Podiatry Terms Flashcards
Definitions of podiatry terms
Tinea pedis
Athlete’s foot
A fungal infection on the skin of the feet.
Benign neoplasm
A non-cancerous tumor, or growth of a tissue
Blister
Fluid-filled skin lesion caused by friction or rubbing of skin.
Bone spur
Arthritic bony changes that increases bone mass.
hallux valgus
Bunion
An enlargement of the large toe joint often associated with pain. Also known as hallux valgus.
Bunionette
Lateral “bump” on the 5th metatarsal bone at base of 5th toe. Also known as a Tailor’s bunion.
Bursitis
Painful inflammation of bursae (sac subject to friction)
Calcaneus
Heel bone
Calluses
A diffuse thickening of the outer layer of skin usually found on the bottom of the foot, caused by sheering pressures.
Hyperkeratosis
A diffuse thickening of the outer layer of skin usually found on the bottom of the foot, caused by sheering pressures.
Capsulitis
Inflammation of the soft tissue surrounding a joint.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection involving the skin, which can be red, hot, and swollen.
Charcot Foot
This condition, most often occurs as a complication of long-term diabetes, is a progressive degenerative condition that affects the foot. It is characterized by nerve damage in the foot along with severely weakened foot bones that can lead to debilitating foot deformity
Clawtoe
A deformity that typically affects one or more of the small toes characterized by bending at the two toe joints, which give the appearance of a claw or talon
Contracted toe
Description of a bent toe caused by the excessive pulling (contraction) of tendons.
hyperkeratosis
Corns
A pinpoint thickening of the outer layer of skin caused by friction that is usually found on the tops of toes or directly beneath a bone.
Cyst
Soft tissue mass
Diabetes
Systemic condition associated with elevated blood sugar levels
Diabetic neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy
Nerve damage that occurs as a complication of diabetes where patients experience abnormal nerve sensation (usually diminished sensation of touch, temperature and pain).
Diabetic ulcer
A major complication of diabetes characterized by a hole in the skin that can be a portal for infection
Dislocation
Describes a misaligned joint between two or more bones that is usually caused by trauma or arthritis
Drop foot
A condition characterized by the forefoot weakness or paralysis that is caused by neuromuscular disorders that prevent a person from lifting their forefoot when they walk.
Edema
Swelling
Equinus deformity
A condition characterized by limited upward bending of the ankle joint and ankle rigidity.
Ecostosis
Bone spur
Fibroma
A benign fibrous tumor of connective tissue.
Ganglion
Gel or fluid filled tissue mass usually attached to a tendon or tendon sheath.
Gangrene
Death of body tissue due to loss of blood supply.
Gout
A form of inflammatory arthritis caused by elevated blood uric acid levels causing joints to appear red, hot and swollen without trauma or infection (big toe joint most commonly affected)
Granuloma
An inflammed soft tissue mass composed of granulation tissue, typically produced in response to infection, inflammation, or in the presence of a foreign substance.
Haglund’s deformity
Bony spur on back of the heel bone
Hallux rigidus
Also known as hallux limitus, this form of degenerative arthritis affects the big toe joint causing pain and stiffness and rigidity in the big toe
Hallux valgus
Medical term for bunion
Hammertoe
Arthritic toe deformity where the toe joint furthest from the end of the toe is contracted, often causing pain, inflammation, open sores and corns.
Hematoma
A collection of clotted blood beneath skin or nails (blood blister)
Hyperhidrosis
Skin condition caused by excessive sweating.
Intermittent claudication
A clinical description of muscle pain and fatigue which occurs after walking for short periods of time. The symptoms require a short period of rest., and are due to peripheral arterial disease that causes arterial insufficiency.
Metatarsal
Long bones (5) of the foot just behind the toes.
Metatarsalgia
A condition caused by irritation of the ball of the foot which results in sharp pain, numbness or tingling sensations
Neuritis
Neuritis is an inflammation of a peripheral nerve or nerves, usually causing pain and numbness.
Neuroma
An enlargement and thickening of nerve tissue commonly affecting the nerves between the toes (third and fourth toes most commonly), that leads to pain, tingling, burning and numbness between the toes
Neuropathy
Disease or dysfunction of one or more peripheral nerves, typically causing numbness or weakness
Onychia
Infection of the skin surrounding an ingrown toenail.
Onychomycosis
Medical term for a fungal infection of nails.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis
The “wear-and-tear” type of arthritis that causes the degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone resulting in joint pain and stiffness.
Osteochondrosis Dessicans
A joint condition where a piece of cartilage, and a thin layer of the bone beneath it comes loose from the end of a bone.
Osteomyelitis
An infection of the bone cells or the bone marrow that can lead to death of the bone tissue.
Paronychia
Infection in the skin at the base or side of a nail caused by an ingrown toenail.
Peripheral neuropathy
Damage of the body’s smaller nerves that branch off of bigger nerve trunks.
Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
Systemic circulatory problem where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the extremities, causing pain and delayed healing
Pes Cavus foot
High-arched foot type
Pes Planus foot
Flat foot type
Plantar fasciitis
Inflammation of the “arch muscle” or plantar fascia that is characterized by pain on the bottom of the heel (the origin of the fascia) and along the long arch of the foot.
Plantarflexed metatarsal
Foot deformity where the head of one of the long bones in the forefoot (metatarsal) is lower then the other four metatarsals, causing pain and inflamation.
Porokeratosis
A lesion caused by a clogged sweat gland.
Pressure ulcer
Skin breakdown caused by continuous pressure on weight bearing body part.
Psoriasis
An autoimmune disease that causes a skin rash marked by red, itchy, scaly patches and thick, and discolored toenails
Psoriatic nails
Thick, discolored toenails found on patients who have psoriasis that are not caused by a fungal infection
Psoriatic nails
Thick, discolored toenails found on patients who have psoriasis that are not caused by a fungal infection.
Raynaud’s phenomenon
A disease characterized by pain, numbness and pallor (pale colored skin) of the extremities (mostly fingers and toes) triggered by cold sensitivity.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Autoimmune arthritic condition characterized by misshapen or discolored toes and fingers.
Scars
A thick mark left on the skin or within body tissue where a wound, burn where fibrous connective tissue has developed.
Septic joint
Infected space between two bones
Sesamoiditis
Inflammation of one or two of the small bones located under the joint between the big toe and the first long bone (metatarsal)
Severe’s disease
Heel pain caused to inflammation of the growth plate of the heel bone (Calcaneus) in adolescent children
Subluxation
A partial dislocation resulting in the misalignment of a joint
Tarsal coalition
A condition in which 2 or more bones in the midfoot or hindfoot (rearfoot) are joined/fused.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Pain, numbness and tingling on the sole of the foot resulting from compression of the posterior tibial nerve or of the
Tendon rupture
Torn tendon
Tendonitis
Inflammation of a tendon
Tenosynovitis
Inflammation of a tendon and the sheath around tendon.
Turf toe
A sprain (sports injury) found at the base of the big toe caused by a hyperextension of the first metatarso-phalangeal joint.
Urticaria
Itchy rash
Varicose veins
Enlarged veins associated with the loss of elasticity of the veins
Venous insufficiency
Failure of the veins to adequately return blood to the heart, especially from the lower extremities.
Verruca
Wart
Wound
An injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impact, typically one in which the skin is cut or broken
Wound dehiscence
A surgical complication in which a wound ruptures (splits open) along a surgical site.
Xerosis
Dry, cracked skin
Beau’s lines
Transverse ridges are usually transient and due to a temporary disturbance of nail growth - eg, severe illness, trauma or infection.
Pitted nails
Causes include alopecia areata, psoriasis and eczema.
Clubbing
An increase in the soft tissue of the distal part of the fingers or toes; common causes offinger clubbinginclude:
Cyanotic congenital heart disease, infective endocarditis.
Lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, empyema, lung abscess.
Koilonychia
Dystrophy of the fingernails in which they are thinned and concave with raised edges (spoon-shaped nails).
May be due to iron deficiency or to trauma.
Nail-patella syndrome
A congenital nail disorder, autosomal dominant inheritance.
The patellae and some of the nails are rudimentary or absent.
Leukonychia (white nail)
This may be congenital or due to minor trauma, hypoalbuminaemia in chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, Beau’s lines (as above, which may be white), fungal infection or lymphoma.
Onycholysis
The nail becomes detached from its bed at the base and side, creating a space under the nail that accumulates dirt. Air under the nail may cause a grey-white colour but can vary from yellow to brown.
Splinter haemorrhages
Splinter haemorrhages are linear haemorrhages lying parallel to the long axis of fingernails or toenails.
Melanoma
Melanoma of the nail unit accounts for around 1% of melanoma in white-skinned people. It is not thought to be due to sun exposure. It is most common between the ages of 40 and 70 years.
Paronychia
Paronychia (also known as whitlow) describes localised inflammation of the tissue around a nail. There may be accumulation of pus between the skin and the nail matrix. The area may become swollen, red and tender. If it lasts longer than six weeks, it is termed chronic paronychia
Onycholysis
Nail lifting up
If a nail starts to lift up so that it’s no longer completely attached, you’ll likely see white discoloration, as shown here. When a nail lifts up, the cause is often:
A fungal infection
Psoriasis
Injury from an aggressive
