Medical glossary
| A | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviations | A list of abbreviations commonly used in Medical Records: |
| Abduction | Moving in a direction away from the body (as in taking away). |
| Acupuncture | A means of pain relief by the insertion of thin painless needles into pressure and meridian points. |
| Acute | A condition which starts and ends quickly. A long- lasting condition is termed chronic. |
| Adduction | Moving in a direction inwards, towards the midline of the body. |
| Adhesion | Inflammatory fibrous bands formed in an irritated joint capsule. These further reduce... |
| Arthrodesis | The fusion of bones in an arthritic or severely damaged joint to stop movement and thus relieve pain... |
| Arthritis | Degeneration of bone around joints causing varying degrees of joint problems. |
| Arthroplasty | An operation to replace a joint. Eg Hip/Knee. In theory all joints can be replaced but... |
| Arthroscopy | To look inside a joint with a camera (An endoscope). |
| Aspiration | To remove fluid or tissue from an area using a fine needle to minimize the risk of infection and reduce scarring... |
| Asymptomatic | An absence of symptoms. This usually applies to an abnormality or injury that is not intrusive... |
| B | |
|---|---|
| Bilateral | On both sides (e.g. bilateral knee injuries or bilateral lung abnormalities) this is the opposite to unilateral. |
| Bursa | A fluid pouch lined by cells that make the fluid. Their function is to reduce impact... |
| Bursitis | Inflammation of bursa... |
| C | |
|---|---|
| Calcification | Deposition of calcium. This can be normal or abnormal... |
| Capsulitis/Effusion | All joints have a lined sac around them to allow smooth hydraulic movement of the joint... |
| Carpal/Carpus | Carpus is the name given to the small pavement of bones... |
| CAT | Computerised Axial Tomography (a CAT scan). |
| Caudal | Of the tail ie. The coccyx area at the base of the spine. |
| Cervical | The top third of the spine. From the base of the skull to the base of the neck... |
| Cervical Spondylosis | A certain degeneration of bones-the neck. |
| Chronic | Lasting for a long time or permanent. |
| Colles' Fracture | Fracture across the lower end of the wrist... |
| Comminuted | A fracture of a bone into many pieces as opposed to two or three... |
| Complicated Fracture | A fracture associated with a break in the skin... |
| Compound Fracture | A fracture associated with a break in the skin so that the fracture has been exposed to potentially infectious outside atmosphere. |
| Condyle | Rounded bulge at the end of some bones, for muscle attachment... |
| Concussion | A mild to medium form of brain injury that results in some degree... |
| Contusion | A bruise with tissue swelling. |
| D | |
|---|---|
| Debriding/Debridement | The stripping of alien matter and cleaning in a wound to facilitate healing... |
| Dorsal | Of the back. |
| Dorsal Spine | The Thoracic spine which attaches to the rib cage. |
| Dorsiflexion | Backward movement of joints. |
| Dorsum | Back or outer surface. |
| DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) | An abnormal blood clot in the leg that starts in the calf and can spread to the thigh and pelvis... |
| E | |
|---|---|
| Endoscopy | Looking into body cavities with a camera (Endoscopy)... |
| Enuresis | Passing urine... |
| Epicondyle | Protuberance above a condyle at the end at a bone... |
| Eponym | The name attributed to a disorder not particularly on a functional basis... |
| Extension | Straightening of a joint. |
| F | |
|---|---|
| Facet | The surface on a bone which is small and flat. |
| Fibrosis | Thickening of an area with fibrous tissue. |
| Flexion | Bending of a joint. |
| Flexor | A muscle which causes a limb or other part to bend. |
| Fracture | A discontinuity in bone. Many terms exist such as hairline fracture break, but all mean the same... |
| Fusion | Joining together |
| G | |
|---|---|
| Golfer's elbow | Inflammation of the medial (inside) epicondyle of the tendon at the elbow... |
| H | |
|---|---|
| Haematoma | Collection of blood forming swelling. |
| Haemorrhage | Severe bleeding from a vein or artery... |
| I | |
|---|---|
| Illness Behaviour | Developing behaviour of symptoms resulting from unconscious exaggeration by the patient... |
| Inflammation | A response to injury denoted by the suffix 'itis'. The cardinal sign are redness... |
| Interscapular Muscles | The levator scapulae and Rhomboid muscles. |
| K | |
|---|---|
| Kirschner Wire | A titanium wire passed through bone to to anchor fragments... |
| Kuntscher Nail | A strong steel nail that is inserted into the hollow canal of the femur or tibia... |
| Kyphosis | An exaggeration of the normal convex curve of the thoracic spine, causing varying... |
| L | |
|---|---|
| Lateral rotation | Turning to the side. E.g. looking to the left over ones shoulder. |
| Levator scapulae | A muscle extending between the neck and shoulder blade and frequently injured in road... |
| Laceration | A wound made by tearing and is irregular unlike a surgical incision. |
| Laminectomy | Removal of some abnormally placed bone from the spine to improve back pain. |
| Ligament | Binds bone to bone. It is fibrous and relatively inflexible. Overstretching causes... |
| Lordosis | Concave forward curvature of the lumbar spine. Can be normal, reduced... |
| Lumbar | In the area of the lumbar spine eg. the loin. |
| M | |
|---|---|
| Median Nerve | One of the three nerves of the upper limb. Compression at the wrist can cause... |
| Medico-legal | Pertaining to legal aspects of the practice of medicine (as malpractice or patient consent for operations or patient information) |
| Malingering | The deliberate pretending of symptoms or exaggerating illness or incapacityor... |
| Malunion | The uniting of bones after a fracture in the wrong way literally 'bad union'... |
| Manipulation | The procedure whereby a joint or fracture is moved. For a fracture it is to realign... |
| Mensicus | Semi-lunar cartilage as in wrist or knee joints. |
| MRA | Magnetic resonance scan to look at Arteries (A) using MRI scans with a... |
| MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A form of imaging using proton spin and without... |
| N | |
|---|---|
| Neuralgia | Pain felt in a nerve which can be as a result of injury to the nerve, compression... |
| O | |
|---|---|
| Osgood Schlatters Disease | An inflammation of the tibial tuberosities. These are the bony protrusions below... |
| Osteoarthritis | Degenative disease of the joints resulting in pain and loss of movement. It results... |
| Osteoporosis | Loss of Calcium from bones. This is inevitable with the onset of late to middle... |
| P | |
|---|---|
| Phalanx | One of the small bones of the fingers and toes that join to the Metacarpals... |
| Plantar flexion | Bending the foot or toes downwards,towards the sole of the foot. |
| Proprioception | Appreciation of position, balance, and changes in equilibrium. |
| Paraesthesia | Abnormal sensation. Derived from injury to muscle or nerve or both... |
| Patella | Knee cap. |
| Physiotherapy | Treatment to restore full movement of a limb including massage, infrared... |
| Posterior | Of the back of the body or a part of the body. |
| Prolapse | Protrusion of tissue or an organ abnormally into an area resulting in symptoms... |
| Prosthesis | Any artificial replacement body part such as a false leg. |
| Psychiatry | The medicine of the origins,diagnosis, prevention and treatment of mental and... |
| Psychology | The science that studies the functions of the mind such as sensation, perception... |
| PTSD | Post- traumatic stress disorder. A recognised anxiety disorder that can be caused... |
| Q | |
|---|---|
| Quadriceps muscle | The large thigh muscle that aids stability of the knee joint and extends the knee... |
| R | |
|---|---|
| Radius | Bone of the forearm extending between the elbow and the base of the thumb (c.f. Ulna). |
| Radial Nerve | One of the three nerves of the upper limb supplying sensation and motor power... |
| Referred Pain | Pain whose origin is not in the area in which it is felt. |
| Rotator Cuff | Four muscles sitting around the shoulder joint that allow it to 'rotate' and act as a 'cuff'... |
| RSI | Repetitive Strain Injury. A name often given to any disorder caused by sustained... |
| S | |
|---|---|
| Scoliosis | An abnormal lateral curve to the normally upright spine usually in the thoraco-lumbar... |
| SIGNS | What a doctor elicits on examination as opposed to SYMPTOMS which are what... |
| Spine | There are three parts to the spine. Cervical; from the neck to the shoulders... |
| Scaphoid bone | A small bone in the wrist at the base of the thumb..It is essential to not miss a fracture... |
| Sciatica | Pain in the distibution of the sciatic nerve. Down the buttock,S back of the thigh... |
| Soft Tissue Injury | Damage to skin, muscle, tendon or ligament but no bone. |
| Somatisation Disorder | A psychiatric condition marked by multiple medically unexplained physical or somatic... |
| Spondylitis | Inflammation of the vertebrae (back bones). |
| Spondylosis | Early inflamation of the spine, and a precursor to arthritis. |
| Sprain | Stretching or tearing of a ligament. Various grading systems exist but essentially... |
| Strain | Stretching or tearing of a muscle. |
| Subluxation | Partial or incomplete dislocation or strain of a joint. |
| Synovial Effusion | Extra fluid within a synovial joint... |
| Synovitis | Inflammation of membrane lining joint. |
| T | |
|---|---|
| Tendon | Joins muscle to bone. |
| Traction | Drawing or pulling. Usually of of limb as part of treatment such as putting bones back... |
| Trapezius | A kite shaped muscle extending between the base of the skull and the lumbar area... |
| Tripod muscles | The Hamstrings Quadriceps and calf muscles that form the knee stabilisers. |
| Tendinitis | Inflammation of the tendon. |
| Tennis Elbow | Inflammation of the tendon of the common extensor tendon of the elbow... |
| Tenosynovitis | Inflammation of a tendon within its sheath (covering) due to swelling of the tendon... |
| Thorax | Of the chest. |
| Traction | Drawing or pulling of limb as part of treatment. |
| Trauma | Fracture or blow. An overwhelmingly stressful event. |
| U | |
|---|---|
| Ultrasound | Sound waves used for therapeutic purposes. For treatment to reduce muscle... |
| Ulcer | Breach on the surface of skin or membrane. Depending on the causation they... |
| Ulna | The bone of the forearm, extending between the elbow and the base of the wrist... |
| Ulnar Nerve | One of the three main nerves of the upper limb. |
| W | |
|---|---|
| Whiplash Injury | An abnormal movement of the neck.It was traditionally thought to be... |
| X | |
|---|---|
| X-Ray | The oldest form of medical imaging using X-Ray radiation to show internal parts... |