Grain

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Grain (Medicine)

Grain (pronounced: /ɡreɪn/) is a unit of measurement in medicine, originally from the Middle Ages when it was used as a measure of weight for medicinal ingredients. The term is derived from the Latin word granum, meaning "small seed" or "kernel".

In the Apothecary system, a grain is exactly 64.79891 milligrams. It is abbreviated as gr. In the context of medicine, it is most commonly used in the United States to measure the mass of medication, particularly for doses of solid substances such as tablets or capsules.

Related Terms

  • Apothecary system: An old system of weights and measures that was widely used in Europe, especially in pharmacies, during the 18th and 19th centuries. It uses the grain as a base unit of weight.
  • Milligram: A unit of mass in the metric system, equal to one thousandth of a gram. It is often used in medicine to measure the mass of medication.
  • Medication: A substance used to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose a disease or medical condition.
  • Tablet (pharmacy): A solid dosage form of medication, typically round or oval, that is intended to be swallowed whole.
  • Capsule (pharmacy): A solid dosage form of medication in which the drug is enclosed in a hard or soft soluble container, usually made of gelatin.

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