Medical term glossary - E

This medical term glossary provides explanations in plain English of a number of technical terms you may encounter in the process of pursuing a clinical negligence claim.

Eburnation - The wearing down of joint cartilage as a result of osteoarthritis.

Ecdysis - Shedding skin.

Eclampsia -A form of epileptic convulsion, particularly in pregnant women.

-ectomy - Surgical removal.

Eczma - Disorder causing inflammation of the skin.

Edentulous - Lacking teeth.

Effusion - Leaking of bodily fluid (e.g. pus or blood) into a body cavity.

Electro-encephalogram - A scan of brain electrical activity. Used to diagnose epilepsy.

Embolism - Blood vessels becoming blocked by material such as blood clots which are carried through larger blood vessels in the bloodstream.

Embrasure - The gaps between teeth.

Eminence - A part of a bone which sticks out.

Emphysema - Collection of air in a part of the body where it is not typically present Describes a disease where air becomes trapped in the lungs.

Enarthrosis - A ball and socket joint between two bones.

Encephalitis - Swelling of the brain, often due to infection.

Encephalopathy - Abnormal brain function, possibly caused by toxic substances.

Endometrium - The lining of the womb.

Enterocentesis - The draining of fluid from the stomach (or intestine) by use of a needle.

Enucleate - Eye removal.

Enuresis - Bed wetting.

Epicondyle - Projection at the end of a bone which links to another bone.

Epicondylitis - Inflammation in region of an epicondyle. For example, tennis elbow, where the extensor tendons of the forearm attach to the lateral epicondyle.

Epicranius - The scalp muscle.

Epidural - Of or relating to the outer membrane covering the spinal cord.

Epilepsy - Disturbances of electrical activity in the brain.

Epiphysis - The end of a bone where growth occurs.

Epiphysitis - Inflamed epiphysis.

Epistaxis - Nose bleed.

Equinovarus - A deformity of the foot (down and inwards).

Equinus - A deformity of the foot (down).

Erythema - Superficial redness of skin.

Erythrocyte - Red blood cell.

Eschar - Dead skin which sloughs off the body.

Eutocia - Normal labour and childbirth without complications.

Eversion - The movement of the foot upwards and outwards.

Evoked response - Stimulated brain activity, for example by visual stimuli.

Excise - Surgical removal of tissue.

Excision arthroplasty - An arthroplasty in which the joint is removed.

Exsanguinated - High level of blood loss.

Extension - Straightening out a joint.

Extensor plantar response - Abnormal upward movement by the big toe when the sole of the foot is touched (the Babinski reflex).

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