Angiography |
x-ray examination of blood vessels after injection of a dye |
Anodontia |
teeth that have failed to develop |
Angiofibroma |
simple (benign) tumour composed of blood vessels and connective tissue |
Angioma |
simple (benign) tumour composed of blood or lymphatic tissue |
Angiomatosis |
mulitple angiomas of the skin and other organs |
Aplasia |
an organ or part of the body missing at birth |
Arthropathy |
a disease or disorder involving a joint |
Arteriovenous |
of arteries or veins |
Atrophy |
wasting of any tissue or organ |
Asymmetry |
both sides not same size |
Benign |
a non malignant tumour or growth that does not invade and destroy the tissue in which it originates or spread to other tissues |
Bilateral |
relating to two sides |
Biopsy |
removal of a small piece of living tissue for microscopic examination |
Calcification |
build up of calcium deposits |
C.A.T. / C.T. Scan |
Computed Axial Tomography’ x-ray of any organ, including the brain that uses computer reconstruction of multiple images at different planes (slices). |
Cafe au lait spots |
flat coffee coloured patches on the skin |
Cardiac |
relating to or affecting the heart |
Camptodactyly |
where one or more fingers are curved inwards on the palm (flexed) and are cannot be straightened |
Cardio-vascular system |
pertaining to the heart and blood vessels |
Cartilaginous |
containing cartilage |
Central nervous system |
the brain and the spinal cord |
Chromosome |
thread like structures present in the centre (nuclei) of all body cells (with the exception of the red blood cells), which store genetic information |
Clubbing |
thickening of the tissues at the bases of the fingers and or toe nails |
Congenital |
a condition which is recognised at birth or that is believed to have been present at birth |
Connective tissue organs and other structures. |
general term for all tissues of the body which support and connect various |
Cranial |
related to the skull |
Craniosynostosis |
premature closure of the gaps (sutures) between the skull bones |
Cyst |
a sack filled with fluid situated under the skin or in an internal organ |
Defect |
failure in normal function |
Degeneration |
worsening of a condition |
Distal |
situated furthest from the central line of the body |
Dysfunction |
impaired function |
Dysgenesis |
impaired or faulty development |
Dysmorphic |
an abnormality of the structure of part of the body |
Dysostosis |
defective formation of a bone |
Dysplasia |
an abnormality of tissue development |
Dwarfism |
abnormally short stature |
Ectromelia |
congenital absence or gross shortening of the long bones of one or more limb |
E.C.G. |
Electrocardiogram’ a recording of the electrical activity of the heart |
E.E.G. |
Electroencephalogram’ a recording of the electrical activity of the brain |
Epidemiology |
study of the incidence and geographical pattern of a disease |
Exstrophy |
congenital condition in which part of an internal organ is present outside the body (eg: bladder, intestine) |
Facioscapulohumeral |
affecting the face shoulder and upper arm |
Fissure |
a groove cleft or furrow |
Fistula |
an abnormal connection between two hollow organs (eg: bowel and bladder) |
Flaccidflabby |
lacking in firmness |
Flexion |
act of bending a joint |
Genetics |
a branch of medicine that deals with heredity |
Gigantism |
abnormally tall stature and or excessive growth |
Girth |
a measure around a part of the body or extremity |
Haemangioma |
a benign tumour composed of dilated blood vessels |
Haemarthrosis |
joint pain and swelling caused by bleeding into a joint |
Haematoma |
an accumulation of blood that clots within the tissues forming a solid sponge like swelling (when under the skin this is a simple bruise). |
Hamartomatous |
a benign tumour containing different tissue types such as muscle and skin. |
Hemi – |
prefix for ‘half’ |
Hemihypertrophy |
overgrowth of one side of the body |
Heterotopia |
the displacement of part of an organ from its normal position |
Hydrocephalus |
abnormal increase in pressure of cerebrospinal fluid within the skull |
Hyper – |
prefix for ‘more than normal’ |
Hyperostosis |
overgrowth of the bone |
Hyperpigmented |
excessively coloured usually the skin |
Hypertonia |
increased degree of tone or tension in muscles |
Hypertrophy |
increase in the size of any tissue or part of an organ |
Hypopigmentation |
patchy or complete pallor of the skin |
Hypotonia |
abnormally low muscular tension |
Kyposis |
Increase curvature of the spine to give a stooped posture (see also scoliosis) |
Lesions |
tissue with impaired function as a result of damage disease or wounding |
Ligament |
thick band of fibrous tissue connecting bones and joints |
Lipoma |
benign tumour of fatty tissue |
Lipomatosis |
the presence of muliple lipomas |
Lymph |
colourless fluid containing white cells, salt and small quantities of protein |
Lymphangiectasia |
dilated lymph vessels due to obstruction of flow |
Macrencephaly |
abnormally enlarged brain |
Macrocephaly |
abnormally large skull |
Macrodactyly |
abnormally large size of one or more of the fingers or toes |
Macrognathia |
marked overgrowth of the jaw |
Macromelia |
abnormally large size of the arms or legs |
Malformation development |
any variation from the normal physical structure due to abnormal |
Malignant |
a tumour or growth that invades and destroys the tissue in which it originates or spreads to other tissues |
Microcephaly |
abnormally small head abnormally small or short fingers (usually called brachydactyly) |
M.R.I. Scan |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging’ – a scan of the body which uses magnetic energy rather than radiation to view an organ or body parts, especially useful for viewing soft tissue |
Oedema |
swelling due to an accumulation of fluid in the tissues |
Orofacial |
of the mouth or face |
Osteo- |
prefix for ‘relating to bone’ |
Osteochondritis |
inflammation of the bone and cartilage |
Papillae |
small outgrowths or tags of skin |
Port wine stain |
a flat purplish mark on the skin usually present at birth |
Proximal |
situated towards the centre of the body |
Purpura |
purple spots and patches caused by leakage of blood into the tissues under the skin (bruising) |
Scoliosis |
curvature of the spine (from side to side – see also kyphosis) |
Splenomegaly |
enlarged spleen |
Syndactyly |
webbing or complete joining of fingers and or toes |
Syndrome |
a combination of signs and/or symptoms that form a clinical picture |
Telangiectasia |
radiating web like pattern of small blood vessels on the skin |
Transverse |
crosswise |
Tumour |
any unusual growth or lump within a tissue. It can be benign if it is not likely to spread to other tissues or malignant if it can spread to other tissues |
Ultrasound |
diagnostic test using ultrasonic waves to form a picture |
Unilateral |
involving one side only |
Visceromegaly |
enlargement of any of the major internal organs |