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Absorb
Absorb is commonly used to mean to take in,
like a sponge absorbing water. There are many
examples in which absorb is used in the field of
medicine. For example, in the brain,
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is absorbed by bumpy
structures in the ventricles (open structures in
the brain) known as arachnoid granulations,
and brought out into the bloodstream. CSF is
the cushiony fluid that protects the brain and
spine and helps distribute nutrients to these
structures.
A hand bandage absorbing blood.
FEATURED BOOK: Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles
CSF is the cushiony fluid that protects the brain and spine and helps distribute nutrients
to these structures. Sometimes, diagnostic imaging of the body is based on observing
the rate that injected substances are absorbed by the body to detect abnormalities. A
good example of this is observing the rate by which bones absorb an injected substance
in a procedure known as a bone scan. The large intestine absorbs moisture from the
the anus (rear end). Excrete means to release from the body as waste.
Absorb is also used to refer to decreasing the intensity of transmitted light. An example
of the latter would be wearing sunglasses to absorb light waves so that the intensity of
transmitted light is decreased. Absorbefacient means causing absorption or any
substance that causes absorption.
"Where Medical Information is Easy to Understand"™
Absorptiometry means the measurement of absorption, such as measuring the absorption of water or the
absorption of radiation. Absorb comes from the Latin word "absorbeo" meaning "to suck in."
