Pain Dictionary

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Larval therapy
The use of Lucilla serecata (10 pcs/ cm2 wound surface) for debridement. The specially bred, sterile maggots liquefy dead tissue using enzymes. The treatment appears to have very few adverse side-effects.

Leukocyte
White blood cell.

Ligand
Any molecule that binds to a specific binding site on a protein or other molecule. Binding of the ligand may transfer information or activate the binding site or receptor in different ways depending on type of ligand - receptor pair.

Lipids
Are composed of fatty acids and do not disperse in water, so they are hydrophobic.

Lymphocyte
White blood cell that makes an immune response when activated by a foreign molecule (an antigen). They are derived from stem cells within the lymph nodes. B-lymphocytes (when activated) are responsible for the production of circulating antibodies. T-lymphocytes are subdivided into subsets (helper, suppressor, cytotoxic T-cells), and are responsible both for cell-mediated immunity and for stimulating B-lymphocytes.

Lysosome
Membrane-bounded organelle, in eucaryotic cells, containing digestive enzymes, which are typically most active at the acid pH found in the lumen of lysosomes. Lysosomes transport undigested material to the cell membrane for removal. Uncontrolled release of lysosomal enzymes in a cell leads to autolysis and cell death.