The frequency and pattern of health-related characteristics and events in a population.
n. the dispersion of a set of observations (e.g. of heights, weights, or blood pressures) about their arithmetic *mean. A normal or Gaussian distribution is a continuous distribution that is symmetrical around the mean value and in which a large majority of the observations fall within one *standard deviation of the mean in either direction: such a distribution forms the familiar symmetrical bell curve when plotted on a graph. In a skewed or asymmetrical distribution, the measurements are clustered on one side of the mean and spread out over a wider range on the other. See also frequency distribution; significance.
The symmetrical clustering of values around a central location. The properties of a normal distribution include: (1) it is a continuous, symmetrical distribution: both tails extend to infinity; (2) the arithmetic mean, mode and median are identical; and (3) its shape is completely determined by the mean and standard deviation.... normal distribution
Health Encyclopedia