FLUORESCIN Meaning and
Definition
-
Fluorescein is a fluorescent organic compound that exhibits bright green fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light. It is a synthetic dye used primarily as a tracer or fluorescent marker in various scientific and medical applications.
Fluorescein has a chemical formula C20H12O5 and is derived from resorcinol and phthalic anhydride. It typically appears as a yellow-orange powder that is sparingly soluble in water.
In ophthalmology, fluorescein is widely utilized to diagnose eye conditions and assess blood circulation in the retina. It is administered by either intravenous injection or by dropping a solution onto the surface of the eye. The dye rapidly enters the bloodstream and highlights blood vessels, enabling doctors to visualize and evaluate blood flow using a special blue or green light. This technique, known as fluorescein angiography, is key in diagnosing retinal diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusion.
Fluorescein is also employed in microbiology as a stain to detect bacteria and fungi, as it binds to certain cellular components and emits fluorescence under specific wavelengths. Furthermore, it is used in molecular biology to label and track nucleic acids, proteins, and other biomolecules during experiments and research studies.
Due to its fluorescent properties, fluorescein is additionally employed as a dye in various research fields, such as immunology, histology, and cell biology. Its distinctive bright green fluorescence has made it a versatile tool for visualizing and studying specific cellular structures and processes.
-
Resorcinol-phthalin, a derivative of fluorescein; a bright yellow powder employed, like fluorescein, in the diagnosis of corneal lesions in applications of 1 drop of a 2 per cent. solution.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for FLUORESCIN
- dluorescin
- cluorescin
- vluorescin
- gluorescin
- tluorescin
- rluorescin
- fkuorescin
- fpuorescin
- fouorescin
- flyorescin
- flhorescin
- fljorescin
- fliorescin
- fl8orescin
- fl7orescin
- fluirescin
- flukrescin
- flulrescin
- fluprescin
Etymology of FLUORESCIN
The word "fluorescin" is derived from the term "fluorescence". The term "fluorescence" comes from the Latin word "fluere", meaning "to flow", and the Latin word "escens", meaning "becoming". Fluorescence refers to the property of certain substances to emit light or fluorescence when exposed to radiation or light of a specific wavelength. Hence, the name "fluorescin" was coined to denote a compound that displays fluorescent properties, commonly used as a fluorescent dye or stain in scientific research and medical diagnostics.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
