meta-, met-, meth-
(Greek: after, behind; changed in form, altered; higher [used to designate a higher degree of a branch of science])
- later, behind: metaphase, metathorax
- beyond, transcending, encompassing: metagalaxy, metalanguage
- change, transformation: metaplasia
- higher, more developed: metaxylem
- used in chemical names: metaphosphate
metapsychical
That which is beyond the sphere of ordinary psychology; pertaining to metapsychics.
metapsychics
A name applied to a science or study of certain phenomena that are beyond the scheme of orthodox psychology.
metapsychology, metapsychological
1. A systematic attempt to discern and describe what lies beyond the empirical facts and laws of psychology; such as, the relations between body and mind, or concerning the place of the mind in the universe.
2. In psychoanalysis, or psychoanalytic metapsychology, psychology concerning the fundamental assumptions of the freudian theory of the mind, that entail five points of view:
a. Dynamic, concerning psychologic forces.
b. Economic, concerning psychologic energy.
c. Structural, concerning psychologic configurations.
d. Genetic, concerning psychologic origins.
e. Adaptive, concerning psychologic relations with the environment.
3. A name given to speculative inquiry regarding the ultimate nature of the mind and its functions which cannot be studied experimentally.
4. A term applied to theories about the origin, structure, and functions of the mind that extend beyond the empirical laws of psychology.
metapsychosis
The supposed psychic action of one mind upon another.
metapterygium
metaptile
metartephilist
A collector of metalwork.
metasomatic
metastasectomy (meh TAS tuh SEK toh mee)
Surgery to remove one or more metastases (tumors formed from cells that have spread from the primary tumor).
When all metastases are removed, it is called a complete metastasectomy.
metastasis (meh TAS tuh sis) (s), metastases (meh TAS tuh SEEZ) (pl)
1. The spread of a cancer from the original tumor to other parts of the body by means of tiny clumps of cells transported by the blood or lymph.
2. A malignant tumor that has developed in the body as a result of the spread of cancer cells from the original tumor.
A tumor formed by cells that have spread is called a metastatic tumor or a metastasis. The metastatic tumor contains cells that are like those in the original (primary) tumor.
3. Etymology: from Greek
metastasis, "transference, removal, change"; from
methistanai, "to remove, to change", from
meta-, "over, across" +
histanai, "to place, to cause to stand".
It was a rhetorical term in Late Latin for "a sudden transition in subjects"; medical use for "shift of disease from one part of the body to another" dates from 1663 in English. Metastasize was formed in 1907.
metastasize (meh TAS tuh size)
1. The process by which cancer spreads from the place at which it first arose as a primary tumor to distant locations in the body that spread from one part of the body to another part.
2. The cancer resulting from the spread of the primary tumor; for example, someone with melanoma may have a metastasis in his or her brain. Also, a person with colon cancer may, fortunately, show no metastases.
Metastasis depends on the cancer cells acquiring two separate abilities: increased motility and invasiveness. Cells that metastasize are basically of the same kind as those in the original tumor.
If a cancer arises in the lung and metastasizes to the liver, the cancer cells in the liver are lung cancer cells; however, the cells have acquired increased motility and the ability to invade another organ.
When cancer cells metastasize and cause secondary tumors, the cells in the metastatic tumor are duplicates like those in the original, or primary, cancer.
metastatic (MET uh STAT ik)
Having to do with metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.
metasternum
metatarsalgia
Pain in the forefoot in the region of the heads of the metatarsals.
metatarsectomy
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