Glossary of medical terms¶

Plain-language definitions for the clinical abbreviations and technical terms used across the knowledgebase — written for patients, advocates, and non-clinical readers, not just medical professionals.

What the glossary covers¶

The full alphabetized reference (Glossary of medical terms and abbreviations) defines terms grouped into three parts:

Abbreviations A–W — clinical acronyms used throughout the site, each with a plain-language definition and a linked source. Examples you will meet:
ABI — Ankle-Brachial Index, a blood-pressure ratio (ankle vs. arm) used to assess leg circulation; normal 0.9–1.3, below 0.4 indicates critical limb ischemia.
AFO — Ankle-Foot Orthosis, a brace from below the knee to the foot that controls ankle position during walking.
AVN — Avascular Necrosis, death of bone tissue from loss of blood supply; the talus is especially vulnerable in clubfoot.
HBOT — Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, pressurized oxygen to promote wound healing.
TCC — Total Contact Casting, the gold-standard off-loading treatment for plantar ulcers.
Evidence Levels (Oxford CEBM 2011) — what Level I–V mean and how they are used to grade the claims on this site.
Clinical Terms (non-abbreviation glossary) — plain-language definitions of conditions, procedures, and anatomy referenced in the domains.

How to use it¶

Browse the alphabetical list for any abbreviation you encounter on a clinical domain page, or read the evidence-level section to understand how each claim is graded. Terms are cross-linked from the domain pages that use them.

Open the full glossary →

Also see the treatment dictionary for reference entries on procedures, wound modalities, diagnostics, orthotics, and rehabilitation — a companion to this glossary.