Descriptionary

tissue engineering the creation of living tissue in the laboratory. Skin and organ cells can be grown by various means, but full organ growth is still in the experimental stage. On the experimental front, liver and kidney cells are grown and "assembled" with microscopic tubes made of a biocompatible polymer that serves a circulatory system.

tissue typing the matching of compatible tissue or organs in transplant operations to help prevent rejec­tion reaction.

trachelectomy removal of the cervix and the neck of the uterus.

tracheotomy an emergency incision into the trachea to open up the airways and relieve suffocation.

transfusion the infusing of donor blood into a patient's vein.

trans-sex surgery removal or altering of the sexual organs as an aid in changing one's sex from male to female, or vice versa.

trepanning boring a hole through the skull.

tubal ligation surgically closing the fallopian tube to prevent pregnancy.

ureteroscopic ultrasonic lithotripsy disintegration of stones in the ureter by means of sound waves.

vaginoplasty

repair of a torn vagina after child­birth.

vasectomy sterilization technique involving the cutting of the vas deferens, the tube through which sperm is transported.

surgical and medical procedures AND RELATED TERMS 341

wertheim operation removal of the uterus, fallo­pian tubes, ovaries, and surrounding tissue to cure extensive cancer.

ILITARY

AIR FORCE AND AIRCRAFT

(includes naval aircraft)

A-4 see Skyhawk. A-6 see Intruder. A-7 see Corsair II. A-10 see Thunderbolt II. AC-130 see Hercules.

aeromedical evacuation the transport of patients to and between hospital facilities by air.

aeromedical evacuation coordinating officer an

officer in charge of aeromedical evacuations.

aeromedical staging unit

a medical unit operating at an air base or airstrip.

aeronautical chart a map showing features of the Earth to aid in air navigation.

afterburning in the exhaust jet of a turbojet engine, the process of fuel injection and combustion.

afterflight inspection the inspection for defects in an aircraft after a flight; may also include the replen­ishment of fuel and the securing of the aircraft.

AH-1J see Sea Cobra.

airborne alert a state of aircraft readiness in which aircraft are already in the air and prepared for combat.

airborne assault weapon a full-tracked gun provid­ing antitank capability for airborne troops.

airborne battlefield command and control cen­ter an aircraft equipped with communications, data link, and display equipment, employed as an airborne command post or as an intelligence relay facility.

air combat fighter an F-16; a single engine, super­sonic, turbofan tactical fighter/bomber capable of employing either nuclear or nonnuclear weapons.

air controller one assigned to the control of aircraft by radar, radio, or other means.

air corridor

a restricted air route intended for friendly aircraft only.

aircraft arresting barrier a barrier device used to stop the forward motion of an aircraft in an emer­gency landing or aborted takeoff.

aircraft arresting cable spanning the landing sur­face or flight deck, a cable used to catch an aircraft's arresting system to stop its forward motion.

aircraft arresting hook a hook device on the bot­tom of an aircraft to engage arresting gear, especially on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.

aircraft arresting system a series of components used to catch aircraft and stop their forward progress during landings or aborted takeoffs.

aircraft dispersal area an area on a military installation where aircraft are dispersed or spread apart when parked, with the intention of avoiding large-scale destruction in the event of an enemy air raid.

aircraft marshaller one who directs aircraft on the ground by the use of batons.

aircraft marshalling area the area where aircraft line up before takeoff or where aircraft assemble after landing.

aircraft scrambling from a ground alert, the imme­diate takeoff of aircraft.

BLu-82 a 15,000-pound bomb. Also, more popu­larly known as a daisy cutter.

bunker buster the GBU-28 Penetrator, a bomb designed to penetrate earth and concrete in order to destroy buried bunkers.

C-17 Globemaster III a large, jet-powered cargo plane.