A
B
- Biomechanical – The mechanical aspects of living organisms.
- Broach – To puncture an infected cavity.
- Bone turnover – The process of bone deposition and resorption.
C
- Chiropractic – Diagnoses, treats and relieves disease problems by manipulation of body structures, particularly the spinal vertebrae.
- Chronic pain – See What is the difference between acute and chronic pain?
- Coffin joint – Common name for distal interphalangeal.
- Colic – See Colic.
- Cornea – The transparent surface of the eyeball.
- Corticosteroids – A steroid hormone, which is produced by the adrenal cortex or manufactured synthetically.
E
- Exudates – Circulating fluid that filters into areas of inflammation or lesions.
F
- Fetlock – Common name for metacarpophalangeal.
G
- Gate control – Theory that activation of non-transmitting nerves can interfere with signals from pain fibres thereby inhibiting pain.
H
- Hock joints – Common name for tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal.
- Hyaluronan (or hyaluronic acid) – A naturally occuring glycosaminoglycan, which acts as a lubricating, binding and protective agent.
- Hyperalgesia – Extreme sensitivity to pain, which can be experienced in localised areas or in a diffuse, body-wide form. See Why do pain and inflammation go hand in hand?
I
- Inflammation – See What is inflammation?
- Innervated – Supplied with nerves.
- Ion – Molecule or atom with a positive or negative charge.
L
- Laminae – The structure that suspends the distal phalanx (P3 or pedal bone) from the hoof wall.
- Laminitis – See Laminitis.
- Lavage – Cleaning or rinsing of a specific area eg: “joint flush.”
- Lipoma – A benign tumor, comprised largely of fat cells.
- Lower mandible – The U-shaped bone forming the lower jaw.
M
- Maxillary teeth – Teeth in the upper jaw.
N
- Nociceptors – Pain receptors in the body.
O
- Opthalmological – Relates to the visual pathways, including the eye and brain disease.
- Osteogenic – Factors promoting bone growth.
- Osteoporosis – A disease which causes the bones to become very porous.
- Osteopathy – Treatment based on the theory that a disorder within the musculoskeletal system can affect other body parts. It works on the principle that these disorders can be corrected by a combination of manipulative techniques and conventional medicine.
P
- Pain – See My horse is in pain.
- Physiotherapy – The use of physical “hands on” treatment to restore functional ability and movement.
- Point – Where the contents of an abscess inclines towards the surface to develop a head.
- Prostaglandins – Hormone-like substances which play a wide role in the functions of the body.
- Proximal Suspensory Desmitis – See Proximal Suspensory Desmitis.
R
- Radiography – The use of radiology to obtain internal images of the body. See Diagnostic imaging options.
- Robert Jones bandage – A bulky, well-padded compression bandage which is often used following elective surgery or trauma.
S
- Sepsis – Serious medical condition arising from the immune system’s response to an infection.
- Sweet itch – A hypersensitivity to the Culicoidies midge.
- Synovial structures – Joints, bursa and tendons.
T
