Medical Glossary

Abiotrophy

Loss of function or degeneration for reasons unknown. For example, cerebellar abiotrophy may affect coordination while cone-rod abiotrophy may cause blindness at birth.

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Achillodynia

Pain due to inflammation of the Achilles tendon or the bursa associated with it.

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Anterior Cord Syndrome

Anterior cord syndrome is damage to the front of the spinal cord, affecting pain, temperature and touch sensation

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Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a serious, progressive, long term lung disease caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres usually over a prolonged period.

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Bacillophobia

An abnormal and persistent fear of bacilli (bacteria).

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Bariatrics

The field of medicine that offers treatment for the person who is overweight with a comprehensive program

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Birth Injury

Common birth injuries include skin irritations, paralysis, fractured bones, brain injury and nerve damage.

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Breast Lump (Breast Lumps)

A lump in the breast that may or may not be cancerous, 90% of lumps are not cancerous.

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Breast Ultrasound

A Breast Ultrasound Scan, is when sound waves are used to examine the breast, it is a pain free examination.

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Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an infection of the airways in the lungs; often causing difficulty in breathing and a chesty cough.

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Brown-Sequard Syndrome

Brown-Sequard syndrome is damage to one side of the spinal cord

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CA125

CA125 is a tumour marker that is produced in many (but not all) ovarian cancers.

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Cancer Vaccines

These are experimental treatments that are currently being researched that are hoped will limit the growth of cancer cells and eventually stop people getting cancers altogether.

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Cannula

A fine tube that is inserted into the body, either for adding or draining fluids. The tube is usually very fine and goes into a vain.

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Carboplatin

A Chemotherapy drug

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Carcinogen

Carcinogens are things that cause cancer.

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Carcinoma

Any cancer that starts in the lining of internal organs or tissue of the skin

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Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. They usually develop over a period of time and vision slowly becomes blurred.

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Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES)

The most common cause of Cauda Equina Syndrome results from a prolapsed disc pressing on the bundle of nerve roots at the base of the spinal column.

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Central Cord Syndrome

Central cord syndrome is damage to the centre of the spinal cord, generally resulting in loss of arm movement, but sparing the legs.

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Cerebral Palsy

The term Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term that covers a range of movement problems

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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

A Deep Vein Thrombus (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein. The most common place for a DVT to occur is usually the lower leg, however they can less frequently occur in other parts of the body e.g. arm.

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Epilepsy

The brain is very complex, it is made up from millions of nerve cells, these are called neurones, and these neurones control your body's functions, senses and thoughts.

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Escherichia coli (E. Coli)

Escherichia coli is a bacteria, commonly found in the intestines of humans and cattle and is required to aid in the breakdown of cellulose and also in the absorption of vitamin K (which aids blood clotting).

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Fibroids

Present in 20 per cent of women of reproductive age, fibroids are benign tumours of the womb but it is uncommon for them to be detected in women under 30.

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Gynaecologists

Doctors who specialise in women's health are called Gynaecologists.

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Hepatitis

Meaning 'liver inflammation', Hepatitis is often caused by a variety of viruses, but can have other causes such as excess alcohol.

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Inquest

When the cause of death remains in doubt the Coroner's Court holds an inquest.

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Insulin

A hormone that is released by the pancreas that controls blood sugar levels, if this is not working correctly it can lead to the development of Diabetes.

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Joint hypermobility

Joint hypermobility is a result of connective tissue in the joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments are more loose and stretchy than in most people.

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Knee replacement

Knee replacement surgery involves replacing a worn, damaged, or diseased knee joint with an artificial joint.

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Legionnaires' Disease

Causing 2% of pneumonia cases that need hospital treatment Legionnaires' is a type of pneumonia or lung infection.

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Levamisole

Levamisole is used in the treatment of bowel cancer.

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Meningitis

Meningitis is the inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, the meninges, which can cause serious disability or even death.

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Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that begins in the mesothelium, the membrane that covers and protects most of the body's internal organs.

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Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.

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Necrotising Fasciitis

First described by Meleney in 1924 Necrotising Fasciitis (NF) caused by Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci is considered a severe and relatively rare disease.

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Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)

There are many different types of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a group of diseases that are cancers of the lymphatic system.

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Occupational Skin Disease

Occupational Skin Disease is the response of the skin to physical, chemical or biological agents in the workplace.

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Olanzapine

Olanzapine belongs to the antipsychotics group of medicines and is used to treat schizophrenia.

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Pacemakers

Pacemakers are used to regulate heart beats.

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Persistent Vegetative State (PVS)

A condition in which the patient can't speak or follow commands or make any response.

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Pleural Plaques

Pleural plaques are patches of thickening over the pleura which become hardened over time.

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Posterior cord syndrome

Posterior cord syndrome is damage to the back of the spinal cord

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Post-traumatic stress disorder

The term Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was first used after the Vietnam War and formalized in 1980 with its inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders developed by the American Psychiatric Association.

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Retrograde Amnesia

The loss of memory for a period before the injury.

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Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. It is estimated that there are presently more than 70,000 newly diagnosed cases per year. Approximately 2,000 people die from skin cancer each year in the UK.

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Statins

Statins are a new group of drugs and are used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood.

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Stents

Stents are small mesh tubes which are inserted into diseased arteries. Stents are often implanted at the same time other procedures are carried out including balloon angioplasties.

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Stroke

A stroke (cerebral vascular accident or CVA) occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off. This is caused by either a blood clot (ischaemic stroke - 80%) or a burst blood vessel (haemorrhagic stroke - 20%).

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Subdural haematoma

There are three membranes that cover the brain and spinal chord. Together they are known as the Meninges. The space between the two outer membranes is called the subdural space.

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Thrombosis

Thrombosis is the clotting of blood within a vein or artery.

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Urinalysis

When a urine sample is tested it is called a Urinalysis

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Vaccination / Immunisations

Vaccination or immunisations are given to make the body's immune system produce antibodies that will fight off a virus.

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Ventilator

A machine that helps people breathe.

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Ventouse / Vacuum Extraction

Ventouse is also known as 'vacuum extraction', it is a method of helping the mother if she is having difficulty in the second stage of pregnancy

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Ventricles

Spaces (Cavities) in the brain that contain cerebro-spinal fluid.

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Vestibular

The vestibular is the part of the body that senses movement, it is situated within the middle ear.

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Wernicke's Area

The part of the brain concerned with producing speech.

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White Blood Cells

These are special blood cells that fight infection and disease.

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Xerodema pigmentosum

Inherited disease that is very rare, it increases the persons sensitivity to sunlight and increases the risk of developing skin cancer

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X-ray

By using low levels of radiation a picture can be produced of inside the body.

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Yew Tree

The chemotherapy drug Taxol is made from the Yew Tree.

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