Definitions

Terminology related to Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus

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Abduction: sideways movement of the limbs away from the midline
Adduction: sideways movement toward the midline
Anencephaly: open neural tube defect with absent brain development, leading to early death
Ankle foot orthosis: brace extending from below the knee to the toes to support the ankle
Anterior fontanel: the soft spot on the front of the head of an infant
Anticholinergic medication: drug used to relax the bladder
Apnea: when breathing stops for more than 5-10 seconds
Arthrodesis: the surgical fixation of a joint
Ataxia: a neurologic condition in which coordination of movement is impaired
Attention deficit: a specific difficulty with concentration that can impair school performance and social relationships
Autonomic nervous system: the nerves that regulate automatic functions of the body
Bladder irrigation: flushing the bladder with fluid through a catheter
Bladder augmentation: bladder surgery to enlarge the bladder
Brace: an aid for the support of a joint
Brainstem: the lower portion of the brain important for breathing and other vital functions
Calcaneovalgus: a foot deformity in which the heel is turned outward and the front part of the foot is elevated
Catheter: a hollow tube used to drain the bladder
Cecostomy: a procedure to do enemas through a tube in the abdomen instead of the rectum
Central nervous system: the brain and spinal cord
Cerebellum: small part of the nervous system situated at the back of the brain, which is concerned with coordination of movements and bodily functions
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): the clear liquid that flows inside and outside the brain and spine
Cervical: pertaining to the neck
Chiari II malformation: condition which frequently accompanies spina bifida in which the lower part of the brainstem protrudes through an opening in the skull base into the upper neck
Clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC): a technique of inserting a catheter, draining a full bladder, and then removing the catheter
Clubfoot: foot deformity, usually talipes equinovarus
Coccyx: the tailbone of the spine
Cognitive: pertaining to functions of the brain such as thinking, learning, and processing information
Constipation: difficult, infrequent defecation; sluggish action of the bowels
Continence: ability to control urination and bowel stimulation
Contracture: fixed deformity at the joints due to shortening of soft tissue and resulting in loss of range of motion
Corpus callosum: a midline structure in the brain
Cranium bifidum (encephalocele): a defect in the skull with protrusion of brain tissue
Crede: a manoeuvre to empty the bladder by placing pressure on the lower abdomen
Cyanosis: dusky blue skin colour usually due to severe breathing problems
Decubitus: an ulcer or sore on the skin as a result of pressure
Detrusor: the bladder muscle
Detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD): failure of the bladder sphincter to open up when the bladder muscle contracts
Developmental delay: a significant lag between a child's age and his/her level of development
Disability: a lifelong condition affecting important activities or functions of daily living
Dislocated: a joint that is out of place, not in its socket
Dorsiflex: a backward bending of the forefoot of the ankle
Dura: the outer membrane of the meninges
Encephalocele: a defect of the skull with protrusion of brain tissue
Enema: a liquid medicine inserted into the rectum to stimulate a bowel movement
Equinovarus: similar to equinus, with additional inward turning of the forefoot
Equinus: deformity of the foot in which the heel is pulled up and the forefoot is pulled down
Eversion: movement of the foot in which the sole turns outward away from the midline
Expressive language: the ability to express ideas in words and sentences
Extension: the straightening of a joint; the opposite of flexion
Femur: the thighbone, extending from the pelvis to the knee
Flaccid: relaxed, flabby, having little or absent muscle tone
Flexion: the bending of a joint; the opposite of extension
Gait: the style of walking
Gastrocs: the calf muscles
Hamstrings: the large muscles at the back of the thigh
Handicap: an environmental or attitudinal barrier facing a person with a disability
Heel cord: the Achilles tendon below the calf muscle
Hip adductors: the muscles on the inside of the thigh that move the leg sideways toward the midline
Hydrocephalus: excessive cerebrospinal fluid in and around the brain
Hydromyelia: increased fluid in the central canal of the spinal cord
Hydronephrosis: widening and enlargement of the ureters and the collecting system of the kidneys
Hypersensitivity: heightened sensitivity to a stimulus of some kind, ie touch, taste, hearing
Hypertonia: a neurologic condition in which muscles have excessive contraction when they are stretched, that is, spasticity
Hypotonia: a neurologic condition of low tone, that is, floppiness
Heal conduit: surgical procedure to drain the kidneys through an opening on the abdomen, thus bypassing the bladder
Impaction: severe constipation
Impairment: physical (or mental) problem in the individual that has the potential to interfere with functional activities
Incontinent: passing of urine or feces at unwanted or unexpected times
Inversion: movement of the foot in which the sole turns toward the midline
Knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO): brace extending from upper thigh to the toes to support the knee and ankle
Kyphosis: a humplike curvature of the spine, commonly found in the region of the myelomeningocele
Latex: the sap of the rubber tree which is used to make products such as balloons, rubber catheter and enema devices, surgical gloves, condoms, etc.
Learning disability: a specific difference in learning that leads to underachievement in school
Lesion: site of damage or injury
Ligament: fibrous bands that hold bones together in the region of a joint
Lipoma: swelling made of fat; sometimes found with myelomeningocele
Locomotion: moving by walking, crawling, or the like
Lordosis: an abnormally increased curvature of the spine, causing a hollow appearance in the lower back
Lumbar: the lower part of the back
Macrocephaly: an abnormally large head size
Meninges: fibrous sheaths that envelop the brain and spinal cord
Meningocele: a protrusion of the meninges, without brain or spinal cord, through a defect in the spine or skull
Microcephaly: an abnormally small, head, usually accompanied by developmental delay
Myelomeningocele: a protrusion of the spinal cord through a defect in the spine
Neural placode: abnormal, splayed-open nerve tissue at the site of a neural tube defect
Neural tube: the part of the embryo that develops into the brain and spinal cord
Neurogenic bladder: the condition of the bladder in spina bifida, in which it does not fill or empty normally
Neurosurgeon: a surgeon specializing in the treatment of brain and spinal cord problems
Nystagmus: involuntary jerking movement of the eye in any direction
Occupational therapist: a health care professional who addresses the issues of fine motor and perceptual motor skills, daily living skills, academic and prevocational concerns, seating and mobility, home and school accessibility
Orthopedic surgeon: a surgeon specializing in the treatment of bones, joints, and muscles
Orthosis: a device used to correct, prevent, or support deformities to improve function of movable body parts
Orthotist: a person specially trained in making and modifying orthoses
Osteoporosis: brittle bones with deficient calcium; bones can fracture easily
Osteotomy: the surgical cutting of a bone to improve alignment
Paralysis: loss of muscle activity or movement
Parplegia: paralysis of both legs
Parapodium: a crutchless standing device utilized for young children with paraplegia
Patella: the kneecap
Pediatrician: a doctor who specialises in the treatment of children
Physiotherapist: a health care professional who addresses the issues of gross motor skills, including standing and walking abilities; also assesses joint range and muscle strength, and provides prescription and training in the use of equipment and orthotics
Plantar flexion: ankle flexed so that the foot is pointing upward
Posterior fossa: region at the back of the skull
Precocious puberty: early onset of body changes and development of adult sexual features
Prone: describing the position of a person lying horizontally on the abdomen, with the face turned downward
Proximal: closer to any point of reference
Quadriceps: the group of muscles on the front of the thigh that extend the knee
Quadriplegia: paralysis of all four limbs
Rachischisis: a congenital condition in which the spinal cord is completely exposed and deformed
Range of motion: the full extent of movement of a particular joint
Receptive language: the ability to understand spoken language
Reciprocal: alternating, as feet alternate in walking
Reciprocating gait orthosis (RGO): a brace extending from the chest to the foot allowing alternating movement of the legs for walking
Reflex: an involuntary response to a specific stimulus
Reflux: abnormal backward flow of urine from the bladder up the ureters toward the kidney
Renal: pertaining to the kidneys
Sacrum: the triangular bone at the base of the spine that is firmly bound to the pelvis
Scoliosis: an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine
Seizure: sudden episodes of eye staring, twitching or thrashing of arms and/or legs; may or may not involve loss of consciousness
Sensory nerve ending: end of the nerve fibres which detect feelings of pain, pressure, temperature
Shunt: a tube that connects two spaces, usually the ventricles with the peritoneal space in the abdomen
Shunt revision: repair or replacement of the shunt through surgery
Soft tissue surgery: operations that involve lengthening muscles or tendons or releasing tight ligaments
Spasticity: permanently increased muscle tone
Speech language pathologist: a health care professional who evaluates and provides suggestions related to feeding, speech, and language skills
Sphincter: circular muscle surrounding an opening in the body
Spinal cord: part of the nervous system enclosed within the backbone which transmits impulses to and from the brain
Spinal fusion: an operation to make the spine stronger or straighter
Spinous processes: the bony projections at the back of the vertebrae
Standing frame: braces attached to a standing platform
Stoma: opening of the surgically diverted urinary conduit or bowel
Strabismus: squint or deviation of the eye
Stridor: a high-pitched or noisy breathing, especially when inhaling
Subluxation: a condition in which a joint begins to slip out of alignment
Sunset sign or sunsetting eyes: downward positioning of the eyeballs
Supine: positioned lying horizontally on the back, with the face upward
Suppository: medicine, usually with a softener or a stimulant laxative, inserted into the rectum
Swing-to gait: walking by putting both crutches forward and then lifting both feet and swinging them forward
Syringomyelia: abnormal fluid filled cavities in the spinal cord
Syrinx: a fluid filled space in the spinal cord, usually in the neck, that can cause neurologic symptoms
Talipes equinovarus: typical clubfoot deformity, with heel inversion and foot plantar flexion
Talus: the bone of the foot that meets the tibia and fibula to form the main ankle joint
Tendon Transfer: surgical procedure to move a tendon of a muscle so that the muscle pulls in another direction
Tenotomy: cutting a tendon to weaken its pull
Tethered cord: attachment of the lower end of the spinal cord to the bottom of the spinal column causing over stretching of the cord
Thoracic: pertaining to the chest or upper part of the trunk
Tibia: the larger bone in the lower leg, the shinbone
Tone: the degree of resistance of muscle to stretch
Two-point gait: walking by moving the right crutch and left leg together, then the left crutch and the right leg
Ultrasound: test using inaudible sound frequencies to produce an image of a body part
Ureters: tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder
Urethra: the tube through which urine naturally flows from the bladder during urination
Urinary retention: incomplete urination
Urodynamics: a test to measure urinary continence through measurement of bladder pressure
Urologist: a doctor who specialises in the treatment of urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra) problems
VCUG: voiding cystourethrogram: bladder x-ray
Valgus: bent outward, away from the midline
Varus: bent inward, toward the midline
Ventricles: the interconnected spaces in the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid
Ventriculitis: an infection of the ventricles, usually involving the shunt
Ventriculoperitoneal shunt: plastic tube connecting the ventricles to the abdomen to treat hydrocephalus
Vertebrae: the bones of the spinal column (backbone)
Walker: movable aid used to provide stability

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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© 2008 Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Southern Alberta