band [ME, bande, strip] , 1. (in anatomy) a bundle of fibers, as seen in tendon or striated muscle, that encircles a structure or binds one part of the body to another. 2. (in dentistry) a strip of metal that fits around a tooth and serves as an attachment for orthodontic components. 3. (Informal) the immature form of a segmented neutrophil characterized by a sausage-shaped nucleus. It is the only immature leukocyte normally found in the peripheral circulation. Bands represent 3% to 5% of the total white cell number. An increase in the relative number of bands indicates bacterial infection or acute stress to the bone marrow.
