Sports Medicine Terminology

abdomen

Portion of the trunk located between the chest and the pelvis

abduction

Movement of a body part away from the mid-line of the body

abrasion

Rubbing or scraping off of skin

abscess

A localized collection of pus

acute

Characterized by rapid onset, resulting from a traumatic event

adduction

Movement of a body part toward the mid-line of the body

amenorrhea

Absence or suppression of menstruation

analgesic

Agent that relieves pain without causing a complete loss of sensation

anoxia

Lack of oxygen

anterior

Before or in front of

anti-inflammatory

Drugs designed to prevent swelling and reduce inflammation

antipyretic

Agent that relieves or reduces fever

apophysis

Bony outgrowth to which muscles attach

arthroscopy

Viewing the inside of a joint through an arthroscope using a small video camera lens

atrophy

Decrease in size of muscle or tissue

avascular

Lack of blood circulation

avulsion

Forcible tearing away or separation.

axilla

Armpit

bradycardia

Slow heartbeat

bursa

Small synovial sac located over bony prominences that aids in reducing friction.

bursitis

Inflammation of a bursa

collagen

The major protein of connective tissue

concentric

The muscle shortens while contracting against resistance

conduction

Heating through direct contact with a hot medium

conjunctiva

Mucous membrane that lines the eyes

contusion

Bruise or injury to soft tissue that does not break the skin

convulsions

Involuntary muscular spasms or jerking

crepitation

Crackling sound heard during the movement of a broken bone

cryotherapy

Therapeutic use of cold

cyanosis

Bluish, grayish, dark purple discoloration of the skin caused by a reduced amount of hemoglobin in the blood.

debride

Removal of dirt and dead tissue from a wound

dermatome

Segmental skin area innervated by various segments of the spinal cord

diastolic

The residual pressure when the heart in between beats

diplopia

Double vision

dislocation

The displacement of bones of a joint

distal

Farthest from the center, midline, or trunk

dorsiflexion

Bending of the ankle upward

dyspnea

Difficult or painful breathing

eccentric

The process of muscle contraction and stretch of the muscle tendon unit by an extrinsic force (lengthening contraction)

ecchymosis

Black and blue discoloration of the skin caused by hemorrhage

edema

Swelling caused by the collection of fluid in connective tissue

electrolyte

Solution that is a conductor of electricity

embolus

A mass of undissolved matter occluding a blood vessel

emetic

Agent that induces vomiting

enzyme

An organic catalyst that can cause chemical changes in other substances without being changed itself

epilepsy

A chronic disorder characterized by sudden attacks of brain dysfunction, including altered consciousness.

epiphysis

Cartilaginous growth region of a bone

epistaxis

Nosebleed

erythema

Swelling and red discoloration of the skin

etiology

Science dealing with causes of injury or disease

eversion

A movement of turning the foot outward

exostosis

Bony outgrowths that protrude from the surface of a bone where there is not a typical bony formation

exudate

Exuded matter such as fluid that accumulates in an area

fascia

Fibrous membrane that covers, supports, and separate muscles

fasciitis

Inflammation of fascia

fibrocartilage

Type of cartilage that contain visible collagenous fibers (menisci)

fibrosis

Development of excessive fibrous connective tissue

flexibility

The range of motion in a given joint or combination of joints

fracture

A break or crack in a bone

ganglion

Herniation of the synovium surrounding a tendon and subsequent filling of the area with synovial fluid, resulting in a visible bump

genu valgum

Knock knee

genu varum

Bowleg

glycogen

Storage form of glucose found in both the liver and muscles

hemarthrosis

Blood in a joint

hematoma

A localized collection of blood, usually clotted, that is confined within an organ, tissue, or space.

hematuria

Blood in the urine

hemoglobin

The red respiratory protein of erythrocytes that transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.

hemopoietic

Forming blood cells

hemorrhage

Discharge of blood

hemothorax

Bloody fluid in the pleural cavity

hernia

Protrusion of a part of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening

histamine

Powerful inflammatory chemical that causes an increase in vascular permeability as well as vasodilation

hyperemia

Unusual amount of blood in a body part

hyperextension

Extreme stretching of a body part (beyond normal extension).

hyperglycemia

Excessively high level of blood sugar

hyperhidrosis

Excessive sweating

hypermobility

Extreme mobility of a joint

hypertension

High blood pressure

hyperthermia

Abnormally high body temperature

hypertrophy

Enlargement of a part caused by an increase in the size of its cells

hyperventilation

Abnormally deep breathing that is prolonged, causing a depletion of carbon dioxide, a fall in blood pressure, and fainting.

hyphemia

Bleeding into the anterior portion of the eye

hypoxia

Lack of an adequate amount of oxygen

idiopathic

Cause of a condition is unknown

innervation

Nerve stimulation of a muscle

inversion

Turning the ankle inward

ipsilateral

Situated on the same side

ischemia

Lack of blood flow

isokinetic

Accommodating and variable resistance

isometric

Contracts the muscle statically without changing its length

isotonic

Shortens and lengthens the muscle through a complete range of motion

kinesthesis

Sensation or feeling of movement; the awareness of body in space

kyphosis

Exaggeration of the normal curve of the thoracic spine

leukocytes

White blood cells

lordosis

Abnormal curvature of the lumbar vertebrae

luxation

Complete dislocation

malaise

Discomfort and uneasiness caused by an illness

microtrauma

Microscopic lesion or injury

myositis

Inflammation of muscle

myositis ossificans

Characterized by ossification (bone formation) of muscles