Finger Injuries Glossary of Terms

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Absorb: 1. To take something in, as through the skin or the intestine.
2....

Amputation: Removal of part or all of a body part that is enclosed by skin. Amputation can...

Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

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

Anesthetic: A substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness, dulling pain to permit s...

Antibacterial: Anything that destroys bacteria or suppresses their growth or their ability...

Avulsion: Tearing away. A nerve can be avulsed by an injury, as can part of a bone.

Collateral: In anatomy, a collateral is a subordinate or accessory part. A collateral is a...

Crush injury: An injury that occurs because of pressure from a heavy object onto a body pa...

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

Distal: The more (or most) distant of two (or more) things. For example, the distal end of...

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

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

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

Fingernail: A fingernail is produced by living skin cells in the finger. A fingernail cons...

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

Hammer: The malleus.

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

Hematoma: A localized swelling that is filled with blood caused by a break in the wall of ...

Immunization: Vaccination. Immunizations work by stimulating the immune system, the natur...

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...

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

Jammed finger: Lay terminology that refers to an injury of the finger joints. The most com...

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

Laceration: A cut.

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

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

Mallet: The malleus.

Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

Nail: In medicine, there are two types of nails. One is just a plain old metal nail used t...

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

Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

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

Ointment: An oil-based preparation that is applied to the skin. Whereas an ointment has an...

Open wound: An injury that is exposed because of broken skin. An open wound is at high ris...

Operating room: A facility that is equipped for performing surgery. Abbreviated OR.

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

Pain management: The process of providing medical care that alleviates or reduces pain. Mi...

Palm: The grasping side of the hand; the flexor surface of the hand. In contrast to the ba...

Paronychia: Inflammation of the folds of tissue surrounding the nail due to infection or i...

Phalanges: The bones of the fingers and of the toes. There are generally three phalanges (...

Phalanx: Anatomically, any one of the bones in the fingers or toes. (Plural: phalanges.) T...

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

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

Probe: (1) In surgery, a probe is a slender flexible rod with a blunt end used to e...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Proximal: Toward the beginning, the nearer of two (or more) items. For example, the proxim...

Pus: A thick, whitish-yellow fluid that results from the accumulation of white blood cells...

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

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

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...

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...

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

Tetanus: An often fatal infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tet...

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Ulnar: Pertaining to the ulna, the larger bone in the forearm.

Volar: Pertaining to the palm or the sole. For example, the volar surface of the forearm i...

Wrist: The part of the hand that is nearest the forearm and consists of the carpal bones a...