| Definition of 'ultraviolet rays' |
U.S. National Library of Medicine |
|
1. ultraviolet rays
That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum immediately below the visible range and extending into the x-ray frequencies. The longer wavelengths (near-UV or biotic or vital rays) are necessary for the endogenous synthesis of vitamin D and are also called antirachitic rays; the shorter, ionizing wavelengths (far-UV or abiotic or extravital rays) are viricidal, bactericidal, mutagenic, and carcinogenic and are used as disinfectants.
|
|
|
|
|
| Alternative search options for 'ultraviolet rays' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|