Reactivity
Reactivity (Medicine)
Reactivity (pronunciation: /riːækˈtɪvɪti/) is a term used in medicine to describe the degree to which a living organism or a biological system responds to or resists a particular stimulus or stressor.
Etymology
The term "reactivity" is derived from the Latin word "reactivus", which means "to react". It was first used in the medical context in the late 19th century.
Definition
In the medical context, reactivity refers to the ability of an organism or a system to change in response to a stimulus. This can include changes in physiological functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, or immune response, as well as changes in behavior or mood.
Related Terms
- Hyperreactivity: An exaggerated response to a stimulus. This can occur in various medical conditions, such as asthma where the airways become overly reactive to certain triggers, leading to difficulty in breathing.
- Hyporeactivity: A diminished response to a stimulus. This can occur in conditions such as depression, where individuals may show a reduced emotional response to positive or negative events.
- Immunoreactivity: The ability of the immune system to respond to an antigen. This term is often used in the context of immunology and allergy testing.
- Neuroreactivity: The responsiveness of the nervous system to a stimulus. This term is often used in neuroscience to describe how neurons respond to various stimuli.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Reactivity
- Wikipedia's article - Reactivity
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