Domestic Violence Glossary of Terms

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

Abdominal pain: Pain in the belly. Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. It may reflect ...

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

American Medical Association: The AMA. The AMA's mission statement proclaims:

Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa...

Arms: An appendage in anatomy and in clinical trials. See: Arm.

Bilateral: Affecting both sides. For example, bilateral arthritis affects joints on both t...

Bisexual: An individual who engages in both heterosexual and homosexual sexual relations. ...

Blind: 1. Unable to see. Without part or all of the sense of sight.
2....

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

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

Child abuse: A complex set of behaviors that include child neglect and the physical, emoti...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Cocaine: A substance derived from the leaves of the coca plant that is a bitter, addictive...

Contrast: Short for "contrast media." Contrast media are X-ray dyes used to provide contra...

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

Depression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way...

Eardrum: The tympanic membrane of the ear, or tympanum. The eardrum separates the middle e...

Elder abuse: The physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of an elderly person, usually one wh...

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

Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ...

Forearm: The portion of the upper limb from the elbow to the wrist. The forearm has two bo...

Gay: A person who is homosexual, especially a male homosexual. The word "gay" in this rega...

Genital: Pertaining to the external and/or internal organs of reproduction.

Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he...

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

Heterosexual: A person sexually attracted to persons of the opposite sex. Or a person who...

Incest: Sexual activity between individuals so closely related that marriage is legally pr...

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

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular ...

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

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

Internal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ...

Intervention: The act of intervening, interfering or interceding with the intent of modify...

Isolate: A group in which mating is always between members of the group. For example, the ...

JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association. JAMA began publication in 1883. It ...

Lesbian: A female homosexual.

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

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

Neck pain: Neck pain is the sensation of discomfort in the neck area. Neck pain can result...

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

Pelvic: Having to do with the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen, located between the h...

Pelvic pain: : Pain perceived in the area of the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen loc...

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

Post-traumatic stress: An anxiety disorder that develops in some individuals who have had...

Post-traumatic stress disorder: A common anxiety disorder that develops after exposure to ...

Posture: The carriage of the body as a whole, the attitude of the body, or the position of...

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

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

Psychiatric: Pertaining to or within the purview of psychiatry, the medical specialty conc...

Public health: The approach to medicine that is concerned with the health of the community...

Rape: Forced sexual intercourse; sexual assault; sexual intercourse between an adult and a...

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...

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

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

Substance abuse: The excessive use of a substance, especially alcohol or a drug. (There is...

Suicidal: Pertaining to suicide. the taking of ones own life. As in a suicidal gesture, su...

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

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Tooth: One of the structures within the mouth that allow for biting and chewing. Teeth hav...

Tympanic: 1. Pertaining to the tympanum (the eardrum).
2. Pertaining t...

Tympanic membrane: The eardrum, a thin membrane that serves as a partition between the ext...

Urinary: Having to do with the function or anatomy of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or ur...

Urinary tract: The organs of the body that produce, store, and discharge urine. These orga...

Urinary tract infection: An infection of the kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra. Abbrevia...