Medical Dictionary
Main Entry:
pre·clin·i·cal Pronunciation:
(')prE-'klin-i-k&l Function:
adjective 1 a : of, relating to, concerned with, orbeing the period preceding clinical manifestations
preclinical stage of diabetes mellitus> b : occurring prior to a clinical trial <preclinical animaltesting to assess a drug's safety>
2 : of, relating to, or being the period in medical or dental education preceding the clinical study of medicine or dentistry preclinical years>; specifically : of or relating to the early period of prescribed medical or dental study devoted to the basic sciences (as anatomy, physiology, andpathology) <preclinical studies>
3 : of, relating to, or being a science basic to medicine preclinical sciences>