Quark
Quark (Medicine)
Quark (pronounced: /kwɔːrk/) is a term that, while primarily used in the field of particle physics, has also found its way into medical terminology. In the medical context, it is often used metaphorically to describe the smallest, most fundamental units of a system or structure.
Etymology
The term "quark" was first coined by physicist Murray Gell-Mann in 1964. It was inspired by a line from James Joyce's novel Finnegans Wake: "Three quarks for Muster Mark!" In the context of medicine, the term has been adopted to describe the smallest, indivisible units of a system or structure, much like how quarks are the smallest units in the field of particle physics.
Usage in Medicine
In medicine, "quark" is often used in a metaphorical sense. For example, it may be used to describe the smallest, indivisible units of a biological system or structure. This could refer to anything from the smallest functional units of a cell, such as organelles, to the smallest functional units of a larger system, such as the nephron in the kidney.
Related Terms
- Organelle: A specialized subunit within a cell that has a specific function.
- Nephron: The microscopic structural and functional unit of the kidney.
- Particle physics: A branch of physics that studies the nature of particles that constitute matter and radiation.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Quark
- Wikipedia's article - Quark
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