Glossary of Medical Terms Allodynia - pain is produced by all stimuli to the skin that do not normally induce pain (such as touch, pressure and warmth). Atrophy - a wasting of a normal developed organ or tissue due to degeneration of cells. This may be due to disease, aging or malnutrition. Autonomic nervous system - the part of the nervous system responsible for the control of bodily functions that are not consciously directed, including heart beat, intestinal movements, sweating, etc. Bone deossification - demineralization of bone. Brawny edema - thickening and dusky discoloration of edematous tissue. Causalgia - severe burning type pain following injury to a major nerve. Cyanotic - blue color due to decreased oxygen in blood or decreased blood flow. Dystonia - a state of abnormal muscle tone. Dystrophy - progressive changes that may result from defective nutrition of tissue. Edema - excessive accumulation of fluid in body tissue. Etiology - cause of a specific disorder. Hyperalgesia - increased sensitivity and lowered threshold to pain stimuli (such as occurs in a superficial burn of the skin). Hyperasthesia - over-sensitivity to touch and light pressure. Hyperhydrosis - excessive sweating. Hyperpathia - excessive reaction to painful stimuli. The pain increases with each rapid tap on the skin and the pain lasts longer than usual when the stimulus stops. Intractable - resistant to treatment. Lancinating pain - spontaneous sharp jabs of pain in the affected region that seem to come from nowhere. Ischemia - pertaining to an inadequate blood supply. Osteoporosis - thinning of the bone. Paroxysmal dysesthesia - spontaneous sharp jabs of pain in the affected region that seem to come from nowhere. Periphery - the part of the body away from the center. Pilomotor changes - changes in the amount of goose flesh due to chilling effect on skin. Perivascular infiltration - the abnormal entry of a substance around blood vessels Raynaud's phenomenon - spasm of the arteries of the toes or fingers with paleness and numbness of the fingers triggered by cool environments and relieved by warmth. Reflex - a reaction, an involuntary movement or response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the nerve centers in the brain or spinal cord. Stimulus - anything that arouses action in the muscles, nerves or other excitable tissue. Subcutaneous - beneath the skin. Sudomotor changes - increased or decreased sweating Subluxation - an incomplete dislocation. Sympathetic nervous system - one of two divisions of the autonomic system (the other is the parasympathetic) having fibers leaving the central nervous system. Syndrome - a combination of signs and/or symptoms that form a distinct clinical picture indicative of a particular disorder. Thermography - a study to measure heat produced by different parts of the body. Trophic - resulting from interruption of nerve supply. Vascularity - relating to blood vessels. Vasoconstriction - narrowing of blood vessels. Vasodilitation - widening of blood vessels. Vasomotor - causing widening or narrowing of blood vessels, denoting the nerves which have this action. Vasomotor changes may produce a sensation of coolness or warmth. Vasospasm - contraction of the muscle coats of blood vessels. HOME  |  MENU  |   DONATE  |   CONTACT US Copyright © 2003 International Research Foundation for RSD/CRPS. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint any information on the website, please contact the Foundation.