Arthritis Glossary

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

Abduction: Movement of a limb away from the midline of the body

Acetabulum: The cup portion of the hip socket that sits in the pelvis

Acetaminophen: A commonly used analgesic medication containing no aspirin

Acupressure: Eastern medicine practice of applying pressure to certain sites called meridians, as opposed to inserting needles.

Acupuncture: Ancient Chinese practice of inserting needles into specific points of the body for the purpose of healing and relieving pain

Acute: A disease or condition characterized by sudden onset and limited to short duration.

Adduction: Movement of a limb toward the midline of the body

Adrenal gland: Small gland located at the top of the kidney producing hormones that regulate many body functions.

Aerobic exercise: Vigorous exercise promoting the circulation of oxygen through the blood

Analgesic: A medication with pain-relieving properties

Antibody: An immunoglobulin or immune protein produced by white blood cells. Antibody production is triggered by the presence of an antigen.

Antigen: A substance the body perceives as foreign that stimulates production of antibodies.

Antinuclear antibodies: Antibodies directed against structures inside the nucleus of cells. The presence of antinuclear antibodies serves as markers for some rheumatic diseases.

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint

Arthrocentesis: A sterile procedure using a needle to obtain joint fluid

Arthrodesis: Surgical fusion of a joint

Arthroplasty: A surgical procedure to replace a joint with an artificial joint

Arthroscopy: A surgical technique using a thin tube-like instrument inserted into a joint to view and repair damage.

Aspiration: See Arthrocentesis.

Autoantibody: Antibody against the body's own tissues.

Autoimmune disease: A disease in which the immune system of the body turns on itself, targeting its own tissues, joints, and organs.
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B

Bacteria: Single-cell microorganisms causing infection

B-cell: White blood cells that produce antibodies (immunoglobulins).

Biofeedback: A treatment approach that measures physiological responses and trains the patient to control the responses Used to relieve stress and various painful conditions

Biologic-response modifier: A substance used to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight disease.

Biologic therapy: Treatments employing biologic-response modifiers

Bursa: A fluid-filled sac between tendon and bone or tendon and skin Back to Top

C

Capsaicin: Found in topical creams, a chemical derived from peppers that has painkilling properties.

Carpal tunnel: A tunnel in the underside of the wrist formed by bone and the transverse ligament that houses the median nerve

Cartilage: Tissue covering the ends of the bones in a joint, acting as a cushion

Chiropractor: A practitioner of chiropractic

Clinical-research trial: Human trials designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of medications and medical devices yet to be approved

Combination therapy: When two or more medications are used in combination to treat a disease, as opposed to a single medication

Comorbid condition: Medical conditions occurring together

Complement: A complex system of proteins found in blood plasma that combine with antibodies to destroy foreign matter

Connective tissue: A type of tissue that supports and connects body structures

Corticosteroid: Steroid hormone made by the cortex of the adrenal gland

Costochondritis: Inflammation of the cartilage of the chest wall, cartilage of the sternum, and possibly cartilage of a rib. Pain mimics cardiac chest pain

COX-2 inhibitor: A drug that blocks the actions of COX-2 enzymes

C-Reactive Protein (CRP): An indicator of the presence and intensity of inflammation, not associated with a specific condition

Crepitus: A clinical symptom characterized by a peculiar crackling, crinkly, or grating feeling or sound under the skin, lungs, or in the joints

Cyclooxygenase-l (COX-l): An enzyme important in the production of prostaglandins. Functions include protecting the stomach and maintaining blood flow to kidneys

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2): An enzyme that speeds up production of prostaglandins. Plays a role in swelling and pain associated with arthritis

Cytokine: A protein produced by white blood cells, acting as a chemical messenger between cells, either to stimulate or inhibit cellular activity

Cytoplasm: The substance of a cell outside of the nucleus
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D

Degenerative joint disease: Synonymous with osteoarthritis

DMARDs: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; used to slow progression of rheumatoid arthritis or other forms of inflammatory arthritisDNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid; the basis tor encoding genetic information

Double-blinded study: Neither the study participants nor the researchers know who in the test groups got the medication with the active ingredients
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E

Efficacy: Effectiveness of a drug or treatment

Effusion: An abnormal accumulation of fluid

Embryonic stem cells: Stems cells derived from the inner mass of cells of a young embryo

Enbrel: The first anti-TNF aipha drug approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in 1998.

Endorphins: Natural painkillers produced by the nervous system

Enzyme: A protein that catalyzes or speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms

Erosion: Holes in bone or cartilage from chronic inflammation

Erythema: Redness of skin due to inflammation or drug reactions

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): A laboratory test using a special tube to test the rate of falling red blood cells over a period of time. A high ESR is an indicator of inflammation.
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F

Fatigue: Lack of energy, tired, physically drained

FDA: The United States Food and Drug Administration; the federal agency that regulates food, drugs, and medical devices

Flexibility exercise: Exercises to prevent stiffness, such as muscle stretches

Folic acid: B vitamin prescribed for people who also take methotrexate, since methotrexate depletes folic acid.
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G

Gait: The way you walk. Stride.

Gene: A sequence of chromosomal DNA

Gene therapy: Treatment of disease by replacing, altering, or supplementing a gene that is abnormal and causing disease

Glucosamine: A component of cartilage.
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H

Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ): Clinical assessment of quality of life for people living with rheumatoid arthritis. Also assesses difficulty with everyday tasks

Heberden's node: Calcified spur of the DIP joint of the finger seen with osteoarthritis

Herbal remedy: Medications derived from plants

Heredity: Genetic transmission from parent to child

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA): The histocompatibility system can also serve as genetic markers for rheumatic diseases.

Humira: The third anti-TNF alpha drug approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. A fully human monoclonal antibody

Hyaluronan: Substance used for viscosupplementation injections.

Hydrotherapy: Synonymous with water therapy or water exercise. The warmth and buoyancy of the water helps people with arthritis exercise.

Hyperuricemia: Abnormally elevated level of uric acid in the blood.
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I

IM: Intramuscular.

Immune: Protected against infection or foreign substances by antibodies.

Immune response: Activation of the immune system against foreign substances (i.e., antigens).

Immune system: A complex system that detects anything foreign to the body, and the organs and cells protecting the body from foreign substances and infection.

Immunocompromised: Immune system impaired by disease.

Immunoglobulins: Proteins that are antibodies.

Immunosuppressive agent: Medication that halts immune system activity.

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the body.

Inflammation: Localized redness, swelling, pain, and warmth due to infection or injury.

Interleukin: Proteins that communicate between white blood cells.

Intravenous: Into a vein. Given through a vein.

Isometric exercise: Exercises that tighten muscle without moving joints.

Isotonic exercise: Exercises that strengthen muscle by movinq joints.
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J

Joint: The area where the ends of two bones come together, facilitating movement.

Joint aspiration: See Arthrocentesis.

Joint replacement surgery: Also known as arthroplasty. Replacing a joint with an artificial one.
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K

L

Leukocyte: A white blood cell.

Ligament: A band of connective tissue connecting two bones.

Lymphocytes: A type of white blood cell, including T and B cells.

Lymphoma: A tumor of lymphoid tissue.
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M

Macrophage: A type of white blood cell that ingests foreign substances.

Median: In the middle. The median nerve runs through the middle of the wrist.

Methotrexate: A DMARD used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and some other rheumatic diseases.

Mixed connective tissue disease (MeTD): A combination of systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and polymyositis.

Monoclonal antibody: Antibodies produced in a laboratory that bind to specific cells. Made from a single clone of cells.

Monotherapy: Use of a single treatment or medication.

Morning stiffness: Characteristic of having rheumatoid arthritis; patients wake very stiff in their joints and it can take more than an hour to be relieved.

MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.

Musculoskeletal: Of the skeletal system, including muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.

Myalgia: Muscle pain.

Myositis: Inflammation of muscle tissue.
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N

Narcotic: Drugs that block pain by blocking signals from the central nervous system to the brain.

National Institutes of Health (NIH): An agency in the United States devoted to medical research. Consists of twenty-four individual institutes.

Nephritis: Inflammation of the kidney.

Nerve: A fiber bundle using electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory and motor information throughout the body.

NIAMS: The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; a part of the NIH.

Nodule: A collection of tissue that can be felt and can exist at any level of skin.

NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; used to treat inflammation.

Nucleus: The structure of the cell containing the chromosomes.
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O
Obese: People who are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight.

Occupational therapist: A trained and licPn5pd theraplvt who teaches patients how to relearn skills required for daily living tasks.

Opiate: A medication derived from the opium poppy acting as narcotic sedatives, suppressing the central nervous system.

Opioids: Synthetic narcotics that resemble natural opiates.

Orthovisc: A substance used for viscosupplementation injections.

Osteophytes: Bone spurs.

Osteoporosis: Bone-thinning disease resulting in abnormally low bone mass.

Osteotomy: Cutting into or through a bone to remove a part.
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P

Palindromic rheumatism: A type of joint inflammation where the affected joint changes periodically from one part of the body to another and back again.

Paraffin wax: Hands are dipped into warm, melted paraffin wax to relieve pain and stiffness.

Parathyroid gland: The gland that regulates calcium metabolism.

Pauciarticular: Affects four or fewer joints.

Peripheral neuropathy: Abnormal functioning of the nerves outside the spinal cord.

Pheresis: Procedure where blood is filtered, separated, and a portion is returned to the patient.

Photosensitivity: A medication side effect of conditions like lupus. Sensitivity of the skin to light

Placebo: A sugar pill or pill with no active ingredients, used in clinical trials as a control for comparative purposes.

Placebo effect: The person receiving an inactive ingredient reports a decrease in symptoms.

Plasma: The liquid portion of blood, without the red and white blood cells.

Podagra: Gout in the big toe.

Polyarthritis: Arthritis in many joints.

Polyarticular: Involvement of many joints.

Polymyalgia rheumatica: A condition affecting muscles and joints, characterized by pain and stiffness on both sides of the body, involving shoulders, arms, neck, and buttocks.

Polymyositis: An inflammatory disease of the muscle.

Pronation: Rotation of the arm or leg inward.

Prosorba: Antibodies are removed from blood of a rheumatoid arthritis patient using a special filtering machine.

Prostaglandin: A hormone-like substance that modulates inflammation as well as having other functions.

Prosthesis: An artificial replacement for a joint or other body part.

Purines: Proteins found in most foods and in all human tissues.
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Q

Quality of life: A patient's ability to lead and enjoy a normal life and normal activities.

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R

Radiograph: An x-ray.

Randomized: Determined by chance, as in a clinical trial.

Range of motion: The full normal movement potential for a joint.

Refractory: Resistant to treatment.

Regimen: A planned course of action.

Remicade: The second anti-TNF alpha drug approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Administered by infusion.

Remission: A period when symptoms subside.

Repetitive-stress Injury: An injury that develops following overuse of a joint or muscle.

Research. controlled: A clinical trial comparing a treated group of study participants to a control group.

Restless leg syndrome: Uncomfortable sensations in the legs while sitting or lying still, resulting in a painful condition.

Revision: A surgery required to revise a previous joint replacement because of failure of the prosthesis.

Rheumatic disease: Conditions characterized by pain and stiffness of joints and muscles.

Rheumatism: An older term referring to painful conditions of muscles, bones, joints, and tendons.

Rheumatoid arthritis: An inflammatory type of arthritis that is also classified as an autoimmune disease. The pattern of joints affected is usually symmetric.

Rheumatoid factor: An antibody measurable in the blood. It is detectable in 80 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients and used to help diagnose the condition.

Rheumatoid nodule: Lumps of skin, usually around pressure points, common to rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Rheumatologist: A medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other related conditions.

Rheumatologist. Pediatric: A rheumatologist who specializes in treating children with arthritic conditions.

Rheumatology: A specialty of internal medicine focusing on rheumatic diseases and conditions.
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S

Salicylates: A subgroup of NSAIDs that does include aspirin.

Scleritis: Inflammation of the sclera (the white outer coat of the eyeball).

Sclerodactyly: Localized thickening of the skin of the fingers and toes.

Sclerosis: Localized hardening of the skin.

Sedimentation rate: See Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis patients who are negative for rheumatoid factor. About 20 percent of people with rheumatoid arthritis are seronegative.

Side effect: Undesirable consequences of treatment.

Soft-tissue rheumatism: Rheumatic conditions affecting the soft tis sues of the body (bursitis, tendonitis).

Spirochete: A bacterial organism with a spiral shape.

Spondylitis: Inflammation of one or more vertebrates.

Spontaneous remission: A disappearance of symptoms, usually rare and early in the disease.

Stem cell: A cell which has the ability to grow into any of the body's cell types, of which there are more than 200. Stem cells are unspecialized cells.

Steroid: Potent drugs used to relieve swelling and inflammation, such as prednisone and cortisone.

Subcutaneous: Under the skin, as in an injection given under the skin.

Supination: Rotation of the arm or leg outward.

Supplement: Dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbals, botanicals, amino acids, and enzymes.

Symmetric arthritis: Arthritis affecting same joints on both sides of the body.

Symptom: Subjective evidence of a disease or medical condition.

Syndrome: A combination of signs and symptoms that together present a disease state.

Synovectomy: Surgical removal of the synovium (lining of the joint).

Synovial fluid: The slippery fluid that lubricates the joints.

Synovial lining: The lining of the joints responsible for producing joint fluid.

Synovitis: Inflammation of the synovial lining of the joints.

Synvisc: One of the hyaluronates used for viscosupplementation injections.

Systemic disease: Throughout the body, meaning organs as well as joints.
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T

Tcell: A type of white blood cell made in the bone marrow, which migrates to the thymus gland, where it matures and differentiates into other types ofT cells and plays a role in the immune system.

Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ): Causes pain in the jaw and in front of the ear.

Tendon: Connects muscle to bone.

Therapeutic: Of or relating to treatment.

Therapy: Treatment of disease.

THR: Total hip replacement.

Tick bite: Bite from a bloodsucking parasitic insect; method of transmission for Lyme disease.

Tissue: A layer of cells that have certain functions.

TKR: Total knee replacement.

Tophi: The plural of tophus, indicative of more than one.

Tophus: A nodule comprised of uric acid crystals.

Topical creams: Applied to the surface of the skin.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha): An inflammatory cytokine.
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U

Ulcer: Erosion of skin or of the mucous membrane

Ulnar deviation: Hand deformity associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The fingers drift in the opposite direction of the thumb or away from the thumb.

Uric acid: A substance resulting from protein metabolism

Uveitis: Inflammation of the inner eye.
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V

Vasculitis: A group of diseases that cause inflammation of the blood vessels

Viscosupplementation: Injection of gel-like substances into a joint to supplement the viscous properties of synovial fluid.
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W

X

Y

Yoga: Through movements and deep breathing, yoga brings together mind, body, and spirit.
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Z

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