Glossary

Abscess –

A localised collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue

Adhesion –

Fibrous band that forms between tissues and organs, often as a result of injury during surgery

Aerophagia –

Excessive air swallowing

Aetiology –

The cause or origin of a disease

Anastomosis –

The connection of two luminal structures (e.g. two loops of bowel)

Aneurysm –

Abnormal localised enlargement (dilation) of an artery

Anterior –

Located in front of or towards the front of a structure

Anterior–posterior (AP) –

The X-ray tube is placed in front of the patient and the X-rays pass in the AP direction

AXR –

Abdominal X-ray

Benign –

Not recurrent or progressive; not malignant

Bilateral –

Involving both sides

Biliary –

Relating to bile or the bile duct

Calcification –

The process by which calcium builds up in soft tissues

Calculus –

A stone in the kidney or urinary tract (plural: calculi)

Carcinogenesis –

Transformation of normal cells into cancer cells

Carcinoma –

A malignant tumour derived from epithelial tissue

Catheter –

A hollow tube inserted into a body cavity, duct or vessel to withdraw or insert fluid

Cholangitis –

Inflammation of the bile ducts

Cholecystitis –

Inflammation of the gallbladder

Circumferential –

Encircling or pertaining to a circumference

Colitis –

Inflammation of the colon

Collection –

In the context of radiology, usually refers to a localised area of fluid or pus

Colon –

The section of the large intestine extending from the caecum to the rectum

Computed tomography –

A medical imaging technique that uses X-rays to produce a detailed image of a cross section of tissue

Congenital –

Present or existing at the time of birth

Constipation –

Difficult, incomplete, or infrequent evacuation of dry, hardened faeces from the bowels

Contrast –

The degree to which light and dark areas of an image differ because of the differences in absorption between one tissue and another

Contrast medium/agent –

An administered radiopaque substance (e.g. barium or iodine-based compounds) used in radiology to permit visualisation of internal body structures

Cortex (of the kidney) –

The outer layer of the kidney

Costal –

Pertaining to a rib

Costophrenic angle –

The angle between the ribs and the diaphragm on a chest radiograph

Crohn’s disease –

A type of inflammatory bowel disease that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus

CT –

See computed tomography

Cystinuria –

An inherited autosomal recessive disease characterised by the formation of cystine stones in the kidneys, ureter and bladder

Decubitus –

See lateral decubitus

Density –

The mass per unit volume

Diaphragm –

The musculo-membranous partition separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities and acting as the major muscle for inspiration

Dilatation –

The act of dilating or stretching

Distal –

Away from or the farthest from a point of origin or attachment

Diverticulitis –

Inflammation of the diverticula along the wall of the colon

Diverticulum –

An abnormal small, blind-ending pouch opening from a hollow or fluid-filled viscous, for example colon or bladder (plural: diverticula, adjective: diverticular)

Duodenum –

The first portion of the small intestine, from the stomach to the jejunum

Electromagnetic radiation –

A form of energy exhibiting wave-like behaviour as it travels through space. It is classified according to the frequency of its wave

Electromagnetic spectrum –

The range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation

Emphysematous –

Any abnormal distension of an organ, or part of the body, with air or other gas

Endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography –

A test that combines the use of a flexible endoscope with fluoroscopy to examine the biliary tract and perform certain procedures including gallstone removal and biliary stent insertion

Endoscopy –

An examination by means of an endoscope, an instrument used to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body

Endovascular aneurysm repair –

A type of endovascular surgery used to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). A stent graft is placed in the lumen of the aorta to allow blood to flow through and reduce pressure in the aneurysm, preventing rupture

Enteric –

Intestinal

Epigastric –

Pertaining to the epigastrium, the upper middle part of the abdomen

ERCP –

See endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography

Erect –

Upright in position or posture

EVAR –

See endovascular aneurysm repair

Expiration –

Breathing out

Exposure –

The quantifiable dose of radiation on a subject; the number of X-rays that reach the detector and make the image

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) –

A non-invasive treatment of kidney stones (renal calculi) using high energy ultrasound waves

Falciform ligament –

A ligament attaching the liver to the anterior abdominal wall (a remnant of the umbilical vein)

Femoral –

Of or relating to the thigh or femur

Fibroid –

See uterine fibroid

Fistula –

An abnormal passageway between two organs in the body or between an organ and the exterior of the body

Fluoroscopy –

An imaging technique that uses X-rays to obtain real-time moving images of the internal structures of a patient

Foci –

See focus

Focus –

The primary centre from which a disease develops or in which it localizes (plural: Foci)

Foetus –

An unborn human more than 8 weeks after conception

Foreign body –

Any object originating outside the body

Gallstone –

A small, hard, pathological concretion of cholesterol, bile pigments, and lime salts, formed in the gallbladder or in a bile duct

Gangrene –

Localised death and decomposition of body tissue caused by a lack of blood supply

Gastrointestinal –

Of or relating to the stomach or intestines

Gastroparesis –

Delayed gastric emptying

Gland –

An aggregation of cells specialised to synthesise a substance for release such as hormones

Granular –

Resembling or consisting of small grains or particles

Granulomatous –

Composed of granulomas, localised masses of inflamed granulation tissue

Haemostatic –

An agent used to reduce or stop bleeding from blood vessels

Haustra –

Small pouches in the wall of the large intestine. They have a characteristic appearance on an abdominal radiograph (see page 34)

Hemi-diaphragm –

Half of the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen and that serves as the main muscle of inspiration

Hilum –

A depression or recess on an organ through which blood vessels, nerves and ducts enter and leave

Homogenous –

Uniform in structure or composition throughout

Hypercalciuria –

Excess of calcium in the urine

Hyperparathyroidism –

The overproduction of parathyroid hormone from the parathyroid glands

Hypochondrium –

The upper lateral abdominal region, overlying the costal cartilages on either side of the epigastrium

Iatrogenic –

Caused by medical examination or treatment

Ileocecal valve –

A physiological valve between the ileum and caecum of the large bowel; it prevents material flowing back from the large to the small intestine

Ileus –

Disruption of the normal propulsive ability of the gastrointestinal tract (i.e. failure of peristalsis)

Inferior –

Lower in place or position, the opposite of superior

Inflammation –

The reaction of living tissues to injury or infection, characterised by heat, redness, swelling and pain

Inguinal –

Pertaining to the groin

Inguinal ligament –

A fibrous band running from the anterior superior iliac spine of the ilium to the pubic tubercle of the pubic bone

Intussusception –

The enfolding of one segment of the intestine within another, often causing pain and bowel obstruction

Ionisation –

The process in which a neutral atom or molecule gains or loses electrons and thus acquires a negative or positive electrical charge. Ionising radiation produces ionisation in its passage through body tissue or other matter. Ionisation can cause cell death or mutation (plural: ionisations)

IRMER 2000 –

The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000. Introduced in 2000, it lays down the basic measures for radiation protection for patients in the UK

Ischaemia –

Insufficient supply of blood to an organ or tissues, usually due to a blocked artery

Laparotomy –

A surgical procedure involving a large incision through the abdominal wall to gain access to the abdominal cavity

Lateral –

Situated at the side, away from the middle, extending away from the median plane of the body

Lateral decubitus –

Patient lying on their side (e.g. left lateral decubitus = patient lying on their left side)

Lesion –

A general term referring to almost any abnormality involving any tissue or organ

Lucent –

See radiolucent

Lumen –

The inner open space or cavity of a tube for example blood vessel or intestine

Lymph nodes –

Small glands found throughout the body; they are a part of the lymphatic system and play a major role in the immune system

Malignancy –

Cancerous cells that have the ability to spread to other sites in the body (metastasise) or to invade and destroy tissues

Medial –

Situated in the middle, extending towards the middle, closer to the middle/median plane of the body

Medulla (of the kidney) –

The inner part of the kidney, chiefly comprising collecting tubules and organised into a group of structures called the medullary pyramids

Medullary pyramids –

See medulla (of the kidney)

Medullary sponge kidney –

A congenital disorder of the kidneys characterised by cystic dilation of the collecting ducts and in most cases patients develop medullary nephrocalcinosis

Megacolon –

See toxic megacolon

Mesenteric –

Pertaining to the mesentery

Mesentery (of the bowel) –

The double layer of peritoneum containing blood vessels, lymph vessels and nerves, which suspends parts of the bowel from the posterior wall of the abdomen

Metastasis –

The process by which a cancer spreads from the place at which it first arose as a primary tumour to distant locations in the body; the cancer resulting from the spread of the primary tumour

Metastatic –

Relating to metastasis

Mitotic –

Relating to cell division

Mottled –

Spotted or blotched with different shades

Mucosal –

Relating to the mucosa or mucous membrane, the lining of the digestive and respiratory tracts

Mutation –

A change in the structure of the genes or chromosomes of an organism

Nasogastric (NG) –

Referring to the passage from the nose to the stomach

Nasogastric (NG) tube –

A tube that is passed through the nose down into the stomach

Nasojejunal (NJ) –

Referring to the passage from the nose to the jejunum

Nasojejunal (NJ) tube –

A tube that is passed through the nose down into the jejunum

Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) –

An acute inflammatory disease occurring in the intestines of premature infants. Necrosis of intestinal tissue may follow

Nephropyelolithotomy –

Laparoscopic removal of calculus from the renal pelvis

Neurogenic –

Originating in the nerves or nervous tissue

NG –

See nasogastric (NG)

NJ –

See nasojejunal (NJ)

Obturator foramen –

The opening created between the ischium and pubis bones of the pelvis

Oddi –

See sphincter of Oddi

Oedema –

Swelling from excessive accumulation of fluid in the body’s tissues

Opacity –

An opaque or non-transparent area appearing light or white on a radiograph (plural: opacities) – also see radiopaque

Organogenesis –

The formation and development of organs

Ossification –

The process of bone formation

PACS –

See picture archiving and communication system

Parenchyma –

The functional parts of an organ in the body. This is in contrast to the stroma, which refers to the structural tissue of organs, namely, the connective tissues

Pedicle –

The segment of bone between the transverse process and vertebral body, forming part of the vertebral arch of each vertebra

Percutaneous –

Passed, done or effected through the skin

Perforation –

A hole or break in the containing walls or membranes of an organ or structure of the body

Periphery –

The outermost boundary of an area; the surface of an object

Peristalsis –

The coordinated wavelike contraction of smooth muscle that forces food through the digestive tract

Peritoneal cavity –

The interior of the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity

Peritoneal dialysis –

An alternative to haemodialysis used to manage patients with severe chronic kidney disease. Fluid is drained in and out of the peritoneal cavity on a regular basis to remove waste products from the blood by using the peritoneal membrane in the abdomen as a natural filter

Peritonitis –

Inflammation of the peritoneum

Phlebolith –

A small, rounded, calcification within a vein, commonly seen in the pelvis

Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) –

A computer-based digital radiograph storage system for storing X-ray images, thereby eliminating the need for film

Pleural effusion –

A condition that results from fluid accumulating in the pleural cavity in the chest

Pneumobilia –

Also known as aerobilia is accumulation of gas in the biliary tree

Pneumonia –

An inflammatory condition of the lung caused by bacterial or viral infection

Pneumoperitoneum –

Gas in the peritoneal cavity

Pneumoretroperitoneum –

Gas in the retroperitoneal space

Portal vein –

A short vein formed by the confluence of the splenic and superior mesenteric veins, draining blood from the bowel and spleen into the liver

Post-operative –

After surgery

Proximal –

Situated close to the centre, median line, or point of attachment or origin

Pseudopolyps –

An ‘island’ of preserved colonic mucosa, surrounded by ulcerated mucosa, such that it resembles a polyp

Pyeloplasty –

Surgical reconstruction of the renal pelvis to correct an obstruction

Radiograph –

An X-ray image

Radiolucent –

Allowing the passage of X-rays. Radiolucent structures appear dark or near black on a conventional radiograph

Radiopaque –

Obstructing the passage of X-rays. Radiopaque structures appear light or white on a conventional radiograph

Radiosensitive –

Sensitive to the effects of radiation

Renal –

Relating to the kidney

Renal tubular acidosis –

A syndrome characterised by decreased ability of the kidneys to acidify urine, and by low plasma bicarbonate and high plasma chloride concentrations, often with hypokalemia

Retroperitoneum –

The retroperitoneal space; the space between the peritoneum and the posterior abdominal wall (adjective: retroperitoneal)

Rigler’s sign –

Also known as the ‘double-wall sign’; the radiographic appearance of gas present on both sides of the bowel wall as seen in pneumoperitoneum

Rigler’s triad –

Three radiographic findings seen in gallstone ileus consisting of pneumobilia, small bowel obstruction and gallstone

Rugae (of the stomach) –

The large ridges or folds seen in the mucous membrane of the stomach

Sclerosis (of bone) –

Abnormal area of increased density within the bone (adjective: sclerotic)

Sentinel loop –

A localised distended loop of small bowel seen on an abdominal radiograph; caused by a localised ileus close to an intra-abdominal inflammatory process such as pancreatitis

Sphincter of Oddi –

A muscular valve that controls the flow of digestive juices (bile and pancreatic juices) through the ampulla of Vater into the second part of the duodenum

Sphincterotomy –

Incision or division of a sphincter muscle

Splenomegaly –

Enlargement of the spleen

Staghorn calculus –

A large calculus occurring in the renal pelvis, with branches extending into the calyces

Strangulation (of the bowel) –

Constriction of a segment of bowel so as to cut off the flow of blood; a potential complication of bowel herniation

Stricture –

An abnormal narrowing or stenosis of a duct or passage, usually caused by inflammation, external pressure or scarring

Superior –

Higher in place or position, the opposite of inferior

Supine –

Lying on the back with face upward

Suprapubic –

Pertaining to a location above the pubic symphysis

Syndesmophyte –

A bony growth attached to a ligament. It is found between adjacent vertebrae in ankylosing spondylitis

Taenia coli –

Three thickened bands formed by the longitudinal fibres in the tunica muscularis of the large intestine, extending from the root of the appendix to the rectum

Teratogenesis –

The production of congenital anomalies or defects in the developing embryo

Thumbprinting –

The radiographic appearance of ‘thumb-shaped’ projections into the bowel lumen caused by severe thickening of the haustral folds of the colon

Tissue –

An aggregation of similarly specialized cells which together perform certain special functions

Tortuous –

Having many twists and turns

Toxic megacolon –

Acute dilation of the colon; a serious complication of ulcerative colitis that may be life threatening

Tumour –

An abnormal swelling or mass of tissue

Ulcerative colitis –

A type of inflammatory bowel disease that only affects the large intestine (colon) and rectum

Ultrasound –

A diagnostic medical imaging technique using ultrasound waves to visualise internal body structures

Undifferentiated –

Refers to a group of diagnoses in which there is no differentiation from the underlying pathoanatomical diagnosis

Urological –

Relating to the medical specialty concerned with the urinary system in both males and females, and the genital organs in the male

Uropathy –

A disorder involving the urinary tract

Uterine fibroid (leiomyoma) –

A benign smooth muscle tumour arising from the uterine myometrium

Valvulae conniventes –

The mucosal folds of the small intestine. They have a characteristic appearance on an abdominal radiograph (see page 30)

Volvulus –

Abnormal twisting of the bowel on its mesentery causing obstruction