Scoliosis Glossary of Terms

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Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix, usually associated with infection of the appen...

Back pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back. Causes of pain in the low and upper back in...

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

Birth defect: Any defect present in a baby at birth, irrespective of whether the defect is...

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

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

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

Gait: A manner of walking. Observation of gait can provide early diagnostic clues for a nu...

Idiopathic: Of unknown cause. Any disease that is of uncertain or unknown origin may be te...

Kyphosis: Outward curvature of the spine, causing a humped back. Treatment includes physic...

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

Lordosis: Inward curvature of the spine. The spine is not supposed to be absolutely straig...

Metabolic: Relating to metabolism, the whole range of biochemical processes that occur wit...

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

Muscular: Having to do with the muscles. Also, endowed with above average muscle developme...

Muscular dystrophy: One of a group of genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakne...

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...

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

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

Scoliosis: Lateral (sideways) curving of the spine. The degree of scoliosis may range from...

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

Spine: 1) The column of bone known as the vertebral column, which surrounds and protects ...

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.

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

Vertebra: A vertebra is one of 33 bony segments that form the spinal column of humans. Th...

Vertebrae: The preferred plural of vertebra. (The alternate plural is vertebras.) See also...

Voluntary: Done in accordance with the conscious will of the individual. The opposite of i...