Subclass
Subclass (Medicine)
Subclass (pronounced: /ˈsʌbklɑːs/) is a term used in various fields of medicine to denote a secondary category within a primary classification, or class.
Etymology
The term "subclass" is derived from the Latin prefix sub-, meaning "under" or "below", and the English word class, which is derived from the Latin classis, meaning "a division, a class".
Definition
In medicine, a subclass often refers to a more specific group within a larger class. For example, in the classification of diseases, a disease may belong to a certain class (e.g., cardiovascular diseases), and within that class, it may belong to a specific subclass (e.g., ischemic heart diseases).
Usage in Different Fields
In Immunology, subclasses are used to denote different types of Immunoglobulin (Ig). For instance, Immunoglobulin A (IgA) has two subclasses: IgA1 and IgA2.
In Pharmacology, drug subclasses are used to categorize drugs that share similar characteristics, such as mechanism of action, but have slight differences. For example, the class of Beta Blockers has subclasses including non-selective beta blockers and cardioselective beta blockers.
In Genetics, subclasses can refer to a division within a class of genes or proteins. For instance, the class of Histone proteins has subclasses such as H1, H2A, H2B, H3, and H4.
Related Terms
- Class (Medicine): The primary category within which a subclass falls.
- Superclass (Medicine): A category that is broader than a class, encompassing multiple related classes.
- Order (Medicine): A category in the biological taxonomy that is above the class level.
- Family (Medicine): A category in the biological taxonomy that is below the order level and above the genus level.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Subclass
- Wikipedia's article - Subclass
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