Medical and Surgical Terms

ABRASION

Rubbing or scraping off

ACTIVE

Exercise w/ the individual doing the work

ACUTE

Taking a short course with severe symptoms

ANALGESIA

Absence of sensation of pain

ANESTHESIA

Absence of sensation (drug, gas)

ANTIBIOTIC

A substance which interferes with the growth of bacteria

ATROPHY

Wasting away of a part, tissue or organ

AVULSION

A wrenching away of a part

BURSA

Small sac filled with fluid interposed between parts that move upon one another

CARTILAGE

Substance from which bone ossifies

CHRONIC

Of long duration, long continued

COLLATERAL

Running by the side of

CONDYLE

Rounded knob on the end of a bone; knuckle

CONTRA

(Indicated) Forbidden

CONTUSION

A bruise

CREPITUS

A cracking or grinding

CRUCIATE

Shaped like a cross

CRYOTHERAPY

Therapy involving the use of ice in the treatment of injuries

ECCHYMOSIS

Discoloration of the skin

EDEMA

A collection of fluid in the tissue

GERMICIDE

An agent that kills bacteria

HEMORRHAGE

Bleeding

HYDROTHERAPY

Therapy involving the use of water in treating injuries

ISOKINETIC

Accommodating resistance--resistance is indirect ratio to the varying forces applied through the
full range of motion

ISOMETRIC

Static contractions of a muscle without movement. A muscle contraction in which the muscle
fibers do not shorten enough resulting in no movement of body parts.

ISOTONIC

Muscular contraction in which the muscle fibers shorten in length resulting in movement of the
adjoining body parts.

LACERATION

Wound made by tearing

MENISCUS

Inter-articular fibro-cartilage

PALPATE

To feel or examine by touch, pressure

PASSIVE

Another party moves the affected part

SPRAIN

A twisting of a joining producing a stretching or tearing of ligaments

STRAIN

Excessive stretching of a part

SUBLUXATION

Spontaneously reduced joint dislocation

SYNOVIAL MEMBRANE

Membrane surrounding the joint and secretes lubricating fluids within the joint.

TENDON

A band of dense tough fibrous tissue forming the termination of a muscle and attaching the latter to
the bone. Attaches muscle to bone