Alive

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Alive

Alive (pronunciation: /əˈlaɪv/) is an adjective in the English language that describes a state of living, as opposed to being dead or inanimate.

Etymology

The term "alive" originates from the Old English word "on life," which translates to "in life." The prefix "a-" in "alive" is a reduced form of the Old English "on," meaning "in" or "on." The word "life" comes from the Old English "lif," which has roots in the Proto-Germanic "*libæ."

Definition

In a medical context, "alive" refers to an organism that maintains homeostasis, is composed of cells, undergoes metabolism, can grow, adapt to its environment, respond to stimuli, and reproduce. However, the exact definition can vary, and the boundary between life and death can sometimes be unclear, especially in medical situations such as coma or brain death.

Related Terms

  • Life: The condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
  • Death: The cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism.
  • Coma: A state of deep unconsciousness that lasts for a prolonged or indefinite period, caused especially by severe injury or illness.
  • Brain death: The irreversible loss of all functions of the brain, including the brainstem. The three essential findings in brain death are coma, absence of brainstem reflexes, and apnoea.
  • Vital signs: Clinical measurements, specifically pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate, and blood pressure, that indicate the state of a patient's essential body functions.

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