Glossary
Terms A-B
Terms C-H
Terms I-O
Terms P-Z
Terms A-B
ABDUCTION
The lateral movement of the limbs away from the median plane of the body, or the lateral bending of the head or trunk.
The movement of the digits away from the axial line of a limb.
Outward rotation of the eyes.
ADDUCT
To draw towards the main axis of the body or a limb.
ANASTOMOSIS
A natural communication between two vessels; may be direct or by means of connecting channels.
The surgical or pathological connections of two tubular structures.
ANTERIOR
Before or in front of.
AROM
Active range of motion.
AVULSION
A tearing away forcibly of a part or structure.
AXILLA
The armpit.
BRACHIAL PLEXUS
Network of lower cervical and upper dorsal spinal nerves supplying the arm, forearm and hand.
BUE
Bilateral Upper Extremities.
Terms C-H
CAPILLARY
Any of the minute blood vessels, averaging 0.008mm in diameter, carrying blood and forming the capillary system. Capillaries connect the smallest arteries (arterioles) with the smallest veins (venules).
Pertinent to hair; hairlike.
CENTRIFUGE
A device which spins or whirls test tubes at high speeds.
CONTRACTURE
Permanent contraction of a muscle due to spasm or paralysis.
A condition of fixed high resistance to the passive stretch of a muscle, as may result from fibrosis of tissues surrounding a joint.
CYANOSIS
Slightly bluish, grayish, slatelike or dark purple discoloration of the skin due to presence of abnormal amounts of reduced hemoglobin in the blood.
DEBRIDEMENT
The removal of foreign materials and dead or damaged tissue, especially in a wound.
DURA
Dura mater is the outer membrane covering the spinal cord and brain.
HORNER'S SYNDROME
Contraction of the pupil, enophthalmos (recession of the eyeball into the orbit), and sometimes loss of sweating over the affected side of the face. Due to paralysis of the cervical sympathetic nerve trunk.
HYPERVOLEMIA
Plethora of blood; abnormal increase in the volume of circulating blood.
Terms I-O
INTERCOSTAL
Between the ribs.
INTUBATE
To insert a tube in a part, especially the larynx.
LARYNGEAL
Pertinent to the larynx.
MACULA
A small spot or colored area.
MENINGITIS
Inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord or brain.
MULTIPAROUS
Having borne more than one child.
Producing more than one child at birth.
MUSCULOCUTANEOUS
Pertinent to the muscles and skin.
Supplying or affecting the muscles and skin.
NEURAPRAXIA
Cessation in function of a peripheral nerve without degenerative changes occuring.
NEUROLYSIS
Stretching of a nerve to relieve tension.
Loosening of adhesions surrounding a nerve.
Disintegration or destruction of nerve tissue.
NEUROMA
Former term for any type of tumor composed of nerve cells.
NEUROTMESIS
Nerve injury with complete loss of function of the nerve even though there is little apparent damage anatomically.
OMOHYOID
Concerning the scapula and the hyoid bone.
Muscle attached to the hyoid bone and the scapula.
Terms P-Z
PARIETAL
Pertinent to, or forming, the wall of a cavity.
Pertinent to the parietal bone.
PARTURITION
Act of giving birth to young.
PERFUSION
Passing of a fluid through spaces.
The pouring of a fluid.
Supplying an organ or tissue with nutrients and oxygen by injecting blood or a suitable fluid into an artery.
PERIORBITAL
Surrounding the socket of the eye.
PHERENIC NERVE
One arising in the cervical plexus entering the thorax and passing to the diaphragm.
A motor nerve to the diaphragm with sensory fibers to the pericardium.
PNEUMOTHORAX
A collection of air or gas in the pleural cavity.
POPLITEAL
Concerning the posterior surface of the knee.
POSTERIOR
Toward the tear or caudal end;opposed to anterior.
In man, toward the back; dorsal.
Situated behind, coming after.
PROM
Passive range of motion.
PROPRIOCEPTIVE
Pertinent to prioprioception-the awareness of one's own posture, movement and changes in equilibrium and the knowledge of position, weight and resistance of objects in relation to the body.
ROM
Range of motion.
SCALENUS
One of three deeply situated muscles on each side of the neck extending from the tubercles of the transverse processes of the third through sixth cervical vertebrae to the first or second rib.
SERUM
Any serous fluid especially the fluid which moistens the surfaces of serous membranes.
The watery portion of the blood after coagulation; a fluid found when clotted blood is left standing long enough for the clot to shrink.
STERNOCLEIDOMASTOID
One of two muscles arising from the sternum and inner part of the clavicle.
STRIDOR
Harsh sound during respiration, high pitched and resembling the blowing of wind due to obstruction of air passages.
SUPINE
Lying on the back or with the face upward.
Noting position of the hand or foot with the palm or foot facing upward.
Opposite of prone.
SUPRASCAPULAR
Located above the scapula-the large flat triangular bone which forms the posterior part of the shoulder.
SYMPHYSIOTOMY
Cutting a section of the symphysis pubia to facilitate childbirth by enlarging the pelvic outlet.
TACHYCARDIA
Abnormal rapidity of heart action, usually defined as a heart rate over 100 per minute.
TACHYPNEA
Abnormal rapidity of respiration.
TACTILE
Perceptible to the touch.
VAGAL
Pertinent to the vagus nerve- the tenth cranial nerve. it is a mixed nerve, having motor and sensory functions and a wider distribution than any of the other cranial nerves.
The Brachial Plexus Palsy Foundation is not affiliated with any of the organizations or individuals mentioned herein. We are solely an information provider and are not medical professionals. We are providing this information as a resource and are not in anyway trying to influence the reader's decision to call these contacts that we have provided.
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