Alopecia: absence of hair in areas where it usually grows

Alveoli: microscopic blind-ended air sacs in the lung

Anorexia: loss of appetite

Anthropometry: measurement of the human body or its parts

Arthrotomy: surgical incision of a joint capsule to inspect the contents and drain any pus present

Bullae: large blisters containing serous fluid

Chloasma: ill-defined but symmetrical brown patches on the face

Conjuntiva: mucous membrane lining the eye and inside of the eyelids

Dorsiflexion: backward flexion of the foot or hand or their digits, ie. bending towards the upper surface

Dyspnoea: difficult breathing

Dysuria: painful or difficult urination

Effusion: escape of pus, serum, blood, lymph or other fluid into a body cavity as a result of inflammation or presence of excess blood or tissue fluid in an organ or tissue

Fornix: any of the 3 vaulted spaces at the top of the vagina around the cervix

Gibbus: sharply angled curvature of the backbone

Hernia, herniation: protrusion of an organ or tissue out of a body cavity in which it normally lies

Hirsuitism: presence of coarse pigmented hair on face, chest, upper back or abdomen in a female as a result of excessive male hormone production

Homans’ sign: where pain from muscular causes is absent or minimal on dorsiflexion of the ankle with the knee flexed but maximal with the knee extended or during straight leg raising

Keratinization: the process by which cells become horny due to deposition of keratin within them, eg. as in the epidermis of the skin

Kyphosis: excessive outward curvature of the spine causing hunching of the back

Metritis: inflammation of the uterus

Oedema: excessive build up of fluid in body tissues

Oliguria: reduced renal output (production of abnormally small amount of urine)

Paracentesis: tapping - the process of drawing off excess fluid from a part of the body through a hollow needle or cannula

Paroxysm: sudden, violent attack, especially a spasm or convulsion (paroxysmal adj)

Partogram: a graphic record of the course of labour

Pneumatocoele: herniation of lung tissue

Rhinoscleroma: formation of nodules in the interior of the nose and nasopharynx which become thickened; caused by bacterial infection

Sciatica: pain and sensation in the area of distribution of sciatic nerve

Septum: partition or dividing wall within a bodily structure, eg. nasal septum

Stridor: noise heard on breathing when trachea or larynx is obstructed - usually louder than a wheeze

Thrombophlebitis: inflammation of the wall of a vein

Uvula: small extension of the soft palate which hangs from the roof of the mouth above the root of the tongue