latent period

latent period definition - medical

latent period

noun
  1. The period elapsing between the application of a stimulus and the obvious response, such as the contraction of a muscle.
  2. The interval between exposure to an infectious organism or a carcinogen and the clinical appearance of disease. Also called incubation period.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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