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Medical Definition of Severinghaus electrode
1. A glass electrode in a film of bicarbonate solution covered by a thin plastic membrane permeable to carbon dioxide but impermeable to water and electrolytes; the carbon dioxide pressure of a gas or liquid sample quickly equilibrates through the membrane and is measured in terms of the resulting pH of the bicarbonate solution, as sensed by the glass electrode; commonly used to analyze arterial blood samples. Synonym: Severinghaus electrode. (05 Mar 2000)