| Term |
Description |
| Abdomen |
The part of the body that lies between the chest and the pelvis and encloses
the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, and pancreas |
| Abdominal cavity |
The space bounded by the abdominal walls, diaphragm, and pelvis and containing
most of the organs of digestion, the spleen, the kidneys, and the adrenal
glands. |
| Ablation | The removal or destruction of a body part or tissue or its function.
Ablation may be performed by surgery, hormones, drugs, radiofrequency,
heat, or other methods |
| Abscess | A localised collection of pus |
| Absence Seizure | A type of generalized seizure, which does not result in loss of consciousness
but an altered state for a very short period of time, usually lasting less
than 20 seconds. Also called a Petit Mal Seizure |
| Acalculia | Loss of the ability to solve simple arithmetic problems |
| ACE inhibitors | ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors are a class of vasodilators,
drugs that open ("dilate") the arteries, lowering blood pressure
and therefore the heart's workload |
| Achondroplasia | A genetic disorder of bone growth (the long bones) that causes a common
form of dwarfism. People with this condition have a normal body but short
arms and legs |
| Acidosis | A condition in which the blood is more acidic than normal. This may be
due to a build up of carbon dioxide as a result of respiratory failure,
or of acid substances, e.g. hyperglycaemia in diabetes mellitus (diabetic
ketoacidosis)
|
| Acoustic | Relating to sound or the sense of hearing |
| Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) |
A severe immunological disorder caused by the retrovirus HIV. There is
an increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and to certain
rare cancers, especially Kaposi's sarcoma. Click
here for more information about HIV/AIDS |
| Acromegaly | Increase in size of hands, feet and face due to excessive production
of growth hormone by a tumour of the pituitary gland |
| Acromioclavicular joint | A joint between the acromion (part of the shoulder blade) and the clavicle
(collar bone) |
| Acromion |
The roof, or highest point, of the shoulder that is formed by a part of
the scapula, or shoulder blade |
| Acuity | Clearness or sharpness; usually of vision
|
| Acute |
Having rapid onset |
| Addisons disease | A rare disorder caused by deficient secretion of hormones by the adrenal
gland, resulting in weight loss, weakness, and low blood pressure |
| Adenocarcinoma |
A malignant neoplasm derived from transitional epithelium |
| Adjuvant |
Add on treatment used in combination with primary (main treatment) |
| Adrenal glands |
Two triangular glands located above each kidney.
These glands produce steroid hormones
and adrenaline |
| Adrenaline |
A hormone produced by the adrenal glands |
| Aerobic | With oxygen |
| Affect | Feeling or emotion as distinguished from cognition, thought, or action.
Affect means mood. Affective disorders are disorders of mood |
| Ageing |
The process of growing older. It includes a reduction in strength, endurance,
speed of reaction, agility, basal metabolism, sexual activity and hearing
acuity. The bones are more brittle, the skin drier and less elastic and
the teeth are shed. Click
here for more information about Ageing |
| Agitation | A state of extreme emotional disturbance, restlessness with inability
to concentrate |
| Agnosia | A loss of ability to recognize objects, persons, sounds, shapes or smells
while the specific sense is not defective nor is there any significant
memory loss. It is usually associated with brain injury or neurological
illness, particularly after damage to the temporal lobe |
| Agonist | The muscle directly engaged in contraction. In bending the elbow, the
biceps muscle is the agonist |
| Agoraphobia | Morbid fear of open space, and social situations |
| Agraphia | Loss of the ability to write |
| Akathisia | Restlessness of arms and legs. This can be a side-effect of anti psychotic
treatment |
| Akinesia |
The absence or poverty of movements |
| Albinism (Albino) | Partial or complete lack of pigment in skin, hair and eyes |
| Albumin (Serum albumin) | One of the body's proteins. It is the most abundant of the proteins in
the blood plasma |
| Albuminuria | Presence of albumin in the urine usually indicating disease of the kidneys |
| Alcoholism | Alcoholism is a term applied to habitual excessive alcohol consumption.
Click here for more details about Alcohol Related disorders |
| Allergen | A substance which, when introduced into the body most often through being
eaten, inhaled or skin contact, provokes an allergic state in sensitive
individuals. E.g. pollen |
| Allergy (Allergic State) | Sensitivity to a particular foreign substance [Allergen]. E.g. Asthma
and hay fever |
| Alpha1 Antitrypsin deficiency |
An inherited deficiency of a trypsin-inhibiting serum protein that may
increase one's susceptibility to emphysema and cirrhosis. |
| Alport's Syndrome |
An inherited syndrome marked by progressive nephropathy and nerve deafness
and sometimes ocular defects. |
| Alveoli | Very small air sacs in the lung |
| Alzheimer’s disease | A progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of function
and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain, leading to loss
of mental functions such as memory and learning. Alzheimer’s disease
is the most common cause of dementia |
| Ambulatory | Walking |
| Amenorrhoea | Absence of menstruation |
| Ammonia |
A colorless, pungent gas used to manufacture a wide variety of nitrogen-containing
organic and inorganic chemicals |
| Amnesia | Total or partial lack or loss of memory; inability to remember past experiences |
| Amnestic Syndrome | An altered psychologic state where memories are not recorded and are
lost |
| Amphetamines |
A stimulant drug. Used in treatment of narcolepsy and ADHD where it helps control hyperactivity |
| Amyloid | A protein substance often deposited around and within blood vessels,
for example in the kidneys as a result of chronic infection (e.g. TB) or
autoimmune disease |
| Amyloidosis |
A disorder marked by the deposition of amyloid protein in various organs
and tissues of the body. |
| Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis |
A type of motor neurone disease characterised by atrophy of the muscles of the hands, forearms and legs and spreading to involve most of the body |
| Anaemia |
A deficiency of red cells or their haemoglobin in
the blood. Click
here for more details about Anaemia. |
| Anaerobic | Without oxygen |
| Anaesthesia | A partial (local) or total (general) loss of feeling or sensation |
| Anaesthetic | A drug, which removes sensation. With a local anaesthetic, the feeling
is removed only from part of the body. With a general anaesthetic, the
patient is unconscious |
| Anal Canal |
The terminal portion of the alimentary canal, extending from the pelvic
diaphragm to the anal orifice. |
| Analgesia | Pain relief |
| Analgesic | A drug that relieves pain [such as aspirin, paracetamol, morphine] |
Anaphylactic shock
Anaphylaxis | An extremely severe form of allergic reaction, which can be fatal |
| Anastomosis | An end-to-end union or joining up of two structures usually blood vessels
or loops of intestine |
| Anatomy |
The science of the structure of living organisms |
| Aneurysm | A localised ballooning of the walls of an artery, most commonly affecting
the abdominal aorta, but also arteries of the brain |
| Angina Pectoris |
A pain in the chest usually caused by exercise due to reduced circulation
of blood in the coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscle. Click
here for more details about Ischaemic Heart Disease. |
| Angio-oedema |
Swelling of the deep tissues of the face and throat
which may be life threatening. Can occur alone or accompany anaphylaxis
and/or urticaria. Formerly known as angio-neurotic oedema. Also used to
describe deep tissue swelling of the hands, feet or genitals. Click
here for more details about Urticaria. |
| Angiogram/Angiography |
X-ray examination of blood vessels after injection of a special fluid,
which shows up on the x-rays. Click
here for more details about Angiogram (Angiography) |
Angioplasty
(Cardiac Catheterisation) | A procedure that identifies possible problems with your heart or its
arteries. A thin plastic tube, called a catheter, is inserted into a blood
vessel in the groin or arm. The catheter is guided up toward the heart.
A special dye is injected into the catheter so X-rays can show any artery
blockage or other heart problems |
| Angiotensin II |
An octapeptide that is a potent vasopressor and a powerful stimulus for
production and release of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex. |
| Anhedonia | Total lack of interest in and enjoyment of hobbies / pleasure activities |
| Ankle brachial pressure index |
A ratio measuring the difference in blood pressure in the arteries used
as a test for blocked / narrowed leg arteries. |
| Ankylosis | Severe or complete loss of movement at a joint usually due to the abnormal
joining of bones to each other |
| Annulus | A ring like structure, or any body part that is shaped like a ring. E.g.
inter-vertebral discs consist of a tough outer ring of fibrous material
(the annulus) |
| Anomaly | An abnormality, a deviation from normal |
| Anomia | A form of aphasia (loss of language capability caused by brain damage)
in which the subject has difficulty remembering or recognizing names which
the subject should know well. The subject speaks fluently and grammatically
and has normal comprehension, and the only deficit is trouble finding appropriate
words |
| Anorexia | An abnormal loss of the appetite for food. Anorexia can be caused by
cancer, AIDS, a mental disorder (i.e., anorexia nervosa), or other diseases |
| Anoxia | Absence, or deficiency of oxygen |
| Antacid |
An agent that counteracts acidity |
| Antagonist | A muscle that relaxes while another contracts; "when bending the
elbow the triceps are the antagonist" |
| Antenatal | Before birth; also called prenatal |
| Anterior | Nearer to, or at the front of the body |
| Anterior Segment | The anterior segment is the front third of the eye that includes the
structures in front of the vitreous humour: the cornea, iris, ciliary body,
and lens |
| Anti-androgen drugs |
Drugs that prevent the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics
on responsive tissues. Block the action of the male sex hormone (testosterone). |
| Anti-inflammatory |
Medicine used to relieve swelling, pain, and other symptoms of inflammation |
| Antiarrhythmic | A drug or procedure that lenscounters or prevents cardiac arrhythmia |
| Antibiotic | A drug that inhibits the growth of, or kills micro-organisms such as
bacteria (germs), and is used to prevent or treat infectious diseases |
| Antibody | A protein produced by the body in response to a foreign substance (antigen)
such as bacteria. The antibody combines with the antigen to destroy or
neutralize it and prevents/cures infection |
| Anticholinergic drugs | Drugs used to increase the effect of nerve transmitters that reduce spasm.
Can also be used in asthma treatment |
| Anticoagulant | A substance that is able to decrease or prevent the clotting of blood |
| Anti-convulsant drugs (Anti epileptic medication) |
Drugs used to treat epileptic seizures. If
used for Epilepsy click here for more details about Epilepsy. |
| Anti-depressant | Drugs used to relieve or prevent the symptoms of mood or anxiety disorders |
| Antiemetic Drugs |
Agents that prevent or arrest vomiting |
| Anti-histimines |
Drugs that combat the histamine released during an allergic reaction |
| Anti-hypertensive agent | Drugs used to relieve or prevent the symptoms of mood or anxiety disorders |
| Anti-muscarinic drugs |
Effective against the toxic effects of muscarine (a highly toxic alkaloid
related to the cholines and having neurologic effects) |
| Antigen | A substance that when introduced into the body causes the formation of
antibodies |
| Anti-psychotic drugs | A group of drugs used to treat psychosis. E.g. schizophrenia |
| Anti-resorptive drugs |
Medications that work by preventing natural breakdown of bone are called
anti-resorptive agents. They inhibit bone removal or resorption and tip
the balance toward bone rebuilding, thus increasing bone mass |
| Anti-spasmodic |
Preventing or relieving convulsions or spasms. |
| Antithyroid drugs | Drugs used in the treatment of excessive activity of the thyroid gland |
| Antiviral anti-retroviral drug |
An agent that destroys or inhibits the growth and reproduction of viruses |
| Anuria | Absence of urine output |
| Anus | The outlet of the rectum |
| Anxiety |
Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state characterised by fearfulness
and unwanted and distressing physical symptoms. Click
here for more details about Anxiety Disorders. |
| Anxiety Disorder | A generalised, excessive anxiety persistent for more than 6 months |
| Anxiolytic | A tranquilizer used to relieve anxiety and reduce tension and irritability |
| Aorta | The main trunk of the arterial system of the body, which carries, oxygenated
blood from the left ventricle of the heart to all parts of the body |
| Apathy/Apethetic | The lack of emotion, motivation, or enthusiasm. Apathy is a psychological
term for a state of indifference - where an individual is irresponsive
or "indifferent" to aspects of emotional, social, or physical
life |
| Aperture | An opening or orifice |
| Apex | The pointed end of a structure |
| Aphakia | Absence of the lens of the eye |
| Aphasia | Loss of ability to express oneself or comprehend language because of
brain damage |
| Apnoea | A temporary suspension of breathing, for several seconds |
| Appendicitis | Inflammation of the appendix, which is a small blind tube in the gut |
| Apraxia | Partial loss of ability to perform coordinated movements |
| Aqueous humour | Clear fluid in the eye - provides nutrients and determines intraocular
pressure |
| Arachnoiditis | A condition in which there is inflammation of the Arachnoid membrane
surrounding the brain and spinal cord |
| Areflexia | The absence of reflexes |
| Arrhythmia | Disorder of the heart rhythm, irregular heartbeat (also called dysrhythmia) |
| Artery | A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart |
| Arthralgia | Pain in one or more joints |
| Arthritis | Inflammation one or more joints which causes pain and difficulty in moving |
| Arthroplasty | The surgical restoration of the integrity and functional power of a joint.
Meaning literally 'to refashion a joint'; i.e. replacing the joint by a
complete or partial replacement with an artificial joint |
| Arthroscopy | A procedure for examining the interior of a joint |
| Articular | Relating to the joints |
| Articulate | 1) To join together
2) To put into words |
| Articulation | 1) Where two bones meet to form a joint
2) The process in which speech sounds are formed |
| Artificial pacemaker | A medical device that produces and delivers electrical signals to the
heart to maintain a regular heart beat |
| Ascites | Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen |
| Aseptic | Free from any infectious material |
| Asperger's Syndrome | A complex brain dysfunction related to Autism |
| Asphyxia | Interference with the oxygen supply to the body, which in the absence
of appropriate measures, will lead to unconsciousness and death |
| Asthenia | Weakness, lack or loss of strength; debility |
| Asthma | Asthma is a common condition of the lung airways in the respiratory tract.
Although the cause is not completely clear it is known that there are many
contributory factors and it is also known that the number of people affected
by the condition is rising |
| Astigmatism | An irregularity of the lens or cornea of the eye producing faulty vision |
| Asymmetrical | Lack of symmetry, i.e. lack of similarity between corresponding parts
or organs on opposite sides of the body that are normally alike |
| Asymptomatic |
Without obvious symptoms of disease |
| Ataxia | Lack of muscular coordination; lack of precision; unsteadiness |
| Atelectasis | A collapsed or airless state of all or part of a lung |
| Atheroma | Fatty material that can build up within the walls of the arteries and
a reduction of blood flow, on to which clots may form |
| Atherosclerosis | A disease process in which fatty substances are deposited along the walls
of arteries, which can lead to obstruction of blood flow |
| Atlanto-Axial joint | The first joint in the spine. (The top vertebra is called the atlas and
the second is called the axis) |
| Atonic Seizure | A type of generalized seizure characterized by sudden loss of muscle
tone, causes the head or body to drop suddenly with falling & potential
injury. Recovery in a few seconds to a minute. Also called a drop attack |
| Atopic | A tendency to develop hypersensitity reactions in response to allergens |
| Atrial fibrillation | A very fast and irregular beating of the atria (the upper two chambers
of the heart) |
| Atrium | The two upper chambers of the heart |
| Atrophy | Wasting away or decrease in size of a part of the body |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) | A common developmental and behavioural disorder |
| Audiometry | Evaluation of an individual's hearing |
| Auditory Meatus | Either of the passages in the outer ear from the auricle to the tympanic
membrane |
| Auditory Nerve | The eighth cranial nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brainstem
and is responsible for hearing and balance |
| Aura | A feeling or sensation that precedes an epileptic seizure or a migraine |
| Autism/Autistic Spectrum Disorder | A brain disorder that begins in early childhood and persists throughout
adulthood; Affecting communication, social interaction, and creative or
imaginative play |
| Auto immunity | The production of antibodies against a person's own tissues |
| Automatism | A condition in which actions are performed without consciousness |
| Automatic Behaviour | Automatic Behaviour or purpose; sometimes follows an epileptic seizure |
| Autonomic Nervous System | A part of the nervous system, which is not under conscious control |
| Autonomous mood | Mood does not react in response to circumstance |
| Auto Somal | Refers to a gene which is not responsible for determining the sex of
an individual |
| Avascular necrosis | Death of bone tissue due to interruption to its blood supply. E.g. Perthes
disease (affecting ball of hip joint) |
| Avascular Tear | A tear that is it doesn't bleed if cut and doesn't have blood vessels
inside. As a result of this avascularity it doesn't have the ability to
heal itself |
| Axilla | The armpit |
| Axis 1 disorders |
Axis 1 disorders are psychiatric clinical disorders that include depression, anxiety disorders ,bipolar disorder and schizophrenia |
| Term |
Description |
Back Pain
| Back Pain is the commonest orthopaedic complaint. Pain may arise from
the vertebrae, inter-vertebral discs, facet joints, ligaments, the spinal
canal, spinal cord or nerve roots, but most commonly no structural abnormality
can be identified to account for the person’s back pain |
| Bacterium |
A single-celled microorganism consisting of a single double-stranded
DNA molecule. They multiply by cell division and generally have a very
high rate of population growth and mutation. |
| Bailie-Lovie test chart | A test chart that measures contrast sensitivity |
| Balloon Angioplasty (PTCA) | A procedure in which a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted usually via
the femoral (groin) artery and manoevered into the narrow heart artery.
The balloon is then inflated to stretch the vessel opening and improve
blood flow through it |
| Barbiturates |
Controlled substances that increase heart rate and awareness in preparation for fight or flight |
| Barium Meal or Swallow | X-Ray examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract after swallowing
a radio-opaque substance |
| Basal Ganglia | In the brain, four neuron clusters crowning the thalamus, which help
to regulate body movement by relaying information from the cerebral cortex
to the brainstem and cerebellum |
| Benign |
Not malignant |
| Benzodiazepines | A group of psychotropic drugs that have a hypnotic and sedative action,
used mainly as tranquilizers for the control of symptoms due to anxiety
or stress and as a sleeping aid for insomnia. They may also be used help
suppress dystonic movement and in the treatment of Status Epilepticus and
febrile seizures
|
Beta adrenergic blocking drugs
(Beta Blocking Agents) | Drugs that may help to reduce the effects
of tremor associated with the spasm |
| Beta-agonists |
An agent, such as Salbutamol, that stimulates beta-receptors in the autonomic
nervous system |
| Beta-blockers (Beta Blocking Agents) |
A group of drugs, which reduce the workload of the heart by blocking
certain actions of the sympathetic nervous system. They slow the heart
rate and lower blood pressure and other symptoms caused in frightening
situations. They may also reduce the effects of tremor associated with
spasm |
| Biliary Cirrhosis |
Cirrhosis is a condition that destroys healthy tissue leaving scar tissue,
which blocks the flow of blood through the liver. There are several causes
including alcohol dependency |
| Bilateral | Relating to both sides of the body
|
| Bile |
A greenish-yellow fluid secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder.
Helps in food digestion |
| Bilirubin |
A bile pigment derived from the degradation of hemoglobin during the
normal and abnormal destruction of red blood cells |
| Binocular | Relating to both eyes |
| Biochemical | Chemical processes involving human biological function |
| Biofeedback | A behaviour modification therapy designed to develop the ability to control
the involuntary nervous system. After learning the technique, a person
may be able to control heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature and
to relax certain muscles |
| Biological symptoms | Usually a physical sign of a disease. Any perceptible, subjective change
in the body or its functions that indicates disease or phases of disease,
as reported by the patient |
| Biopsy | Removal of a sample of tissue, which is then examined under a microscope |
| Bipolar Disorder | A disorder in which a person can experience recurrent attacks of depression
and mania or hypomania. It used to be called manic depression |
| Bitemporal hemianopia | Loss of temporal (lateral) visual field in each eye |
| Bladder |
Any of various distensible membranous sacs, such as the urinary bladder
that serve as receptacles for fluid or gas |
| Blepharospasm | Acute spasm of the muscles around the eye, causing involuntary blinking,
or almost complete, involuntary, closure of the eyelids |
| Blood pressure | Pressure exerted by blood as it presses against and stretches blood vessels,
especially arteries |
| Blood Tumour markers |
A substance, released into the circulation by tumour tissue, whose detection
in the serum may indicate the presence of a specific type of tumour |
| BNP Blood Test |
A B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) blood test, identifies a hormone which
is indicative of either heart or renal failure |
| Body cavity | A space within the body that contains various organs |
| Body Mass Index (BMI) | A method used to gauge whether or not a person is overweight. BMI is
calculated by dividing a person's weight (in kilograms) by his or her height
(in metres, squared) |
| Bone Anchored Hearing Aid |
Bone Anchored Hearing Aids are surgically implanted devices that transmit
sound directly to the inner ear through the bones of the skull |
| Bone Densitometry Test |
An X-ray technique to measure bone density and detect Osteoporosis |
| Bone Marrow |
The soft, fatty, vascular tissue filling the cavities of bones |
| Bone Scan (Bone Scintigraphy) | Procedure in which a radioactive substance is injected and the radiation
emitted from bone is measured. The aim is to identify abnormal processes
involving the bone (such as fracture, tumour, infection etc) |
| Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) | Nerve toxins given by local intramuscular injections weaken overactive
muscles and reduce dystonic symptoms. E.g. Blepharo spasm |
| Bouchard’s nodes | Bony nodules spurs that occur on the middle finger joints |
| Bradycardia | An abnormally slow heartbeat (usually less than 50 beats per minute) |
| Bradykinesia |
An abnormal slowness of movement, sluggishness of physical and mental
responses |
| Bronchi | Large tubes in the respiratory passageway branching from the trachea
(windpipe) through which air flows in and out of the lungs |
| Bronchial tree | The bronchial tree is the branches from the main bronchi that penetrate
the lungs to deliver air to minute lung tissue responsible for gas exchange |
| Bronchial tubes | The main breathing tubes leading from the trachea into the lungs. 2.
The large air tubes leading to the lungs. One tube is called a bronchus,
both tubes are called bronchi |
| Bronchioles | The smallest sub-division of the bronchi at the end of which are the
alveoli |
| Bronchiectasis | A chronic disorder in which there is loss of the normal tissue and expansion
of lung air passages |
| Bronchiolitis | Respiratory infection that affects the bronchioles, the smallest airways
in the lungs |
| Bronchitis | Inflammation of the bronchi. It may be acute or chronic |
| Bronchodilators | Drugs used in the treatment of asthma, which open up the airways in spasm |
| Bronchogenic carcinoma | Cancer of the lung |
| Bronchopulmonary dysplasia | A chronic lung disorder usually seen in very premature infants. It results
in Respiratory Distress Syndrome |
| Bronchus |
One of the larger passages conveying air to a lung (right or left primary
bronchus) |
| Bruce Protocol |
The Bruce Protocol is a description of the protocol for the increments
in speed and gradient in a treadmill/exercise test. Click
here for more information on the Bruce Protocol Test |
| Budd-Chiari Syndrome |
A condition producing symptomatic obstruction or occlusion of the hepatic
veins causing abdominal pain and tenderness hepatomegaly (liver enlargement)
ascites, jaundice and eventually portal hypertension and liver failure |
| Bulbar |
The bulbar refers to nerves controlling the muscles of the face and throat |
| Bulla |
A circumscribed, fluid-containing, elevated lesion of the skin (e.g.
a blister), usually more than 1 cm in diameter |
| Bullectomy |
The excision of giant bullae (blisters) from the lung in emphysema to
improve pulmonary function |
| Bunion | A painful deformity of the bones and the joint between the foot and the
big toe (the metatarso-phalangeal, MTP) joint |
| Bulimia | An eating disorder characterised by binge-eating, self induced vomiting
and purging or abusing laxatives |
| Bursa | A sac or pouch of fluid located near joints |
| Bursitis | Inflammation of a bursa |
| Term |
Description |
CABG
(Coronary Artery Bypass Graft | An operation in which a section of vein or artery is used to bypass a
blockage in a coronary artery; performed to prevent myocardial infarction
(heart attack) and to relieve angina
|
| Cachexia | A state of gross muscle and tissue wasting, fatigue, weakness and debility,
which occurs in diseases such as advanced cancer and AIDS
|
| Calcium channel blockers | A group of drugs that affect the way calcium passes into certain muscle
cells. This causes arteries to relax and widen and reduce the force and
rate of the heartbeat. Used mainly to treat angina and hypertension |
| Calculus | A stone formed within the body (as in gallstones, kidney stones or urinary
bladder stones)
|
| Calipers (walking) | An apparatus fixed to a boot at one end and fitting in to the groin at
the other end to take the weight of a weak or injured lower limb |
| Callosity |
A localised thickening and enlargement of the horny layer of the skin
(also called a callus) |
| Cancer | A malignant tumour
|
| Capillary | A microscopic blood vessel through which material such as oxygen, carbon
dioxide and nutrients or waste products are exchanged between blood and
body tissues. They form a fine network in many parts of the body
|
| Carbohydrates | One of the nutrients that supply calories to the body to give it energy.
Bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and cereals are examples of carbohydrates |
Carcinogen
| Any substance that causes cancer |
| Carcinoma | A type of malignant tumour
|
| Cardiac arrest | Cessation of an effective heartbeat in which the heart is completely
stopped or ceases to pump effectively
|
| Cardiac Arrhythmias | Also called cardiac dysrhythmia, is a disturbance in the regular rhythm
of the heartbeat
|
| Cardiac Catheterisation (Angioplasty) | A procedure that identifies possible problems with your heart or its
arteries. A thin plastic tube, called a catheter, is inserted into a blood
vessel in the groin or arm. The catheter is guided up toward the heart.
A special dye is injected into the catheter so X-rays can show any artery
blockage or other heart problems
|
| Cardiac Failure |
Heart or cardiac failure occurs when the pumping action of the heart
is inadequate and fails to maintain proper circulation |
| Cardiology | The study of the heart and diseases associated with it |
| Cardiomyopathy | Disease of the heart muscle, which causes it to lose its pumping power |
| Cardiovascular | Relating to the heart and blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries);
the circulatory system |
| Cardioversion | A procedure used to convert an irregular heart rhythm to a normal heart
rhythm by applying electric shock. Cardioversion may be accomplished using
medications or a defibrillator |
| Care Programme/Plan Approach (CPA) |
The care plan is a written document that brings together information
about social care, a medical treatment plan, domestic support, names of
the professionals involved in care and actions to be taken in the event
of changing circumstances. Copies of the plan are given to the patient/customer,
carer, care co-ordinator and others involved. Click
here for more details about Care Plan Approach/Plan Approach (CPA) |
| Carotid artery | Either of the two main arteries in the neck below the jawbone that carry
blood from the heart to the brain |
| Carotid Endarterectomy | An operation to clear out blockages in the carotid arteries in the neck
that prevent blood from reaching the brain. It is a preventative measure
in people who have suffered TIAs or strokes, and reduces the risk of further
TIAs or stroke |
| Carpal tunnel syndrome |
Compression of the median nerve as it crosses through the carpal tunnel
in the wrist, causing numbness, pain and tingling in the hand and fingers |
| Cartilage (Meniscus) | A translucent elastic substance of the body. It lines the ends of bones,
which form joints, and is also found in other parts of the body such as
the nose and ears |
| Cataract | A translucent elastic substance of the body. It lines the ends of bones,
which form joints, and is also found in other parts of the body such as
the nose and ears |
| Catatonia | A tendency to remain in a fixed stuporous state for long periods characterized
by lack of awareness of one's surroundings |
| Catheter | A thin, flexible tube that can be inserted into a body cavity or into
a blood vessel; used to remove fluids, such as urine or blood, and to introduce
diagnostic materials or medication |
| CAT Scan | Computerized Axial Tomography - A special xray technique, which gives
a picture of, a horizontal slice through the body at various levels |
| Cauda Equina Syndrome | This rare condition is a severe neurological disorder that normally results
from a prolapsed disc. It can lead to incontinence and even paraplegia,
and is often a medical emergency |
| CD4 Count |
A measure of the number of helper T cells per cubic millimeter of blood,
used to analyse the prognosis of patients infected with HIV |
| Cell | The basic structural and functional unit of all organisms capable of
performing activities vital to life |
| Central Nervous System | That portion of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal
cord |
| Cerebellar |
Relating to the cerebellum-part of the brain most responsible for balance,
posture and co-ordinating sequences of movements |
| Cerebellum | The portion of the brain, located in the lower, back of the head, responsible
for coordination of movement and balance |
| Cerebral | Referring to the cerebrum, often used to refer to the entire brain |
| Cerebrum | The upper or main portion of the brain |
| Cerebral hypoxia | Reduced amount of oxygen in the brain; often due to an interruption or
reduction in the blood supply to the brain or a reduction in oxygen content
of the blood |
| Cerebro vascular disease | Disease involving the blood vessels supplying the brain, including cerebro
vascular accident (CVA), also known as a stroke |
| Cerebro spinal fluid (CSF) | Clear fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord |
| Cervical Myelopathy | A disorder due to spinal cord compression. There are many causes of myelopathy
that include trauma, tumors, infection, vascular disease, degenerative
conditions and demyelinating disorders |
| Chelating drug | Substance, which inactivates certain metals (such as iron). It is used
in the treatment of metal poisoning or where there is an excess of the
metal in the body |
| Chemotherapy | A type of treatment of malignant diseases by anti-cancer drugs |
| Chiropractic | A health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention
of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and the effects
of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health.
There is an emphasis on manual treatments including spinal manipulation
or adjustment |
| Cholangitis |
Inflammation of a bile duct |
| Cholesterol | A waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver and in certain foods, and
found in the blood and in all cells of the body. It is a factor in the
development of atherosclerosis |
| Chondromalacia Patella | Softening of the articular cartilage of the kneecap |
| Chorea | Involuntary uncontrolled uncoordinated movements |
| Choreiform | Spasmodic writhing movements of limbs and facial muscles |
| Choroid | The thin vascular (major blood vessel) layer of the eye between the retina
and the sclera that covers the white of the eyeball responsible for supplying
blood to the retina |
| Christmas Disease |
A rare disease of blood clotting, similar to haemophilia |
| Chromosome | One of the 46 small bodies in the nucleus of cells, which carry genes.
Also may be known as “genome”. An abnormality of chromosomes
may cause conditions such as Down’s syndrome |
| Chronic | Long-term or prolonged; applied to a disease that is not acute |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term for a group of
disorders, which are chronic, progressive and characterised by difficulty
in breathing. Terms such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive
airways disease, chronic airflow limitation and some cases of chronic asthma
are all known as COPD |
| Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) | A persistent inflammation of the middle ear and characterised by recurrent
persistent discharge from the ear. The discharge usually occurs through
a persistent perforation of the eardrum |
| Chronic Urticaria |
Hives or nettle rash. Defined as urticaria on most days for more than
six weeks – usually no identifiable cause can be found. |
| Churg Strauss Syndrome | A rare form of vasculitis. Churg-Strauss syndrome, in particular, occurs
in patients with a history of asthma or allergy and features inflammation
of blood vessels, also referred to as angiitis, in the lungs, skin, nerves,
and abdomen |
| Cirrhosis | A liver disorder in which the liver cells are destroyed and replaced
by scar tissue. Its effects are very variable, ranging from few or no symptoms,
to liver failure resulting in coma or death |
| Claudication | Limping with pain in legs on walking; relieved by rest. Due to insufficient
blood supply to the limb. This is normally caused by partial blockage of
arteries by atherosclerosis (“hardening of the arteries”) |
| Claustrophobia | Abnormal fear of enclosed places |
| Clavicle | Two thin bones that join the scapula and the sternum (the collar bone) |
| Claw hammer toes | Deformity of the toes |
| Cleft Palate | Congenital fissure in the roof of the mouth due to failure of fusion
before birth. The lip may also be affected (“cleft lip”) |
| Clonic Seizure | A type of generalised seizure characterized by jerking movements and
involving muscles on both sides of the body |
| Clot | The end of a series of reactions that change liquid blood into a jellylike
mass. Also known as a thrombus |
| Coccyx | The final segment of the lower end of the vertebral column. Also known
as the “tailbone” |
| Cochlea | Spiral tube forming part of the inner ear, which is the essential organ
of hearing. This tube is filled with tiny hair cells which help transmit
sound into the brain |
| Cochlear |
Cochlear Implants are surgically implanted devices, which electrically
stimulate the auditory nerve in the cochlea in response to sound |
| Coeliac disease | An autoimmune disorder due to exposure to gluten (found in cereals) characterised
by damage to all or part of the villi lining the small intestine |
| Cognitive | Relating to knowing understanding and reasoning; logical thought processes |
| Cognitive Behaviour Therapy | A form of psychotherapy that teaches the patient to recognise and challenge
automatic negative thought patterns. The aim is to enable the patient to
counter the negative thought with alternative rational thoughts. E.g. In
back pain CBT challenges the negative thoughts that pain is harmful and
exercise makes the problem worse |
| Colitis | Inflammation of the lining of the large bowel (or colon) and rectum |
| Collagen |
The fibrous protein costituent of bone, cartilage, tendon and other connective
tissue |
| Colon | The greater part of the large bowel |
| Colostomy | The diversion of faeces through an opening in the colon, creating a surgical
opening on to the abdominal wall |
| Coma | A state of profound unconsciousness in which there is total unresponsiveness |
| Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) | A team that supports people with mental health problems in the community.
CMHT members include community psychiatric nurses (CPN), social workers,
psychologists, occupational therapists, psychiatrists and support workers |
| Community psychiatric nurse (CPN) | A nurse who specialises in mental health, and has received further training
to enable them to work in the community where they will assess and treat
people with mental health problems |
| Compulsion |
An uncontrollable impulse to perform an act, often repetitively, as an unconscious mechanism to avoid unacceptable ideas and desires which, by themselves, arouse anxiety |
| Co-Morbid |
A concomitant but unrelated pathological or disease process |
| Complex Partial | A seizure that affects a larger part of the brain and the person is no
longer aware of their surroundings and they may loose consciousness. They
may wander about, fumble with clothes, babble to themselves or make other
noises- known as automatism. The seizure is often preceded by a simple
partial seizure (aura, or warning) |
| Compression |
The act of pressing upon or together; the state of being pressed together
e.g. compression of vertebrae in the spine |
| Computed Tomography (CT) or CAT Scan | X-Ray technique that provides a cross-sectional image of any area of
the body |
| Concave | Curving Inward |
| Concussion | Traumatic Injury to the brain that may result in abrupt, temporary loss
of consciousness |
| Conductive Deafness |
Hearing loss or impairment caused by a defect in part of the ear that
conducts sound, specifically the external canal or middle ear |
| Cones | Colour-sensitive nerve endings in retina |
| Congenital | A condition that is present at the time of birth |
| Congestion |
The presence of an abnormal amount of fluid in a vessel or organ, especially
excessive accumulation of blood |
| Conjuntiva | The delicate covering of the eyeball |
| Conjunctivitis | Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the delicate covering of the eyeball |
| Constipation | Infrequent or difficult defaecation with hard stools caused by decreased
movements of the gut |
| Contraindication | A symptom or medical condition that makes a particular treatment or procedure
inadvisable because a person is likely to have a bad reaction. For example,
having a bleeding disorder is a contraindication for taking aspirin because
treatment with aspirin may cause excess bleeding |
| Contralateral | On the opposite side of the body |
| Contracture | A permanent shortening of the muscles and tendons adjacent to a joint,
which can result from severe, untreated spasticity and interferes with
normal movement around the affected joint |
| Convex | Curving outward |
| Convulsion | Violent, involuntary contraction and jerking of muscles. Also known as
seizure |
| Cornea |
Clear part of the eye covering the iris and pupil - lets light into the
eye, permitting sight |
| Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) | A procedure in which a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted usually via
the femoral (groin) artery and manoevered into the narrow heart artery.
The balloon is then inflated to stretch the vessel opening and improve
blood flow through it |
| Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) | An operation in which a section of vein or artery is used to bypass a
blockage in a coronary artery; performed to prevent myocardial infarction
(heart attack) and to relieve angina |
| Coronary Artery Disease | A condition in which the heart muscle receives inadequate blood due to
narrowing or obstruction of the coronary arteries causing angina and heart
attacks |
| Cor Pulmonale |
Acute strain or hypertrophy of the right ventricle caused by a disorder
of the lungs or of the pulmonary blood vessels. Leads to oedema |
| Cortical | Refers to the outer layer of the brain, the cortex |
| Cortical Blindness | Loss of vision resulting from a lesion of the primary visual areas of
the cortex. Light reflex is preserved |
| Corticosteroids | A drug (steroid) used clinically to suppress inflammation of the tissues
and to suppress the immune response |
| Cortisone |
A naturally occurring corticosteroid that functions primarily in carbohydrate
metabolism |
| Costochondritis | A painful swelling of a rib in the region of the chest, over the junction
of bone and cartilage |
| Crepitus | A grating sound and sensation created when two rough surfaces in the
human body come into contact - for example, in osteoarthritic joints or
fractured bones rub together |
| Crescendo pain | Rapidly progressive pain |
| Cryotherapy | A method of stunting the growth of tissues by freezing them |
| Cryptogenic |
Of obscure or unknown origin. Used of diseases |
| Cued Speech | A method of communication that combines speech reading with a system
of handshapes placed near the mouth to help deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals
differentiate words that look similar on the lips |
| Cushing’s Disease | Cushing's Syndrome is a condition caused by an excess of steroid hormones
called cortisol |
| Cutaneous | Relating to the skin |
| Cyanosis | Blue or purple discolouration of the lips and nails, due to reduced amount
of oxygen in blood |
| Cyclo oxygenase (COX) | An enzyme existing in two forms, called COX-1 and COX-2. COX enzymes
are responsible for the production of prostaglandins, intracellular messengers
found at high levels at inflammation sites |
| Cyst | A sac lined by body tissue, normally filled with fluid or semi solid
material |
| Cystitis | Inflammation of the urinary bladder |
| Cystectomy |
Surgical removal of all or part of the urinary bladder. |
| Cystoscopy | Direct visual examination of the inside of the bladder through the urethra
by means of a tube and lens system |
| Cytology | The study of cells |
| Cytomegalovirus | A very common virus that can cause serious disease in people with low
resistance to infection. It can cause a variety of clinical symptoms including
deafness or hearing impairment; infection with the virus may be either
before or after birth |
| Cytotoxic Drug | A drug, which is toxic to, and kills cells (e.g. Used in malignant disease
to destroy cancer cells) |
| Term |
Description |
| Debility | Weakness, loss of power and strength |
| Decubitus Ulcer | Bedsore; pressure sore
|
| Defaecation | Discharge of faeces from the body |
| Degeneration/Degenerative |
A gradual deterioration in structure with resultant impairment of function.
(For example, macular degeneration in the eye) |
| Dehydration | Excessive loss of water from the body |
| Delerium | A state of mental confusion marked by disorientation and hallucination.
Fever and certain drugs are common causes
|
| Delusion |
A false belief, entirely without foundation |
| Dementia | The loss of intellectual functions (such as thinking, remembering, and
reasoning) of sufficient severity to interfere with a person’s daily
functioning |
Depot injection
| An injected anti-psychotic or other drug, which is released over a period
of several weeks. Medication is given in this way to people who may be
unable to take oral medication on daily basis |
| Depersonalisation (Derealisation) | The experience of feelings of loss of a sense of reality. The person
feels that they have changed and the world has become less real, they are
divorced from both the world and from their own identity and physicality.
Often times the person who has experienced this disorder claims that life "feels
like a movie, things seem unreal |
| Depression | A mental state of depressed mood characterized by feelings of sadness,
despair and discouragement |
| DeQuervain's syndrome | An inflammation of the sheath or tunnel that surrounds two tendons that
control movement of the thumb |
| Dermatitis | A skin rash characterized by itching, swelling, blistering, oozing and
scaling of the skin |
| Dermatology | Medical speciality involving the study of skin and its diseases |
| Desensitisation therapy (Graded exposure therapy) | A technique used in behaviour therapy to treat Phobias and other behaviour
problems involving anxiety; by exposure to the threatening situation under
relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is extinguished |
| Desiccated | Loss of fluid, dried out |
| Detached retina |
Visual impairment resulting from the retina becoming separated from the
choroid in the back of the eye. Click here for more details about Vision.
Click here for more details about Diabetes Mellitus |
| Diabetes mellitus | A chronic metabolic disease caused by failure of the pancreas to produce
insulin, a hormone that allows blood sugar (glucose) to be taken up by
cells that require it for function. People with diabetes often need to
follow a strict diet and may require insulin injections. During a diabetic
reaction, a person may experience confusion, sudden personality changes,
or loss of consciousness. In extreme cases, diabetes can also cause vision
loss, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, stroke, or necessitate the
amputation of limbs |
| Diagnosis | Indentifying the condition causing an illness or disability from signs
and symptoms by clinical examination and laboratory tests, etc |
| Diaphragm |
The musculomembranous partition separating the abdominal and thoracic
cavities and serving as a major muscle aiding inspiration |
| Diastolic blood pressure | The second of two numbers used to measure blood pressure. This is the
minimum pressure in the arteries between beats when the heart relaxes to
fill with blood |
| Diffuse | Widespread, not limited to one tissue or location |
| Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease |
This term describes a group of over 200 diseases of various causes, which
result in scarring around the air sacs (alveoli) of the lung. The scar
tissue reduces oxygen transport from the air into the blood, which makes
breathing harder work. The main symptom is breathlessness on exercise.
In severe cases, there may be breathlessness at rest. Formerly known as
Interstitial Lung Disease |
| Digestion | The mechanical and chemical breakdown of food to simple substances that
can be absorbed from the gut into the body |
| Dilatation | The process of enlargement or expansion |
| Diplopia | Double vision |
| Disc Disease | Degeneration/prolapse of the discs, which separate the bones of the vertebral
column. It is a cause of pain in the back |
| Disc Prolapse | A disc that bulges out from its position between two vertebrae |
| Disease Activity Score (DAS) |
An assessment used in Rheumatoid arthritis which measures disease activity.
The score range is from 0-10; a score of less than 3.2 means the disease
is inactive and a score of more than 5.2 very active. It should be noted
that this score is not always a good measure of disability |
| Disease-modifying anti- rheumatic drugs (DMARD) | Drugs used to treat inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis,
by slowing the disease process and preventing damage |
| Disinhibition | Inability to suppress impulsive behaviour and emotions |
| Dislocation | Displacement of a bone from a joint |
| Dispensing Optician | A dispensing optician is trained to dispense spectacles and has expertise
in ophthalmic lenses |
| Dissection | Division, separation, or removal of tissues |
| Dissociative |
The segregation of a group of mental processes from the rest of a person's usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, perception, and sensory and motor behaviour |
| Distensible |
That which can be distended (swollen out or expanded) |
| Diuretic | A drug that increases the production of urine |
| Dopamine |
A neurotransmitter in the brain |
| Doppler |
A diagnostic tool that uses low intensity ultrasound to detect blood
flow velocity in arteries or veins |
| Dorsiflexion | Bending the foot and toes in the direction of the upper surfaceBending
the foot and toes in the direction of the upper surface |
| Down’s syndrome | A syndrome caused by a chromosome abnormality. It is characterised by
slowed growth, abnormal facial features and learning difficulties. Possible
related health problems include poor resistance to infection, hearing loss,
gastrointestinal problems, and heart defects |
| Drepanocytosis (Sickle-cell) | A hereditary blood disease mainly affecting people of African ancestry |
| Duodenum | The first part of the small intestine into which the stomach drains |
| Dupuytren's contracture | Localised thickening of the tissues of the palm of the hand, causing
progressive flexion (bending towards the palm) of one or more fingers.
Surgery may be needed to release the thickened tissue |
| Dysarthria | A group of speech disorders caused by disturbances in the strength or
coordination of the muscles of the speech mechanism as a result of damage
to the brain or nerves |
| Dysfunction | Absence of normal function |
| Dyslexia | Difficulty in reading or learning to read, accompanied by difficulty
in writing and spelling correctly |
| Dysmenorrhoea | Painful menstruation (periods) |
| Dyspepsia | Indigestion |
| Dysphagia | Difficulty in swallowing |
| Dysphasia | Difficulty in understanding or using spoken or written language due to
brain damage |
| Dysplasia | Abnormally formed tissues, organs or cells often due to chronic irritation
or inflammation |
| Dysphonia | Any impairment of the voice or difficulty speaking |
| Dyspnoea | Difficulty in breathing resulting in shortness of breath. It is often
associated with heart or lung disease |
| Dyspraxia | Partial loss of ability to perform coordinated movements |
| Dysrhythmia | An abnormal heart rhythm |
| Dystonia | A neurological movement disorder in which there is prolonged muscle contraction
affecting one or more parts of the body, resulting in repetitive twisting
movements or abnormal postures; it includes such conditions as torticollis and writer's cramp |
| Dysuria | Painful urination |
| Dysthymia | A chronic low-grade depressive disorder |
| Term |
Description |
| E-test | A chart used for testing vision and visual acuity |
| Echocardiogram | A test that uses ultrasound waves to measure the size of the heart and
its chambers. It shows whether the heart is beating normally and the valves
of the heart are working properly |
| Echolalia | The repetition of speech just spoken by somebody else in an involuntary
and meaningless way. People with echolalia may repeat a word, phrase, or
entire sentences. Also known as echologia, echophasia, echophrasia, echo
speech and mimic speech |
| Ectopic | Out of place. An ectopic heart beat originates in an abnormal location
of the heart. Ectopic pregnancy is a foetus developing outside the uterus |
| Eczema | A skin rash characterized by itching, scaling, swelling, blistering,
and oozing of the skin |
| Efficacy |
The ability of a drug to produce the desired therapeutic effect |
| Effusion | The accumulation of fluid, or the fluid itself, in various spaces in
the body. Commonly, the knee has an effusion (swelling) after an injury |
| Electrocardiogram (ECG) | A recording of the electrical changes that accompany the beating of the
heart. Often used to diagnose heart disease |
| Electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) | A procedure in which an electric current is briefly applied to produce
a seizure, primarily used in the treatment of severe affective disorders,
depression and schizophrenia |
| Electroencephalogram (EEG) | A recording of electrical impulses of the brain to diagnose certain diseases
(such as epilepsy) |
| Electrolyte | One of the substances in the blood and bodily fluids 'salts' in the blood
(such as sodium and potassium) |
| Electromyography (EMG) | Evaluation of the electrical activity of resting and contracting muscle
to ascertain causes of muscular weakness, paralysis and involuntary movements
of muscles |
| Embolic Stroke | A type of ischaemic stroke where the blood clot forms in another part
of the body, most commonly in the heart due to turbulent blood flow in
a heart chamber. The clot then becomes dislodged and travels in the bloodstream
until it becomes stuck in an artery in the brain, blocking the blood flow.
This free roaming clot is called an embolus |
| Embolism | Obstruction or closure of a blood vessel by an embolus [i.e. a blood
clot; bubble of air, mass of bacteria or other debris] |
| Emesis | Vomiting |
| Emphysema | Distension or hyperinflation of the tiny air sacs (alveoli) and small
air passages (bronchioles) due to loss of elasticity. It can accompany
chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic bronchitis), and causes breathlessness.
It is a chronic respiratory disease |
| Encephalitis | An inflammation of the brain, but it usually refers to brain inflammation
caused by a virus |
| Encephalopathy |
Any degenerative brain disease |
| Endemic goitre | A type of goitre,where a whole community or population may have a high
incidence due to dietary iodine deficiency |
| Endocarditis | Inflammation of the lining of the heart cavity and valves |
| Endocrine | Relating to the secretion of hormones. The endocrine system consists
of various glands which produce hormones |
| Endocrine Gland | An organ that produces hormones and secretes them out into the bloodstream |
| Endometriosis | A condition in which patches of endometrium occur in parts of the body
other than the womb |
| Endometrium | The lining of the womb |
| Endogenous | A form of depression not triggered by life events |
| Endoscope | An illuminated tube with lenses used to look inside hollow organs (i.e.
the stomach; urinary bladder) |
| Enuresis | Bedwetting in children |
| Enuretic alarm | An apparatus used in the treatment of bed wetting in children. When urine
comes into contact with a pad placed under the bed sheet an alarm bell
rings to waken the child |
| Enzyme | A substance, which can increase the speed of chemical reactions. Enzymes
are involved in all the metabolic activities, which take place within body
cells |
| Epidemic | A disease that affects many individuals in a population at the same time |
| Epidemiology | Medical science concerned with the occurrence and distribution of disease
in human populations |
| Epidural | An injection of an anaesthetic substance into the epidural space of the
spinal cord in order to produce epidural anaesthesia of the lower body |
| Epilepsy | A disorder of brain function characterised by recurrent seizures |
| Episodic Memory | This is the event-based memory unique to each individual |
| Epstein-Barr Virus |
A herpes virus that is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis.
It is also called EB virus |
| Erythema | Abnormal skin redness often a sign of inflammation or infection |
| Erythrocyte | Red blood cell |
| Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) | A blood test that measures the speed at which red blood cells settle
on the bottom of a test tube; high sedimentation rate signals possible |
| Erythropoietin | A hormone that stimulates red blood cell production |
| Euphoria | A feeling of great happiness and well-being |
| Eustachian Tube |
The tube that connects the middle ear and the back of the nose, draining
the middle ear and regulating air pressure |
| Euthymic |
A psychological state, which is neither elated or depressed |
| Euthyroid | Normal thyroid function |
| Exacerbation | An increase in the severity of symptoms or of disease |
| Executive Function | A term used to refer to aspects of higher order brain function, such
as problem solving, reasoning and mental abstraction. These functions are
located in the frontal lobes |
| Exercise Test |
A test where the patient walks at increasing speed and incline. The patient's
heart rate and ECG is monitored throughout the test. Sometimes called the
Bruce Protocol Test. Click
here for more information on the Bruce Protocol Test |
| Exophthalmos | Bulging of the eyeball. It may be a symptom of thyrotoxicosis |
| Expiration | The process by which the lungs expel air; also called exhalation |
| Expressive | Refers to how information - thoughts and feelings - is expressed |
| External | Located on or near the surface of the body |
| Extra- pyramidal side effects | Parkinson like symptoms (tremors etc.) caused by certain drugs |
| Extrasystoles | The term used to describe a short sequence of extra heartbeats (premature
contractions) |
| Extrinsic | Of or relating to an organ or structure, originating outside the part
where it is found or upon which it acts |
| Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis |
This is a type of Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease with an allergic cause,
also known as Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. Examples include Farmer's Lung
caused by allergic sensitivity to dust from mouldy hay, Bird Fancier's
Lung and Metal Worker's Lung. Some cases may be prescribed diseases when
occupationally exposed as an employed earner to such agents. Exposure causes
inflammation in sensitised individuals, which may lead to scarring. See
Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease |
| Exudate |
A fluid with a high concentration of protein and cellular debris, which
has escaped from blood vessels and has been deposited in tissues, or on
tissue surfaces, usually as a result of inflammation |
| Term |
Description |
| Factors VIII & IX | Substances present in blood, which are essential for normal blood clotting.
Lack of Factor VIII causes classical haemophilia, (Haemophilia A), and
lack of Factor IX, Haemophilia B or Christmas disease |
| Facet joint | Joints between two adjacent vertebrae. Each vertebra is connected at
the inter-vertebral disc in the front and the two facet joints in the back |
| Fainting | Fainting (‘Syncope’) is a transient loss of consciousness
with a resultant loss of postural tone caused by a temporary interruption
of blood flow to the brain |
| Familial |
Tending to occur repeatedly in family members but is not genetic (inherited).
Might indicate susceptibility, or a common environmental influence |
Febrile
| Feverish |
| Femur |
The bone that extends from the pelvis (hip) to the knee, being the longest
and largest bone in the body (known as the thigh bone) |
| Festinating Gait | Rapid, short shuffling steps seen in Parkinson's disease |
FEV1
(Forced Expiratory Volume)
| This is the amount of air that can be exhaled in the first second after
taking the deepest breath possible. In obstructive lung disease, this measurement
is as basic as taking temperature. Asthmatics who take their FEV1 with
a peak flow meter on a daily basis can tell when an attack is beginning
before the person even feels symptoms |
| Fibrillation | Involuntary brief contraction of a muscle; also atrial fibrillation |
| Fibrin | A protein, which forms the basis of a blood clot |
| Fibromyalgia | A condition, which affects the muscles and ligaments but does not damage
the joints. It is a common condition and can be severe. In fibromyalgia
the fibrous tissues (fibro-) and muscles (-my) are affected by pain (-algia)
and tenderness. Fatigue is often the most severe aspect of fibromyalgia |
| Fibrosing alveolitis | Also known as Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. A condition in which the
tiny air sacs and adjacent lung tissue becomes inflamed, thickened and
inelastic, causing progressive breathlessness on exertion |
| Fibrosis |
The formation of fibrous tissue as a reparative or reactive process |
| Fibrositis | Pain and stiffness in and around muscles and joints, which may be due
to local Inflammation. It is an example of soft tissue rheumatism |
| Fine Motor Skill | Small precise movements usually of the hands. Vision is usually involved
but you can have Fine Motor Skill even if blind |
| Finger counting | A rough test of vision by holding up fingers at a designated distance
and asking the visually impaired person to say how many fingers can be
seen |
| Fistula | An abnormal passage between two organs or between an internal body cavity
and the outside (e.g. arterio-venous fistula: a connecting passage between
an artery and vein) |
| Fixed flexion deformity | Inability to fully straighten bend, move a limb |
| Flaccid | Relaxed, flabby, or soft; or lacking muscle tone |
| Flexion | The act of bending (as opposed to extending) a joint |
| Floaters | Particles that float in the vitreous and cast shadows on the retina;
seen as spots, cobwebs, spiders, etc. Occurs normally with aging or with
vitreous detachment, retinal tears, or inflammation |
| Focus |
The origin or centre of a disseminated disease |
| Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) | The amount of (volume) of air exhaled when the person is breathing out
with maximum effort |
| Fovea | A depression in the retina that contains only cones (not rods), and that
provides acute eyesight |
| Fowler’s surgery | An operation for RA in which the toe joints are removed leaving the toes
to fuse |
| Fracture | Any break in a bone |
| Fragile X Syndrome | Inherited disorder characterized by learning difficulties and physical
abnormalities |
| Fronto Temporal Dementia | A dementia related to either frontal or temporal lobe degeneration. Click
here for more information about Fronto Temporal dementia |
| Frozen Shoulder | Pain and stiffness at the shoulder due to damage and inflammation of
the soft tissues around the shoulder joint. Also known as Adhesive Capsulitis |
| Fulminant | Occurring suddenly with great intensity |
| Term |
Description |
| Gait | The way in which a person walks |
| Galactosaemia |
An inherited metabolic disorder characterised by the deficiency of an
enzyme necessary for galactose metabolism and characterised by elevated
levels of galactose in the blood and, if untreated, mental retardation
and eye and liver abnormalities |
| Gallbladder | A small pouch that stores and concentrates bile, located under the liver |
| Gallstones | Stones in the gallbladder |
| Gangrene | Death and rotting of tissue |
| Gastrectomy | Surgical removal of part or all of the stomach
|
| Gastro - enteritis | Inflammation of the stomach and intestine causing vomiting, diarrhoea
and cramping, often caused by bacteria or viruses
|
| Gastroenterology | The medical speciality that deals with diagnosis and treatment of diseases
of the digestive system |
| Gastrointestinal |
Relating to the stomach and the intestines |
| Gastrointestinal (GI) tract | (Also called: Alimentary Canal.) A continuous tube running from the mouth
to the anus |
| Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD) | Occurs when acidic gastric contents escape from the stomach and irritate
and inflame the lining of the oesophagus |
| Gastroscopy | Examination of the interior of the stomach with an illuminated tube and
lenses |
| Gene | The basic unit of heredity, which is present in the chromosome. It carries
information, which determines the physical and mental makeup of the individual |
| Genetic |
Hereditary |
| Genetics | The study of heredity |
| Genitalia | Reproductive organs |
| Geriatrics | Branch of medicine devoted to the medical problems and care of elderly
persons |
| Gilbert's disease |
Jaundice without evidence of liver damage, biliary obstruction, or hemolysis
due to a harmless enzyme deficiency |
| Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome |
A rare condition in which affected people have involuntary repetitive
twitching movements, and facial grimaces and make repeated sudden explosive
noises, including the involuntary uttering of swear words. This is commonly
known as Tourette Syndrome |
| Glandular Fever |
Glandular fever, also called infectious mononucleosis, is a viral infection
caused by the Epstein-Barr virus |
| Glaucoma | An eye disorder in which there is increased pressure within the eyeball,
which can lead to impaired vision and blindness |
| Glenohumeral joint | The ball-and-socket joint between the arm and the shoulder |
| Glucagon | A hormone produced by the pancreas, which increases the level of glucose
in the blood |
| Glucose | A simple sugar; the major source of energy for every cell type in the
body |
| Glycaemia |
Glucose content in the blood |
| Glycogen storage disease |
Any of a number of rare inborn errors of metabolism caused by defects
in specific enzymes or transporters involved in the metabolism of glycogen |
| Glycogen |
The chief carbohydrate storage material in animals stored primarily in
liver and muscle and synthesised and metabolised for energy as demanded |
| Glycosuria | The presence of glucose in the urine, which is usually an abnormal finding |
| Goldenhars syndrome | A congenital syndrome involving multiple malformations of the mouth,
eyes and ears. The heart, kidneys, or nervous system may be affected |
| Golfers Elbow | A condition characterised by pain at the outer side of the elbow especially
when moving it against a resistance |
| Gout | A disease in which there is an excessive amount of uric acid in the blood,
which gets into joints and causes severe inflammation, pain and swelling |
| Graded Exposure Therapy (Desensitisation Therapy) | A technique used in behaviour therapy to treat phobias and other behavioural
problems involving anxiety; by exposure to the threatening situation under
relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is extinguished |
| Grand Mal | An older term for a tonic-clonic seizure- a type of generalized seizure.
These seizures are characterized by a loss of consciousness with stiffening
of the body and jerking body movements |
| Grandiose |
In psychiatry, pertaining to exaggerated belief or claims of one's importance or identity, often manifested by delusions of great wealth, power, or fame |
| Graves' Disease | An auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system produces
antibodies, which stimulate the thyroid gland. The gland responds by producing
an excessive amount of hormone and goitre can result from the massive over-activity
of glandular tissue. It may also cause build up of tissue behind the eyes,
which causes them to protrude (exophthalmus) |
| Grommet |
A tube surgically implanted in the eardrum to drain fluid from the middle
ear |
| Guillain-Barre Syndrome |
A neurologic syndrome, usually following certain virus infections, marked
by paresthesia of the limbs and by muscular weakness or a flaccid paralysis |
Gynaecology
| The study and treatment of disorders of the female reproductive system |
| Term |
Description |
| HAART | Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is a treatment for human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection that uses a combination of several
antiretroviral drugs. The drugs inhibit the ability of the virus to multiply
in the body, and they slow down the development of AIDS. Since the introduction
of HAART, AIDS dementia complex has become uncommon
|
| Haematemesis | The vomiting of blood. |
Haematology
| The study of blood- forming organs |
| Haematoma | A swelling filled with blood |
| Haematuria | Blood in the urine, which may indicate urinary tract disease |
| Haemochromatosis |
An hereditary disorder of iron metabolism characterised by excessive
accumulation of iron in tissues, diabetes mellitus, liver dysfunction and
a bronze skin pigmentation |
| Haemodialysis | Filtering of blood by an artificial kidney apparatus that removes waste
material from the blood, which is returned to the body, in cases of kidney
failure |
| Haemoglobin | The red-coloured iron-protein molecule in red blood cells which carries
oxygen around the body |
| Haemophilia | A familial (inherited) disease characterized by delayed or entire absence
of blood clotting |
| Haemoptysis | Coughing up blood |
| Haemorrhage |
An escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel |
| Haemorrhagic stroke | A stroke caused by a damaged or weakened artery which has burst and bled
into the surrounding brain tissue. This not only reduces the blood supply
to more distant parts of the brain, it also upsets the delicate chemical
balance the neurones require in order to function |
| Haemostasis | Arrest of bleeding |
| Hallucination |
A false perception of something that does not really exist. A sensory
experience created from within the brain, which may be perceived as a smell,
or taste, or vision or feeling that has no basis in the external world |
| Hallux rigidus | Osteoarthritis of the big toe joint with a fixed, rigid toe |
| Hallus valgus | Osteoarthritis of the big toe joint, where the joint at the base of the
toe projects outwards and the top of the toe turns inwards |
| Hammer toes | Deformity of the toes |
| Hashimoto's Thyroiditis | An inflammatory disease of the thyroid glandular tissue and impairs the
ability to produce thyroid hormones. The gland becomes enlarged as a result
of the inflammation |
| Heart Attack | Myocardial Infarction; Coronary Thrombosis. The death of heart muscle
due to an insufficient blood supply, [caused by a blocked coronary artery] |
| Heartburn | Burning sensation in the gullet or oesophagus due to acid rising up from
the stomach |
| Heart Failure |
Heart or cardiac failure occurs when the pumping action of the heart
is inadequate and fails to maintain proper circulation |
| Heart murmur | An abnormal sound due to the flow of blood across heart valves. It may
indicate heart disease |
| Heberden’s nodes | Small, bony nodules (spurs) found in the finger joints in osteoarthritis |
| Hemianaesthesia | Loss of sensation of the affected part |
| Hemianopia | Loss of one half of the visual field |
| Hemiarthroplasty | Arthroplasty in which one joint surface is replaced with an artificial
material |
| Hemicolectomy | Removal of half of the large intestine (colon) by surgery |
| Hemicrania | Affecting one side of the head |
| Hemiplegia | Paralysis of the upper limb, trunk and lower limb on one side of the
body [mild hemiplegia is known as hemiparesis] |
| Hepatic Encephalopathy |
A condition, occurring secondary to advanced liver disease, marked by
disturbances of consciousness that may progress to deep coma (hepatic coma),
psychiatric changes of varying degree and a flapping tremor |
| Hepatitis |
Inflammation of the liver due to virus, drugs, or chemical poisons |
| Hepatocyte |
A liver cell |
| Hepatoma |
Primary liver cancer |
| Hepato-cellular |
Relating to or affecting liver cells |
| Hepato-toxic |
Damaging or destructive to the liver |
| Hereditary | Transmitted from parent to child by information contained in the genes |
| Hernia | A rupture; the protrusion or projection of an organ or part of an organ
from its normal position. e.g. inguina (groin hernia),hiatus hernia |
| Herpes | An inflammatory disease of the skin or mucous membranes with blistering
due to infection by a virus (Herpes Simplex causes "cold sore";
Herpes Zoster causes “shingles”) |
| Hiatus Hernia | A protrusion of part of the stomach through the diaphragm into the chest |
| Histrionic |
A behavior characterized by an excitable nature and the constant desire for stimulation |
| Hypnotic |
An agent that causes sleep |
| Histamine | A naturally occurring substance, which is released in inflammatory processes,
and allergic reactions |
| Histopathology |
The science concerned with the cytologic and histologic structure of
abnormal or diseased tissue |
| Hive (Weal) | A transient swelling, confined to a small area of the skin, that is characteristic
of urticaria |
| HIV Positive | A blood test which indicates that the person has been infected by the
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV virus) which infects the cells in the
human immune system |
| Hodgkin's lymphoma | One of a group of malignant conditions of lymphoid tissue |
| Holter Monitor |
A Holter Monitor or 24 hour ambulatory ECG, is a test which, continually
records the electrical activity of the heart over a 24 hour period |
| Homeopathy | A system of medicine based upon the principle that "like cures like".
Homeopathic medication given in extremely small doses which can produce
symptoms of the disease to be cured, in order to stimulate the body’s
defence (immune) system |
| Homeostasis | Automatic self-regulation to maintain the normal or standard state of
the body |
| Homonymous hemianopia |
Defective vision or blindness in the right or left halves of the visual
fields of both eyes. This is a frequent condition in people who have had
a stroke |
| Hormone |
A chemical messenger produced by a body organ and carried by the blood
to another organ/tissue where it influences function, structure and activity.
E.g. insulin thyroxin |
| Housemaid's knee | Inflammation of, and fluid formation in the pouch (bursa) at the front
of the knee joint, often caused by kneeling |
| Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) | The causative organism in AIDS |
| Humerus | The long bone in the arm, which extends from the shoulder to the elbow |
| Humidifier | An apparatus for increasing the moisture in the air of a room |
| Hydrocele (also Hydrocoele) | A swelling caused by accumulation of fluid, especially around the testicle |
| Hydrocephalus | Too much cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles in the brain, leading
to pressure on the brain and enlargement of the skull |
| Hydrocortisone | A hormone produced by the adrenal
gland, which affects the handling of
sugar and protein by the body. Its synthetic counterpart is used in treating
severe allergic reactions, skin disorders such as eczema, and diseases
such as rheumatoid arthritis and bronchial asthma |
| Hydrotherapy | Rehabilitation exercises performed in water |
| Hyperaesthesia | Excessive sensitiveness to touch |
| Hyperalgesia | Excessive sensitivity to pain |
| Hypercholesterolaemia | Excess cholesterol in the blood |
| Hyperglycaemia | Excess of sugar in the blood, usually associated with diabetes |
| Hyper-inflate |
Excessively or abnormally inflated e.g. hyper-inflated chest (barrel-chested) |
| Hyperlipidemia | Excess levels of fats in the blood |
| Hypermetropia | Long sightedness (or farsightedness). Distance vision is good, near vision
is blurred |
| Hypermotility | Excessive movement (usually used with reference to the bowel or joints) |
| Hyperosmolar |
Relating to the abnormal increase in the osmole content of a solution,
especially a body fluid |
| Hypersomnolence |
Excessive sleeping or sleepiness. Also called Hypersomnia. |
| Hyperplasia | Excessive formation of normal tissue, which increases in size |
| Hypersensitivity |
Responding excessively to the stimulus of a foreign agent, such as an
allergen; abnormally sensitive |
| Hypertension | High blood pressure |
| Hyperthermia | An abnormally high body temperature. This is a serious medical emergency
that requires immediate hospitalisation. Body temperatures above 40°C
(104°F) are considered life-threatening |
| Hyperthyroidism (Thyrotoxicosis) | Excessive activity of the
thyroid gland causing an excessive production of thyroid hormone which
in turn raises the metabolic rate leading to weight loss, rapid pulse,
excessive sweating, irritability and intolerance of the heat |
| Hypertrophy | An increase in size of a tissue or organ |
| Hyperuricaemia | High levels of uric acid in the blood |
| Hyperventilation | Over-breathing which, by affecting the chemical balance of the blood,
can cause transient feelings of light-headedness or faintness |
| Hypervigilance |
Abnormally increased arousal, responsiveness to stimuli, and scanning of the environment for threats |
| Hypnotherapy | The use of hypnosis in psychotherapy |
| Hypnotic | That which produces hypnosis or sleep, in this context referring to a
drug inducing sleep |
| Hypocalcaemia | Abnormally low level of calcium in the blood; associated with hypoparathyroidism
or kidney malfunction or vitamin D deficiency
|
| Hypochondria | A morbid preoccupation or anxiety about one's health |
| Hypochondriasis | A persistent belief in the presence of at least one serious physical
illness despite negative physical findings and reassurance |
| Hypoglycaemia | A condition in which the blood-sugar level is below normal. E.g. a complication
of insulin treatment |
| Hypoglycaemic drugs | Agents, which lower sugar in the blood. Used in treating some forms of
diabetes mellitus |
| Hypokinesia |
Decreased muscular activity |
| Hypomania | A degree of elation, over activity and excitement greater than normal
but less than mania |
| Hypopituitarism | A deficiency of one or more hormones of the pituitary gland. The pituitary
produces a number of hormones which regulate other hormone glands e.g.
thyroid |
| Hypoplasia | Imperfect development or underdevelopment of an organ or tissue |
| Hypotension | An abnormally low blood pressure |
| Hypothalamus | A small structure at the base of the brain that controls many body functions,
including appetite and body temperature and regulates the pituitary gland |
| Hypothermia | A severe reduction in body temperature |
| Hypothyroidism (Myxoedema) | Reduced activity of the thyroid gland |
| Hypotonia | Reduced muscle tone, floppy |
| Hypoxaemia | An insufficient oxygen content in the blood |
| Hypoxia | A state of oxygen deficiency in the tissues |
| Hysterectomy | Surgical removal of the uterus (womb) |
| Term |
Description |
| Iatrogenic | Brought about by medical or surgical treatment
|
| Icterus | Jaundice |
Ictus
| A sudden attack (usually used to refer to a seizure or fit). Post-ictal:
following a fit |
Idiocy
| Very severe arrested development causing profound learning difficulties |
| Idiopathic | Applied to a condition for which the medical cause has not yet been established |
| Idiosyncrasy | A peculiarity of constitution, temperament or behaviour |
| Idiosyncratic |
A distinctive characteristic of a thing |
| Ileocaecal valve |
The junction between the terminal ileum and the caecum or first part
of the colon |
| Ileostomy | An operation to make an opening connecting the lower end of the small
intestine (ileum) through the abdominal wall to the outside of the body.
This opening is called a stoma; and intestinal contents can be discharged
into a small bag, which fits tightly over the stoma |
| Illusion | A mistaken sensory perception; believing something to be what it is not
(e.g. seeing a person in shadows) |
| IMED pump | An automatic pump for delivering intravenous fluids into the body at
a steady rate |
| Immune | Protected against a particular infection |
| Immunity | The resisting power of the body to invading micro-organisms |
| Immunoglobulin | An antibody. A protein found in blood and tissue fluids, produced in
response to a specific antigen |
| Immunological | Of or relating to the body's immune system |
| Immunosuppressive drug | A drug, which suppresses the normal immune mechanisms in the body. Used
to permit successful organ grafting (as in kidney or heart transplants),
and in some diseases with an autoimmune basis such as rheumatoid arthritis
and ulcerative colitis |
| Imperforate | Without an opening |
| Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) | An ICD is a surgically inserted electronic device that constantly monitors
the heart rate and rhythm. When it detects a very fast, abnormal heart
rhythm (ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia), it delivers an electrical
shock to the heart muscle. This causes the heart to beat in a normal rhythm
again |
| Impotence | Inability of a man to have or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual
intercourse |
| Incidence |
The extent or rate of occurrence, especially the number of new cases
of a disease in a population over a period of time |
| Incoordination | A lack of coordination of movements |
| Incubation |
The development of an infectious disease from the entrance of the pathogen
to the appearance of clinical symptoms |
| Incus | The center bone of the series of three small bones, or ossicles, of the
middle ear. Sometimes called the anvil |
| Indigestion | Pain or discomfort in the lower chest or abdomen after eating |
| Inertia |
Remaining at rest, lack of movement |
| Infarct | An area of death (necrosis) in an organ or tissue produced by lack of
oxygen resulting from the blocking of its blood supply |
| Infarction | The formation of an infarct (i.e. myocardial infarction: death of the
heart muscle following a coronary thrombosis |
| Infection | Invasion of the body by micro-organisms, which cause disease |
| Infectious Mononucleosis |
Infectious mononucleosis also called Glandular fever, is a viral infection
caused by the Epstein-Barr virus |
| Inflammation | A series of changes in tissues indicating their reaction to injury, whether
mechanical, chemical or bacterial. The cardinal signs are: heat, swelling,
pain and redness |
| Inflammatory Disease | A disease characterized by inflammation |
| Infusion | A slow injection of a fluid, into a vein |
| Ingestion | The taking in and swallowing of food, drink and other things such as
medicines by mouth |
| Inhalation | The breathing into the lungs through the nose and mouth of air, gas or
vapour |
| Inhaler | A device used for administering medication directly into the lungs. It
is most often used in the treatment of asthma |
| Inheritance | The acquisition of qualities and characteristics (genetic material) from
parents and ancestors |
| Innervation | Nerve supply to a part. |
| Innocuous | Harmless |
| Insidious | Of subtle, gradual, or imperceptible development; referring to the development
of symptoms that may not be recognized by an affected individual until
the disorder in question is established |
| Insight | Mental awareness, perception, understanding |
| Insomnia | Difficulty falling or staying asleep or poor sleep quality |
| Insulin | A hormone secreted by the pancreas, which regulates the handling of sugars
and fats by the body. A lack of, deficiency of, or resistance to this hormone
causes diabetes mellitus. Click here for more information about diabetes |
| Intelligence Quota (IQ) | A psychometric test used to assess intelligence. The average IQ is 100.
IQs of 70 and over are considered normal |
| Intermittent Claudication | Pain in the muscles of the legs (usually the calves) and limping on walking,
due to a decreased blood supply to the lower limbs. It is relieved by rest |
| Interphalangeal |
Between the bones of the fingers or toes |
| Inter-vertebral disc | Cartilage (cushion/pad) that separates spinal vertebrae. It absorbs shocks
to the spine, protects the nervous system and assists in creating the four
normal curves of the spine |
| Intra Cranial | Within the skull. Usually refers to the brain |
| Intractable | Difficult to manage/control |
| Intramuscular |
Within the muscular substance |
| Intraocular | Of or related to the inside of the eye |
| Intrathecal |
Within the thecal sheath. See Theca |
| Intravenous | Within or by means into a vein; e.g. "intravenous feeding" or " intravenous
injection." |
| Intrinsic | Situated within or belonging solely to the organ or body part on which
it acts |
| Ion |
An atom or a group of atoms that has acquired a net electric charge by
gaining or losing one or more electrons |
| Ionizing radiation |
Radioactive waves or particles that can ionise other molecules including
DNA |
| Ipsilateral | Occurring on the same side. Applied particularly to paralysis or other
symptoms occurring on the same side of the body |
| Iridotomy | A surgical (laser) procedure that makes an incision in the iris of the
eye in order to enlarge the pupil or to treat glaucoma |
| Iris |
Coloured part of the eye that is in fact a diaphragm opening and shutting
to let in more or less light into the eye |
| Iritis | Inflammation of the iris, the coloured part of the eye surrounding the
pupil |
| Iron chelating drug | A compound that binds with iron to assist its removal from the body (See
Chelating Drug) |
| Irrational | Not consistent with or using reason; "irrational fears" |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) | A disorder of unknown cause of the alimentary tract, causing small and/or
large bowel dysfunction associated with abdominal pain and an altered bowel
habit |
| Ischaemia | A deficiency in the blood supply to a part of the body, thereby depriving
it of oxygen |
| Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD) | Ischaemic Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease or CAD) is a condition
in which atheroma (fatty deposits) builds up in the linings of the walls
of the coronary arteries |
| Ischaemic Stroke | The commonest form of stroke. It occurs when an artery supplying a part
of the brain with blood becomes blocked causing a sudden reduction or complete
cessation of blood flow. This will ultimately lead to a brain infarction |
| Isometric | Having equal dimensions. Used to describe exercises known as "isometric
exercises" which is the contraction and relaxation of muscles without
producing movement |
| Isthmus | A strip of tissue that connects two larger parts of the thyroid gland |
| (IVP) Intravenous Pyelography | An x-ray examination of the kidneys ureters and bladder following the
intravenous injection of a radio-opaque dye |
