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