About Us | Privacy | Site Map
May 19, 2013


Knee Injury Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Knee Injury article.

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

See the entire definition of Acute

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

See the entire definition of Anatomy

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

See the entire definition of Ankle

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

See the entire definition of Ankle pain

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

See the entire definition of Anterior

Anterior cruciate ligament: A ligament in the knee that crosses from the underside of the ...

See the entire definition of Anterior cruciate ligament

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

See the entire definition of Arthritis

Arthroscope: A thin flexible fiberoptic scope which is introduced into a joint space throu...

See the entire definition of Arthroscope

Arthroscopic: Related to arthroscopy.

Bruise: Injury of the soft tissues that results in breakage of the local capillaries and l...

See the entire definition of Bruise

Bursa: A closed, fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction b...

See the entire definition of Bursa

Bursitis: Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a tiny fluid-filled sac that fu...

See the entire definition of Bursitis

Cartilage: Firm, rubbery tissue that cushions bones at joints. A flexible kind of cartilag...

See the entire definition of Cartilage

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

See the entire definition of Cast

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

See the entire definition of Chronic back to top

Chronic pain: Pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over ...

See the entire definition of Chronic pain

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

See the entire definition of Collateral

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

See the entire definition of Complication

Compression: 1. The act of pressing together. As in a compression fracture, nerve c...

See the entire definition of Compression

Contusion: Another name for a bruise. What is a bruise ? A bruise, or contusion, is caused...

See the entire definition of Contusion

Cruciate: Cross-shaped.

CT scan: Computerized tomography scan. Pictures of structures within the body created by a...

See the entire definition of CT scan

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

See the entire definition of Diagnosis

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

See the entire definition of Emergency department

Femoral: Having to do with the femur.

Femur: The single bone in the thigh, which is the largest bone in the human body. Also kno...

See the entire definition of Femur

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

See the entire definition of Fever

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

See the entire definition of Fibula

Flexion: The process of bending, or the state of being bent. For example, flexion of the f...

See the entire definition of Flexion

Foot drop: See Foot-drop.

back to top

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

See the entire definition of Fracture

Hamstring: One of the prominent tendons at the back of the knee. The hamstrings are the si...

See the entire definition of Hamstring

Housemaid's knee: See Prepatellar bursitis.

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

See the entire definition of Ibuprofen

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

See the entire definition of Inflammation

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

See the entire definition of Injury

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

See the entire definition of Intervention

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

See the entire definition of Isolate

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

See the entire definition of Joint

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

See the entire definition of Knee

Knee joint: The knee joint has three parts. The thigh bone (the femur) meets the large sh...

See the entire definition of Knee joint

Kneecap: The patella, the small bone in the front of the knee. The patella is a little (se...

See the entire definition of Kneecap

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

See the entire definition of Lateral

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

See the entire definition of Leg

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

See the entire definition of Ligament back to top

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

See the entire definition of Medial

Medical history: 1. In clinical medicine, the patient's past and present which may ...

See the entire definition of Medical history

Meniscus: The word "meniscus" comes from the Greek and refers to a crescent-shaped structu...

See the entire definition of Meniscus

Meniscus injury: Injuries to the crescent-shaped cartilage pads between the two joints for...

See the entire definition of Meniscus injury

MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.

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

See the entire definition of Muscle

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

See the entire definition of Nerve

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

See the entire definition of Operation

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

See the entire definition of Orthopedist

Osteoporosis: Thinning of the bones, with reduction in bone mass, due to depletion of calc...

See the entire definition of Osteoporosis

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

See the entire definition of Pain

Patella: The kneecap by another name, the patella is the small bone that is in the front ...

See the entire definition of Patella

Patellar: Pertaining to the patella (kneecap).

Patellar tendon: A tendon that extends down from the quadriceps muscle in the thigh to inc...

See the entire definition of Patellar tendon

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

See the entire definition of Pharmacy back to top

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

See the entire definition of Physical therapy

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

Quadriceps: Although the term "quadriceps" technically may refer to any four-headed muscle...

See the entire definition of Quadriceps

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

See the entire definition of Range of motion

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

See the entire definition of Recurrent

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

See the entire definition of Rehabilitation

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

See the entire definition of Rupture

Scan: As a noun, the data or image obtained from the examination of organs or regions of...

See the entire definition of Scan

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

See the entire definition of Sensation

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

See the entire definition of Shin

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

See the entire definition of Stress

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

See the entire definition of Surgery

Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. In contrast, a sign is objective. Blood comin...

See the entire definition of Symptom

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

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

See the entire definition of Tear back to top

Temple: The area just behind and to the side of the forehead and the eye, above the side o...

See the entire definition of Temple

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

See the entire definition of Tendon

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...

See the entire definition of Thigh

Thigh bone: The thigh bone in anatomy is called the "femur." Whichever term you care to us...

See the entire definition of Thigh bone

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

See the entire definition of Tibia

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Watchful waiting: Closely monitoring a patient's condition but withholding therapy until t...

See the entire definition of Watchful waiting back to top


Women's Health

Find out what women really need.

Please acknowledge your agreement





Medical Dictionary


Use Pill Finder Find it Now

Pill Identifier on RxList

  • quick, easy,
    pill identification

Find a Local Pharmacy

  • including 24 hour, pharmacies