Breast Reconstruction Glossary of Terms

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Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Anesthesia: Loss of feeling or awareness, as when an anesthetic is administered before sur...

Areola: 1. The small darkened area around the nipple of the breast. 2. The colored part of...

Artery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the far...

Aspiration: Removal of a sample of fluid and cells through a needle. Aspiration also re...

Belly: That part of the body that contains all of the structures between the chest and t...

Belly button: The navel or umbilicus; the former site of attachment of the umbilical cord....

Blood clots: Blood that has been converted from a liquid to a solid state. Also called a t...

Breast augmentation: Artificial enlargement of the breasts. Breast augmentation may be don...

Breast cancer: Breast cancer is diagnosed with self- and physician-examination of the brea...

Breast reduction: Surgical reduction of breast size in order to reduce the weight of the b...

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

Cancer care: Taking care of cancer. When cancer is suspected, a biopsy is usually performe...

Chemotherapy: 1. In the original sense, a chemical that binds to and specifically k...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Clinical trial: A study that is intended to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medic...

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

Connective tissue: A material made up of fibers forming a framework and support structure...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Diabetes mellitus: Better known just as "diabetes" -- a chronic disease associated with ab...

Donor: The giver of a tissue or an organ, such as a blood donor or kidney donor.

Drain: A device for removing fluid from a cavity or wound. A drain is typically a tube or ...

Ear: The hearing organ. There are three sections of the ear, according to the anatomy tex...

Fascia: A flat band of tissue below the skin that covers underlying tissues and separates ...

FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

Food and Drug Administration: An agency within the US Public Health Service that provides ...

Galen: Greek physician and philosopher (born about 129 AD, died about 210 AD) known among ...

Genetics: The scientific study of heredity. Genetics pertains to humans and all other orga...

Gluteal: Pertaining to the buttocks region, which is formed by the gluteus maximus, gluteu...

Gynecology: The branch of medicine that is particularly concerned with the health of the f...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Hernia: A general term referring to a protrusion of a tissue through the wall of the cavit...

Horizontal: In anatomy, a plane passing through the standing body. A person lying on a bed...

Implant: 1. To embed; to set in firmly. In embryology, the fertilized egg implants ...

Incidence: The frequency with which something, such as a disease or trait, appears in a pa...

Incision: A cut through skin or other tissue performed by a health care professional.

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Inferior: In anatomy, below or toward the feet. As opposed to superior. The liver is infer...

Irradiation: The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, and other...

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

Labia: Lips, the fleshy folds that surround the opening of the mouth (oral labia) or the v...

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

Liposuction: The surgical suctioning of fat deposits from specific parts of the body, the ...

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

Mastectomy: A general term for removal of the breast, usually to remove cancerous tissue. ...

Microsurgery: Surgery through a microscope. Microsurgery is used to operate on very small ...

Microvascular: Pertaining to the microvasculature, the portion of the vasculature of the b...

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

Necrosis: The death of living cells or tissues. Necrosis can be due, for example, to ische...

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Obstetrics: The art and science of managing pregnancy, labor, and the puerperium (the time...

Oncologist: A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. After a ...

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

Outpatient: A patient who is not hospitalized, but instead comes to a physician?s office, ...

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

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Pigmentation: The coloring of the skin, hair, mucous membranes, and retina of the eye. Pig...

Plastic surgeon: A surgeon who specializes in reducing scarring or disfigurement that may ...

Plastic surgery: A surgical specialty that is dedicated to reconstruction of facial and bo...

Pneumonia: Inflammation of one or both lungs, with dense areas of lung inflammation. Pneum...

Postoperative: After surgery. As opposed to preoperative, before surgery.

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

Prosthesis: An artificial replacement of a part of the body, such as a tooth, a facial bon...

Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy ...

Radiation therapy: The use of high-energy rays to damage cancer cells, stopping them from ...

Rectus: Usually refers to the rectus abdominis, a large muscle in the front of the abdomen...

Rectus abdominis: A large muscle in the front of the abdomen that assists in regular breat...

Recurrent: Appearing or occurring again. For example, a recurrent fever is a fever that ha...

Referral: The recommendation of a medical or paramedical professional. If you get a refer...

Rupture: A break or tear in any organ (such as the spleen) or soft tissue (such as the ach...

Saline: Relating to salt. As an adjective, "saline" means "salty, containing salt." As a n...

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

Serum: The clear liquid that can be separated from clotted blood. Serum differs from plas...

Shoulder: A structure made up of two main bones: the scapula (shoulder blade) and the hume...

Steroid: One of a large group of chemical substances classified by a specific carbon struc...

Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact...

Stroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood...

Superficial: In anatomy, on the surface or shallow. As opposed to deep. The skin is superf...

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...

Syringe: A medical device that is used to inject fluid into, or withdraw fluid from, the b...

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

Thigh: The thick, muscular portion of the leg that extends from the hip to the knee. The t...

Transfusion: The transfer of blood or blood products from one person (the donor) into the ...

Transplant: The grafting of a tissue from one place to another, just as in botany a bu...

Transverse: In anatomy, a horizontal plane passing through the standing body so that the t...

Tummy: 1. "Babytalk" referring to the stomach. The word tummy is derived from stoma...

Umbilicus: The vestige left behind on a newborn's belly when the umbilical cord is cut. A...

Vagina: The muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. It is ...

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

Vessel: A tube in the body that carries fluids. Examples of vessels are blood vessels and ...

Vulva: The female external genital organs, including the labia, clitoris, and entrance to ...