A
Abduction
Motion of a body part away from the mid-line of the body.

Abrasion
Wearing away of the skin through rubbing or friction.

Acquired Amputation
Limbs surgically removed due to a disease or trauma generally diabetic/vascular, cancer, bone infection, non-union of fractures, or accidents.

Adherent Scar Tissue
Scar tissue formed in the healing process which sticks to underlying tissue such as muscle or fascia or bone.

Alignment
Position of prosthetic socket in relation to foot and knee.

Amputation
Loss or absence of all or part of a limb.

Anterior
Front, as front portion of a shoe or foot.

B
Bilateral amputee
A person missing either both arms or both legs, a double amputee.

Biomechanics
Applying mechanical principles to the study of how the human body moves.

Body Image
The awareness and perception of one’s own body related to both appearance and function.

C
Check or Test Socket
A temporary socket, often transparent, made over the plaster model to aid in obtaining proper fit and function of the prosthesis.

Contracture
Tightening of muscles around a joint which restricts the range of motion.

Cosmesis
Used to describe the outer, aesthetic covering of prosthesis. Refers to the appearance of the prosthesis, whether a "naturalistic" treatment is attempted.

Custom Fit
Fitting and individual with an item/device made from and image of the individual’s anatomy fabricated according to the needs of that individual.

D
Definitive, or "Permanent" Prosthesis
A replacement for a missing limb or part of a limb which meets accepted check-out standards for comfort, fit, alignment, function, appearance, and durability.

Disarticulation
An amputation through a joint: commonly the hip, shoulder, knee, ankle, elbow, or wrist.

Donning and doffing
Putting on and taking off prosthesis respectively.
Dorsiflexion: pointing the toe/foot upward, toward the body.

Durometer
Different 'density' or strength and in the context means it will allow the ankle to move, bend, flex more or less.

E
Early Prosthetic Fitting
A procedure in which a preparatory prosthesis is provided for the amputee immediately after removal of the sutures. (See IPOP)

Edema
A local or generalized condition in which the body tissues contain an excess of fluid.

Elastic Wrap
Elasticized bandage used to prevent swelling and encourage shrinkage and maturation of the residual limb.

Endoskeletal Prosthesis
P prosthesis built more like a human skeleton with support and components on the inside. This design may have a soft cosmetic cover on the outside.

Energy Storing Foot
A prosthetic foot designed with a flexible heel. It is designed with a spring that stores energy when weight is applied to it and releases energy when the amputee transfers weight to the other foot.

Exoskeletal Prosthesis
A prosthesis that is hollow on the inside with a hard outer surface to bear weight.

Extension Assist
A method of assisting the prosthetic to "kick forward" on the swing through phase to help speed up the walking cycle.

F
Forequarter Amputation (Interscapulthorasic)
Amputation of the Arm, shoulder, clavicle and scapula.

Functional
Designed with the primary goal of controlling and individuals anatomical function, such as providing support or stability, or assisting ambulation.

G
Gait Training
Learning how to walk with your prosthesis or prostheses.

I
Ischial Containment Socket
is a derivative of the Narrow ML, as a special attempt is made to form a little pocket for the ischium to sit in.

Ischial Tuberosity
The large sitting bone. A bone that protrudes from your pelvis that may get sore when sitting on a hard surface for extended periods of time. An Ischial Containment (IC) socket cups this bone on the inside and back as well as the bottom to accomplish two things: 1) By cupping, or containing this bone inside the socket, the socket tends not to shift laterally (outside) when weight is put on it, making walking more efficient.

Ischium
The lower portion of the hipbone. This is the bone that protrudes from your pelvis that may get sore when sitting on a hard surface for extended periods of time.

K
Kinesiology
The study of human motion.

L
Lateral
to the side, away from the mid-line of the body.

Liner
Suspension systems used to attach prosthesis to the residual limb and/or provide additional, comfort and protection of the residual limb. These liners may be made of silicon, pelite or gel substances.

M
Medial
toward the mid-line of the body.

Modular Prosthesis
An artificial limb assembled from components, or modules usually of the endoskeletal type where the supporting member, or pylon and may have a cosmetic covering (See "Cosmesis") shaped and finished to resemble the natural limb.

Multiaxis Foot
Allows inversion and eversion and rotation of foot and is effective for walking on uneven surfaces.

Myoelectrics
Literally muscle electronics. This is a technology used in upper-extremity prosthetic; to control the prosthesis via muscle contraction using electrical signals from the muscles to power the prosthesis.

N
Neuroma
The end of a nerve left after amputation, which continues to grow in a cauliflower shape. Neuromas can be troublesome, especially when they are in places where they are subject to pressure from the prosthesis socket.

Normal Shape/Normal Alignment (NSNA) - also know as a narrow ML socket
First described by Ivan Long, this socket more closely approximates the shape of the musculature of a residual limb, when compared to a quad socket. The sides or medial/lateral measurement is tightened down to squeeze the residual limb, with most of the squeezing taking place on the outside or lateral side. This helps control the rotation of the socket by putting pressure along the fleshy area of the leg that can handle some side to side pressure.
Nylon sheath: A sock interface worn close to the skin on the residual limb to add comfort and wick away perspiration.

O
Occupational Therapy/OT
Teaching how to perform activities of daily living such as feeding, grooming, bathing and dressing as independently as possible.

Orthotics
T he profession of providing devices to support and straighten the body.

Orthotist
A skilled professional who fabricates orthotic devices that are prescribed by a physician.

Orthosis
A device that is used to protect, support, or improve function of parts of the body that move. Singular for a supportive device. Orthoses is plural.

P
Partial Foot Amputation
An amputation on the front part of the foot; also called "Choppart Amputation"

PFFD (Proximal femoral focal deficiency)
A Congenital anomaly where the proximal femur is lacking in completeness.

Phantom Pain
Pain, which seems to originate in the portion of the limb, which was removed.

Phantom Sensation
The normal ghost image of the absent limb may feel normal at times and at other times, be uncomfortable or painful.

Pistoning
Refers to the residual limb slipping up and down inside the Prosthetic socket while walking.

Plantar
Bottom of the foot.

Plantarflexed/Plantarflexion
Means the toe is pointing down, toward the sole. Almost like pushing the gas pedal down and simulating that position or alignment.

Ply
T hickness of stump sock material. The higher the ply number the thicker the sock.

Pneumatic/Hydraulic
Used in reference to knee joints and provides controlled changes in the speed of walking.

Prehension
To hold, grasp or pinch.

Preparatory Prosthesis
An unfinished functional replacement for an amputated limb, fitted and aligned in accordance with sound biomechanical principles and worn for a limited period of time to accelerate the rehabilitation process.

Prostheses
More than one prosthesis.

Prosthesis
An artificial part of the body. In the case of amputees, usually an arm or a leg.

Prosthetics
The profession of providing cosmetic and/or functional restoration of missing human parts.
Prosthetist: A person involved in the science and art of prosthetics; one who designs and fits artificial limbs.

Proximal
Nearer to the central portion of the body; opposite of distal.

Posterior
The back side of the body or part in question, i.e. posterior knee or patellar region.

PTB
Patellar Tendon Bearing BK Prosthesis where weight is on the tendon below the kneecap.

Pylon
A rigid member, usually tubular, between the socket or knee unit and the foot that provides a weight bearing support shaft for an endoskeletal prosthesis.

Q
Quad Socket
A socket designed for an above the knee amputee which has four distinctive sides allowing the muscles to function as much as possible.

R
Ramus
The middle portion of the pubic bone, in the crotch area. The front middle portion of the pubic bone, palpated just above the genitals.

Range of Motion
The amount of movement a limb has in a specific direction at a specific joint such as your hip or knee.

Rehabilitation
The process of restoring a person who has been debilitated by a disease or injury to a functional life.

Revision
Surgical modification of the residual limb.

Residual Limb
The portion of the arm or leg remaining after the amputation. Some people refer to it as a "stump".

Rigid Dressing
A plaster wrap over the stump, usually applied in the operating or recovery room immediately following surgery, for the purpose of controlling edema (swelling) and pain. It is preferable, but not necessary, that the rigid dressing be shaped in accordance with the basic biomechanical principles of socket design.

S
SACH Foot (Solid-Ankle Cushion Heel)
Foot used since the Civil War.

Shock Pylon
A prosthetic pylon that dampens the vertical forces exerted on the residual limb.

Shrinker
A prosthetic reducer made of elastic material and designed to help control swelling of the residual limb (edema) and/or shrink it in preparation for a prosthetic fitting.

Single Axis Foot
Used since the Civil War, this foot is based on an ankle hinge that provides dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. I.e. toe up & toe down.

Shock Pylon
A shock absorber used to cushion the impact of walking.

Shuttle Lock
A mechanism that locks a pin attached to the distal end of a liner locking the residual limb into a socket.

Soft socket
A soft-liner built into a prosthetic socket to provide cushioning or permit muscle function.

Split Hooks
Terminal devices with two hook-shaped fingers operated through the action of harness and cable systems.

Stance Control
Friction device with an adjustable brake mechanism to add stability to a prosthetic knee unit.

Stump
A word commonly used to refer to the residual limb.

Suction Socket
A socket designed to provide suspension by means of negative pressure vacuum in a socket; achieved by forcing air out of the socket through a one-way valve when donning and using the prosthesis.

Supercondular Suspension
A method of holding on prosthesis by clamping on the bony prominence above a joint, called “Condyles”

Suspension system(s)
The method used to hold the prosthesis on to the body. Includes locking pin, TES belt, suspension sleeve, waist belt, supercondular, PTB and suction.

Swing Phase
Prosthesis moving from full flexion to full extension. Usually used in reference to prosthetic knee units.

Switch Control
Use of electric switches to control current from a battery to operate an electric elbow, wrist rotator or terminal device.

Symes Amputation
An amputation through the ankle joint that retains the fatty heel pad portion and is intended to provide end weight bearing.

T
Temporary Prosthesis
A prosthesis made soon after an amputation as an inexpensive way to help retrain a person to walk and balance while shrinking the residual limb.

TEC: Total Environmental Control liner
Terminal Devices
Devices attached to the wrist unit of an upper extremity prosthesis that provides some aspect of the function (grasp, release, cosmesis, etc.).

TES Belt
A neoprene or Lycra suspension system for AK prostheses that has a ring that the prosthesis slides into. There is a neoprene belt that attaches around your waist by Velcro/hook and loop fastener. Is use to give added suspension of a prosthesis and/or control rotation.

Therapeutic Recreation
Provides instruction in returning to leisure activities.

Transtarsal Amputation
Through the tarsal (tarsus) or foot bones. (SEE "PARTIAL FOOT AMPUTATION")

Traumatic Amputation
An amputation that is the result of an injury.

Transfers
Moving from one position to another (such as from sitting on a bed to sitting in a wheelchair).

Therapeutic Custom Shoe
A shoe designed and fabricated to address an individual’s medical condition. A therapeutic custom shoe is made over a modified positive model of an individual’s foot and can be either custom-molded or custom-made.

V
Voluntary-closing Devices
Terminal devices that are closed by forces on a control cable; grasp is proportional to the amount of pull on the cable.

Voluntary-opening Devices
Terminal devices that are opened by body motion and closed by elastic bands or springs.