Spinal Cord Injury healthcare information in one catch

Glossary B

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Scroll down this list to find the medical term and its explanation, or click on the links below to jump straight to that section. Click on the table above tro choose another letter. Ba Bd Be Bg Bh Bn Bo Bt Bu Bz Ba Bd Bacteria Microscopic living organisms that may live in the soil, water or air, or live on or within plants and animals. Many are harmless to humans, but some can lead to infections. Ball and socket joints Specific type of moveable joint where two bones – one with a ball shaped end, and the other with a cup shaped end – fit together. The point where the ball of one bone fits into the cup (socket) of the other is the joint. The joint permits movement in all directions. Examples include the shoulder and the hip. Barrier creams and foams Contraceptive method that is used by women and designed to prevent pregnancy by stopping the sperm reaching the female’s egg. The cream or foam contains an agent that is poisonous to the sperm. B-complex vitamins A group of vitamins that are important in many chemical reactions in the body. Be Bg Back to top Beta-blockers A large group of drugs that affect the activity of the nervous system by blocking certain receptors at nerve endings. Their effects include reducing heart rate and blood pressure. Bh Bn Back to top Bicep The large muscle at the front of the upper arm that is used to bend the elbow. Bladder A hollow sac-shaped organ that stores the urine until it can be removed from the body. Bladder capacity Volume of urine that the bladder is able to hold, before the need to empty arises. Bladder drainage Removal of urine from the bladder, e.g., using a catheter. Bladder management The methods used by a person to deal with bladder problems and keep their bladder emptying regular and controlled, e.g., catheterisation. Bladder stones Hard, stone-like structures formed in the urine within the bladder. Blisters Sore areas that form due to the skin rubbing against another surface, causing separation of the layers of the skin. Fluid may accumulate between these layers of skin. Blood clot A solid mass of blood. Its function is to develop at the site of wounds to stop blood loss. However, clots may form inappropriately within the blood vessels, for example if the blood is flowing too slowly. Blood clots within blood vessels can block the blood supply to certain parts of the body. Blood pressure (BP) The pressure within the arteries (blood vessels) resulting from the pumping action of the heart. Blood vessels Tubes that carry blood around the body. Bo Bt Back to top Bone grafts A piece of healthy bone is taken from one part of the body (or from another person) and used to strengthen a damaged bone, or help a broken bone to heal. This technique may be used when vertebrae (bones in the spine) are damaged/broken. Bone marrow Soft fatty substance that is found within the spaces inside bone. It may be red or yellow, and is the place where most of the blood cells are formed. Bone mass The amount (‘weight’) of bone that is present in the body. Bowel Term commonly used to refer to the lower part of the digestive system – the small and large intestines. Bowel evacuation The process of emptying the bowels of stools (faeces). Bowel impaction Stools (faeces) that are firmly wedged in the bowel, and have become so hard and dry that they cannot be removed from the body naturally. Additional measures must be taken to allow them to be passed. Bowel obstruction A blockage of the space inside the bowel, stopping the passage of material through it. Bowel programme The routine that a person uses with regard to emptying their bowels. Brace A device that is used to support or hold a particular part of the body in a specific position. It can be used to keep bones rigid during a time of healing, help with movement, correct a deformity or relieve pain. Bradycardia A slower than normal heart rate – specifically, less than 50 beats per minute. Brain haemorrhage Bleeding in or around the brain as a result of broken blood vessels in the brain. It can result in damage to the nerves in the brain. Brainstem Area at the base of the brain, located where the brain meets the spinal cord. Bronchioles The small tubes forming the airways that travel deep into the lungs. They extend from the two bronchi (branches of the windpipe) and they end in small air sacs called alveoli. Brown-Séquard syndrome Nervous system disorder that occurs when the spinal cord has been partially cut through, i.e., the damage is only to one side of the cord. Effects on the rest of the body will depend of whether their nervous supply comes from the damaged side of the cord or the side that remains functional. Bu Bz Back to top Bulbocavernosus reflex A distinct, automatic (reflex) contraction of the rectum (part of the bowel) that occurs when the tip of the penis (in a man) or clitoris (in a woman) is squeezed. Bypass surgery Surgery that makes an alternative route past a blockage or narrowing, e.g., in an artery or vein. Back to top

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