medPrimer

Acute – symptoms that are severe and or brief in duration. Example: acute pain.

Anterior – toward the front of the body

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) – a vital ligament in the knee that connects to the bottom of the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (weight bearing bone in the lower leg).

Arthroscopy/Arthroscopic – a procedure that is performed using an arthroscope. This instrument allows the surgeon to perform surgery without making a large incision, thus helping the patient recover quicker.

Articular Cartilage – cartilage that covers the outside of bone in various joints of the body. Example: articular cartilage in the knee is cartilage that covers the femur (thigh bone), fibula and tibia (shin bone). Note it is not the same as meniscus cartilage.

Atrophy – usually used in conjunction with the term muscle. The shrinking or atrophying of a muscle due to inactivity.

Avulsion – a forceful tearing away of any part of a structure. Example: An avulsion fracture where the ligament pulls away a small part of bone fragment from the main bone.

Bone spur – a sharp and bony protrusion. Example: a bone spur in the elbow joint.

Bursa – a small sac containing fluid (synovial fluid) that provides protection for the body from friction. Example: the bursa sac in the knee behind the patellar (kneecap) helps reduce friction in the knee

Bursitis - inflammation of a bursa

Carpal tunnel syndrome – is caused by a lesion, irritation or sweling thyat reduces teh size of the carpal tunnel, this inturn puts pressure on the median nerve. It causes pain and a loss of feeling in the hand and fingers

Cartilage – see articular cartilage and meniscus cartilage

Cervical spine – the portion of the spine that makes up the neck

Chronic – prolonged or slow to heal. Example: chronic pain that lasts a long time or reoccurs often.

Clavicle – the medical term for the collarbone

Compression fracture – usually a fracture of the vertebra (the bones that make up the spine) caused by the compression of one vertebra against another.

Concussion – an injury to the brain.

Contusion – medical term for a bruise that doesn’t cause the skin to tear but is painful with swelling and discoloration in the area of the bruise.

Cortisone (corticosteroids) – synthetic medication similar to substance produced naturally in the adrenal glands. Reference: usually refers to an injection given to reduce inflammation and pain. Cortisone cream is a cream is used on the skin to reduce itching.

CT Scan – a medical examination that provides a sectional view of the body constructed by computed tomography.

Dehydration – an abnormal depletion of body fluids.

Shoulder Dislocation – an injury to the shoulder when the top of the humerus (upper arm bone comes out of the shoulder joint. a.k.a as a Shoulder Subluxation

Edema – am accumulation of fluid or swelling.

Epidural - an injection of an anesthetic in the spinal region

Fracture –a breaking of hard tissue as in bone.

Frozen Shoulder – inflammation of the shoulder capsule (tissues surrounding the shoulder) that reduces the ability to move the shoulder. a.k.a  Adhesive Capsulitis.

Ganglion cyst - a small cystic tumor (containing fluid) that forms on the back of the wrist.

Hematoma – a collection of blood (usually clotted) that forms under the skin.

Hemorrhage – medical term for bleeding

Hernia – A protrusion of tissue or an organ through an abnormal opening.

Herniated disc – A rupture of the outer tissue of the disc that separate vertebra in the spine.

High Ankle Sprain – this injury involves the sydesmotic ligament above the ankle joint. The sydesmotic ligament provides the main support of the lower tibia (shin bone) and fibula

Hip Pointer – an injury to the iliac crest, the bony edge of the hip bone at the waist. In some cases, both the surrounding muscle and bone are bruised.

HGH (Human Growth Hormone) - is a hormone produced by the human pituitary gland. Synthetic HGH is believed to increase muscle mass, endurance and strength. It is illegal in major league baseball.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome (IT Band) – irritation of a band of fibrous tissue that begins at the hip and runs down the outside of the leg to the outside of the knee. The most common area of irritation is in the area of the knee.

Impingement – a pinching of one of the tendons of the rotator cuff under the acromion process.

Inguinal hernia - is a weakening of the abdominal wall to protrude through a weak point or tear in the lower abdominal wall.

Intercostal muscle strain – a stretching (and injurying) of the muscle (skeletal) tissue between two ribs.

Joint capsule – a collection of ligaments and soft tissue that surrounds a joint.

Jones fracture – a fracture of the fifth metatarsal (at the base of the small toe) in the foot. a.k.a  5th Metatarsal Fracture

Labrum - a fibrous ring of cartilage attached to the rim of a joint. The most common labrum is the glenoid labrum in the shoulder.

Lat muscle – short for the latissimus dorsi muscle. It’s a wide flat superficial muscle of the lower part of the back

Lateral – relating to the side of a body part. Example: the lateral or outside part of the knee.

Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) – a ligament located in the knee that connects from the outside of the femur (thigh bone) to the lateral portion of the fibula (shin bone). It helps in preventing lateral dislocation of the knee.

Lateral Epicondylitis – inflammation over the outside of the elbow involving the lateral epicondyle, or the bone part of the elbow on the outside. a.k.a  Tennis Elbow.

Ligament – a band of fibrous tissue that connects bone-to-bone or cartilage-to-bone, supporting the joint.

Lisfranc fracture – is an injury to one of the small joints in the middle of the foot. A rare injury that occurs more in football than baseball. 

Lumbar spine – the vertebrae below the middle of the back (thoracic spine) and above the sacrum (the end of the spinal column)

Medial – medical term for the inside of a body part.

Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) – a ligament that connects the (medial epicondyle) inside of the femur (thigh bone) and the medial or inside of the tibia in the lower leg. It stabilizes the knee by preventing lateral dislocation.

Medial Epicondylitis – inflammation of the inside of the bony part of the elbow. Also known as ‘golfer’s’ elbow.

Meniscus Cartilage – two pieces of cartilage located on the knee joint. One is named the medial (inside) meniscus and the other the lateral (outside) meniscus. This tough cartilage provides a cushion for the end of the femur (thigh bone), fibula and tibia (shin bone). It is not the same as articular cartilage.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) – a radiological exam that can detect damage to tissues and bone that a regular X-ray cannot.

Neuritis – inflammation of a nerve. Example: Ulnar neuritis is inflammation of the ulnar nerve in the elbow. 

Non-displaced fracture – a simple crack or fracture in the bone where the bones remain in alignment and their normal position. a.k.a  a Hairline Fracture.

NSAIDS (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs) – oral (taken by the mouth) medication that reduced pain and inflammation.

Oblique – a term commonly referred to as an external oblique muscle. A muscle that covers a portion of the ribcage and side of the torso and connects near the hip.

Osteoarthritis – inflammation of the articular cartilage that covers the outside of bones and in joints. Also known as 'wear and tear' arthritis. It is different than rheumatoid arthritis.

Patellar – medical term for kneecap.

Patellar Tendinitis –tendinitis of the tendon that connects the patellar (kneecap) tendon to the quadriceps muscle. a.k.a as Jumper’s Knee.

Plantar Fascitis – inflammation of the plantar fascia, a connective tissue in the bottom of the foot. The inflammation and associated pain is usually felt near the heal.

Post Concussion Syndrome – symptoms (headache, dizziness, nausea, etc) felt after suffering a concussion. It can last days, weeks or months after the concussion.

Posterior – toward the back of the body.

Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) – is a ligament that prevents the tibia (shin bone) from sliding to far backwards. Along with the ACL, it helps keep the tibia inline with the femur (thigh bone)

Rotator Cuff – a group of four tendons that encompass the shoulder joint. The four tendons that connect to the subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus and teres minor muscles together in the shoulder region. In most cases, a rotator cuff tear involves one or more of these tendons.

Separated Shoulder – a overstretching of the ligaments (acromioclavicular) where they meet the clavicle (collarbone). a.k.a  A/C Separation.

Shin Splints – a term describing pain over the front of the tibia (shin bone) in the lower leg. In medical terms, it’s called medial tibial stress syndrome.

Sports Hernia – a weakening of the muscles or tendons of the lower abdominal wall. It is sometimes confused with inguinal hernia. With a sports hernia, a weakening in the same abdominal wall muscles, but there is no palpable (it can be felt during an examination) hernia.

Sprain – a stretching or tearing of ligaments.

Steroids (anabolic) – a group of usually synthetic hormones that are copies of testosterone and are sometimes abused by athletes to increase the size and strength of their muscles and improve endurance.

Stinger (Brachial Plexus) – an injury to the group of nerves (brachial plexus) in the shoulder and armpit region. More common in football than baseball. Usually causes a decrease in strength, pain and sometimes numbness in the affected shoulder and arm.

Strain – A muscle that has been stretched to fair causing tearing in the muscle fibers.

Stress fracture – small crack or fracture in a bone. Stress fractures usually occur from overuse.

Stress reaction - a weakening of the bone at the cellular level, it can be a precursor to a stress fracture.

Subluxation - Partial dislocation (as of one of the bones in a joint)

Synovial fluid – a lubricating fluid located in a bursa or a membrane in a tendon sheath that reduces friction.

Synvisc – is the commercial name for a synthetic fluid that works like synovial fluid is the joints. Synvisc is made of hyaluronic acid, a natural protein made by the body. Think of it as a lubricating fluid. New York Yankees pitcher Randy John and Boston Red Sox reliever Keith Foulke are two players who receive scheduled Synvisc injections to protect their knees. Both players have little or no cartilage remain in one of their knees.

Tendinitis – inflammation of the tendon.

Tendon – a band of fibrous tissue that connects a muscle to bone.

Thoracic spine -  the section of the spine between the lumbar region (lower back) and cervical (neck) region.

Tinnitus – a ringing or buzzing in the ear.

Turf Toe – an injury at the base of the big toe. It usually involves, pain, swelling and a loss of range of motion. In medical terms, it’s called a sprain metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint of the first toe.

Ulnar collateral ligament – a triangular ligament of the elbow that helps stabilize the elbow. It’s also called the medial collateral ligament and is the ligament that is repaired or replaced in Tommy John surgery.

Tommy John surgery – reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in the elbow, due to a partial or complete tearing of the ligament. The UCL is replaced with a tendon from another part of the body during the surgery. Over time, the tendon evolves into a ligament, and with the correct rehab program, the elbow is usually stronger than before the injury.

Ultrasound – a diagnostic imaging test using high-frequency sound waves to obtain an image inside the body.

Vertigo – dizziness, usually relating to an inner ear disorder.

X-rays – a diagnostic procedure to study internal structures not visible to the naked eye.