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Abrasions - wearing away of the skin causing a wound

ADEPT gripper - A type of prosthetic hand with two contoured closing halves, which works using created by Bob Radocy ,TRS (Boulder, CO).

ADH - anti diuretic hormone; hormone that controls the amount of water reabsorbed by the kidneys.

Aesthetic - relating to appearance

Agent orange - an impurity from the production of 2,4,5trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5 -T); also referred to as dioxin.

Alloy - a substance made of two or more metals or a metal and a nonmetal fused together

Amplified- made louder

Amputee - one that has had a limb amputated

Amputation - the process of cutting a limb from the body.

Antibiotics - substances produced by one kind of microorganism that stops the growth of another without harming the cells.

Arteries - blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood with the exception of pulmonary artery, which carries deoxygenated blood.

Arterioles - smaller arteries

Arteriosclerosis - the narrowing of the arteries due to thickening of the arterial wall caused by fat, fibrous tissue and salts being deposited on it

Astigmatism - distortion of vertically or horizontally

Atheromatous plaques - deposits of cholesterol, fibers and waste materials that form beneath the epithelium

Atrophy - the withering away of the muscles

Birth defects - also referred to as congenital abnormalities are physical or mental imperfections that occur in newly born babies.

Bacteria - a group of small organisms with only one cell

Biocompatible - compatible with living tissue by not causing injury or rejection

Blisters - an elevation of the skin containing liquid

Bronchial Carcinoma - a lung tumor

Buerger's disease - or thromboangitis obliterans is a condition where there is swelling of mainly the blood vessels (arteries and veins) and nerves in the legs causing pain in the affected area.

Cancer - a disease resulting from the uncontrollable division of cells in one or more parts of the body.

Capillaries - any of the smallest blood vessels forming networks throughout the body

Carbohydrates - compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

Cellophane - regenerated polysaccharide (C6H10O5)x of glucose in thin transparent sheets

Chemotherapy - treatment of disease by the use of drugs

Craftsmen - a worker who practices a trade

Cysts - a sac developing an abnormal structure

Cystic fibrosis - a disease caused by a gene mutation where the protein that makes up part of the mucus that lubricates the lungs is made incorrectly becoming thicker and a good area for bacteria growth

Debridement- the surgical removal of lacerated, devitalized, or contaminated tissue

Diabetes - a disease in which sugar and starch are not properly absorbed by the body as a result of a decrease in insulin or the hormone ADH.

Dialysis - the separation of substances in solution through membranes

Diffusion - the process whereby particles move from a region of higher to one of lower concentration

Dilation - becoming wide

Disarticulation - a disjoined state

Deoxygenated blood - the blood that does not contain oxygen normally bluish in color

Domesticated - adapted to be around humans

Down's syndrome - a condition caused when the gamete has an extra chromosome i.e.47 instead of the normal number 46

Dressing - cloth used to protect a wound

Electrical Current - the flow of electric charge

Electrochemical - dealing with the relation of electricity to chemical changes

Electrodes - a conductor used to establish electrical contact

Endothelium -a tissue lining the inside of blood vessels; veins, capillaries and arteries

Enzymes - complex proteins that are produced by living cells to help chemical reactions to occur

Epithelium - a layer of cells in the body lining the outer or inner surfaces of an organ

Esophagus - a muscular tube used to swallow food from the mouth to the stomach

Femur - the thigh bone

Fetus - the final stage in the development of the embryo

Fibroadenomas - a type of benign tumor; that of the breast

Fibrin - the insoluble form of fibrinogen; protein fiber that helps in clotting

Fluorocarbons - any chemical compound containing carbon and fluorine

Forequarter - the front half of a side half of the body

Friction - the rubbing together

Frostbite - refers to injury to body tissue due to freezing

Fungicides - a poisonous chemical that kills moulds and other fungi

Gangrene - the decay or death of a body tissue due to restricted blood flow

Genetic Deformities - instructions for the formation of a person

Glucagon - hormone that causes the liver to release glucose into the blood when the glucose level in the body drops below normal

Glucose -a simple sugar containing six carbon atoms arranged in a ring, twelve hydrogen atoms and six oxygen atoms, pointing out from and into the ring

Glycogen - a white tasteless polysaccharide (C6H10O5)x

Hemoglobin - functions in oxygen transport to the tissues

Hemophilia - an example of birth defects that is associated with inheritance. Hemophilia is a sex -linked disease where the blood does not clot due to absence of factor VII that assist in clotting

Hydroxyapatite - a complex phosphate of calcium Ca5(PO4)3OH

Hyperbaric - using greater than normal pressure

Hypermetropia - farsightedness when a person cannot see far away

Hypertension- abnormally high blood pressure

Immune system - a group of cells notably the white blood cells that provides a defense in the body against pathogens

Immunotherapy - treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response

Infections - are communicable diseases that can be passed from one individual to another. They are almost always caused by other living organisms, especially microorganisms.

Injury - harm to the body mostly as a result of accidents. Injuries could also occur due to disease or exposure to low temperatures.

Inflammation - when an area of the body becomes swollen and painful as a result of infection or wound due to the release of chemicals such as histamine and 5 -hydroxytrptamine

Insulin - a hormone secreted by the beta -cells in the islets of Langerhans in pancreas; causes the liver and muscles to take up glucose when blood glucose level rises above normal, lack of which causes diabetes

Islets of Langerhans - a group of cells found in the pancreas, containing the alpha and beta cells that produce glucagon and insulin respectively

Intramascular - administered by entering a muscle

Intravenous - within or entering by way of a vein

Lack of blood vessels - a condition that occurs as a result of blocked blood vessels due to swelling or narrowing

Laryngectomy - the removal of the larynx or voice box

Larynx - the voice box

Lite -Touch bio - - - prosthetic hand designed by TRS based on the ADEPT mechanism for ages three and above

Lubricated - made smooth to ease movement

Lumen - the space in the middle of blood vessels

Lyme disease -an infection transmitted by the bite of ticks carrying the spiral -shaped bacterium (spirochete) Borrelia burgdorferi

Malignant melanoma - skin cancer formed by the development of malignant tumors in the skin

Microorganisms - any organism that is too small to be seen with our naked eyes, including bacteria, fungi, virus and protists

Microprocessors - a computer processor on a circuit chip having a memory

Microsurgery - surgery using a microscope

Metacarpal - a bone of the part of the hand between the wrist and fingers

Molecule - the smallest particle of a substance

Monocytes - phagocytic white cells capable of amoeboid movement

Mutation - a change or alteration in a gene

Myelomas - tumor (malignant) of the bone marrow

Myocardial infarction - a disease where the heart stops beating as a result of the heart muscles being deprived of blood due to thickening of the arteriole walls caused by the deposit of atheromatus plaque

Myopia - near sightedness when a person cannot see far away

Necrotizing fasciitis - also referred to as Flesh eating disease is an infection of the tissue beneath the skin by bacteria

Neurofibromatosis - a genetic disease that may cause brain tumors and many other types of cancers

Neurons - nerves cells that detect the sense of touch

Nicotine - a poisonous substance found in tobacco, it is addictive

Ocular - relating to the eye

Olfactory - relating to the sense of smell

Oncogenes - disease causing genes

Ophthalmologist - a physician specializing in dealing with the structure, functions, and diseases of the eye

Oxygenated - combined with oxygen

Pacemaker - a body part that maintains a heart rhythm

Paralysis - the loss of motion or sensation to the body

Pathogen -a disease causing microorganism

Penicillin - an antibiotic obtained from mould fungi that inhibits the growth of bacteria

Persian - from what is now modern Iran

Perspiration - sweat

Phagocytosis - the process of engulfing microorganisms and the clearing of dead cells and debris by the phagocytes

Pharynx - the bony canal between the mouth and the throat

Placenta - the organ in the uterus which enables food, oxygen and waste products to pass between the embryo and its mother

Polio - poliomyelitis, an infectious disease causing temporary or permanent paralysis

Polyurethane - the polymers that contain NHCOO

Prodigits - the worlds first powered prosthetic hand; it has electronic fingers powered by signals from the wrist that let wearers perform simple tasks such as picking up objects

Protein - extremely complex substances that consist of amino acid

Pronation - movement of hand

Prosthesis - artificial body parts

Prosthetics - relating to prosthesis

Protein - extremely complex substances that consist of amino acid

Pulmonary hypertension - high blood pressure of the lungs usually greater than 25 mm Hg at rest or 30 mm Hg during physical activity

Radiation - energy radiated or transmitted as rays, waves or in the form of particles e.g x -rays, UV -rays, gamma rays etc.

Raynaud's disease - refers to a disorder in which the fingers or toes (digits) suddenly experience decreased blood circulation

Reattached - attached once more

Rehabilitated - to restore to former capacity

Respiration - the processes by which an organism supplies its cells with the oxygen and relieves them of carbon dioxide

Sclerodema - a skin disease

Secretion - the release of a bodily liquid

Skin Grafts - skin that is taken from the donor area to replace skin a defective area

Sterile - free from germs such as microorganisms

Syphilis - a chronic infectious disease caused by a spirochete

Teratogens - Any substance that causes physical imperfection of the developing embryo

Tissue - a group of cells similar in structure and function

Thrombus - a clot formed in blood vessels

Trauma - an injury to the tissue

Trachea - the tube in the throat used for respiration

Toxins - a poisonous substance produced by pathogens especially bacteria

Transducers - a device that is put in action by power from one system and supplies power in another form to a second system

Transmitter - an apparatus that transmits

Tumor - an unusual growth of cells in the body due to mutation

Umbilical Cord - a cord connected to the mother's navel to the fetus's placenta

Urea - nitrogenous compound CO(NH2)2 in urine

Veins - vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the capillaries toward the heart

Ventilation - the circulation of air

Vocational Services - services to help workers find jobs or careers