Glossary
We’ve created this reference for you, because sometimes we just have to use the big words, or we use words that you simply don’t understand. So if you ever find yourself wondering ‘what does that mean?’, you’ll find the answers here…
Abduction
Adduction
Alignment
Amputation
Anaesthesia
Anterior
Atrophy
To move a limb away from the mid-line of the body
To move a limb towards the midline close of the body
The positioning of the prosthetic components, and socket for optimal function
The loss or absence of all or part of a limb
Loss of feeling or sensation in all or part of the body
Describing or relating to the front (ventral) portion of the limbs
The wasting away of tissues; the decrease in the size of a normally developed extremity or organ
Brachial plexus
Bursa
A network of nerves, arising from the spine at the base of the neck that give rise to the nerves
supplying the arm, forearm, hand and parts of the shoulder girdle
A small fibrous tissue sac filled with fluid formed as a result of prolonged pressure or friction
Check socket / test socket
Client
Comminuted fracture
Congenital deficiency
Contracture
Contralateral limb
Cosmetic cover
Cosmetic prosthesis
Crepitus
A trial socket, often transparent, made to evaluate comfort and fit prior to final (definitive)
prosthesis design
A public or private client receiving treatment at TLCU
A fracture in which the bone is broken into more than two pieces. A crushing force is usually
responsible and there is often extensive injury to surrounding soft tissues
Condition present at birth, when all or part of a limb fails to develop normally
Tightness in muscles, tendons, or ligaments restricting the movement of a joint
The existing limb on the non-amputated side
A plastic foam or rubber material, laminate or stocking that gives a prosthetic device a more
natural appearance
A prosthesis that provides cosmetic replacement of a missing limb only, with little or no
functional use
A crackling sound or grating feeling produced by bone grating on bone or cartilage indicative
of osteoarthritis
Definitive prosthesis
Distal
Dorsal
Dynamic foot response
A prosthesis which the prosthetist has nished adjusting to suit you. It has a cosmetic cover over the components
Situated away from the origin or median line of the body
Relating to or situated at or close to the back of the body or to the posterior part of an organ
A type of foot that has energy storing properties
Energy-storing feet
Extension
Extremity
Prosthetic feet with plastic springs or carbon bres designed to help move the prosthesis forward
The movement of a joint so that the bones comprising of the joint move away from each other, e.g. In knee extension, the tibia and femur move away from each other, increasing the angle
at the back of the knee
An external body part [the entire arm or leg] that projects from the body
Femoral condyles
Femur
Flexion
Folliculitis
Functional prosthesis
The area of the distal femur where the bones expand to form part of the knee joint. used to suspend a supracondylar trans tibial socket
A long bone between the hip and the knee (thigh bone)
The bending of a joint so that the bones comprising of the joint move toward each other
eg. in hip flexion the femur and pelvis move closer together
Inflammation of hair follicles in the skin
A prosthesis that provides a functional replacement for a missing limb. This may also provide cosmetic restoration
Gait
The style or pattern of walking
Hard socket
Humerus
Hydraulic knee unit
A prosthetic socket made of rigid materials
The bone of the upper arm
A knee unit, which offers hydraulic control of knee action
ICEROSS
Interim prosthesis
Icelandic Roll On Silicone Socket. This is an off-the-shelf silicone socket. They come in a range of different sizes that provide adequate tting for most clients. They are made of a softer type of silicone than a bespoke one and are subsequently less hard wearing.
The first prosthesis you receive. Often the pylon is left uncovered to allow the prosthetist to adjust the alignment
Lateral
Lesion
Liner
Relating to the region or part of the body most distant to the midline of the body
A zone of tissue with impaired function as a result of damage by disease or wounding
The insert between the prosthesis and the residual limb
Manual knee lock
Medial
Multi-flex ankle
Myoplasty
Myo-electric hand
A lock that can be used to x a prosthetic knee joint in full extension when the client requires it
Relating to the region or part of the body closest to the midline of the body
An ankle joint that provides movement to mimic that occurring in the anatomical ankle joint during the gait cycle
The plastic surgery of muscle, in which part of a muscle is partly detached and used to repair tissue defects or deformities in the vicinity of the muscle
A battery powered hand that operates in response to signals picked up from sensors within the prosthetic socket from contracting muscles
Oedema
Swelling; excessive accumulation of fluid in the body tissue
Palmar
Patella
Pelvic band
Phantom pain
Phantom sensation
Popliteus
Posterior
Prosthesis
Proximal
PTB socket
PVD
Pylon
Pertaining to or corresponding to the palm of the hand
The lens shaped bone that forms the kneecap. It is situated in front of the knee in the tendon
of the quadriceps muscle of the thigh
The band which goes around the waist to hold a trans-femoral prosthesis straight. It also keeps the prosthesis from slipping off
Any painful sensation in the absent limb e.g. an ache in an ankle that no longer exists
The feeling that the amputated limb is still there and any feeling other than pain that is felt in the amputated limb e.g. an itchy big toe which is no longer there
The flat triangular area at the back of the knee
Situated at or near the back of the body
Any arti cial limb device that is attached to the body as an aid
Situated close to the origin or close to the median line of the body
Patellar Tendon Bearing socket. This is a socket for a transtibial client that utilises the
patellar tendon as the main weight bearing area
Peripheral vascular disease; any disease of the blood vessels outside of the heart, especially in the extremities. A common cause of amputation
The pole of carbon bre or aluminium that connect components of a prosthesis
Residual limb
Residual limb shrinker
Residual limb sock
The part of the limb remaining after amputation
An elastic wrap or compression sock worn on a residual limb to reduce swelling and shape the limb
Wool or cotton sock worn over the residual limb to provide a cushion between the skin and
socket interface
SACH foot
Shrinker
Single axis knee joint
Sleeve suspension
Socket
Socket liner
Stance control
Stockinette
Sub-epidermoidal cyst
Suction
Supracondylar socket (PTS)
Suspension
A prosthetic foot which has a soft heel to absorb the shock of placing the foot down and toes that bend
An elastic residual limb sock used to reduce oedema
Free swinging knee unit with a friction adjustment option
A means of suspending a prosthesis utilising a cylinder formed from an elasticated material
that grips around the socket and is pulled over the knee
The part of the prosthesis which the residual limb ts into
Inner socket liner of soft foam, rubber, leather, or silicone material, which cushions the residual limb
Friction device with an adjustable brake mechanism to add stability
An elastic knitted fabric used especially in making bandages, socks, etc.
An abnormal sac or closed tract lined with epithelium and lled with liquid or semi-solid matter
that lies beneath the epidermis
Provides suspension by means of negative pressure vacuum in a socket; achieved by forcing
air out of the socket through a one-way valve when donning and using the prosthesis
The proximal trimline on a transtibial socket are extended up around the knee to provide suspension around the femoral condyles and increase mediolateral stability about the knee
Refers to how the orthosis/prosthesis is held on; may include suction, a strap or belt, a wedge,
a neoprene gel sleeve or other methods
TES belt
Terminal device
Tibia
Transfemoral
Transhumeral
Transmetatarsal
Transphalangeal
Transradial
Transtibial
Transverse
Total Elastic Suspension. A means of suspending a transfemoral prosthesis, comprising of an elasticated waist belt
The device that inserts into the wrist housing of a upper limb prosthesis. This may be a hand which can be functional or cosmetic or a functional device such as a split hook
The shin bone. The inner and larger bone of the lower leg
An above knee amputation dividing the thigh bone
A level of amputation above the elbow and below the shoulder joint
An amputation of bones of the foot e.g. toes
An amputation of bones of the hand e.g. fingers
A level of amputation dividing the forearm (radius)
Below knee amputation dividing the shin bone (tibia)
Situated at right angles to the long axis of the body
Voluntary opening
Opening of a terminal device is effected by a voluntary movement by the client. Relaxation of this movement allows the device to automatically adopt the closed position
Weight transference
The transfer of weight from one foot or side to the other