ABDOMEN: The lower part of the trunk that lies between the thorax and the pelvis. The abdominal cavity contains the stomach and intestines, plus other internal organs and glands, e.g. the liver and pancreas.
ACUPUNCTURE: The puncture of the body by one or more needles to relieve pain, induce anaesthesia, and improve the health of a person. It is based on the Chinese philosophy of Tch’I (the energy of life) that is a balance of the positive Yin and the negative Yang. The acupuncture takes place along meridians, which are pathways of energy under the skin. The flow of energy is obstructed in disease states. By inserting a gold, copper or silver needle into a blocked meridian, the flow of energy is improved.
ACETYLCHOLINE: One of the substances that aids the transmission of impulses from one nerve to another, and from a nerve to its target organ.
ACID: A substance that forms hydrogen ions in solution, and combines with an alkaline material to form a salt. Acids have a pH value of less than 7.
ACYCLOVIR: A drug used against viruses. It is known to be helpful in the treatment of herpes infections.
ADRENALINE (or epinephrine): A hormone secreted by the adrenal gland. It stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. It is also manufactured synthetically, and used for its stimulating properties.
ADRENERGIC RECEPTORS: The places in the body on which adrenaline and equivalent chemicals (e.g. noradrenaline) exert their stimulant action on the sympathetic nervous system.
ADRENO-MEDDULLARY: Pertaining to or arising from the medulla of the adrenal gland.
AETIOLOGY: The cause of a disorder.
AGRANULAR: Not consisting of granules or grains.
ALBICANS: White.
ALKALI: A compound that forms a salt when mixed with an acid. Alkalis possess a pH value of more than 7.
AMPHETAMINE: A powerful and addictive drug which has a similar effect to adrenaline, and stimulates the sympathetic nervous system.
ANAEMIA (U.S. anemia): The condition that arises when the red blood cell and/or haemoglobin count falls below the normal level.
ANATOMICAL: Pertaining to the body’s structure.
ANATOMY: The science dealing with the structure of the human and animal body.
ANTAGONIST: A substance that neutralises the action of another; a muscle that counteracts the action of another muscle (its agonist).
ANTERIOR: In front of; at the front.
ANTERIOR HORN CELL: A horn-shaped region found in the front part of the spinal cord.
ANTERO-LATERAL: Positioned towards the front and outside of a structure.
ANTIBODIES: Substances in the blood that fight against different toxins or foreign bodies (known as antigens).
ANTIDEPRESSANTS: The collective name given to those drugs that prevent or relieve depression.
ANTIVIRAL: Working against viruses.
AROMATHERAPY: The treatment of certain disorders by the use of aromatic, essential oils during massage.
ARTERY: A tube or vessel that conveys blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
ARTHRITIS: Inflammation of a joint, due to either a disease or the process of wear and tear.
AUSCULTATION: Listening for certain sounds within the body by using either the ear or a stethoscope.
AUTONOMIC: Not under voluntary control.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM: A section of the nervous system that regulates the systems of the body that are not under voluntary control.
BRONCHUS: One of the larger tubes through which air passes from the windpipe to the smaller bronchioles within the lungs.
BUFFER: A chemical system that prevents change in the concentration of other chemical substances. Usually to keep acid/alkali levels in equilibrium.
CANDIDA: Yeast-like fungi that naturally occur in a healthy body but are capable of causing disease.
CANDIDIASIS: Infection caused by Candida.
CANTHUS: Part of the facial bone to the side of the eye.
CARBONIC ACID: A solution of carbon dioxide and water.
CARDIAC: Pertaining to the heart.
CARDIOLOGIST: A heart specialist.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM: The system composed of the heart and the blood vessels.
CEREBROSPINAL FLUID: The fluid surrounding and bathing the brain and the spinal cord.
CERVICAL: Pertaining to the neck.
CHOLINERGIC: The nerves that release the transmitter substance acetylcholine; an agent that stimulates the release of acetylcholine.
CHRONIC: Long lasting.
COCCYX: The triangular bone at the tail-end of the spine formed by the fusion of 3-5 vertebrae.
CONTRACTILE: Possessing the ability to contract, e.g. muscle.
CONTRACTION: A shortening (pulling together) of tissue.
CORTEX: The outer layer of a structure.
CRANIAL: Pertaining to the skeleton of the head (the cranium).
CRANIO-SACRAL: Pertaining to the cranium and the sacrum. Used mostly in relation to the rhythm of the CFS/ME, which travels from the head to the sacrum at the base of the spine.
DECEREBRATE: Stopping the function of the cerebrum (the main portion of the brain) by severing the brain stem, or by cutting off the blood supply to the brain.
DIAGNOSIS: Determining the type and exact nature of a disease.
DIATETIC: Pertaining to the diet for health purposes.
DILATION: The act of expanding.
DISC (DISK): A flat, thin, circular structure. Intervertebral discs contain fibrous outer layers surrounding soft, jelly-like centres. They lie between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae in the spinal column and act as shock absorbers.
DISTAL: At the further end.
DORSAL: Pertaining to the back; positioned on the back surface; Another name for thoracic, e.g., the dorsal spine.
DYSFUNCTION: An impairment or abnormality in the functioning of an organ or system in the body.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY: Examination with a microscope that emits a beam of electrons (negatively charged particles of an atom). This beam forms an image for viewing on a fluorescent screen.
EPIDEMIC: The term given to an outbreak of a disease that affects a large number of people in the same location, and at the same time.
EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS: A herpes virus that is believed to cause Infectious Mononucleosis (glandular fever).
ENDOCRINE: Pertaining to specific organs, or the complete system that secretes hormones into the circulation.
ERECTOR-SPINAE: The name applied to a group of muscles that extend along the length of the spine. As the name suggests, their main function is to keep the spine erect.
FIBROUS: Composed of, or containing fibres. Fibrous tissue is present in many different structures throughout the body. It is also formed in scar tissue during the natural healing process.
FIBROSITIS: An inflammatory condition affecting white fibrous tissue within chronically damaged muscle. The inflammation is combined with an increase in the volume of the tissue to cause a very tight, enlarged and tender area. The shoulders are the most common site for fibrositis to occur.
FORAMEN: An opening or hole, ususally found in bone that forms a natural passageway.
FATTY ACID: An acid that contains only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen which combines with glycerine to form fat.
FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY: Anatomy as applied to the interaction between different structures of the body during any activity.
GALL-BLADDER: A small pear-shaped sac which lies beneath the liver. Its function is to store bile that is produced by the liver.
GANGLION: A bundle of nerve cell bodies that lie outside the brain and spinal cord. (Plural = ganglia).
GANGLIONATED: Structures that contain ganglia.
GANGLION IMPAR: The ganglion which unites the two sympathetic trunks. It is found in front of the coccyx.
GASTRO-INTESTINAL: Pertaining to the stomach and gut.
GENITALIA: The organs of reproduction.
HEPATITIS: Inflammation of the liver.
HERPES VIRUS: A large group of DNA viruses, which includes herpes simplex (cold sores) and herpes zoster (shingles).
HIGHER CENTRES: The controlling mechanisms of the central nervous system within the brain.
HOMEOPATHY: A system of medicine whereby a minute dose of the drug stimulates the body to fight the disorder from within. It is based on the philosophy of treating like with like.
HOMEOSTASIS: The ability of the body to keep all functions working in a state of dynamic equilibrium.
HORMONE: An internal secretion which produces a specific physiological action on a target organ.
HVT: A high velocity thrust. The manipulative technique that produces a speedy gapping of a joint, usually accompanied by a loud ‘crack’.
HYPERMOBILE: Abnormal increase of movement.
HYSTERECTOMY: The surgical removal of the uterus (the womb).
IMMUNE SYSTEM: The system in the body responsible for fighting infection and disease.
IMMUNOG;OBULIN: A type of animal protein which produces antibodies. It is used in combating disease processes.
IMPAR: Not paired.
IMPULSES: The electrochemical process that travels along nerve fibres.
INFLUENZA: The ‘flu’; an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract.
INHIBITORY DRUGS: Chemicals that interfere with the normal physiological mechanism.
INTERSPINAL NERVES: Nerves that pass between two segments of the spine.
INTERVERTEBRAL: Between two adjacent vertebrae. See Discs, intervertebral
INTRAMUSCULAR: Within a muscle.
INTRAVENOUS: Within a vein.
INVOLUNTARY MECHANISM: The mechanism of the flow of cerebro-spinal fluid from the cranium to the sacrum, and its influence on other tissues.
KYPHOSIS: The convex curvature of the spine when viewed from the side. The dorsal spine is said to be KYPHOTIC if its naturally convex curvature is abnormally exaggerated.
LACRIMAL: Pertaining to tears.
LATERAL: To the side; in a position further away from the midline of the body.
LESION: A damaged area of tissue.
LEVATOR SCAPULAE: A muscle that attaches to the shoulder-blade and the upper neck. Its function is to raise the shoulder-blade.
LIGAMENT: A strong band of fibrous tissue that holds bones together.
LOBE: A divided portion of an organ.
LORDOSIS: The concave curvature of part of the spine when viewed from the side.
LUMBAR: Pertaining to the region of the loins, i.e. the area of the back between the thorax and the pelvis.
MANIPULATION: The expert treatment of the body by the hands.
MAOIs: Mono amino oxidase inhibitors; A group of antidepressant drugs.
ME: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis; the British name for chronic fatigue syndrome.
MEDULLA: The innermost portion of a structure.
METABOLISM: The chemical and physical process by which the living body is maintained.
MONONUCLEAR: Containing only one nucleus.
MOTOR NEURONE: A nerve that supplies a skeletal muscle to stimulate motion.
MUSCULOSKELETAL: Pertaining to the muscles and skeleton.
MYELIN: The fatty substances surrounding part of particular nerve fibres (known as MYELINATED fibres).
NEUROCHEMICAL: Pertaining to the chemistry of the nervous system.
NEUROLOGIST: A specialist in disorders of the nervous system.
NEUROMUSCULAR-SKELETAL SYSTEM: The system in the body comprising of nerves, muscles and the skeleton.
NEURON: A nerve cell.
NEUROTRANSMITTER: A chemical which stimulates activity when released at nerve endings, either transmitting between two nerves or between nerves and target tissues.
NORADRENALINE (or Norepinephrine): A neurotransmitter substance which is released in the sympathetic nervous system, and some central nerve endings.
OLFACTORY: Pertaining to the sense of smell.
PALPITATION: An increased awareness of the heartbeat.
PANACEA: A remedy; A cure-all.
PARALYSIS: Total or partial loss of movement in the body.
PARASYMPATHETIC NERVES: Autonomic nerves that stem from the cranium and the sacral regions and have different functions to sympathetic nerves.
PATHOGENIC: Pertaining to any organism that causes a disease.
PECTORALS: The collective name for the muscles of the chest, i.e. the pectoralis major and minor.
PEPTIC: Pertaining to the juices of the stomach and digestion.
PHYSIOLOGIST: A specialist in physiology, the study of the functioning of the body.
PHYSIOLOGY: The science of the function of living organisms, and how the body works.
PLACEBO: The beneficial response to treatment due to the patient’s belief in its value. Placebo drugs are inactive substances that are given to gratify the patient.
PLASMA: The fluid part of the blood.
PLEXUS: A network of nerves.
POSTERIOR: At, or towards the back.
POSTGANGLIONIC: Positioned after (distal to) a ganglion.
PREGANGLIONIC: Positioned before (proximal to) a ganglion.
PROLAPSE: The downward fall of part, or all of an organ.
PROXIMAL: Nearer to a particular point, (opposite of distal).
QUADRICEPS: The large four-headed muscle in the front of the thigh. Its main function is to extend and straighten the knee joint. Its tendon contains the patella (the knee cap).
RAMI COMMUNICANTES: A branch that connects two nerves.
RAMUS: A branch.
RECEPTORS: Receivers of certain nervous or chemical stimuli. They are situated at the ends of particular sensory nerves and on cells.
REFLEX: The automatic reaction that occurs in response to nervous stimulation.
REFLEXOLOGY: An alternative system of diagnosis and therapy. It is based on reflex points in the foot that correspond to different parts of the body.
REMISSION: The lull or cessation of the symptoms of a disease.
RSI: Repetitive strain injury.
SACRUM: The wedge-shaped bone situated directly beneath the lumbar spine. It comprises of five sacral bones fused together.
SCAPULA: The shoulder blade. (Plural: scapulae.)
SHIATSU: A form of oriental massage which concentrates on acupuncture points in the body.
SOFT TISSUE: The term used to describe the structural and connective tissue that is not bone, e.g. muscles and ligaments.
SOLAR PLEXUS: The coeliac plexus; the sympathetic plexus situated behind the stomach. It supplies the internal organs of the abdomen.
SOMATIC: Pertaining to the body; pertaining to the body wall as opposed to the internal organs.
SYNAPSE: A junction between two nerve cells.
SYNDROME: A collection of different symptoms that occur together.
TENDON: A fibrous continuation of the muscle body. It attaches muscle to bone.
TENNIS ELBOW: Lateral epicondylitis; an inflammation of the common tendon of the extensor muscles of the forearm due to an overuse injury.
THORACIC: Pertaining to the thorax.
THORAX: The chest; the section of the body between the neck and the abdomen. It is enclosed by the rib cage.
TRAPEZIUS: A muscle that attaches the neck to the shoulder blade and the collar bone. Its main function is to raise the shoulder. (Plural: trapezii.)
VAGUS: The vagus nerve, the 10th cranial nerve, which has sensory, motor and parasympathetic fibres. It travels down from the head to supply structrures in the neck, thorax and abdomen.
VASOCONSTRICTION: A decrease in the diameter of the blood vessels.
VASODILATION: An increase in the diameter of the blood vessels.
VENTRAL: Towards the front (opposite of dorsal).
VENTRICLE: The term applied to a cavity or chamber in the brain or the heart.
VERTEBRA: The individual bones of the spinal column.
VISCERA: The large organs of the body, plural of viscus.
VISCERAL: Pertaining to viscera.
VITAMIN: A group of organic substances that occur mainly in small amounts in food, and which are vital for the healthy functioning of the body.