ABSCESS: Circumscribed collection of pus, surrounded by a pyogenic membrane of

fibrin, with a poor vascular supply

ADHESION: fibrous connective tissue joining two normally separate surfaces or

structures. Usually refers to bowel, but can apply to joints, meninges, etc.

AGENESIS: failure of formation of a body part

ANEURYSM: abnormal dilatation of an artery
ASCITES: accumulation of fluid in peritoneal cavity
ATRESIA: failure of development of a body opening
BURN: coagulation necrosis of tissue
CARBUNCLE: subcutaneous septic necrosis with multiple sinuses, draining pus.

CIRRHOSIS: hardening, usually of liver, with nodular hyperplasia

CYST: epithelial lined sac containing fluid

DEGENERATION: degenerative changes of cells short of necrosis

DIVERTICULUM: pouch or pocket leading from a main cavity or tube

EMBOLUS: material carried from one part of the circulation to lodge at

another part. Can arise in arterial, venous or lymphatic vessels.

EMPYEMA: pus in an anatomical space, e.g., pleural cavity/gall bladder

FECALITH: small concretion of feces found particularly in the vermiform appendix.

FISTULA: abnormal granulating tract connecting two epithelial lined surfaces.

HAMARTOMA: overgrowth of mature tissue in which elements show disordered

arrangement and proportion

HERNIA: abnormal protrusion of part or all of an organ or tissue through a weakening of

the body cavity wall that normally contains it.

ICTERUS: Jaundice

INFARCTION: necrosis of tissue due to ischemia

INTUSSUSCEPTION: telescoping of one portion of the bowel into another.

JAUNDICE: yellow appearance of skin, mucosa and conjunctives, and all organs, due to
excess bilirubin in serum or organs

KELOID: overgrowth of fibrous scar tissue which tends to involve uninjured surrounding
skin, particularly after trauma to ear lobule or presternal area.
KYPHOSIS: hunchback; dorsal convexity of spine

METAPLASIA: replacement of one type of cell in tissue by another

NECROSIS: death of cells in an organ or tissue, caused by disease or ischemia

NEOPLASIA: process of new and abnormal growth or tumor formation

OBSTRUCTION: something that impedes or blocks flow

PAPILLARY: projecting from a surface

PARESIS: slight or partial paralysis (ie. focal limb weakness)

PERFORATION: the creation of a hole in an organ, tissue or tube. Refers to hollow

viscus or tympanic membrane.

POLYP: growth protruding from mucosal membrane that extends into a cavity

PUS: living and dead bacteria, leucocytes and tissue debris in a fluid consisting of
extracellular fluid and protein

PYEMIA: septicemia with pus in blood and secondary sites of suppuration

REGENERATION: renewal of lost tissue or parts

REPAIR: restoration of continuity after injury

SCAR: The fibrous tissue that replaces normal tissue destroyed by injury or disease

SINUS: granulating tract leading from a tissue cavity to an epithelial lined surface

STENOSIS: narrowing of a duct, canal or channel or a natural passage

THROMBUS: clot formed in a blood vessel during life

ULCER: lack of continuity of a surface epithelium on a mucous or cutaneous surface,

usually accompanied by inflammation

VARIX: focally dilated vein

VOLVULUS: intestinal obstruction due to twisting of bowel on its mesentery

WOUND HEALING: restoration of continuity after injury