A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ

q—

The long arm of a chromosome; a designation "4q—" means a deletion on the long arm of chromosome 4.

QT

See Quick Test.

quadriceps

Quadriceps femoris; a group of four muscles located on the front of the thigh; it flexes the leg at the hip and extends the knee.

quadriplegia

Literally, "four palsy"; a topographical (which parts of the body are involved) subtype of spastic cerebral palsy in which all four extremities (arms or legs) are severely involved. Asymmetries are frequently present but not in such a way as to qualify for another topographic classification. Severe mental retardation is the rule. An inexperienced examiner may easily mistake rigidity for quadriplegia.

quadruped

On "all fours"; prone (front) on elbows/knees or hands/feet.

quantifier

An adjective that expresses amount, either specific (one, two, three, etc.) or nonspecific (all, some, none, most, more, each, etc.).

quantitative research synthesis

See metaanalysis.

Quick Test (QT)

Ammons Quick Test; a brief (approximately 15-minute administration time) cognitive screening test for children ages 2 years and older. A picture receptive vocabulary test with questionable validity.

quickening

The earliest maternal perception of fetal movement, typically in the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy. Deviations in the time of occurrence of quickening may suggest either problems with the fetus or error in the estimated duration of pregnancy. If the baby is felt to be moving earlier than the fourth month, then the pregnancy may be farther along than initially estimated; if the baby is not felt to be moving after the fifth month, then the pregnancy may be less far along or the baby may be experiencing difficulties due to placental or embryological abnormalities.