Glossary
Phlebology, lymphology, scar therapy – not everyone is familiar with medical terminology. Here you can find important terms with simple and concise explanations.
| A | ||
|---|---|---|
| Absorption | Reabsorption of a substance | |
| Acra | Of or pertaining to peripheral body parts, such as toes and fingers but also nose, chin, cheekbone, etc. | |
| Acrocyanosis | Blueish peripheral (acral) body parts despite reasonably warm outside temperatures, often also cool peripheral body parts | |
| Acute | An illness with a quick onset | |
| Acute stress reaction | Collective term for non-typical reactions triggered by a past or current event. | |
| Adhesion | Adherence | |
| Air-block technique | In sclerotherapy, the physician injects a small amount of air prior to injecting the medication; purpose: better adherence of the agent to the wall of the vein | |
| Albumin | Major protein in blood plasma | |
| Allograft | Transplantation from one individual to another of the same species | |
| Amnion | Egg membrane, innermost layer of the placenta surrounding the embryo | |
| Analgesic | Painkiller | |
| Anaesthesia | Insensitivity to pain induced by a physician | |
| Aneurysm | Pathological dilation of a section of the arterial wall | |
| Angiodysplasia | Vascular malformation | |
| Angiography | Radiologic imaging of vessels after injecting a radiopaque dye a) arteriography: arteries b) phlebography: veins c) lymphography: lymph vessels | |
| Angiology | Scientific study of the blood and lymph vessels | |
| Angioplasty | Widening of narrowed vessel by means of a balloon catheter | |
| Anticoagulants | Agents that slow blood clotting | |
| Arterial | Pertaining to the arteries | |
| Arterial occlusion (acute) | Sudden blockage of a normally dilated artery; mainly due to embolism from the heart, often with heart valve disease | |
| Arteriole | Smallest artery | |
| Artery | Blood vessels that lead away from the heart and supply the tissues | |
| Arthrodesis | Surgical, artificial stiffening of a joint (ankylosis) | |
| Arthrogenic | Starting from a joint | |
| Arthrogenic congestive syndrome | Stasis in the lower leg induced by stiffening the upper ankle joint in a pointed foot position | |
| Arthropathy | Disease of a joint | |
| Artificial coma | A medically induced loss of consciousness. In this condition the patient can no longer be woken by strong external stimuli such as repeated pain stimuli. | |
| Artificial lymphoedema | Self-induced oedema by self-mutilation (atypical, painful bluish lymphoedema) | |
| Atrophic scar | This is what a sunken scar resulting from poor wound healing is called. It results from an inadequate production of connective tissue fibres.
| |
| Atrophie blanche | (French: blanc/blanche: white) small, round to oval, can be up to palm size, often reticular, slightly sunken white atrophic lesions of bizarre appearance on the lower leg. Particularly painful and persistent if the lesion develops into a leg ulcer. | |
| Atrophy | Decrease in size of normally developed organ, tissue or cells (due to disturbance of the balance between nutritional supply and demand) | |
| Autologous graft/ autologous transplant | Transplant using the body’s own tissue, i.e. the donor and recipient are the same person |
| B | ||
|---|---|---|
| Babcock procedure | see Stripping procedure | |
| Baker’s cyst | Also popliteal cyst; bulge of the dorsal joint capsule at the knee joint (synovial hernia = rupture of the synovial membrane) | |
| Barbiturate | Sedative, but also an anaesthetic | |
| Basal layer | Layer of the epidermis where new cells are continuously produced | |
| Biopsy | Collection of a tissue sample | |
| Block dissection | Removal of regional lymph nodes in surgical cancer treatment | |
| Bobath | Special neurological treatment method used in physiotherapy | |
| Boyd's perforator | Important connection vein (see Perforator veins), on the inside below the knee | |
| Brachial plexus | Nerve supply of the arm and the shoulder muscles originating from the cervical vertebrae (C5-T1) | |
| Buerger disease | see Thrombangiitis obliterans | |
| Burn | Injury by fire | |
| Burn severity | Depth of the burn |
| C | ||
|---|---|---|
| Camouflage | Special makeup technique for covering skin irregularities such as scars | |
| Capacitance vessels | Veins: due to their high elasticity, they fulfil the task of a blood reservoir in addition to blood transport | |
| Capillaries | (med.) minute blood or lymph vessel | |
| Capillary | Extremely small blood vessels | |
| Capsular contracture | Contraction of a joint capsule, which leads to a restriction in movement | |
| Case history | Establishing the patient’s prior medical history | |
| Cellulitis | In German-speaking countries: abnormal changes in the female skin seen on the gluteal and thigh areas that can sometimes be painful. In English-speaking countries: extensive progressive, severe inflammation of the subcutaneous connective and fatty tissue. | |
| Cervical | Neck area | |
| Chronic | Persistent, ongoing, long-lasting, opposite of acute | |
| Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) | Damage to the dermis and subcutis on the lower leg caused by varicose veins or a leg vein thrombosis; ranging from propensity toward swelling, pigment deposits, callosity of the dermis and subcutis, atrophie blanche to venous leg ulcers | |
| Circular burn | Burn that extends around the body | |
| Circumferential burns | Circumferential burns | |
| Clinical | Medical treatment | |
| Collagen | Structural protein in the body, that forms the elastic fibres in connective tissue | |
| Collapse | Structural protein in the body Fall together, breakdown - Circulatory collapse: syncope, shock - Circulatory collapse of the lungs: collapsed lung, e.g. in case of an injury to the chest wall | |
| Collateral circulation | Vessels next to the main vessel that reach the same supply area and can take over if the main vessel fails | |
| Complex decongestion | Type of therapy consisting of lymphatic drainage, exercises and compression bandage or stocking | |
| Complex decongestive therapy | 2-phase therapy for lymphoedema and lipoedema and late-stage chronic venous insufficiency (q.v.) “Phase I of decongestion” with hygienic skin measures, frequent manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandages and decongesting movement therapy. “Phase II of maintenance and optimisation” with compression therapy, occasional manual lymphatic drainage, movement therapy, consistently applied hygienic measures. Complex decongestive therapy (CDT) can be supplemented by intermittent pneumatic compression (pneumatic compression massage) if necessary. | |
| Compliance | Patient engagement in the therapy, also treatment adherence | |
| Compression garments | Anatomically contoured knitted compression garments for different body areas (e.g. compression stockings) | |
| Compression rolls | Elastic rolls for compression treatment Short-stretch; stretchable up to 70% Medium-stretch; stretchable up to 130% Long-stretch; stretchable over 130% | |
| Compression therapy (methods) | a) Compression bandage b) Medical compression garments c) Intermittent compression | |
| Compressive behaviour | How compression garments and bandages exert pressure. Determined by factors such working and resting pressure, pressure gradient and compression class | |
| Conglomerate | Massed together | |
| Constitutional | Innate | |
| Contamination | Infection, impurity, soiling | |
| Contract | Condense | |
| Contraction | Tightening, e.g. of a muscle | |
| Contracture | Shortening of muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints that results in irreversible movement restrictions | |
| Contraindication | Situation where a drug, procedure or surgery may be harmful; reason not to use a medicine or procedure | |
| Contrast agent | also: radiopaque dye; agents applied to cavities or vessels for radiographic imaging | |
| Convoluted varicose veins | A bundle of varicose veins (Latin: convolvere: roll together, up or around) | |
| Corium | Dermis | |
| Corona phlebectatica | Dilation of small veins at the edge of the foot towards the ankle region, earliest sign of vein congestion (chronic venous insufficiency) | |
| Correlate | Be closely connected | |
| Crossectomy | Surgical removal/ligation of the saphenofemoral junction | |
| Crus, cruris | (Latin) lower leg | |
| Cryotherapy | Treatment with cold | |
| Cutaneous conditions | Generic term for skin diseases | |
| Cutis | Combined term for the epidermis and dermis | |
| Cyanosis | Bluish discolouration on the skin, lips, finger nails due to lack of oxygen in the blood |
| D | ||
|---|---|---|
| Debridement | Cleaning of a wound | |
| Decubitus ulcer | Pressure ulcer: too much localised pressure with insufficient tissue nutrition; generally results in necrosis and ulcers from lying on the affected part | |
| Deep leg veins | eins encased by muscle fascia from connective tissue (major veins and muscular veins) | |
| Deep thrombophlebitis | Inflammation and thrombosis of deep veins; short form: venous thrombosis; see phlebothrombosis | |
| Defect | Abnormal function | |
| Derma | (Greek) skin - Epidermis (upper layer) - Cutis (true skin, consisting of the dermis and the epidermis) - Subcutis (lowermost layer) | |
| Dermabrasion | Action of scraping off skin | |
| Dermatitis | Inflammation of the skin | |
| Dermatogenic | Originating from the skin | |
| Dermatology | Branch of medicine concerned with the study of the skin and diseases of the skin | |
| Dermatome | Surgical instrument for collecting skin grafts | |
| Dermatosclerosis | Pathological thickening of parts of the skin | |
| Dermis, corium | Second skin layer; layer of skin between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissues | |
| Dermojet | Treatment of scars using cortisone | |
| Desensitize | Stepwise exposure of a patient to their feared stimuli or memories, e.g. to alleviate anxiety symptoms | |
| Distal | Latin: distare: to stand apart) parts of the extremities that are further away from the trunk, opposite: proximal | |
| Dissociative amnesia | Temporary total or partial loss of memory of a traumatic event | |
| Diuresis | Urination | |
| Diuretics | Medicines that increase water excretion. These should never be used for lymphoedema or oedema due to CVI. | |
| Dodd’s perforator | Connector veins at the lower leg (see Varicose veins) | |
| Doppler effect | (see Ultrasound examinations) Sound waves are reflected by a moving body with a change in frequency. The Doppler effect can also make the blood flow audible and – if recorded – visible. | |
| Doppler sonography | A special application of ultrasound | |
| Doppler ultrasound | see Ultrasound examinations | |
| Drainage | Dehydration; medical: discharge of body fluids | |
| Duplex ultrasound | see Ultrasound examinations | |
| Dysphoria | Dissatisfaction with life | |
| Dysplasia | Malformation |
| E | ||
|---|---|---|
| Eczema | Extensive, inflammatory abnormal skin changes with itching (see Dermatitis) | |
| Elastane | Elastic synthetic material | |
| Elastodiene | Elastic natural material | |
| Elastomers | Collective term for naturally or artificially produced materials. They can be monofilament or multifilament fabrics and include natural rubber and synthetic rubber types. Monofil: consisting of a single fibre; one-ply Multifil: consisting of several individual fibres | |
| Elephantiasis | Gross swelling of limbs due to chronic lymph congestion (see Lymphoedema) | |
| Embolism | Obstruction in a blood vessel by a blood clot; cause: spread of exogenous and endogenous substances that do not homogenously mix with the blood. These can form a conglomerate thereby constricting the vessel. | |
| Embolus | Displaced blood clot that has entered the blood stream | |
| Emotional lability | Rapid mood changes | |
| Endothelium | Inner lining of blood and lymph vessels | |
| Enteral | Pertaining to the small intestine | |
| Entity | Fixed constant, entireness | |
| Enuresis | Bed wetting | |
| Enzymes | Ferments, biological catalysts | |
| Epidermis | The outermost layer of the skin | |
| Epithelial tissue | Multilayer arrangement of cells covering the surface of the body | |
| Epithelium | Multi-layer cell complex that surrounds the surface of the body | |
| Erysipelas | Infection of the upper dermis and superficial lymphatics | |
| Erythema | Reddening of the skin | |
| Erythrocyanosis | (erythrocyanosis crurum puellarum) A type of acrocyanosis (q.v.) mainly affecting young girls and women: bluish-red cool skin on the lower legs, cornification of the hair follicles on the lower legs, tendency to get chilblains | |
| Eschar | Wound scab: dead tissue that sheds or falls off from healthy skin | |
| Escharotomy | Surgical incision of the eschar to lessen constriction | |
| E-technique | Special neurological treatment technique | |
| Excise, excision | Cut out, remove, e.g. a scar | |
| Expander | Expanders are used during plastic surgery to stretch and enlarge skin and tissue. An expander is inserted under the healthy skin and filled with liquid using a valve to stretch the healthy skin. The skin gained in this way is used to replace scar tissue. | |
| Exposed | Visible, prominent, noticeable | |
| Extension | Stretching, elongation | |
| Extracorporeal | Outside the body | |
| Extravasate | Fluid in the tissues; blood, plasma or lymph fluid exuded from a vessel | |
| Extravascular | Outside a vessel | |
| Extremities | Limbs | |
| Extremity | Limb of the body | |
| Extubation | Removal of a breathing tube | |
| Exudate | Fluid and cells that have seeped out of tissue, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels as a result of inflammation |
| F | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fascia | (Latin: fascia: band) minimally elastic muscle sheath from connective tissue | |
| Fasciocutaneous | Skin and fascia combined | |
| Fibrin | Fibrin is a protein that is needed for successful wound healing and blood coagulation. Fibrin is an active “adhesive” which polymerises and forms a net that closes the wound. | |
| Fibrin adhesive | 2-part adhesive, e.g. for securing skin grafts | |
| Fibrinogen | Precursor to fibrin | |
| Fibroblast | Connective tissue cell. In the case of chronic, protein-rich oedema, an increased fibroblast activity causes proliferation of the connective tissue resulting in fibrosis. | |
| Fibrosis | Connective tissue changes as a result of proliferation of the connective tissue, e.g. in case of chronic, protein-rich oedema; also as a consequence of x-ray radiation (radiogenic fibrosis) | |
| Flap plasty | Flap of tissue with all its vessels that is used to replace scar tissue | |
| Flashback | Sudden recollection of a traumatic situation | |
| Flexion | Bending | |
| Fluctuating | Changeable | |
| Fontaine | French surgeon (Strasbourg) who classified the severity of PAD into different stages: - I. Hardly any symptoms, easily tied, cold sensation on the legs - II. Intermittent claudication (limping) (q.v.) - III. Rest pain due to oxygen deprivation - IV. Rest pain and necrosis, gangrene (q.v.) |
| G | ||
|---|---|---|
| ‘Gaiter’ ulcer | Leg ulcer that surround the lower leg like gaiters | |
| Gangrene | Progression after cell death and necrosis | |
| Gestation | Pregnancy | |
| Globules | Medication in a spherical form | |
| Granulation | Formation of grains | |
| Granulation tissue | Granular connective tissue formed on the wound during the healing process (hypergranulation = excessive granulation) |
| H | ||
|---|---|---|
| Haemangioma | Benign tumour of the blood vessels | |
| Haematocrit | Percentage by volume of packed red blood cells of the total blood; important in artificial haemodilution | |
| Haematoma | Bruising, “black and blue” mark, discoloration that disappears in a few days | |
| Haemodilution | Blood thinning | |
| Haemodynamics | Flow rate of the blood in the vessels | |
| Haemoglobin | Protein that gives red blood cells their characteristic colour | |
| Haemorrhage | Bleeding | |
| Heparin | Anticoagulant that slows clotting of the blood | |
| Heterogeneous | Consisting of dissimilar elements or parts; not homogeneous | |
| Homogeneous | Uniform; not heterogeneous | |
| Hydrostatic pressure | Pressure of a fluid column over the observed position | |
| Hyperaemia | Increased amount of blood Active: “increased blood circulation” due to increased activity of an organ Passive: due to impaired drainage = congestion | |
| Hyperemia | Excess blood in a tissue | |
| Hyperkeratosis | (Greek: hyper: over) excessive cornification of the skin | |
| Hypertension | High blood pressure | |
| Hypertrophic | Raised, enlarged, still active | |
| Hypertrophic scar | Connective tissue overgrowth of irregular shape due to an excess of collagen fibres; enlarged, raised, still active scars | |
| Hypertrophic scar formation | Excessive, proliferative scar formation | |
| Hypodermis | Another term for the subcutaneous fatty tissue | |
| Hypodermitis | (Greek: hypo: under) inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue | |
| Hypothermia | Overcooling | |
| Hypoxia | Reduction of oxygen content in body tissues |
| I | ||
|---|---|---|
| Immune system | Biological defense system of the body | |
| Individuation | Conscious, individual personality | |
| Infection | Inflammation | |
| Inflammability | Combustibility | |
| Infusion, infuse | Introduction of a liquid into the body using a hollow needle | |
| Inhalation injury | Damage to the lungs by inhalation of toxic substances | |
| Inhalation trauma | Damage to the lungs due to breathing in harmful substances | |
| Injection | Insertion of liquid into the body with a syringe - intraarterial (into the artery) - intravenous (into the vein) - intramuscular (into the muscle) - intracutaneous (into the skin) - subcutaneous (under the skin) | |
| Instillation | Dropwise introduction of liquids into an organism | |
| Insufficiency | Weakness, inadequate performance of an organ or organ system | |
| Interaction level | Environmental level | |
| Intermittent | Irregular | |
| Intermittent compression | Pneumatic decongestion of a limb with intermittent, variable air pressure | |
| Interstitial | Pertaining to the interstitium | |
| Interstitium | Space between the body’s individual tissue layers. The supply pathways (blood vessels, nerves) of the organ are found in the interstitium. | |
| Intervention | Procedure | |
| Intestinal | Pertaining to the intestinal tract | |
| Intraoperative | During an operation | |
| Intravenous | Into the vein | |
| Intrusion | Unwanted flashback of a traumatic event, which is often associated with anxiety and panic | |
| Intubation | Insertion of a special tube into the respiratory tract | |
| Irreducible | Non-retractable; cannot be corrected | |
| Irremediable | Cannot be reconstructed; incurable | |
| Irreversible | Cannot be reversed | |
| Ischaemia | Reduced blood content in the tissues 1. Absolute ischaemia = absolute bloodlessness due to a vascular occlusion 2. Relative ischaemia = insufficient supply – discrepancy between supply and demand; most frequent consequence: necrosis |
| K | ||
|---|---|---|
| Keloid | Excessive growth of connective tissue extending from the wound area to healthy skin; raised, no longer active scar tissue resulting from an abnormal healing process | |
| Keratinocytes | Base cells of the epidermis |
| L | ||
|---|---|---|
| Langerhans cells | Cells of the immune system that are located in the epidermis | |
| Laplace | Laplace’s equation: Pressure P = tension of a bandage = T divided by the radius of a cylinder = r This equation means that the pressure exerted on the cylinder-like lower leg by compression treatment is directly proportional to the tension of the bandage, but inversely proportional to the radius of the lower leg. The smaller the circumference, the greater the pressure at the same force | |
| Laplace, Marquis de | Born in Paris; 1749–1827; mathematician | |
| Latency | Concealed, hidden state of an illness | |
| Latency period | Asymptomatic precursory stage of an illness | |
| Latent | Concealed, hidden; asymptomatic | |
| Lateral | At the side; at the outside of a limb (at the inside: medial) | |
| Lateral branch varicosis | (also tributary varicosis) These are varicose veins that develop in the side branch veins that empty into the trunk veins/saphenous veins (called side branch veins although they empty into the trunk veins; “roots” would be more correct) | |
| Latex | Rubber milk; watery dispersion of natural (rubber) or synthetic polymers | |
| Lesion | Damage, injury | |
| Lipoedema | Jodhpur-like, bilateral, symmetrical swelling caused by fatty deposits from the iliac crests to the malleoli (especially in women); as lipo-lymphoedema in combination with lymphoedema. | |
| Lipodermatosclerosis | Callosity of the skin and of the subcutaneous fatty and connective tissue in the final stages of a chronic phlebo-lymphostatic insufficiency in the lower leg | |
| Lipo-lymphoedema | Combination of lipoedema and lymphoedema. In contrast to lipoedema that ends at ankle height, with swelling of instep, positive Stemmer’s sign (q.v.) and asymmetrical development | |
| Liposuction | Invasive procedure, also for the treatment of lipoedema | |
| Localization | Location, site | |
| Location | Place | |
| Long-stretch bandages | see Compression rolls | |
| Lower lid ectropion | Drooping and sometimes everted lower eyelid | |
| Low-protein oedema | Oedema with low (below 1g%) protein concentration (e.g. hunger oedema) | |
| Low-volume insufficiency | Mechanical insufficiency: Disorder of the lymphatic system leading to an insufficient capacity to dispose of all lymph-obligatory proteins and waste products | |
| LRR | Abbreviation of light reflection rheography, an optimised photoplethysmography (see PPG) | |
| Lymph | Tissue fluid | |
| Lymphadenitis | Inflammation of a lymph node | |
| Lymphangioma | A benign lump originating in the lymphatic system | |
| Lymphangiopathy | Disease of the lymph vessels | |
| Lymphangitis | Inflammation of one or more of the lymph vessels | |
| Lymphatic collector | Collector vessel for outflowing lymph | |
| Lymphatic drainage | Stroking massage technique to eliminate lymph congestion | |
| Lymphatic system | Transports lymph from the distal to the proximal part of the body a) superficial l.: follows the greater veins and removes metabolic waste and other waste products from the skin and subcutis. b) deep l.: follows the vessels within the fascia and removes metabolic waste and other waste products from the bones, joints and muscles. The two systems connect at the thigh and foot. In contrast to the venous system where the blood flows from the outside to the depths inside, lymphatic flow direction is from the depths to the outside. | |
| Lymph gland | Archaic name for lymph nodes | |
| Lymph nodes | Filtering station of the lymphatic system | |
| Lymphoedema | Accumulation of fluid caused by impaired lymph drainage | |
| Lymphogenic | Originating from lymph or the lymphatic system | |
| Lymphography | X-ray imaging of lymph vessels following injection of a contrast agent | |
| Lymphoscintigraphy | Diagnostic procedure using a lymph-obligatory macromolecule with a radioactive label for the visualisation of the lymphatic system and for measuring the speed of the lymph flow over the half-life (T/2) as well as the quantitative measurement of radioactivity stored in the regional lymph nodes at rest and after movement |
| M | ||
|---|---|---|
| Major veins | see Veins; the major veins and muscular veins together form the deep venous system located within the fascia | |
| Malleolus | Medial ankle (tibial) on the inside of the lower leg, lateral (fibular) on the outside of the lower leg | |
| Manual therapy | Joint and soft tissue technique used in physiotherapy | |
| Mature scars | Scars that no longer change under the application of pressure, are light in color and level with the skin | |
| MCP joint | Metacarpophalangeal joint | |
| Mediators | Hormone-like signal substances | |
| Medium-stretch bandages | see Compression rolls | |
| Meek technique | Perforated sheet grafts | |
| Mentosternal | Area between the chin and sternum | |
| Meshing | Increasing the size of a skin graft using a grid pattern | |
| Mesh graft | Skin graft in the form of a mesh | |
| Metabolism | Chemical transformations within cells: all chemical reactions involved in maintaining the living state of the cells and the organism | |
| Microanastomosis | Surgical connection of very small blood vessels | |
| Microangiopathy | Disorder affecting the small blood vessels | |
| Microcirculation | Circulation of the blood and tissue fluids in the terminal vessels, between the end of the artery and beginning of the vein (capillary system) | |
| Mobilisation | Making something move, e.g. stiff joints through exercise | |
| Mobility | Ability to move | |
| Monitoring | Observing body functions using monitoring devices | |
| Mucosa | Membrane lining various cavities in the body | |
| Myocutaneous | Muscle and outer skin together |
| N | ||
|---|---|---|
| Narcosis | Anaesthesia, artificially induced sleep-like state with loss of consciousness to produce insensibility to pain | |
| Narcotization | To anaesthetize (see Narcosis) | |
| Necretomy, Necrosectomy | Removal of dead tissue. One example of necretomy is the surgical removal of burnt skin. | |
| Necrosis | Necrosis is dead tissue which may impair the wound healing process | |
| Necrotic | Dead | |
| Neurotrophic foot ulcer | Pressure ulcer in neuropathic disorders with impaired sensation; less frequent in leprosy, more frequent in diabetic or alcoholic neuropathies |
| O | ||
|---|---|---|
| Obesity | Excess adipose tissue a) gynoid (female) fat distribution with wide hips and thick legs b) android (male) fat distribution with pot belly and slim legs | |
| Occupational therapy | Therapy to relearn and build back lost physical, social or psychological functions. It provides targeted training to help patients master everyday activities such as washing, dressing, cooking, etc. | |
| Oedema | Accumulation of fluid in the tissue | |
| Oestrogen | Female sex hormone (follicle hormone) | |
| Organism | System of organs of the human body | |
| Orthotist | Orthopedic technicians who manufacture medical aids, also compression garments | |
| Oscillography | Method for measuring the volume rate in the limbs, providing information on the quality of the arterial blood supply |
| P | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pad (pelotte) | A “pelotte” is a ball-shaped, usually half-spherical pad generally used in medical applications for compression, or to press together or separate tissue. | |
| Paediatric surgery | Medical field specializing in the operative treatment of childhood illnesses | |
| Palpation | Examination by touch | |
| Papillary | Nipple-like (from Latin: papilla: nipple-like protuberance) | |
| Parenteral | Bypassing the alimentary tract, e.g. parenteral administration of a medication via a vein | |
| Pathogenesis | Origin and development of a disease | |
| Patient history | Information on the medical history of the disease | |
| Percutaneous | Through the skin | |
| Perforate | Penetrate; puncture | |
| Perforator vein | Cross-link between the superficial venous system outside the fascia and the deep venous system surrounded by fascia (see also Venae); the name implies that the fascia is perforated). | |
| Perimalleolar oedema | Swelling; confined to the area behind the ankles | |
| Perimalleolar region | Hollow behind the ankle, often the location of a venous leg ulcer | |
| Permeability disorder | Loss of permeability of cell membranes | |
| Perniosis | Chilblains | |
| Phlebectasia | Dilation of the veins without varicosity | |
| Phlebectomy | Surgical removal of a vein | |
| Phlebitis | Inflammation of a vein | |
| Phleboedema | Leg swelling due to venous insufficiency | |
| Phlebography | Radiologic imaging of veins by mean of radiopaque dyes (see also Angiography) | |
| Phlebology | Scientific study of veins and venous diseases | |
| Phlebothrombosis | Deep vein thrombosis | |
| Phlegmasia alba dolens | Thrombosis of the iliac and femoral veins; swelling of the leg, milky-whiteness, pain, fever | |
| Phlegmasia coerulea dolens | Acute massive vein occlusion in the leg; clotting of the blood in all leg veins with inadequate arterial blood supply due to reflex constriction | |
| Phobia | Pathological anxiety | |
| Physical therapy | Physiotherapy for the treatment of functional impairments | |
| Physiotherapy | Movement therapy to maintain or restore physical function; treatment by physical methods | |
| Pigmentation | Colouring (esp. the pigments of the skin after exposure to UV light) | |
| Pigments | Colouring agents | |
| Plastic surgery | Plastic surgery (Greek: plastikos - mold, give form) is any type of surgery that involves changes to organs or the surfaces of the body for functional or aesthetic/cosmetic reasons. | |
| Platelet | Thrombocyte; promotes blood clotting | |
| Platysma | Broad sheet of muscle in the throat | |
| Plethysmography | Recording the volume increase of an extremity to determine the blood flow in case of an obstruction in venous drainage | |
| Plexus | Network of nerves | |
| Pneumonia | Inflammation of the lung | |
| PNF | Percutaneous needle fasciotomy - a special neurological treatment technique | |
| POD | Arterial occlusive disease | |
| Postoperative | After the operation | |
| Post-thrombotic | (Latin: post: after) following a thrombosis | |
| Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) | Sum of the abnormal skin changes on the lower leg, from swellings to ulcers as a consequence of deep vein thrombosis | |
| Post-traumatic | The prefix “post” means after, here: after trauma; following a trauma | |
| Post-traumatic symptoms | Psychological consequences of a traumatic experience that develop at a later time | |
| PPG | (photoplethysmography) A sensor head is used to beam light onto the uppermost layer of the skin, reflected back from here and read by the sensor head. The electronic comparison of the emitted light with the light received back provides information about the presence and severity of vein congestion (see also LRR) | |
| Pressure gradient | For medical compression stockings: the pressure gradient from the bottom to the top, from distal to proximal | |
| Prevention | Avoid or protect against something happening | |
| Primary | The first; original | |
| Primary excision | Cutting out of small scars for immediate, direct wound closure | |
| Primary intention healing | Healing of a wound without complications | |
| Primary lymphoedema | Lymphoedema triggered by impaired development of the lymphatic system | |
| Prognosis | Prediction about the course of a disease, expected course of the illness | |
| Progredient | Progressive | |
| Progressive | Advancing | |
| Project | To carry over | |
| Proliferation | Excessive growth | |
| Prolong | To extend the duration of | |
| Prophylactic | Prevention (of diseases) | |
| Protein-rich oedema | Oedema with a protein content of several gram percent (e.g. lymphoedema, oedema due to inflammation); chronic protein-rich oedema results in secondary abnormal tissue changes (connective tissue proliferation; fibrosis; sclerosis; excessive fat) | |
| Prothrombin | Inactive precursor to thrombin (q.v.) in the blood-clotting process | |
| Proximal | Part of a limb nearest the trunk; opposite: distal | |
| Pruritus | Itchiness | |
| Psyche | The sum total of all conscious and subconscious processes and mental functions | |
| Psychic | Relating to the psyche | |
| Psychologist | A psychologist practices psychology, which is defined as the scientific study of the experiences and behavior of humans | |
| Psychosis | So-called mental disorder | |
| Psychosomatic | Connection or interaction between the body and mind | |
| PTS | Abbreviation for post-thrombotic syndrome (q.v.) |
| R | ||
|---|---|---|
| Radialis flap | Skin flap taken from an area of the forearm | |
| RAL guidelines | Quality requirements for medical compression stockings | |
| Recell | Skin that is sprayed on rather than applied | |
| Reconvalescent | Recovering from an illness, restoration | |
| Recurrence | Relapse | |
| Recurrent | Arising again | |
| Regression | Retreat to an earlier stage of development | |
| Reflux | Backward flow of a fluid (e.g. blood) | |
| Rehabilitation | Follow-up treatment and best possible restoration of health | |
| Relapse | Recurrence of a disease after healing | |
| Relax | Release tension | |
| Relevant | Important, significant | |
| Resistance | Defence, protection | |
| Respirator | Breathing apparatus | |
| Respiratory therapy | Passive and active breathing exercises as a supportive measure after surgery, e.g. blowing bubbles in a glass of water using a straw | |
| Resting pressure | Pressure exerted by a bandage or support without muscle activity. The higher the elasticity of a bandage or support, the greater its resting pressure and the lower its working pressure. | |
| Restless Legs Syndrome | Feeling of uneasiness and restlessness in the legs while resting in bed at night, forcing the person to move the legs, e.g. in Parkinson’s disease | |
| Rest pain | Pain at rest | |
| Reticular | Netlike | |
| Reticular veins | Varicose veins in the surface network of the veins (see Varicose veins) | |
| Retinaculum | Reinforced strands of connective tissue | |
| Retraumatization | Repeat traumatization that may be brought about, amongst other things, by the treatment measures using in the intensive care phase (repeated loss of control) | |
| Retrograde amnesia | Inability to recall the events for a certain period of time preceding loss of consciousness | |
| Reversible | Able to be changed back, restored | |
| Rule of nines | Rule for calculating the total body surface area affected by a burn by dividing into 11 x 9 + 1 percentages |
| S | ||
|---|---|---|
| Saphenofemoral junction | Point where the great saphenous vein joins the femoral vein at the groin area | |
| Saphenous varicose veins | Varicosity in either the great saphenous vein or the small saphenous vein (q.v.) | |
| Scald | Injury caused by hot liquids | |
| Scar | A scar constitutes the healed state of a skin injury. The connective tissue of the scar will, at first, be red, fairly inelastic and not very functional. As the scar matures it is possible for shrinking and hardening to occur. | |
| Scar contracture release | Scar removal by making zigzag incisions so the wound can be closed without tension | |
| Scar hypertrophy | An excessive production of collagen fibres leads to the irregular formation of connective tissue extending beyond the original wound area. | |
| Scar massage | Careful massaging with the aim of shrinking the scar tissue | |
| Sclerosis | Pathological hardening of an organ | |
| Sclerotherapy | Injection of a sclerosing solution that causes the vein walls to stick together and seal shut (see also Sclerotisation) | |
| Sclerotisation | see Sclerotherapy | |
| Secondary | Of second degree, following; dependent | |
| Secondary healing | Delayed wound healing | |
| Secondary infection | Infection by another pathogen in an already infected wound | |
| Secondary lymphoedema | A protein-rich oedema that develops due to a mechanical or low-volume insufficiency (q.v.) of the lymph vessels. | |
| Secondary suture | Suture of an originally infected wound after the infection has been eliminated | |
| Secondary varicose veins | Varicose veins that develop due to deep vein thrombosis | |
| Secretion | Discharge product | |
| Sedation | Calming down by means of medications | |
| Sedative | Calming medication | |
| Sepsis | Decay, blood poisoning | |
| Serology | Area of immunology; scientific study of the body’s immunological reactions and properties | |
| Seroma | 1. Accumulation of lymph that builds up in pockets 2. Build-up of fluid in a sutured wound | |
| Serous | From serum; fluid accumulations that primarily consist of serum | |
| Serum | Non-coagulable yellowish blood fluid that has been separated from blood cells and fibrin | |
| Sheet | Special material for covering over | |
| Short-stretch bandages | see Compression rolls | |
| Silicone | Medical silicone allows a moist environment to develop on the scar, meaning the scar doesn’t dry out. It keeps the scar soft and has a beneficial effect on the scar tissue. | |
| Skeletal-muscle pump | Ability of a muscle to effect the venous return of the blood | |
| Skin bank | Repository of skin cells for future use | |
| Skin defect | Missing skin tissue | |
| Skin grafting | Transfer of a full-thickness or split-thickness skin graft from one body region to another to cover exposed areas | |
| Spider veins | see Varicose veins | |
| Split-thickness skin graft | Split-thickness skin graft is a type of skin transplant (a wafer-thin part of the upper layer of the skin is resected) | |
| Spontaneous remission | Spontaneous healing | |
| Stasis | Zone of circulatory stagnation | |
| Stasis dermatitis | Inflammatory skin reaction on the congested lower leg | |
| Stasis dermatosis | Collective term for abnormal skin changes due to congestion on the lower leg with the exception of venous ulcers | |
| Stemmer’s sign | Widening of the skin folds on the toes or fingers or the inability to lift the folds | |
| Stigma | Label, negative characteristic | |
| Stripping procedure | Surgical removal of varicose veins by stripping | |
| Subcutis | Another term for the subcutaneous fascia | |
| Substitution | Replace, fill up | |
| Sufficient | Archaic name for lymph nodes | |
| Surgery | A specialist medical field involving the diagnosis and then treatment of illnesses and injuries by operative means | |
| Swab | Collection of skin cells using a cotton swab to test for a bacterial infection or cell changes. | |
| Symptoms | Signs of illness, these signs being characteristic of a particular illness | |
| Systemic | Affecting the entire organism |
| T | ||
|---|---|---|
| Take rate | Number of transplants that have healed in; number of healed grafts | |
| Tangential excision | Removal of burnt skin in thin layers | |
| TBSA | Abbreviation for total body surface area | |
| Telangiectasias | Dilation of tiny blood vessels near the skin | |
| Temperature sensors | Cell unit for the perception of hot and cold | |
| Therapist | One who provides treatment | |
| Therapy | Treatment | |
| Thermography | Detection of impaired peripheral blood circulation by registering temperature fluctuations in the skin that are depicted on the thermogram image in different colours | |
| Thermal | The Greek prefix “therm” stands for “warm” | |
| Thrombangiitis obliterans | (also Buerger disease) Arterial and venous occlusive disorder, common among young men | |
| Thrombectomy | Surgical removal of a blot clot (thrombus) | |
| Thrombin | The use of drugs to dissolve a blot clot (thrombus) by means of certain enzymes (streptokinase, urokinase) | |
| Thrombolysis | Recurrence of a disease after healing | |
| Thrombophlebitis | Inflammation of a vein; mostly used to describe inflammation of superficial veins | |
| Thrombosed vessels | Vessels blocked by blood clots | |
| Thrombosis | Occlusion of a vessel, vein or artery due to clotting (blood clot) | |
| Thrombus | Blood clot formed in the blood vessel or the heart | |
| Trachea | Windpipe | |
| Transplantation | Moving of tissue or organs to replace missing body tissue or organs | |
| Trauma | IInjury, wound, damage to the body, caused by external force or emotional distress | |
| Trigger | Event that initiates something | |
| Vascularization | Supply with blood vessels | |
| Vojta | Special neurological treatment method used in physiotherapy |
| U | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ulcer | A break in the skin; long-lasting (chronic) sore | |
| Ultrasound examinations in phlebology | a) Doppler ultrasound. Blood flow measurement using Doppler ultrasonography (see also Doppler) b) duplex ultrasound. Imaging technique for the visualisation of vessels, determining their location and inside diameter | |
| Urticaria | Nettle rash/reddening of the skin | |
| Urticarial | Of nettle-like appearance |
| V | ||
|---|---|---|
| Valsalva manoeuvre | Pressure (as during bowel movement) for vein readings, named after the anatomist Antonio Valsalva (Bologna 1666–1723) | |
| Valve insufficiency | Insufficient valve closure in the veins or the heart | |
| Varicophlebitis | Inflammation of a varicose vein | |
| Varicose veins | Veins that have become enlarged and twisted | |
| Varix | (Latin: varus: crooked) or varices, varicose vein Branch (lateral branch varicosis) = varicose veins that run toward the saphenous varicose vein at an oblique angle Spider veins = thin clusters of veins close to the surface of the skin Reticular veins = varicose veins arranged in a netlike fashion at a distance from the two large stems Saphenous varicose veins = varicosity the great saphenous vein or the small saphenous vein | |
| Vas | (Latin: vessel) - extravascular, outside the vessel - intravascular, inside the vessel | |
| Vasculitis | Inflammation of a vessel | |
| Vein | Blood vessel leading to the heart (Latin: vena) - posterior arcuate vein - femoral vein (thigh) - iliac vein (common, internal, external) - popliteal vein - great saphenous vein; originates at the back of the forefoot, turns to the inside of the leg at the inner ankle and joins the femoral vein at the saphenofemoral junction (q.v.) below the groin - small saphenous vein; originates at the lateral edge of the foot, runs behind the ankle to the back of the lower leg, pierces the muscle fascia behind the knee to join a deep vein | |
| Vein bypass | Bypass of an obstructed blood vessel by transplanting a vein | |
| Vein remedies | Group of plant-based, semisynthetic or synthetic medicines to treat vein problems | |
| Venae | Plural of vein: Veins - communicant veins = cross-links within a surface and deep vein system - perforator veins = cross-links between the surface and deep vein system; called perforators because they pierce the fascia. The perforators are the connections of the one-way blood flow from the surface to the deeper structure. | |
| Venous | Pertaining to the veins | |
| Venous capacity | Amount of blood the leg veins can take when the body is moved to the upright position | |
| Venous hypertension | Elevated blood pressure in the veins, mostly as a result of return flow problems | |
| Venous leg ulcer | Leg ulcer | |
| Venous pressure | The pressure in the vein. With a right ventricular failure, the venous pressure of the entire venous system is elevated (generalised phlebohypertension) | |
| Venous system | Part of the circulatory system that transports the blood from the periphery to the heart. A distinction is made between three different venous systems in the leg: 1. the superficial venous system located outside the fascia, also called the capacitance system because its task, among others, is to store and make available blood to be transported to the “lift” of the deep veins 2. the deep venous system located inside the muscle fascia; comprises muscular veins for waste disposal from the muscles and major veins for transport to the trunk 3. the perforator vein system that pierces through the fascia | |
| Venous valves | Valves in the veins that are designed to facilitate the one-way flow of the blood from the periphery to the heart and prevent backflow (if undamaged) | |
| Venules | (plural) The smallest veins collecting used blood from the capillaries to transport it to the trunk | |
| Vessel | Here: blood or lymph vessel |
| W | ||
|---|---|---|
| Working pressure | Pressure of a bandage during muscle activity. Result due to three factors: Tensile strength and elasticity of the bandage as well as the number of times the bandage was wrapped around the body part |
| X | ||
|---|---|---|
| Xenograft | Graft obtained from an animal |
| Z | ||
|---|---|---|
| Z-plasty | Breaking up of a scar by making Z-shaped incisions and then displacing and suturing the flaps in a tension free manner. |