Spinal Cord Injury healthcare information in one catch

Glossary A

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 to choose another letter. Aa Ad Ae Ag Ah An Ao At Au Az Aa Ad Abdomen The part of the body’s trunk found below the chest. It contains the structures involved in digestion (e.g., stomach, intestine, etc) and those involved in producing and storing urine (e.g., kidneys, bladder). Abdominal Relating to the abdomen. Abscess An area of pus that is surrounded and enclosed by damaged, inflamed tissue. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors A group of drugs used to lower blood pressure. They work by blocking the activity of an enzyme (angiotensin-converting enzyme, ACE) that is important in controlling blood pressure. NB ACE is also used to refer to a bowel management technique. Action potential The technical term for the ‘messages’ that travel along nerve cells. They are waves of electrical activity (impulses) that travel very quickly along the length of the thread-like nerve cells. When they reach the end of the nerve cell they can be passed on to other nerve cells, or to other types of cells, such as those in muscle. Active (exercise/movement) Active movements are those that require the contraction of muscles to bring them about. Active exercise is exercise that uses the person’s own muscles and nervous control to move the body. This can be compared to passive exercise, where another person, e.g., a physiotherapist, moves the parts of the body in question. Acupuncture Traditional Chinese treatment. Thin metal needles are inserted into selected healing points beneath the skin in order to relieve symptoms such as pain. Acute Short term, e.g., a medical problem that lasts for only a short period of time; or the immediate stages after an injury. Adrenal glands The body contains two adrenal glands – one positioned on the top surface of each kidney. They produce hormones, including adrenaline. Adrenaline An important hormone that is used to prepare the body for emergency situations, e.g., by increasing the heart rate. It has widespread effects on circulation, muscles and the provision of energy. Ae Ag back to top Afferent Refers to nerves that carry messages from sense organs towards the spinal cord and brain, i.e., sensory nerves. Ah An back to top Alignment This generally refers to objects being in a straight line, or being positioned appropriately in relation to each other. The bones of the spine (vertebrae) should be arranged in a particular position, one on top of the other – they have a particular alignment. After a spinal injury the vertebrae may become shifted from their normal position, and they will be said to be misaligned. Various forms of surgical or non-surgical treatment may be required to realign the vertebrae. Alpha-receptor antagonists Also called alpha-adrenergic blockers. A group of drugs that affect the activity of the nervous system by blocking certain receptors found at nerve endings. They cause widening of the arteries and a drop in blood pressure. Anaemia Low level of the oxygen carrying chemical, haemoglobin, in the red blood cells. It often occurs due to lack of iron. Symptoms include pale skin and easily getting tired. Anaesthetic A substance that reduces or removes sensation. General anaesthetics affect the whole body, causing loss of consciousness. Local anaesthetics affect only a particular part of the body by inactivating the nerves that detect sensation in that part of the body. Anal fissures Splits in the lining membrane of the anus. They can cause minor bleeding. Avoiding becoming constipated and gently carrying out bowel emptying can help to prevent them. If anal fissures develop, medical treatment may be needed. Anal reflex The automatic (reflex) contraction of the anus in response to stimulation in the area around the anus. Analgesics Drugs that are used to relieve pain. Angina A suffocating type of pain. An example includes pain in the chest when the heart muscle does not receive an adequate blood supply during exercise. Angiogram Picture of the heart and blood system that is produced by injecting specific substances into the circulation and taking X-rays to reveal the blood vessels. Ankylosing spondylitis A medical condition in which parts of the spine (the joints between the vertebrae) become inflamed. The condition causes back pain and stiffness, and can lead to deformities of the spine and damage to the spinal cord. Antacids Drugs that reduce the level of acidity in the stomach (by neutralising the acid that the stomach naturally produces). They can be used to relieve problems with the digestive system, such as stomach ulcers. Antibacterial Any substance, e.g., a drug, that is used to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics A type of drug that is effective against bacterial but not viral infections. Anticoagulant Chemical that stops blood clotting inappropriately in the blood vessels, or helps to break up already existing clots. Used to prevent deep vein thrombosis and embolisms. Antiseptics A substance that kills most disease-causing bacteria, viruses and fungi, and that can be used on the skin of humans, or given internally to prevent or treat infections. Anus The opening at the end of the bowel through which faeces are discharged from the body. Ao At back to top Appendicitis Inflammation of the appendix that can cause pain and occasionally vomiting and diarrhoea. Appendix Small structure attached to part of the bowel called the caecum. It has no function in man. Aromatherapy Method by which essential oils (natural oils taken from aromatic plants) are used to enhance health and also affect a person’s emotional well-being. The oils may be used in massage, inhalation, bath products and perfumes. Aromatic The property of having fragrance/smell. Artery Type of blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. The vessel walls of an artery are thick and muscular, which means they are able to withstand the high pressure of blood coming from the heart. Arthritis Inflammation of the joints causing swelling, pain and stiffness. Artificial urethral sphincter A device that can restore bladder control in some people with SCI. Consists of an inflatable cuff placed around the bladder neck, with a reservoir and pump, all surgically implanted. The cuff can be inflated and deflated to control the flow of urine out of the bladder. Ascending colon The first part of the colon (part of the large intestine). It starts in the lower right hand side of the abdomen (where the small intestine ends) and moves material upwards to the upper right hand side of the abdomen, where the next part of the colon, the transverse colon, starts. Aseptic technique When procedures like surgery, or dressing wounds, are carried out in a way that avoids introducing any bacteria, viruses, or fungi to the affected area. Assisted ventilation Help with breathing that involves ‘pushing’ air into the airways/lungs during breathing in, and allowing air to leave the lungs during breathing out. The air may be oxygen-enriched and supplied using either mechanical or manual equipment, via a tube inserted into the lungs, or simply via a mask placed over the face or nose. Atelectasis A condition in which fluid, such as mucus, collecting in the lower parts of the lungs, causes blockages of the air passages. This can make breathing less efficient and makes the person more prone to infection. Signs and symptoms include breathing difficulty, a cough, and if sensation is present, chest pain. Atonic bladder Also called a flaccid bladder. This refers to the condition where the muscles in the bladder wall are limp and not able to contract, so that the bladder is not able to empty itself automatically. Au Az back to top Augmentation cystoplasty Surgical expansion of the bladder, using a piece of bowel, to increase its storage capacity. Autonomic dysreflexia Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a very important potential complication of SCI. It is an exaggerated response of the nervous system to a specific trigger, such as an overfull bladder, that occurs because the brain is no longer able to control the body’s response to the trigger. This response involves the blood vessels in the skin and abdomen narrowing, which leads to a rapid increase in the body’s blood pressure. Common signs and symptoms include a severe headache and sweating. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) Subdivision of the peripheral nervous system (part of the nervous system that lies outside of the spinal cord and brain). It is involved in ‘automatic’ activities that are not normally under conscious control, for example digestion, breathing, control of blood pressure. The autonomic nervous system can itself be divided into two – the sympathetic nervous system, which is involved in preparing the body for physical activity, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which is involved in regulating the routine functions of the body. Axon The long thread-like outgrowth/extension of a nerve cell that carries messages away from the main part of the cell (the swelling called the cell body). Each nerve cell has one axon, which can travel long distances through the body, before passing on its message – either to other nerve cells, or to the message’s final destination, such as the brain, or a muscle. Axons are also referred to as nerve fibres. Axon terminal The end of the nerve cell, where it connects with another nerve cell, or a different type of cell, such as a muscle. It is here that messages are sent from one cell to another. back to top

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