of audible sounds, as articulate speech, etc. It consists of a rotating cylinder or disk covered with some material easily indented, as tinfoil, wax, paraffin, etc, above which is a thin plate carrying a stylus. As the plate vibrates under the influence of a sound, the stylus makes minute indentations or undulations in the soft material, and these, when the cylinder or disk is again turned, set the plate in vibration, and reproduce the sound.

Origin: Phono- + -graph.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. One versed or skilled in phonography.

2. One who uses, or is skilled in the use of, the phonograph. See Phonograph.

(01 Mar 1998)

Preferred term: phonographical

1. Of or pertaining to phonography; based upon phonography.

2. Of or pertaining to phonograph; done by the phonograph.

Origin: Cf. F. Phonographique.

(01 Mar 1998)

In a phonographic manner; by means of phonograph.

(01 Mar 1998)

<specialist>

Preferred term: phonographer

1. A description of the laws of the human voice, or sounds uttered by the organs of speech.

2. A representation of sounds by distinctive characters; commonly, a system of shorthand writing invented by Isaac Pitman, or a modification of his system, much used by reporters.

The consonants are represented by straight lines and curves; the vowels by dots and short dashes; but by skilled phonographers, in rapid work, most vowel marks are omitted, and brief symbols for common words and combinations of words are extensively employed. The following line is an example of phonography, in which all the sounds are indicated: "They also serve who only stand and wait." (Milton)

3. The art of constructing, or using, the phonograph.

Origin: Phono-.

(01 Mar 1998)

<chemical>

A compact, feldspathic, igneous rock containing nephelite, hauynite, etc. Thin slabs give a ringing sound when struck.

Synonyms: clinkstone.

Origin: Phono-: cf. F. Phonolithe.

(01 Mar 1998)

Of or pertaining to phonology.

(01 Mar 1998)

The understanding that words are composed of sequences of sounds and the ability to identify and manipulate the sounds of language.

(14 Jan 2009)

<specialist>

One versed in phonology.

(01 Mar 1998)

The scientific study of the speech sounds of a language.

(14 Jan 2009)

<study>

The science or doctrine of the elementary sounds uttered by the human voice in speech, including the various distinctions, modifications, and combinations of tones; phonetics. Also, a treatise on sounds.

Origin: Phono-.

(01 Mar 1998)

<psychiatry> Rarely used term for a homicidal mania.

Origin: G. Phonos, murder, + mania, frenzy

(05 Mar 2000)

<instrument>

An instrument for measuring sounds, as to their intensity, or the frequency of the vibrations.

Origin: Phono-.

(24 Mar 1998)

<physics> An instrument in which motion is produced by the vibrations of a sounding body.

Origin: Phono- + -motor.

(01 Mar 1998)

Clonic spasms of muscles in response to aural stimuli.

Origin: phono-+ G. Mys, muscle, + klonos, tumult

(05 Mar 2000)

The recording of the varying sounds made by contracting muscular tissue.

Origin: phono-+ G. Mys, muscle, + graphe, drawing

(05 Mar 2000)

Any disease of the vocal organs affecting speech.

Origin: phono-+ G. Pathos, suffering

(05 Mar 2000)

<phobia>

<psychiatry> Morbid fear of one's own voice, or of any sound.

Origin: phono-+ G. Phobos, fear

(05 Mar 2000)

A form of binaural stethoscope with a bell-shaped chest piece into which project the recurved extremities of the sound tubes.

Origin: phono-+ G. Phoros, carrying

(05 Mar 2000)

Use of ultrasound to increase the percutaneous adsorption of drugs.

(12 Dec 1998)

The recording on a moving photographic plate of the movements imparted to a diaphragm by sound waves.

Origin: phono-+ photography

(05 Mar 2000)

A condition in which the hearing of certain sounds gives rise to a subjective sensation of colour.

Origin: phono-+ G. Opsis, vision

(05 Mar 2000)

A receptor for sound stimuli.

(05 Mar 2000)

<instrument>

<physics> An instrument for observing or exhibiting the motions or properties of sounding bodies; especially, an apparatus invented by Konig for testing the quality of musical strings.

An instrument for producing luminous figures by the vibrations of sounding bodies.

Origin: Phono- + -scope.

(01 Mar 1998)

<procedure>

The recording made by a phonoscope.

(05 Mar 2000)

A group of operations designed to improve or alter a patient's voice.

(05 Mar 2000)