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Cacosmia: disorder in the sense of smell, a subjective perception of non-existent malodours.

Caecum ( Cecum):  part of the lower bowel, a pouch connected to the ascending colon of the large intestine and the ileum. The appendix lies at the end of the caecum.

Caesarean section: a method of delivering a baby by cutting through the front wall of the abdomen to open the womb.

Calcification:  build up of calcium in tissue causing hardening

Calcium: the most abundant mineral in the human body. Of the body's total calcium, about 99% is in the bones and teeth where it plays a structural role. The remaining 1% is present in body tissues and fluids where it is essential for cell metabolism, muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmission.

Callus: 1) Build up of the stratum corneal layer of the epidermis of the skin caused by pressure or friction. 2) an unorganized network of woven bone formed about the ends of a broken bone, which is absorbed as repair is completed and ultimately replaced by true bone

Cancer: a group of diseases in which cells grow and divide without respect to normal limits, often invading and destroying adjacent tissues, sometimes spreading to other locations in the body.

Canine teeth: the four teeth (two in each jaw) situated between the incisors and the premolars.

Canthus:  the corners of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet

Capsulitis: inflammation affecting the capsule around a joint or organ.

Carcinogen: any substance which causes cancer.

Carcinoma: any malignant cancer that arises from epithelial cells

Cardiac: relating to the heart.

Caries: progressive destruction of any kind of bone structure, including the skull, ribs, teeth and other bones.

Carotid: relating to or situated near one of the carotid arteries.

Carotid arteries: the two main arteries that carry blood to the head and neck.

Carpal: refers to the wrist.

Carpal bones: the eight bones which form the wrist.

Carpus: the cluster of bones in the wrist between the radius and ulna and the metacarpus.

Cartilage: a type of dense connective tissue. It is composed of collagen fibres and/or elastin fibres, and can supply smooth surfaces for the movement of articulating bones.

Cataract: Opacity in the lens of the eye or its envelope which may be partial or complete resulting in gradually reducing vision.

Catharsis:  cleansing or purification

Catheter: a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct or vessel. Catheters thereby allow drainage or injection of fluids or access by surgical instruments.

CAT scan (computed axial tomography): a medical imaging method employing tomography where digital geometry processing is used to generate a three-dimensional image of the internals of an object from a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images taken around a single axis of rotation.

Cauda equine : structure within the lower end of the spinal column of most vertebrates, consisting of  a sheaf of nerve roots and rootlets from above.

Causalgia: one of two types of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome characterised by evidence of obvious nerve damage

Cauterization: medical term describing the burning of the body to remove or close a part of it. The main forms of cauterization used today are electrocautery and chemical.

Cecum :see caecum

Cell: the structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living and is sometimes called the building block of life.

Cellulitis: an inflammation of the connective tissue underlying the skin, can be caused by a bacterial infection.

Cephalalgia: pain in the head caused by dilation of cerebral arteries or muscle contractions or a reaction to drugs

Cephalic: relating to the head

Cerebellum: region of the brain that plays an important role in the integration of sensory perception and motor control

Cerebral: 1) refers to the brain; 2) Describes a way of thinking that utilizes the intellect rather than intuition or instinct.

Cerebrospinal: relating to the brain and the spine.

Cerebrospinal fluid: a clear bodily fluid that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain.

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA): The sudden death of some brain cells due to lack of oxygen when the blood flow to the brain is impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain. A CVA is also referred to as a stroke.

Cerebrum (cortex): largest part of the human brain, associated with higher brain function such as thought and action.

Cervical 1) of or pertaining to any neck; 2) of or pertaining to the female cervix: i.e., the neck of the uterus.

Cervical spondylosis: 'wear and tear' of the vertebrae and discs in the neck.

Cervix: lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina.

Chest: the front part of the trunk from the head to the abdomen.

Cholecystectomy: an operation to remove the gall bladder.

Chondritis: Inflammation of cartilage.

Chondromalacia: damage (typically softening) of the articular cartilage on the underside of the kneecap.

Choroid: (also known as the choroidea or choroid coat) the vascular layer of the eye lying between the retina and the sclera, with a thickness about 0.5 mm.

Chromosome: an organized structures of DNA and proteins found in cells

Chronic: a persistent and lasting disease or medical condition, or one that has developed slowly

Cicatrix: formation of new tissue in the process of wound healing.

Cirrhosis: a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrotic scar tissue as well as regenerative nodules, leading to progressive loss of liver function.

Claudication: name given to pain in the leg caused by "furred up" or blocked arteries.

Clavicle: (collar bone) long bone that makes up part of the shoulder girdle

Clawfoot: a condition of the foot characterised by hyperextension at the metatarsophalangeal joint and flexion at the interphalangeal joints, as a fixed contracture.

Clawhand: atrophy of the interosseous muscles of the hand with hyperextension of the metacarpophalangeal joints and flexion of the interphalangeal joints.

Cleft: a fissure, notch, gap or depression.

Clitoris: a small erectile organ in the female at the front of the vulva.

Closed fracture: a broken bone that does not penetrate the skin.

Clostridium: a genus of Gram-positive bacteria, belonging to the Firmicutes

Coccydynia: pain in the coccyx (tailbone) and surrounding area.

Coccygeal: relating to the coccyx.

Coccygectomy: an operation to remove the coccyx.

Coccyx: the small tail-like bone at the bottom of the spine, that is made up of 3-5 (average of 4) rudimentary vertebrae.

Cochlea: auditory portion of the inner ear.

Cognitive function: the ability to understand and perceive.

Colitis an acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining the colon(also known as large intestine or bowel).

Collapsed lung : (pneumothorax) involves the collapse of the tissues of part or all of one lung so that oxygen cannot be absorbed into the blood stream in the normal way caused by accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity, occurring as a result of disease or injury

Collar bone: see clavicle.

Colles' fracture: a fracture across the lower end of the radius bone.

Colon : the part of the large intestine between the caecum and the rectum.

Colostomy: the surgical construction of an artificial anus between the colon and the surface of the abdomen.

Colour blindness: the inability to perceive differences between some or all colours that other people can distinguish

Colposcopy: Examination of the cervix through a colposcope

Coma: A state of profound unconsciousness from which the person cannot be roused by external stimuli.

Comminuted fracture: bone fractured causing several fragments.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS):  a chronic progressive disease characterized by severe pain, swelling and changes in the skin.

Compound fracture:  a fracture in which the bone is sticking through the skin

Compression fracture: a fracture caused by compression, the act of pressing together. Compression fractures of the vertebrae are especially common with osteoporosis.

Computerized axial tomography: see CAT scan

Concussion: a disturbance of function of the nerve cells in the brain as a result of a blow to the skull.

Condyle: A round, protruding part at the end of a bone, especially one that forms part of a joint.

Congenital: present at birth.

Conjunctivitis: redness and soreness (inflammation) of the clear covering (the conjunctiva) which coats the white of the eye and lines the inside of the eye lids.

Connective tissue: one of the four types of tissue (the others being epithelial, muscle and nervous tissue.) usually derived from mesoderm. Involved in structure and support. Areolar (or loose) connective tissue holds organs and epithelia in place. Dense connective tissue forms ligaments and tendons.

Contraceptive: any agent or measure used to prevent conception.

Contusion: a bruise.

Convulsion A violent involuntary contraction or series of contractions of the voluntary muscles..

Cordectomy: surgical remove a vocal cord or part of the spinal chord.

Cornea: transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber, providing most of an eye's optical power.

Coronary arteries: arteries supplying blood to the heart muscles.

Coronoid process: sharp triangular projection from a bone

Corpuscle: A blood cell or a small mass or body.

Cortex: the outermost or superficial layer of an organ, and especially in the brain

Costal: pertaining to the ribs.

Costavertebral: relating to a rib and a vertebra.

Coxa: the short most-proximal base jointed segment of the arthropod leg (Hip).

Cranial: Relating to the cranium.

Cranial nerves: nerves arising directly from the brain.

Craniectomy: An operation to cut away a portion of the skull.

Cranioplasty surgical repair of a defect or deformity of a skull.

Craniosacral: Relating to the skull and the sacrum.

Craniotomy: operation to open the skull in order to expose the brain.

Creatine: nitrogenous organic acid that occurs naturally in vertebrates and helps to supply energy to muscle and nerve cells

Creatinine: a break-down product of creatine phosphate in muscle.

Cranium: the bones of the skull which contain the brain,

Crepitations: crackling noises caused by congestion or inflammation of the lungs.

Crepitus: the grating, crackling or popping sounds and sensations experienced under the skin and joints

Cruciate: “crossed-over” ligaments in the knee, anterior stabilise the knee joint, posterior are cross-shaped within the knee.

Crural: relating to the leg, shank or thigh.

Crystalline: clear, transparent, relating to crystal.

Cubitus: elbow.

Cuboid bone: One of the seven tarsal bones in the foot found on the side of the foot in front of the heel bone.

Cuneiform bone: there are three cuneiform bones in the human foot: the medial cuneiform, the intermediate cuneiform also known as the middle and the lateral cuneiform. They are located between the navicular bone and the first, second and third metatarsal bones and are medial to the cuboid bone.

Curette: spoon-shaped surgical instrument for cleaning a diseased surface

Curettage: the use of a curette to remove tissue by scraping or scooping.

Cushing’s syndrome a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol resulting in obesity, high blood pressure and osteoporosis.

Cutaneous: affecting or associated with the skin

Cyanosis: any agent or measure used to prevent conception

Cyclitis: inflammation of ciliary muscle e.g. Heterochromic cyclitis is a rare type of inflammation of the coloured tissue in the eye

Cycloplegia: paralysis of the iris of the eye, resulting in a loss of accommodation Cyst: fluid-filled sac, located anywhere in the body

Cystic duct: joins the gall bladder to the common bile duct

Cystic fibrosis: a hereditary disease affecting mainly the lungs and digestive system, causing progressive disability, and, in most cases, early death

Cystitis: inflammation of the bladder

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