Lay Terms For Medical Terminology
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V
|
Absorb |
take
up fluids, take in |
|
Acidosis |
condition
when blood contains more acid than normal |
|
Acuity |
clearness,
keenness, esp. of vision - airways |
|
Acute |
new,
recent, sudden |
|
Adenopathy |
enlarged
lymph nodes (glands) |
|
Adjuvant |
helpful,
assisting, aiding |
|
Adjuvant Therapy |
therapy
provided to enhance the effect of a primary therapy |
|
Adjuvant Treatment |
added
treatment |
|
Adverse Event |
an
unintended, but not necessarily unexpected, result of therapy or other
intervention that is unpleasant or dangerous (e.g., headache following spinal
tap, risk of intestinal bleeding associated with aspirin therapy) |
|
Adverse Event (Serious) |
any
experience that suggests a significant hazard, contraindication, side effect
or precaution. Any experience that is fatal or life threatening, is severe or
permanently disabling, requires inpatient hospitalization, or is a congenital
anomaly, cancer or overdose. |
|
Adverse Event (Unexpected) |
any
adverse experience that is not identified in nature, severity, or frequency
in the current investigator brochure |
|
Allergic Reaction |
rash,
trouble breathing |
|
Ambulant |
walking, able to walk. |
|
Ambulate -ation -atory |
walk, able to walk |
|
Anaemia
/ Anemia |
decreased red
blood cells; low red blood cell count |
|
Anaesthetic
/ Anesthetic ( (local) |
a drug or agent
used to decrease the feeling of pain or by numbing an area of my body,
without putting me to sleep |
|
Anaesthetic
/ Anesthetic (general) |
a drug or agent
used to decrease the feeling of pain or eliminate the feeling of pain by
putting me to sleep |
|
Anaphylaxis |
serious,
potentially life threatening allergic reaction |
|
Angina |
pain resulting
from insufficient blood to the heart |
|
Angina
Pectoris |
same as above |
|
ankylosing spondylitis |
arthritis of the spine. |
|
Antecubital |
area inside the
elbow |
|
anterior cord syndrome |
a lesion in the spinal cord that causes
loss of movement, pain and temperature sensitivity, but preserving
proprioception (see under 'P'). |
|
Antibiotic |
drug that kills
bacteria and other germs |
|
Antibody |
protein made in
the body in response to foreign substance; attacks the foreign substance and
protects from infection |
|
Anticonvulsant |
drug used to
prevent seizures |
|
Antilipidemic |
a drug that
decreases the level of fat(s) in the blood |
|
Antimicrobial |
drug that kills
bacteria and other germs |
|
Antitussive |
a drug used to
relieve coughing |
|
aperient |
see laxative |
|
arachnoiditis |
thickening and scarring of the membranes
which surround and protect the nerve roots. Cysts or adhesions develop,
causing pressure on the cord, back pain and/or additional loss of nerve
function. It can be caused by diseases such as meningitis and tuberculosis of
the spine. More commonly it develops in people with spinal cord injury, or
who have had operations on the spine. In the past it was often caused by the
use of oil-based dyes injected into the spinal column to make myelograms.
These dyes are no longed used. Milder forms of arachnoiditis are now believed
to be the cause of the chronic back pain suffered by many able bodied people |
|
Arrhythmia |
any change from
the normal heartbeat (abnormal heartbeat) |
|
Aspiration |
fluid entering
lungs following vomiting |
|
Assay |
lab test |
|
Assent |
agreement by an
individual not competent to give legally valid informed consent (e.g., a
child over seven years of age, or a person with an intellectual impairment)
to participate in research. |
|
Assess |
to learn about |
|
Assurance |
a formal
written statement submitted to a federal agency that an Institution promises
to comply with applicable rules governing research with human subjects. |
|
Asthma |
a lung disease
associated with tightening of the air passages |
|
Asymptomatic |
without
symptoms |
|
AUS |
Artificial urinary sphincter-an inflatable
cuff surgically fitted around the neck of the bladder, controlled by a pump located
in the scrotum or labia |
|
automatic bladder |
where the nerve impulses between the
bladder and the spinal cord remain intact and the bladder can be trained to
empty by reflex (spastic) action |
|
autonomic |
the 'unconscious' nervous system which is
separate from, but linked to that of the spinal cord. It controls the bladder
and bowels, blood circulation and sweating |
|
autonomic dysreflexia |
an autonomic reflex causing a sudden,
severe, increase in blood pressure in response to pain or discomfort, usually
originating below the level of paralysis. Tetraplegics are more prone to this
complication as their autonomic nervous systems are unable to oppose the
reflex. Commonly caused by an over-full bladder or bowel it presents as
profuse sweating, flushing and a blinding headache. It is a medical
emergency, and if untreated can cause death |
|
Autonomy |
personal
capacity to consider alternatives, make choice and to act without undue
influence or interference of others |
|
Autopsy |
examination by
dissection of the body of a deceased individual to determine cause of death
and other medically relevant facts |
|
Axilla |
armpit |
|
baclofen pump |
a pump and reservoir implanted to deliver
a measured dose of the drug baclofen to the spinal cord to suppress spasm |
|
Belmont Report |
a statement of
basic ethical principles governing research within human subjects issued by
the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects in 1978 |
|
Beneficence |
an ethical
principle discussed in the Belmont Report that is expressed in two general
rules 1) do not harm and 2) maximize possible benefits and minimize possible
harms |
|
Benefit |
something that
promotes or protects well-being; an advantage |
|
Benign |
not malignant,
usually without serious consequences, but with some exceptions, e.g., a
benign brain tumour may have serious consequences |
|
Binding/Bound |
carried by,
take stick together, transported |
|
Bioavailability |
the extent to
which a drug or other substance becomes available to the body |
|
bladder neck closure |
an operation to close off the urethra and
neck of the bladder and insert a suprapubic catheter |
|
Blood
Profile |
series of blood
tests |
|
Bolus |
an amount given
all at once |
|
Bone
Mass |
the amount of
calcium in a given amount of bone |
|
Bradyarrhythmias |
slow, irregular
heartbeats |
|
Bronchospasm |
breathing
distress caused by narrowing of the airways |
|
Brown-Séquard syndrome |
occurs when one side of the spinal cord is
damaged, common when injury is caused by a stab wound. On the injured side of
the body there is reduced movement and reflexes, while on the opposite side
there is a loss of sense of pain and temperature |
|
bursa, bursitis |
a pocket of fluid which collects between
tissue and the bone, caused by pressure or bumps, and which can cause a
pressure sore |
|
Cadaver |
the body of a
deceased person |
|
calculus/calculi |
a 'stone' in the bladder, kidney or
gall-bladder |
|
Carcinogenic |
capable of
causing cancer |
|
Carcinoma |
type of cancer |
|
Cardiac |
pertains to the
heart |
|
Cardioversion |
restoration of
normal heart beat by electric shock |
|
carpal tunnel syndrome |
a common, painful condition of the wrist
and hand due to nerve compression within the soft tissues due to inflammatory
swelling or trauma |
|
Case-Control
Study |
a study
comparing persons with a given disease (the cases) and persons without the
given disease (the controls) with respect to antecedent factors |
|
Cat
Scan |
abbreviation
for Computerized Axial Tomography, an x-ray technique for producing images of
internal bodily structures through the assistance of a computer |
|
catheter |
a fine tube made of plastic, rubber or
silicone which is inserted into the bladder to empty it |
|
Catheter |
a tube for
withdrawing or introducing fluids |
|
Catheter
(indwelling epidural) |
a tube placed
near the spinal cord used for anaesthesia during operation |
|
cauda equina |
the 'horse's tail', the three inch bundle
of fine nerves leaving the lower end of the spinal cord, below the level of
the second lumbar vertebra (L2). |
|
central cord syndrome |
incomplete lesion, usually at cervical
level. Usually presents with loss of hand and arm function but with some
preservation of bladder, bowel and sexual function. Walking may be possible |
|
Cerebral
Trauma |
damage to the
brain |
|
cervical |
the neck area. The cervical section of the
spinal cord contains 8 nerve roots (C1-C8) which control neck movement,
breathing and the shoulders, arms and wrists |
|
CFR |
Code
of Federal Regulations; a compendium (set) of rules issued by federal
agencies on a multiplicity (number) of topics |
|
CHD |
coronary heart
disease |
|
Chemotherapy |
treatment of
disease, usually cancer, by chemical agents |
|
chest |
see thoracic |
|
Chronic |
continuing for
a long time |
|
Clinical |
pertaining to
medical care |
|
Clinical
Trial |
an
experiment in patients; research on human subjects, designed to evaluate
prospectively the safety and efficacy of diagnostic, therapeutic, or
preventive interventions |
|
coccyx, coggygeal |
the coccyx is the tail. In humans this
consists of four tiny bones fused together at the base of the spine |
|
Cohort |
a group of
subjects initially identified as having one or more characteristics in common
who are followed over time |
|
colposuspension |
an abdominal operation to support the
bladder neck by elevating the vagina using dissolvable sutures |
|
Compensation |
payment or
medical care provided to subjects injured in research, does not refer to
payment (remuneration) for participation in research |
|
Competence |
technically, a
legal term, used to denote capacity to act on one’s own behalf, the ability
to understand information presented, to appreciate the consequences of acting
(or not acting) on that information and to make a choice |
|
Complete
Response |
total
disappearance of disease |
|
Confidentiality |
pertains
to the treatment of information that an individual has disclosed in a
relationship of trust and with the expectation that it will not be divulged
to others in ways that are inconsistent with the understanding of closure
without permission |
|
Consolidation
Phase |
treatment phase
intended to make a remission permanent, follows induction |
|
Contract |
an agreement
that a specific research activity will be performed at the request, and under
the direction, of the agency providing the funds. Research performed under
contract is more closely controlled by the agency than research performed
under a grant. |
|
contractures |
stiffening of the joints of paralysed
limbs caused by wasting and shortening of muscles-can be diminished or
prevented by exercise and physiotherapy |
|
Contraindicated |
disadvantageous,
perhaps dangerous; a treatment that should not be used in certain individuals
or conditions due to risks (e.g., this drug is contraindicated for pregnant
women and persons with high blood pressure) |
|
Control(s) |
subjects used
for comparison who are not given a treatment or who do not have a disorder,
background, or risk factor that is the object of study |
|
Controlled
Trial |
study in which
the experimental treatment or procedure is compared to a standard (control)
treatment or procedure |
|
Cooperative
Group |
association of
multiple institutions to perform clinical trials |
|
Coronary |
pertains to
blood vessels that supply the heart |
|
CSF (cerebro-spinal fluid) |
a colourless liquid within the skull and
the spinal canal which nourishes the brain and spinal cord and acts as a
watercushion |
|
CT
Scan (CAT) |
computerized
series of X-rays (computerized tomography) |
|
CT scan computerised tomography |
a non-invasive scan which provides more
detail than a standard x-ray |
|
Culture |
test for
infection or organisms that could cause infection |
|
CVA |
stroke
(cerebrovascular accident) |
|
cystic myelopathy |
a spinal cyst. See syringomyelia |
|
cystitis |
infection of the urinary bladder |
|
cystogram |
a series of x-ray films of the bladder,
usually obtained during cystoscopy, IVP/IVU or urodynamics |
|
cystoplasty |
operation to enlarge the bladder by
incorporating a section of the bowel into it |
|
cystoscopy |
visual examination of the bladder with a
tiny instrument inserted through the urethra |
|
Debriefing |
giving subjects
previously undisclosed information about the research project following
completion of their participation in research |
|
decubitus |
ulcer pressure sore |
|
detrusor |
the muscle in the wall of the bladder,
which contracts to squeeze out urine to empty it |
|
Device
(medical) |
therapeutic,
diagnostic or prosthetic articles which do not interact chemically with the
body |
|
Diagnostic
Procedures |
tests used to
identify a disorder or disease in a living person |
|
diaphoresis |
profuse sweating |
|
Diastolic |
lower number in
blood pressure reading |
|
discs |
pads of gristle which separate the spinal
vertebrae and surround and cushion the spinal cord |
|
Distal |
toward the end,
away from the centre of the body |
|
Diuretic |
a water pill or
drug that causes increase in urination |
|
Doppler |
sound waves |
|
Double
Blind |
study in which
neither investigators nor subjects know what drug the subject is receiving or
where neither the investigator nor the subject knows to which treatment group
individual subjects are assigned |
|
DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) |
a blood clot in a vein, usually in the
leg, which may cause swelling. If untreated, it can be a cause of death if a
portion of the clot breaks away and reaches the heart |
|
dysaesthesias |
painful sensations experienced below the
level of lesion following spinal cord injury. Often described as burning,
numbness, pins and needles or tingling |
|
Dysplasia |
abnormal cells |
|
Echocardiogram |
sound wave test
of the heart |
|
EEG |
electric
brainwave tracing (electroencephalogram) |
|
Efficacy |
effectiveness |
|
Electrocardiogram |
electrical
tracing of heartbeat (ECG or EKG) |
|
Electrolyte
Imbalance |
imbalance of
minerals in the blood |
|
Embryo |
early stages of
a developing organism, broadly used to refer to stages immediately following
fertilization of an egg through implantation and very early pregnancy (i.e.,
from conception to eight weeks of pregnancy) |
|
Emesis |
vomiting |
|
Empiric |
based on
experience |
|
Endoscopic |
examination of
an internal part of the body with a lighted tube |
|
Enema |
technique for emptying the bowel by
introducing liquid into the rectum to loosen the faeces and provoke a bowel
motion |
|
Enteral |
by way of the
intestines |
|
epididymitis |
swelling of the tube leading from the male
testicle to the urethra |
|
Epidural |
outside the
spinal cord |
|
Equitable |
fair or just;
used in the context of selection of subjects to indicate that the benefits
and borders of research are fairly distributed |
|
Experimental |
term often used
to denote a therapy that is unproven or scientifically invalidated with
respect to safety and efficacy. A procedure may be considered experimental
without necessarily being part of a formal study to evaluate its usefulness. |
|
Expressing |
exerting gentle pressure over a full
bladder, to empty it |
|
Extravasate |
to leak outside
of a blood vessel |
|
Oedema
/ Edema |
increased fluid |
|
FDA |
U.S. Food and
Drug Administration, the branch of federal government that approves new drugs |
|
Feneley procedure |
see bladder neck closure |
|
FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) |
a way of stimulating the muscles of
paralysed limbs (usually the legs, occasionally the arms) by using
computer-controlled electrical current. FES aims to provide armfunction in
tetraplegia and to restore some degree of walking in paraplegia. It can also
reduce muscle wasting and osteoporosis |
|
Fibrillation |
irregular beat
of the heart |
|
Flaccid bladder |
where the nerves between the bladder and
the spinal cord have been damaged, the bladder lacks reflex activity, and
cannot be trained to empty |
|
General
Anaesthesia / Anesthesia |
pain prevention
by induction of drugged sleep, as in surgery |
|
Haematoma
/ Hematoma |
a bruise, a
black and blue mark |
|
Haemodynamic
/ Hemodynamic Measuring |
measuring of
blood flow |
|
Haemolysis
/ Hemolysis |
breakdown in
red blood cells |
|
Haemorrhoids |
piles, varicose veins inside or outside
the rectum |
|
Hematocrit |
amount of red
blood cells in the blood |
|
Heparin
Lock |
needle placed
in the arm with blood thinner to keep the blood from clotting |
|
Hepatoma |
cancer or
tumour of the liver |
|
Heterotopic
ossification |
the development of abnormal bone in soft
tissue, usually close to the hip or knee, which may interfere with full
movement of the joint. The cause is not known |
|
Holter
Monitor |
a portable
machine for recording heart beats |
|
HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) |
given to some women close to or after the
menopause to provide a continued supply of some of the hormones secreted by
their bodies during the menstrual cycle. Usually given to prevent
osteoporosis, it is believed by some to promote general well-being and to
slow the natural ageing process |
|
Hydrocele |
swelling of and fluid on the testicles |
|
Hypercalcaemia
/ Hypercalcemia |
high blood
calcium level |
|
Hyperkalemia |
high blood
potassium level |
|
Hypernatremia |
high blood
sodium level |
|
Hypersensitivity |
when some parts of the body or skin become
acutely sensitive to touch-a side-effect of spinal cord injury in some
individuals |
|
Hypertension |
high blood pressure. See autonomic
dysreflexia |
|
Hypertension |
high blood
pressure |
|
Hyperthermia |
excessive rise in body temperature, to
which some high-level tetraplegics are prone, because the autonomic system
controlling their body temperature is impaired |
|
Hypocalcaemia
/ Hypocalcemia |
low blood
calcium level |
|
Hypokalemia |
low blood
potassium level |
|
Hyponatraemia |
a less than normal concentration of sodium
in the blood - usually a complication of excessive water intake (or
inadequate excretion). May lead to confusion, convulsions and collapse |
|
Hyponatremia |
low blood
sodium level |
|
Hypotension |
low blood pressure. See postural
hypotension |
|
Hypotension |
low blood
pressure |
|
Hypothermia |
excessive reduction in body temperature
which can lead to frostbite in limbs and possibly to death |
|
Hypoxemia |
a decrease of
oxygen in the blood |
|
Hypoxia |
a decrease of
oxygen in the blood |
|
Iatrogenic |
caused by a
physician or by treatment |
|
IDE |
investigational
device exemption, the license to test an unapproved new medical device |
|
Idiopathic |
of unknown
cause |
|
Ileo-conduit |
see urostomy |
|
Immunoglobin |
a protein that
makes antibodies |
|
Immunosuppressive |
drug which
suppresses the body’s immune response, used in transplantation and diseases
caused by disordered immunity |
|
Immunotherapy |
giving of drugs
to help the body’s immune (protective) system; usually used to destroy cancer
cells |
|
IND |
investigational
new drug, the license to test an unapproved new drug |
|
Induction
Phase |
beginning phase
or stage of a treatment |
|
Induration |
hardening |
|
Indwelling catheter |
a tube usually made of rubber or silicone
which remains inserted in the bladder at all times to drain urine |
|
Infarct |
death of tissue
because of lack of blood supply |
|
Infusion |
introduction of
a substance into the body, usually into the blood |
|
Ingestion |
eating, taking
by mouth |
|
Intermittent catheterisation |
introduction of a catheter into the
bladder at regular intervals to empty it |
|
Intramuscular |
into the
muscle; within the muscle |
|
Intrathecal |
into the spinal
fluid |
|
Intravenous
(IV) |
through the
vein |
|
Intravesical |
in the bladder |
|
Intubate |
the placement
of a tube into the airway |
|
Invasive
Procedure |
puncture,
opening or cutting of the skin |
|
Ischemia |
decreased
oxygen in a tissue (usually because of decreased blood flow) |
|
Ischial tuberosities |
the bony points at the base of the
pelvis-one of the most vulnerable points for pressure sores when sitting |
|
IVP/IVU (intravenous pyelogram / urogram) |
A radio-opaque dye is injected into the
body. As it is excreted through the kidney it will appear visible on an x-ray
film, allowing doctors to assess kidney health and any stones (calculi)
present |
|
Kyphosis |
a forward curvature of the spine |
|
Laxative |
substance (food or medicine) taken to
cause a bowel movement |
|
Lesion |
a cut, sore or injury. Often used to
describe the site of injury to the spinal cord (e.g. 'a C5 lesion...') |
|
Leukopoenia /
Leukopenia |
low white blood
cell count |
|
Lipid
Content |
fat content in
the blood |
|
Lithotripsy |
ultrasound treatment to break up bladder
or kidney stones |
|
Local
Anesthesia |
creation of
insensitivity to pain in a small, local area of the body |
|
Localized |
restricted to
one area, limited to one area |
|
Lordosis |
backwards curvature of the spine |
|
Lumbar |
the lower back area. The lumbar section of
the spinal cord contains 5 nerve roots (L1-L5) which control the muscles of
the legs |
|
Lumen |
the cavity of
an organ or tube (e.g., blood vessel) |
|
Lymphangiography |
an x-ray of the
lymph nodes or tissues after injection of dye in lymph vessels |
|
Lymphocyte |
a type of white
blood cell important in immunity and defence against infection |
|
Lymphoma |
a cancer of the
lymph nodes or tissues |
|
Malaise |
a vague feeling
of bodily discomfort, feeling bad |
|
Malignancy |
cancer or other
progressively enlarging and spreading tumour, usually fatal if not
successfully treated |
|
Medulloblastoma |
a type of brain
tumour |
|
Megaloblastoma |
change in red
blood cells |
|
Meninges |
the silky linings of the skull and spinal
canal which protect the brain and the spinal cord |
|
Meningitis |
inflammation of the meninges, the linings
of the skull and spinal canal. Usually caused by a virus, and sometimes
fatal, especially in children. Meningitis serosa circumscripta or
arachnoiditis is a rare condition that affects some people with spinal cord
injury |
|
Metabolize |
process of
breaking down substances in the cells to obtain energy |
|
Metastasis |
spread of
cancer cells from one part of the body to another |
|
MI |
myocardial
infarction, heart attack |
|
Micturition |
urination, peeing |
|
Minimal |
slight |
|
Minimize |
reduce |
|
Mobility |
ease of
movement |
|
Monitor |
check on; keep
track or watch carefully |
|
Morbidity |
undesired
result or complication |
|
Mortality |
death or death
rate |
|
Motility |
the ability to
move |
|
Motor function |
the ability of parts of the body to move |
|
MRI |
magnetic
resonance imaging, body pictures created using magnetic rather than X-ray
energy |
|
MRI scan |
magnetic resonance imaging, a non-invasive
technique of body scanning which produces very good images without side
effects. Used to examine the spinal cord, e.g. to detect syringomyelia |
|
MSU |
a mid-stream specimen of urine, collected
after discarding the first 60mls or so of the urine stream |
|
Mucosa
or Mucous Membrane |
moist lining of
digestive, respiratory, reproductive, and urinary tracts |
|
Multiple
Assurance |
agreement
between institutions and OPRR regarding institutional assurance policies on
the use of human subjects in research |
|
Myelogram |
x-ray of the spine after injection of an
x-ray opaque dye into the spinal column |
|
Myocardial |
pertaining to
the heart |
|
Myocardial
Infarction |
heart attack |
|
Nasogastric
Tube |
tube from the
nose to the stomach |
|
NCI |
the National
Cancer Institute |
|
Neck |
see cervical |
|
Necrosis |
death of tissue |
|
Neoplasia |
tumour, may be
benign or malignant |
|
Neuroblastoma |
a cancer of
nerve tissue |
|
Neutropenia |
decrease in the
main part of the white blood cells |
|
NIH |
the National
Institutes of Health |
|
Noninvasive |
not breaking,
cutting or entering the skin |
|
Nosocomial
Pneumonia |
pneumonia
acquired in the hospital |
|
Occlusion |
closing,
obstruction |
|
Oedema |
swelling, especially of the feet and
ankles, caused by water retention and poor circulation |
|
Omentum |
an apron-like flap of tissue which hangs
from the underside of the stomach and aids circulation in the abdomen |
|
Oncology |
the study of
tumours or cancer |
|
Ophthalmic |
pertaining to
the eye |
|
OPRR |
Office of
Protection from Research Risks of the NIH, oversees IRBs and related matters |
|
Optimal |
best, most
favourable or desirable |
|
Oral
Administration |
by mouth |
|
Orthopaedic
/ Orthopedic |
pertaining to
bones |
|
Osteopetrosis |
rare bone
disorder characterized by dense bones |
|
Osteoporosis |
abnormal weakening or softening of the
bone, common in elderly people, and some women after the menopause |
|
Osteoporosis |
softening of
the bones |
|
Ostomy |
see stoma |
|
Ovaries |
female sex
glands |
|
Paraplegia / paraplegic |
paralysis caused by injury or damage to
the spinal cord below the neck |
|
Parenteral |
administration
by injection |
|
Pathogenesis |
causative
mechanism in a disease |
|
Per
OS (PO) |
by mouth |
|
Percutaneous |
through the
skin |
|
Peristalsis |
the process of contraction and expansion
by which food is moved through your intestines and into your bowel |
|
Pharmacokinetics |
the study of
the way the body absorbs, distributes and gets rid of a drug |
|
Phase
I |
initial study
of a new drug in humans to determine limits of tolerance |
|
Phase
II |
second phase of
a study of a new drug intended to obtain initial information |
|
Phase
III |
large scale
trials to confirm and expand information on safety and usefulness of a new
drug |
|
Phlebitis |
irritation or
inflammation of the vein |
|
Piles |
see haemorrhoids |
|
Placebo |
a substance of
no medical value; an inactive substance |
|
Placebo
Effect |
phenomenon of
improvement seen with the administration of a placebo |
|
Platelets |
small particles
in the blood that help with clotting |
|
Poikilothermia |
a term used to describe the fact that SCI
affects a person's ability to control their body temperature. Instead, the
paralysed body adopts the temperature of the local environment |
|
Posterior cord syndrome |
a lesion in the spinal cord that causes
loss of proprioception, whilst preserving movement, pain and temperature
sensitivity |
|
Postural hypotension |
sudden drop in blood pressure which
produces a blackout or feeling of faintness, experienced by the newly injured
and by tetraplegics on changing too quickly from a lying to an upright
position |
|
Potentiate |
increase or
multiply the effect of a drug or toxin by administration of another drug or
toxin at the same time |
|
Potentiator |
an agent that
helps another agent work better |
|
Pressure sore |
see decubitus ulcer |
|
Pressure studies |
see urodynamics |
|
PRN |
as needed |
|
Prognosis |
outlook,
probable outcomes |
|
Prone |
lying on the
stomach |
|
Prophylaxis |
a drug given to
prevent disease or infection |
|
Proprioception |
a conscious awareness of limb positioning.
Signals originate from stretch receptors in and around joints. Some form of
SCI may affect proprioception signals travelling to the brain |
|
Prospective
Study |
study following
patients forward in time |
|
Protocol |
plan of study |
|
Proximal |
closer to the
centre of the body, away from the end |
|
Pulmonary |
pertaining to
the lungs |
|
Pyelonephritis |
infection of the kidney - usually one that
ascends from the bladder |
|
Quadriplegia / quadriplegic |
see tetraplegia |
|
Radiation
Therapy |
X-ray or cobalt
treatment |
|
Random |
by chance |
|
RBC |
red blood cell |
|
Recombinant |
formation of
new combinations of genes |
|
Reconstitution |
putting back
together the original parts or elements |
|
Reflux (of stomach acid) |
heartburn |
|
Reflux (of urine) |
the backing up of urine into the ureters
and/or kidneys. This happens when the bladder is full and is not regularly
emptied |
|
Refractory |
not responding
to treatment |
|
Regeneration |
regrowth of a
structure or lost tissue |
|
Relapse |
the return of a
disease |
|
Remission |
disappearance
of evidence of cancer or other disease |
|
Renal |
pertaining to
the kidneys |
|
Replicable |
possible to
duplicate |
|
Resect |
remove or cut
out surgically |
|
Retrospective
Study |
study looking
back over past experience |
|
Risk |
the probability
that harm may occur |
|
Root pain |
intense pain in the damaged nerve endings
or nerve roots, which afflicts some SCI people, especially in the early days
of paralysis |
|
Sacral |
the area at the base of the spine, where
the five sacral vertebrae are fused together. The five sacral nerve roots
(L1-L5) control the bladder and bowel |
|
SARS/SARSI (Sacral Anterior Root
Stimulator / Implant) |
a surgical implant which restores bladder
control in some people with spinal cord lesions |
|
Scoliosis lateral |
(sideways) curvature of the spine |
|
Sensory |
to do with the senses (of touch, sight,
smell, hearing, taste) |
|
Single-Blind
Design |
a study design
in which the investigator, but not the subject, knows the identity of the
treatment assignment |
|
SIU |
specialist spinal injury unit |
|
Social
Experimentation |
experimentation
in social or economic systems |
|
Spasm/spastic/spasticity |
terms relating to spontaneous,
uncontrolled muscle activity or jerking of paralysed limbs. Increases in
previously established levels of spasticity may be an early indicator of a
painful or irritating complication developing in the paralysed parts of the
body e.g. pressure sore, ingrown toenail or bladder stone |
|
SPES (Sub-Perception
Electrical Stimulation) |
a technique which applies minute
electrical currents to the body to help control pain |
|
Sphincter |
circular muscle at base of bladder neck
and also around the anus, which controls opening of the bladder and bowel
respectively |
|
Sphincterotomy |
operation to cut the external sphincter of
the bladder to aid urinary drainage |
|
Spin bifida |
abnormal split or opening in the spinal
column, normally caused by a genetic defect and present from an early stage
of the development of the foetus in the womb |
|
Spinal block |
technique for controlling pain or
spasticity by injecting drugs into the spinal column |
|
Spinal shock |
the early stage of the body's response to
spinal cord injury, usually lasting between 2 and 6 weeks, and during which
paralysis appears complete |
|
Sponsor |
either a
private pharmaceutical manufacturer, a research institution, a clinical
investigator or a federal agency who will distribute new drugs to
investigators for clinical trials |
|
Statistical
Significance |
the probability
that two treatments or conditions under study are really different as opposed
to the likelihood that any variations observed have resulted by chance |
|
Stoma |
a small opening cut into the wall of the
abdomen to create an exit for a supra-pubic catheter, bladder or bowel
diversions |
|
Stone |
see calculus |
|
Study
Section |
a review group
that advises on the scientific merit of applications for research grants and
contracts |
|
Subjects |
individuals
whose physiologic or behavioural characteristics and responses are the object
of study in a research project |
|
Suppository |
bullet-shaped capsule inserted into the
anus or vagina. Used to deliver various medicines rectally, to stimulate
bowel movement, to treat haemorrhoids, and in women to deliver various
medications to the vagina and cervix |
|
Suprapubic |
catheter a tube inserted through a small
puncture hole in the lower abdomen into the bladder where it remains to
provide a continuous urinary drainage system |
|
Surveys |
studies
designed to obtain information through written questionnaires, telephone
interviews, etc. |
|
Swelling |
see oedema |
|
Syringomyelia |
a condition affecting some able-bodied as
well as some people with spinal cord injury. A cavity in the spinal cord
fills with cerebrospinal fluid. The resulting pressure further enlarges the
cavity and damages the nerve tissues of the cord. In SCI people this tends to
occur above the level of the original injury, causing pressure on nerve roots
and pain or further loss of sensation in upper limbs |
|
Syrinx |
a cavity in the spinal cord. See syringomyelia |
|
TENS |
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve
Stimulation - a technique for pain relief involving electrical stimulation of
the skin surface with small electrodes |
|
Tetraplegia / tetraplegic |
paralysis caused by injury or damage to
the upper or cervical section of the spinal cord |
|
Therapeutic
Research |
research
involving an intervention that should provide a therapeutic, or preventive
benefit to the subjects |
|
Therapy |
treatment
intended and expected to alleviate a disease or disorder |
|
Thoracic |
the chest area. The thoracic section of
the spinal cord contains 12 nerve roots (T1-T12) which control the muscles of
the ribs, chest and abdomen |
|
Trochanters |
the tops of the thigh bones-a high-risk
point for pressure sores when lying down |
|
Ureters |
the tubes which carry urine from the
kidneys to the bladder |
|
Urethra |
the tube which carries urine from the
bladder, exiting via the penis in males and in front of the vagina in females |
|
Urodynamics |
a special investigative procedure for
assessing bladder function. Radio-opaqued dye is introduced into the bladder
via a catheter which also contains pressure sensors, allowing doctors to
observe the bladder working, to measure the efficiency of bladder emptying,
voiding pressures and to assess potential for renal (kidney) problems |
|
UTI |
Urinary Tract Infection - general term to
describe infection of the urinary system |
|
Variable |
an element or
factor that the research is designed to study |
|
Vertebrae |
the bones (there are 33 of them) which
make up the spine. Each vertebra has a hole in its centre, so that when
stacked on top of one another they form a long channel called the vertebral
canal, through which the spinal cord runs |
|
Voiding |
see micturition |
|
Voluntary |
a subject’s
decision to participate in a research activity without coercion |