GLOSSARY1–5
Abduction
The movement of limbs or a body part away from the midline or axis of the body.
Adduction
The movement of limbs or a body part towards the midline or axis of the body.
Atrophy
The wasting away or reduction in size of a body part or tissue.
Basal Ganglia
A group of neurons located at the base of the brain that is responsible for body movement and coordination.
Becker's dystrophy (Becker muscular dystrophy or BMD)
An inherited degenerative muscle disorder that mainly affects skeletal muscles – those used for movement and heart muscle. It occurs later in life, progresses slowly and almost exclusively occurs in males.
Brachioradialis
The muscle on the radial (thumb) side of the forearm that functions to flex the forearm.
Cataracts
A cloudiness or opacity of the eye lens that blocks light, causing decreased vision and may eventually lead to blindness.
Corticospinal tract
A tract of nerve cells that start in the cerebral cortex and run through the spinal cord, carrying motor commands from the brain to the spinal cord.
Cranial nerves
Nerves that start from the lower surface of the brain.
Diplopia
A vision disorder where two images of a single object are seen, also known as double vision.
Distal
Farthest from or away from the centre of the body or a point of reference.
Flexion
The act of bending or flexing.
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSH)
An inherited muscle disorder that causes muscle fibres to progressively breakdown, which results in atrophy and weakness of the muscle.
Fundi (plural of fundus)
The bottom or base of anything, such as an organ, or the part of the hollow organ farthest from its opening.
Gait
The manner of walking.
Hypotonia
Having hypotonic muscle tone (abnormally lowered tone or tension).
Jendrassik maneuver
A method of emphasizing the kneecap reflex.
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
An inherited group of disorders that causes weakness and atrophy in the arm and leg muscle.
Mitochondrial disease
A variety of diseases characterized by defects of the mitochondria (organelles) caused by inherited or acquired mutations in mitochondrial or nuclear DNA.
Muscle enzymes
Proteins in the muscles that trigger and regulate chemical reactions.
Muscular dystrophy
A group of inherited disorders characterized by the gradual decrease of muscle strength and bulk.
Myasthenia gravis
An autoimmune disorder that causes weakness and irregularly fast fatigue of voluntary muscles.
Myopathy
A disease of the muscle tissue or muscles.
Myotonia congenita
An inherited condition present from birth that affects muscle relaxation.
Myotonic dystrophy
An autosomal dominant disorder caused by an error in genes on chromosomes 19 or 3. It is the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy.
Neuropathy
Damage, disease, or dysfunction in one or more nerves of the peripheral nervous system.
Ophthalmology
The branch of health science dealing with the eye, including its anatomy, physiology, pathology, and other aspects.
Ophthalmoparesis
Ophthalmoparesis or ophthalmoplegia refers to weakness (paresis) or paralysis (plegia) of one or more extraocular muscles which are responsible for eye movements.
Ophthalmoscope
An instrument for examining the interior structures of the eye, especially the retina, consisting essentially of a mirrorthat reflects light into the eye and a central hole through which the eye is examined.
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD)
An inherited form of muscular dystrophy that occurs in adulthood. It affects French Canadian and Jewish populations more frequently.
Optic atrophy
Degeneration of the optic nerve.
Optic nerve
The second cranial nerve. Purely sensory, concerned with carrying impulses for the sense of sight.
Otoscope
An instrument used for visual examination of the tympanic membrane and the ear canal.
Peripheral neuropathy
A disease or degenerative state of the nerves outside of the brain and spinal Cord — peripheral nerves — in which motor, sensory, or vasomotor nerve fibers may be affected and which is marked by muscle weakness and atrophy, pain, and numbness.
Pompe disease
A rare, inherited neuromuscular disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue. It occurs between infancy and adulthood, and equally affects both men and women.
Proprioception
A sense or perception of the movements and position of the body.
Proximal
Nearest or closest to the centre of the body or a point of reference.
Ptosis
Sagging or drooping of an upper eyelid.
Retinitis pigmentosa
A group of inherited degenerative diseases of the eye that progressively lead to blindness due to abnormalities of the photoreceptors in the retina.
Scapula / Scapular winging
Condition wherein the medial border of the scapula protrudes away from the thorax; the protrusion is posterior and lateral, as the scapula rotates out.