Ratio
Ratio (Medicine)
Ratio (/ˈreɪʃiːoʊ/; from Latin, meaning 'reason' or 'calculation') is a mathematical concept that expresses the relationship between two quantities. In the field of medicine, ratios are often used to compare the amounts of different substances in the body, such as the ratio of glucose to insulin, or the ratio of red blood cells to white blood cells.
Etymology
The term 'ratio' comes from the Latin word 'ratiō', which means 'reason' or 'calculation'. It was first used in English in the 16th century to refer to a mathematical relationship between two numbers.
Usage in Medicine
In medicine, ratios are used in a variety of ways. For example, the body mass index (BMI) is a ratio that compares a person's weight to their height. The cholesterol ratio, on the other hand, compares the levels of different types of cholesterol in the blood.
Ratios are also used in pharmacology to determine the correct dosage of a medication. This is often based on the patient's weight or body surface area.
Related Terms
- Proportion: A type of ratio where the numerator is included in the denominator.
- Rate: A ratio that compares different kinds of quantities.
- Odds: A ratio that represents the likelihood of an event occurring.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ratio
- Wikipedia's article - Ratio
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