we would like to thank you very much for all your hard work dealing with our case, it was very much appreciated. We were glad that we held out and not took the first offer - it was well worth the wait.

S

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

Sac: a pouch or bag-like structure

Sacrum: curved, triangular bone in the lower part of the back

Saline: a solution containing 0.9% sodium chloride. Saline may be used clinically as a diluent for drugs administered by injection and as a plasma substitute

Salmonella: a type of bacteria

Salpingectomy: removal of the fallopian tube by surgery

Sarcoma: a malignant tumour of connective tissue

Sciatic nerve: nerve running from the lower spine to the pelvis and down the back of each thigh

Sclerosis: hardening of a tissue due to inflammation

Scrotum: pouch of skin and subcutaneous tissue containing the testes situated below the penis

Sepsis: infection with pus forming micro-organisms

Septicaemia: infection caused by the invasion of the bloodstream by bacteria

Skin cancer: skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. Freckles, moles and patches that change shape, size or colour over a period of time and are itchy are a matter of concern and you should see a doctor. Types of skin cancer include malignant melanoma, non-malignant melanoma, basal cell cancers and squamous cell cancers

Spasm: an involuntary contraction of a muscle

Spina bifida: developmental defect in which a newborn baby has part of the spinal cord and its coverings exposed through a gap in the backbone

Spinal cord: cord of nerve tissue which forms the nervous system together with the brain

Spleen: a gland which removes bacteria from the blood

Statins: a group of drugs used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. They are used as high cholesterol levels increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke

Stents: small meshed tubes which are inserted in to diseased arteries to prevent or counteract a disease-induced localised flow constriction. A stent is used in patients who have narrow coronary arteries which may have been caused by cholesterol along the lining of the arteries

Stillbirth: the birth of a dead baby

Stroke: a stroke is caused by the cutting off of the blood supply to the brain. This could be caused by a blood clot or a burst blood vessel. A stroke is very serious and requires urgent treatment as the longer the brain is starved of oxygen the greater the risk of brain damage

Subcutaneous: beneath the skin

Subdural haematoma: if a vein in the subdural space is torn, blood escapes in to the subdural space and causes a blood clot to form. This is known as a subdural haematoma. As the clot gets bigger it presses on the brain, causing headaches and confusion. A CT or MRI scan is needed to diagnose a subdural haematoma

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