FOCAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does focal mean? 

• FOCAL (adjective)
  The adjective FOCAL has 2 senses:

1. having or localized centrally at a focus

2. of or relating to a focus

  Familiarity information: FOCAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FOCAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having or localized centrally at a focus

Context example:

focal infection

Similar:

central (in or near a center or constituting a center; the inner area)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to a focus

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

focal length

Pertainym:

focus (a point of convergence of light (or other radiation) or a point from which it diverges)

Derivation:

focus (a fixed reference point on the concave side of a conic section)

focus (a point of convergence of light (or other radiation) or a point from which it diverges)

 Context examples 

Cell junction is the specialized focal contact between cell-cell or cell-matrix in all tissues.

(Cell Junction, NCI Thesaurus)

In addition to signals created by adhesion molecules to alter cellular responses, other signaling pathways can alter adhesion through components of the focal adhesion complex.

(Cell to Cell Adhesion Signaling Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

In occasional cases an increased mitotic activity, focal necrosis, and nuclear pleomorphism may be seen.

(Cellular Blue Nevus, NCI Thesaurus)

Elevated calcium from CRAC is required for downstream activation of Pyk2, a focal adhesion-associated protein kinase.

(CCR5 Signaling Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

An anticonvulsant used to control grand mal and psychomotor or focal seizures.

(Carbamazepine, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

CAS moves to focal adhesions upon integrin triggered Y-phosphorylation.

(Breast Cancer Anti-Estrogen Resistance 1 Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

Recruitment of Rac to these clusters leads to the activation of Rac and the formation of Rac-induced focal clusters.

(Calpain-1 Cell Spread Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

The release from the focal adhesion complex facilitates migration.

(Calpain-2 Cell Motility Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

The focal point of this illustration is the AKAP350 complex.

(Centrosome Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

MIN NOS is recommended for focal atypical lesions in genetically engineered mice before their neoplastic potential is known

(Mouse MIN NOS, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)