A

B
Backboard -- An inflexible board made of wood or plastic to keep an injured person's back from bending while being transported to an emergency room or hospital.
Beta-adrenergic Blockers -- A class or family of drugs that blocks the effects of adrenalin at selected sites in the sympathetic nervous system. There are many brands available in the United States by prescription. "Beta-blockers" are used to reduce angina attacks, lower blood pressure, stabilize irregular heartbeat, and reduce frequency of migraine headaches. They are very useful and important drugs, but they must be taken under a doctor's supervision.
Biofeedback -- A training process of providing visual or auditory evidence of the status of the musculo-skeletal system, cardiovascular system, skin-surface temperature and autonomic nervous system.
Biofeedback practitioners work with patients for a number of problems including sessions to learn to reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure, treat headaches, and reduce muscle spasm and pain. The instruments used in biofeedback training are very sensitive galvanometers that record minute changes in body function with great sensitivity.
Biopsy -- Removal by surgery or aspiration of a small amount of tissue or fluid for laboratory examination and diagnosis. Biopsy is most often used to differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous tissue.
Blocker's Disease -- An overgrowth of bone in the middle third of the arm (approximately where the deltoid muscle attaches to the humerus). It is caused by repeated injury at that site. This overgrowth may be termed an exostosis or myositis ossificans if the bony part infiltrates a muscle.
Bronchi (Bronchial tubes) -- Hollow air passages that branch from the largest segment (the windpipe or trachea) into the lungs.
Oxygen-containing air passes into the lungs through the bronchial tubes, and waste gases (mostly carbon dioxide) pass out of the lungs.
Bronchioles -- Tiny air passages (too small to be seen except through a microscope) that serve the same purpose as the bronchi.
Bronchoscopy -- A surgical procedure using a bronchoscope, an instrument with lenses and lights that is inserted through the throat, vocal cords and into the bronchial tubes. After administering anesthesia, a surgeon passes the bronchoscope into the trachea and the largest branching segments of the bronchi. Foreign bodies that may have been inhaled accidentally can be removed. In addition, fluid may be removed or tissue may be biopsied and examined to detect tumors or infections.
Buerger's Disease (Thromboangiitis Obliterans)--A serious disease of unknown cause that leads to blockage of the small and medium arteries -- usually in the legs and feet. Smoking, exposure to cold, or any form of physical or emotional stress are important factors that make Buerger's disease more likely to occur.

C
Calcium Deposit -- Abnormal hardening of soft tissue, usually from repeated injury.
Capillaries -- The smallest (microscopic) blood vessels in the body.
Capillaries form a network throughout the body through which substances can be exchanged between cells and the circulating blood.
The exchanged substances include fluid, nourishment, waste material, electrolytes, oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Carbohydrates, Complex -- Starches and fiber found in food (mostly whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables). Carbohydrates are essential for human nutrition, and complex carbohydrates are healthier than simple carbohydrates (sugars).
Carbohydrates, Simple -- Sugars found in foods. Many high-carbohydrate foods are refined and depleted of their fiber and starch. Simple sugars are not as nutritious to human bodies as complex carbohydrates. "Junk foods" are frequently very high in simple carbohydrates. They cause a quick rise in blood sugar, followed by a sudden drop in blood sugar.
Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors -- A class or family of drugs that inhibits the action of carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme. These medicines force the kidney to excrete increased amounts of sodium and water, reducing excess body fluid.
Cardiovascular -- Relating to the heart and blood vessels.
Cartilage--Rubbery, fibrous, dense connective tissue -- harder than ligaments, softer than bone. Cartilage usually is found between bones and permits smooth movement of joints. It also helps shape flexible parts of the nose and external ear. The most frequent and significant cartilage injury associated with athletics is damage to the crescent-shaped cartilage in the knee (meniscus).
Cast -- A stiff dressing or casing made of dressings impregnated with plaster of Paris or other hardening material such as plastic. Casts are used to immobilize various parts of the body in cases of fractures, dislocations, and moderate or severe sprains.
CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography) -- Previously called CAT scan. A computerized X-ray procedure that provides exceptionally clear images of parts of the body. CT scans aid in the diagnosis of disorders that may not be diagnosed by less sophisticated X-ray studies. They require costly, specialized equipment.
Caudad -- Directed toward the tail. Caudad is opposite of cephalad.
Cephalad -- Directed toward the head; and opposite of caudad.
Cauterization -- A surgical procedure to destroy tissue using a hot instrument, an electric current or a chemical substance.
Cerebrospinal Fluid -- Fluid that bathes the brain and the spinal cord.
Chondral -- Pertaining to cartilage.
Chronic -- The opposite of acute. Chronic means prolonged or slow to heal.
Circulatory System -- The system that provides blood to the body. Parts of the system include the heart, arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, veins, blood, plasma, and lymphatic vessels and fluid.
Circumduction Exercises -- Active or passive circular exercise movements of any part of the body.
Colicky -- Intermittent or fluctuating pain. Colicky pain usually refers to abdominal pain caused by spasms of the urinary tract or intestinal tract. Pain corresponds to strong contractions of surrounding involuntary muscles.
Collagen -- A protein chemical substance that is the main support of skin, tendon, bone, cartilage and connective tissue.
Congestive Heart Failure -- A complication of many serious diseases in which the heart loses its full pumping capacity. Blood backs up into other organs, especially the lungs, producing shortness of breath.
Blood also backs up into the liver, causing production of fluid that distends the abdomen or accumulates in the feet, ankles and legs.
Connective Tissue -- The body's supporting framework of tissue consisting of strands of collagen, elastic fibers between muscles and around muscle groups and blood vessels, and simple cells.
Contracture -- Shortening or distortion of a tissue, usually a muscle.
Contractures may be temporary, or permanent if caused by scar tissue.
Contusion -- A bruising injury that does not break the skin. The brain can also be contused through the skull, usually leading to temporary unconsciousness.
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) --A disease that results from any of several lung diseases--usually incurable -- that lead to increasing breathing difficulty. The chronic diseases that lead to COPD include emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, fungus infections of the lung and bronchiectasis.
Corticosteroids -- Synthetic medications similar in structure and function to natural hormones produced by the core of the adrenal glands. Cortisone, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone and others belong to the family of corticosteroid drugs.
Costochondral -- Costo means rib. Chondral means cartilage.
Costochondral is the rib and its attached cartilage.
Cottonmouth -- Dry mouth from dehydration or anxiety. People with "cottonmouth" spit whitish sputum that looks like cotton.
Crepitation -- The sensation that small balloons or pockets of air beneath the skin are breaking when the skin is pressed with fingers.
Crepitation also means the grating feeling produced when two joint surfaces rub against each other.
Cryokinetics -- The use of cold for physical therapy.
Cryosurgery -- A simple surgical procedure in which tissue is destroyed by below-freezing temperatures. Liquid nitrogen is frequently used as the freezing chemical agent in cryosurgery.
Culture -- The growth of microscopic organisms (viruses, bacteria or fungi) or cells in a special environment that supports them so they can be examined.
Cutaneous -- Relating to the skin.
Cystoscopy -- Examination of the inside of the lower urinary tract using a cystoscope. A cystoscope has a special system of lenses and lights. It is passed from the urethra into the bladder. The cystoscope is used for examination of the bladder and ureters, some surgical procedures on the prostate gland, and biopsies of tissue inside the bladder.

D
Delirium -- A brief, reversible mental disturbance characterized by delusions, hallucinations, emotional excitement, physical restlessness and incoherence. Delirium can be caused by infections, head injury, decreased blood supply to the brain, medications and psychotic disorders.
Diathermy -- Heating deep within body tissues that is done with a special machine. Tissues can be heated without damaging the skin.
Diathermy was once popular in physical therapy, but other treatments are now more common.
Displacement -- Removal from the normal position or place.
Distal -- Distant from a midline or other point of reference. The opposite of distal is proximal.
Diuretics --A class or family of drugs used to force the kidney to excrete more sodium than usual. Increased sodium excretion causes increased water excretion, so urine volume increases. The increased sodium excretion is desirable and therapeutic in disorders causing abnormal fluid retention (edema) due to heart failure, liver failure or kidney failure. Unfortunately, some diuretics increase excretion of potassium, which must be replaced--usually with potassium supplements -- to avoid serious adverse effects.
Dorsiflexion -- Backward bending, especially of the hand or foot.

E
Ear, Nose & Throat (E.N.T.) Specialist -- A physician with special post-graduate training in diagnosing and treating disorders and diseases of the ear, nose and throat.
Ecchymosis -- A small area of bleeding under the skin or mucous membrane forming a non-elevated, rounded or irregular blue or purplish patch.
Edema -- Accumulation of abnormal quantities of fluid in spaces between the cells of the body. Edema can accumulate in almost any location in the body. Most common sites include the feet and ankles, skin, abdomen, liver and brain.
EEG (Electroencephalogram) -- A recording of electrical activity in the brain. An EEG is done with a galvanometer connected to electrodes attached to the skull. The EEG is useful in detecting brain damage and in diagnosing seizure and sleep disorders.
EKG (Electrocardiogram) -- A graphic representation of the electrical current generated by the electrical system that controls heart-muscle cells. The EKG is a useful tool in diagnosing the presence and severity of many forms of heart disease. However, the heart may be severely impaired, and still show no typical or characteristic EKG changes, so the EKG is only one of the tools used to detect and monitor heart disorders.
Electrolytes -- Chemicals dissolved in the blood and inside body cells.
Electrolytes play an essential role in all body functions and must be maintained within narrow limits to preserve health. The major electrolytes include sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and carbon dioxide. They are ingested through food. The kidneys and lungs regulate the rate at which they are excreted. Levels that are too high or too low in body cells can lead to serious illnesses, including heart-rhythm disturbances, fluid accumulation, dehydration and dangerously low blood pressure. In the worst cases, electrolyte disturbances can be life- threatening.
Electromyogram -- A recording of the electrical activity of nerve and muscle cells, measured with an extremely sensitive galvanometer. The electromyogram is used to help detect and diagnose a variety of disorders of peripheral nerves and muscles.
Erythema -- Redness and warmth of the skin caused by congestion of the capillaries. Erythema may be caused by many factors, including infection, sunburn, inflammation or direct injury.
Erythema multiforme --A disease characterized by a vivid red skin eruption that appears suddenly on the face, neck, forearms, legs, feet and hands. This disorder results from hypersensitivity to some drugs and also sometimes appears spontaneously -- probably as a result of a defect in the immune system.
Etiology -- The cause of a disease or injury.
Eversion -- To turn outward.

F
Fibrosis -- The formation of fibrous tissue. Fibrosis is caused by many factors including injury, inflammation and infection.
Fibrositis -- An inflammatory condition affecting connective tissue and muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons. Fibrositis has many causes, including repeated injury, infections or overuse of a part. The disease usually resolves itself without treatment, but recurrence is frequent.
Flank -- The area of the body that extends from the bottom of the ribs to the upper edge of the hip on either side of the body.
Flatulence -- Intestinal gaseousness caused by failure of the intestines to completely process some complex carbohydrates, such as those found in beans, onions and bran. Exercise may increase flatulence because it hastens the passage of food through the intestinal tract, sometimes not allowing enough time for complete digestion.
Fracture -- A break in a bone, cartilage, tooth or other rigid body tissue.
Fungus -- A microorganism that causes infection of the skin, mucous membranes of the mouth, vagina or rectum, or other organs (particularly the lungs).
"Funny Bone" ("Crazy Bone")--The ulnar nerve in the groove on the inner side of the elbow joint. When injured, it produces a disabling, temporary burning and numbness along the inner side of the forearm and hand.

G
Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract -- The digestive tract, beginning with the mouth, continuing through the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine, and ending in the rectum. The GI tract is about 26 feet long.
H
Heartburn -- A burning sensation in the chest perceived as arising from the region of the heart. Heartburn is not related to heart disease. It is caused by stomach acid or stomach contents that spill into the lower esophagus, irritating the sensitive lining membrane.
Hemarthrosis -- Collection of blood in a joint from broken capillaries or larger blood vessels.
Hematocrit -- A blood test to detect anemia and other blood disorders. The test shows what percentage of whole blood is occupied by red blood cells. Normal hematocrit range is 35% to 45%. The remainder of the blood is made up of white blood cells, platelets, serum, plasma and electrolytes. Hematocrit range varies with age and sex.
Hematoma--A dome-shaped collection of blood--usually clotted -- under the skin, the scalp or inside the abdomen. The hematoma is formed by bleeding from a broken blood vessel.
Hemoglobin -- A chemical component of red blood cells that carries oxygen from air breathed in to all cells in the body. The blood test for hemoglobin is used to detect anemia and other blood disorders. Normal hemoglobin range is 12 to 18 grams per 100 cubic centimeters.
Hernia -- Protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening.
Hip Pointer -- A bruise or contusion of the top part of the ilium, one of the bones of the pelvis.
Hyaluronidase -- An enzyme that neutralizes adverse effects of hyaluronic acid, the cement substance of tissues.
Hyper -- A prefix meaning above, beyond or excessive. For examples, hyperextended means bent beyond normal limits. Hyperventilation means excessive breathing.
Hypo -- A prefix meaning below or deficient. For examples, hypogastric means below the stomach. Hypoglycemia means too little sugar in the blood.

I
Id Reaction -- A rash associated with, but located remotely from, the main lesions of a disease. The cause is probably an allergic or hypersensitive reaction to the germ causing the original disease. A common example is an itchy rash with blisters that appears on the hands and forearms of people who have athlete's foot.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome --Pain in the knee region (common in runners). Pain is caused by injury to the iliotibial tract -- a fibrous band that forms a ligament that helps support and stabilize the knee. Treatment consists of rest, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and occasionally surgery.
Incision -- A cut made with a sharp instrument through the skin or other tissue.
Insulin -- A hormone manufactured in the pancreas that facilitates the metabolism of glucose (sugar) by the body's cells. A deficiency in the production of insulin results in the disease diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes).
Intravenous -- Inside a vein. Medications, electrolyte solutions (such as saline or potassium) and blood transfusions are given intravenously through a needle inserted into a vein.
Inversion -- To turn inward.
Ipsilateral -- The same side of the body.

J
Joint Capsule -- The thin, cartilagenous, fatty, fibrous, membranous structure that envelops a joint. Fluid inside the joint capsule lubricates the area, allowing bones to glide smoothly against each other.

K
Knee, Internal Derangement -- Injury to any of the internal structures of the knee joint, including the meniscus (articular cartilage), ligaments, tendons, fat pad under the patella (kneecap), and the uppermost part of the tibia (the major bone in the lower leg).

L
Laryngoscope -- An instrument used to inspect and treat the muscular structures in the larynx and vocal cords.
Lateral -- Toward the outside or away from a midline.
Lesion -- A wound, injury or abnormal skin growth.
Ligament -- A band of fibrous tissue that connects bone to bone or cartilage to bone, supporting and strengthening a joint.
Lupus Erythematosus -- An inflammatory disease of connective tissues believed to be caused by a defect in the body's immune system, in which the body attacks its own normal tissues.
Luxation -- Bones in a joint that are no longer in the correct functional position to each other. Means the same as dislocation. Subluxation means a less definable dislocation. With subluxation, there is only partial deformity, and it is usually associated with an injury to attached ligaments.

M
Massage -- Therapeutic kneading and stroking of skin and muscles.
Medial -- Toward the midline or closest to a midline than any other structure. For example, the breastbone (sternum) is medial to the right rib cage.
Mind-Altering Drugs -- Any drug or medication that interferes with normal function of the brain. The group includes: narcotics such as heroin, morphine, Demerol and codeine; major tranquilizers; hallucinogenic agents such as LSD; marijuana; cocaine; amphetamines; and barbiturates and other sedatives.
Moleskin -- A heavy, downy cotton-twill material used to wrap around joints for support or to protect the skin under bandages, splints or casts. It is also used to reduce friction over tender skin.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) -- Special radiological study that allows visualization of scarred or damaged areas of the brain. MRI is useful in diagnosing epilepsy and other disorders of the brain and central nervous system.
Muscle -- An organ that produces movement by contractions. There are two major kinds of muscles: voluntary (striated) and involuntary (non-striated). Striated muscles are under voluntary control and include most of the muscles in the body. Involuntary muscle cells form the largest mass of the heart, and surround blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, the urinary tract and the intestinal tract.

N
Necrosis -- Death. Tissue death (necrosis) results from deprivation of blood supply.
Neuritis -- Any inflammatory condition of a nerve. Neuritis may have many causes, including injury. Treatment is difficult and recurrence frequent.

O
Ophthalmologist -- A medical doctor who specializes in medical or surgical disorders of the eye.
Oral Surgeon -- A dentist who specializes in tooth extractions and surgery on the gums and other structures in the mouth.
Osteomalacia -- A condition characterized by softening of the bones. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, muscle weakness and weight loss. The cause is a deficiency in vitamin D and calcium.
Osteomyelitis -- Infection of the bone and bone marrow, frequently associated with open (compound) fractures of bones. The broken skin accompanying such fractures allows bacteria to enter the injured area and infect injured tissue. Bone has relatively poor resistance to infection because of its sparse blood supply.
Overtraining Syndrome -- A group of symptoms caused by overwork of muscles and other tissues during vigorous athletic activity. The outstanding symptom is pain in muscles, bones or joints. First symptoms include dull aching of the joints after a hard workout. If training continues at the same level of intensity, pain will occur during and after workouts. The only successful treatment is to decrease the level of activity until symptoms disappear. Training can then resume as long as symptoms don't reappear.

P
Pain -- A sensation of discomfort, hurt, stress or agony, resulting from stimulation of specialized nerve endings. Pain means something is wrong, and should not be ignored. The saying of "no pain, no gain" is outmoded.
Periodic Paralysis -- A rare disease characterized by a rapidly progressive form of paralysis associated with abnormal serum potassium levels. This is an inherited disease. Attacks may be triggered by vigorous exercise. They are more likely to occur on the day following a workout rather than during the workout.
PET (Positron Emission Tomography) -- An expensive, sophisticated radiological procedure that allows visualization of various parts of the body not observable by more traditional X-ray studies.
Plantar Flexion -- Bending or pointing the toe toward the floor.
Plantar Fasciitis -- A partial or complete tear in the fascia (fibrous connective tissue) of the bottom of the foot. It is characterized by pain just under the heel bone. Causes include: inadequate arch supports; poorly-fitting shoes or shoes with soles that are too stiff; sudden turns or stops; and weak ankles. Rest is the only successful treatment.
Plastic Surgeon -- A medical doctor who specializes in surgery concerned with the restoration, reconstruction, correction, or improvement in the shape and appearance of body structures that are defective or misshapen by injury, disease, or growth and development.
Platelets -- Blood cells (smaller than red or white blood cells) that assist in the blood-clotting process.
Podiatrist -- A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of medical and surgical problems of the feet.
Polycythemia -- An abnormal increase in the red blood cells of the body. The disease has 3 forms: (1) Polycythemia vera, which involves overproduction of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. (2) Secondary polycythemia, a complication of diseases or factors other than blood-cell disorders. (3) Stress polycythemia, which is associated with decreased blood plasma. Stress polycythemia can occur in athletes who become dehydrated during competition or heavy workouts in very hot weather. Secondary polycythemia and stress polycythemia are curable by correcting the underlying cause.
Popliteal Space -- The space behind the knee joint. The space is bounded by ligaments and contains soft tissue including nerves, fat, membranes and blood vessels.
Porphyria -- A serious inherited disease of metabolism characterized by excretion of porphyrins. Attacks can be triggered by pregnancy, excessive exposure to sunlight, and use of barbiturates or birth-control pills.
Posterior -- The rear part.
Postural Drainage -- A physical therapy procedure for chronic lung disease such as bronchiectasis or lung abscess. The patient is placed so that the involved part of the lung is higher than the trachea and the head. Forced coughing in this position helps clear the lungs and bronchial tubes of harmful accumulated secretions.
Progressive Resistance Exercise (P.R.E.) -- Exercise that forces muscles into bearing heavier and heavier loads.
Prognosis -- Prediction of the course of an injury or disease, including its end result.
Pronation -- Rotation of a body part (usually the hand or foot) backward, inward or downward. Muscles in the forearm can produce pronation of the hand; muscles in the lower leg can produce pronation of the foot.
Proteinuria -- Passing protein in the urine. This is sometimes associated with kidney disease, but it may occur normally following many forms of strenuous exercise such as rowing, football, track, long-distance running, swimming and calisthenics. There is no evidence that exercise-induced proteinuria increases the risk for developing chronic kidney disease.
Proximal -- Nearest to a point of reference. The opposite of proximal is distal.
Pulmonary -- Pertaining to all parts of the lung.
Pyelogram -- A special X-ray study of the urinary tract in which dye is injected into a vein, and X-rays are done repeatedly to follow the dye's progress through the urinary tract.

R
Radioactive Technetium Study -- Special X-rays following injection of radioactive technetium. These studies can outline various parts of the body that are normally inaccessible to X-ray examination.
Radioactive Uptake Studies -- Special X-ray studies showing concentration of injected radioactive materials in various tissues and organs of the body.
Retina -- One of the three major segments of the eye. The retina is located in the back of the eyeball, and it has many layers. The layers of the retina contain blood vessels, nerve endings, and the specialized rods and cones that make it possible for us to distinguish shapes and colors.
Rotator Cuff -- A structure around the shoulder-joint capsule composed of intermingled muscle and tendon fibers. The rotator cuff provides stability and strength to the shoulder joint.
Rupture -- Forcible tearing or disruption of a tissue.

S
Secondary Infection -- An infection that follows and sometimes complicates a primary infection. Secondary infections are usually caused by a different germ than the one that caused the first infection. For example, a secondary bacterial skin infection on the feet can occur over a pre-existing fungus infection on the feet.
Sedatives -- Drugs to lessen anxiety or excitement. Most effective sedatives are habit-forming.
Soft Tissue -- All tissue of the body except bone.
Sonogram -- A diagnostic test in which high-frequency sound waves are transmitted into the body. Their reflections or echoes create images of body organs or the outline of a fetus.
Spearing -- An aggressive move in which a person butts his or her helmeted head into the chest or midsection of an opponent. This is a hazardous maneuver that may cause neck injury to the aggressor, and severe direct injury to the opponent.
Spineboard -- An inflexible board (also called backboard) made of wood or plastic that immobilizes the spine while an injured person is transported to an emergency facility.
Splint -- A rigid support made from metal, plaster or plastic and used to immobilize an injured or inflamed part of the body.
Spondylolysis -- A congenital defect in which a small area of bone in the spine does not fuse completely. This causes weakness in the spine and makes it subject to more frequent and more serious injury. People with spondylolysis should probably not engage in heavy lifting or in contact sports.
Spondylolisthesis -- Spondylolysis with displacement of one of the vertebral bones forward of the one below.
Stitch in Side -- Pain, usually in the upper abdomen, accompanying vigorous physical activity. This is probably caused by spasm of the diaphragm, the big muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen and that moves with breathing. Treatment is to stop exercise until the pain disappears.
Subacute -- An intermediate stage in the progress of an injury or disease that is between acute and chronic, closer in nature to the acute stage than the chronic.
Subcutaneous -- Below the skin.
Supination -- Rotating a hand or foot outward on its long axis. The movement is done with the muscles in the forearm or lower leg.
Syncope--Fainting -- a mild form of shock with a short period of unconsciousness and usually a rapid recovery.
Synovium -- A thin layer of connective tissue with a free smooth surface that lines the capsule of a joint. Synovial fluid lubricates and facilitates movements of the joint.

T
Tenderness -- Discomfort produced when any injured area is touched or pressed.
Tendon -- A fibrous cord by which a muscle is attached to a bone.
Tinnitus -- Ringing in the ears, caused by disorder of the eighth cranial nerve. Disorders can occur from virus infections, occasionally by blood clots to the brain, and commonly by taking medications such as aspirin.
Traction -- A form of physical therapy in which a pulling force is exerted on a muscle or joint.
Tranquilizers -- A class or family of drugs used to lessen anxiety or nervousness. Most major tranquilizers are habit-forming.
Trauma -- A direct wound or injury.
Triad, Unhappy -- A classic football injury that results from being hit on the lateral side of the knee with the foot on the ground. The blow causes sprains of the medial collateral ligament and the anterior cruciate ligament, and tears the meniscus (knee cartilage). This injury usually requires surgery to repair.

U
Ultrasound -- A form of physical therapy in which deep heat is applied to an injured area using sound waves that are outside the normal range of human hearing. Ultrasound treatments require special equipment and professional supervision.

V
Vesicle -- A fluid-containing, blisterlike skin eruption. For example, the lesions of chickenpox are vesicles.
Vitiligo -- A loss of pigment in scattered areas of the skin.

W
Whiplash -- A non-medical popular term meaning an injury to the neck caused by hyperextension and/or hyperflexion.
Whirlpool -- Equipment that provides turbulent water used to treat many athletic injuries.

X
X-rays -- Diagnostic procedures to study internal structures not visible to the naked eye.

Y
Yeast -- A general term applied to single-budding microscopic fungus cells. Yeast infections can occur on the skin, mucous membranes, and organs of the body such as the lung.