Tuesday, May 22, 2007

A useful Glossary Related to CTS

Glossary of Terms

Median Nerve
a major nerve to the hand that controls the thumb, index and middle fingers
Carpal Tunnel
a passage in the wrist through which the median nerve and tendons travel to the hand, much of it located at the base of the palm
Transverse Carpal Ligament
a tough but elastic structure which holds the bones of the Carpal Tunnel together, often surgically cut to relieve pressure on the median nerve
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI), Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD), Repetitive Motion Syndrome (RMS), Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS)
synonymous terms for disorders caused by prolonged, repetitious tasks
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
pressure (or compression) on the median nerve that may cause pain, numbness, weakness, etc.
Tendonitis
inflammation of a tendon, the structures that link muscles to bones
Tenosynovitis
inflammation of a tendon's sheath which causes it to swell and may also retard proper lubrication of the tendon inducing more injury
Carpal Canal
sometimes used interchangeably with Carpal Tunnel
Ulnar Nerve
another main nerve to the hand which controls the last two fingers, it passes outside the carpal tunnel but can be affected by tennis elbow or displacement

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