Stochastic
Stochastic
Stochastic (pronunciation: /stəˈkastɪk/) is a term that is often used in the field of medicine and statistics. It refers to a system or a process that is unpredictable due to the influence of a random variable.
Etymology
The term 'Stochastic' is derived from the Greek word 'stokhazesthai' which means 'to aim at a target'. It was first used in the English language in the mid 17th century.
Definition
In the context of medicine, a stochastic effect is one that occurs by chance and which can occur with no threshold level of dose. The probability of the effect occurring, rather than its severity, is assumed to be a linear function of dose without threshold. Examples of stochastic effects are cancer and genetic effects.
Related Terms
- Random Variable: A variable whose possible values are outcomes of a random phenomenon.
- Probability: The measure of the likelihood that an event will occur.
- Cancer: A group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.
- Genetic Effects: Changes in the genetic material of living cells which may be passed on to the cells' offspring.
- Dose: A quantity of a medicine or drug taken or recommended to be taken at a particular time.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Stochastic
- Wikipedia's article - Stochastic
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski