Lymphedema Glossary of Terms

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

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

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria, as in a bacterial lung infection.

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

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

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

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

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

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

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

Congenital: A condition that is present at birth, whether or not it is inherited.

Congenital lymphedema: A condition present at birth in which excess fluid called lymph col...

Curable: Amenable to a cure, capable of being cured, to being healed and made well. From ...

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

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

Dehydration: Excessive loss of body water. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that ca...

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

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

Doppler ultrasound: A form of ultrasound that can detect and measure blood flow. Doppler u...

Edema: The swelling of soft tissues as a result of excess fluid accumulation. Edema is oft...

Extremity: An uttermost part of the body, such as a hand or a foot.

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

Filariasis: See Lymphatic filariasis.

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic
information.

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

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

Heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically...

Hygiene: The science of preventive medicine and the preservation of health. Also commonly ...

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

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

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

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

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

Limb: An arm or a leg.

Lymph: The almost colorless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system, carrying cell...

Lymphatic: Pertaining to a small, thin channel that is similar to a blood vessel and that ...

Lymphatic system: The tissues and organs, including the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and l...

Lymphedema: A condition in which excess fluid collects in tissue and causes swelling. Lymp...

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

MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.

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

Parasite: A plant or an animal organism that lives in or on another and takes its nourishm...

Peripheral: Situated away from the center, as opposed to centrally located.

Proteins: Large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific orde...

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 ...

Rule out: Term used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or exclude something from considera...

Stripping: Surgery to treat varicose veins. The problematic veins are "stripped" out by pa...

Subcutaneous: Under the skin. For example, a subcutaneous injection is an injection in whi...

Sunburn: Sunburn is an inflammation of the skin that develops in response to exposure to u...

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

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

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves. Ultra-sound waves can be bounced off tissues by us...

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

Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood that is low in oxygen content from the body back t...