Ankle Fracture Glossary of Terms

1. Least Effective Exercises Slideshow
2. Dehydration Slideshow
3. First Aid Care and Pain Relief for Minor Injuries

Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness th...

Ankle: The ankle joint is complex. It is made up of two joints: the true ankle joint and ...

Ankle joint: A joint that is composed of three bones: the tibia, the fibula, and the talus...

Ankle pain: Pain in the ankle, a "hinged" joint. Ankle pain is commonly due to a sprain o...

Ankle sprain: A common musculoskeletal injury in which the ligaments of the ankle partiall...

Anterior: The front, as opposed to the posterior. The anterior surface of the heart is tow...

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, w...

Calcaneus: The heel bone, a more or less rectangular bone at the back of the foot. Also kn...

Capsule: Capsule has many meanings in medicine including the following:

1. In medici...

Cast: 1) A protective shell of fiberglass, plastic, or plaster, and bandage that is molde...

Compound fracture: A fracture in which a bone is sticking through the skin. Also known as ...

Cuts: Severed skin. Washing a cut or scrape with soap and water and keeping it clean and d...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

Fibula: The smaller of the two bones in the lower leg. The end of the fibula forms the bon...

Fracture: A break in bone or cartilage. Although usually a result of trauma, a fracture ca...

Hemarthrosis: Blood in a joint.

Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to treat pa...

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

Injure: To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emotional sense. Fr...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Joint: The area where two bones are attached for the purpose of permitting body parts to m...

Knee: The knee is a joint which has three parts. The thigh bone (the femur) meets the lar...

Lateral: 1. In anatomy, the side of the body or a body part that is farther from th...

Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an...

Ligament: A tough band of connective tissue that connects various structures, such as two ...

Lower leg: The lower leg is the bottom segment of the leg: the part below the knee.

Malleolus: The rounded bony prominence on either side of the ankle joint.

Medial: 1. Pertaining to the middle; in or toward the middle; nearer the middle of ...

Membrane: A very thin layer of tissue that covers a 'surface.

Numb: Numb, or numbness is a loss of the sensation of feeling in an area of the body. Numb...

Operation: In medicine, a surgical procedure. Many operations are named after persons. The...

Orthopedist: An orthopedic surgeon, a physician who corrects congenital or functional abno...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Physical therapy: A branch of rehabilitative health that uses specially designed exercises...

Posterior: The back or behind, as opposed to the anterior.

Primary care: A patient's main source for regular medical care, ideally providing continui...

Pulse: The rhythmic dilation of an artery that results from beating of the heart. Pulse is...

Range of motion: The full movement potential of a joint, usually its range of flexion and ...

Rehabilitation: The process of helping a person who has suffered an illness or injury rest...

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

Shin: 1. The tibia, the larger of the two bones in the lower leg.
2. T...

Sprain: An injury to a ligament that results from overuse or trauma. The treatment of a sp...

Sprained ankle: See: Ankle sprain.

Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Synovial fluid: The slippery fluid that lubricates joints. Also known as synovia.

Talus: The ankle bone, or the ankle itself. The ankle joint is formed by the talus and the...

Tear: A drop of the salty secretion of the lacrimal glands which serves to moisten the con...

Tendon: The soft tissue by which muscle attaches to bone. Tendons are somewhat flexible, b...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Tibia: The larger of the two long bones in the lower leg. The tibia is familiarly known as...

Vascular: Relating to blood vessels. For example, the vascular system in the body includes...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...