occlusion
/əˈkluːʒ(ə)n
/noun [mass noun]
1 Medicine The blockage or closing of a blood vessel or hollow organ.Localized observation of blood vessel stasis, occlusion or vessel dilation have all been observed with Photofrin treatment in vivo....
- Two of the 4 patients with cirrhosis had hepatic infusion chemotherapy and therapeutic occlusion of hepatic arteries.
- The blood vessel wall is usually involved early with resultant hemorrhage, thrombotic occlusion, and lung infarction.
2 [count noun] Meteorology A process by which the cold front of a rotating low-pressure system catches up the warm front, so that the warm air between them is forced upwards off the earth’s surface between wedges of cold air.In a cold occlusion, the reverse occurs and the occlusion resembles a cold front....
- The second type is a warm occlusion, which occurs when the air behind the front is warmer than the air ahead of the front.
2.1An occluded front.In both types of occlusions, the occluded front has well defined vertical boundaries between the coldest air, the cool air, and the warm air....
- The meteorological language, which Doogan edits slightly, destabilizes into a poetry of cyclones, occlusions and disturbances.
3 Dentistry The position of the teeth when the jaws are closed.The initial jaw position was obtained with the teeth in centric occlusion....
- The multi-cusped cheek teeth, complex occlusion and extensive palinal power stroke were well suited for shredding fibrous plant material.
- Posterior teeth may need to be replaced to restore occlusion.
Derivatives
occlusive
/ adjective ...- For purposes of revascularization, PVD is considered in terms of inflow and outflow occlusive disease.
- Despite its accuracy in determining occlusive disease, patient motion may decrease clarity and resolution in 10% to 15% of studies.
- The lesions were subsequently covered with an occlusive nonsterile Tegaderm dressing.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Latin occlus- 'shut up' (from the verb occludere) + -ion.