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Medical Terminology Glossary: [F]
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Facet, Medial A bony prominence on the vertebral arch which forms a joint with similar projection on the upper or lower aspect of an adjacent vertebra.

Facet A bony prominence on the vertebral arch which forms a joint with similar projection on the upper or lower aspect of an adjacent vertebra.

Facetectomy Surgical removal of a facet.

Fallopian Tube A paired hollow tube extending the cavity of the uterus to the region of the ovary, permitting the inflow of egg and outflow of sperm.

Falope Ring A device placed on the fallopian tube to block it, for purposes of sterilisation.

False Aneurysm A pulsating, circumscribed collection of blood in communication with the channel of an injured artery.

Fascia A sheet of fibrous tissue lying underneath the skin and surrounding and separating layers and groups of muscles.

Fascia Sheet of fibrous tissue enveloping the body under the skin, and enveloping and separating both individual, and groups of, muscles.

Fasciectomy Surgical removal of fibrous membrane which covers, supports and separates muscles.

Fasciitis Inflammation of fascia.

Fasciotomy, Four Compartment Surgical opening of fibrous sheaths surrounding the groups of muscles in the lower leg.

Fasciotomy Incision of fascia.

Fasciotomy Surgical opening of a fibrous sheath surrounding a muscle or group of muscles.

Fecolith Hard "stone" of bowel content causing blockage of the canal of the appendix, and thereby preventing free drainage of developing infection.

Feculent Containing, or smelling like, feces.

Femoral Artery(Common) The continuation of the paired external iliac artery below the inguinal ligament lying at or above the groin crease, the common femoral artery shortly divides into the profunda and superficial branches, carrying oxygen-rich blood to the muscles of the thigh and the remainder of the leg respectively.

Femoral Condyle, Medial The bony swelling on the inner aspect of the lower end of the thigh bone, which articulates with the upper end of the shin bone.

Femoral Vein The main vein of the thigh, draining oxygen-poor blood from the whole leg and returning it to the heart by way of the external iliac vein and inferior vena cava.

Femoral Head Ball-shaped upper end of the thigh bone which, with the socket (acetabulum) of the ilium of the bony pelvis, forms the hip-joint.

Femoral Nerve A major nerve originating in the groin and serving the muscles at the front of the thigh, and skin of the thigh and lower leg.

Femoral Head The almost spherical part of the upper hip bone which moves in the socket of the hip joint.

Femoral Neck The narrowed portion of the upper end of the thigh-bone between the hemispherical articulation with the pelvis and the main shaft.

Femoral Pulse An arterial pulse which can be felt in the groin.

Femoral Pertaining to the thigh(-bone).

Fetal Distress Pathological disturbances of fetal heart rate and rhythm resulting from acute or chronic oxygen lack.

Fetal Surveillance Intensified monitoring of fetal wellbeing, including Fetal Movement Counting, Non Stress Test, Obstetric Ultrasound particularly for estimation of amniotic fluid volume, Oxytocic Challenge Test and Continuous Fetal Monitoring.

Fetal Scalp pH (monitoring) Degree of acidity of blood sampled from a needle-prick of the scalp of the fetus, a means of detecting and measuring fetal asphyxia.

Fetal Movement Counting Enumerating episodes of subjective fetal movement and recording the total time within which an arbitrary number occured.

Fetus The unborn young, in humans after the eighth week of gestation.

Fiberoptic An optical system whereby light or an image is conveyed by a compact, coherent bundle of fine flexible glass or plastic fibers.

Fibrin A product of clotting of the blood.

Fibrinolytic Pertaining to, characterised by or causing the dissolution of fibrin by enzymatic action Origin: Gr. lysis = dissolution

Fibrinogen The dissolved, circulating chemical which is converted into strands of insoluble Fibrin as the last stage of the process of clotting of the blood.

Fibroadenoma A benign neoplasm containing fibrous tissue and connective tissue.

Fibroadipose Tissue having both scar and fatty components.

Fibrocystic Disease of Breast A benign breast condition that includes cysts that may be mistaken for carcinoma, and vice versa.

Fibroid or Fibromyoma Benign overgrowth of the muscle of the uterus, causing a swelling which encroaches on the cavity or the otherwise smooth outer surface of the uterus, or both.

Fibromyalgia A pain syndrome (not a disease) comprising chronic pain above and below the waist, left and right of the body, and associated with pain on prescribed pressure at a specific number of designated points on the body.

Fibrosis Pathological replacement by scar tissue.

Fibrous As a pathological description, consisting of scar tissue.

Fibrovascular Consisting of scar tissue and blood vessels.

Fibular Head Upper end of the outer bone of the lower leg, felt as a prominence of the outer part of the knee, just below the kneecap.

Fine Needle Aspiration or Biopsy Removal of tissue or suspension of cells by a narrow needle, for diagnostic purposes.

Fine Motor Small movements.

First Stage of Labour The period between the onset of regular, usually painful, contractions of the uterus and full dilatation of the cervix.

Fistula, Mucous Surgically-created opening of bowel not currently functioning, for the purpose of discharging naturally produced mucus.

Fistula, Fronto-Cranial Air A pathological connection between a frontal sinus and the cranial cavity containing the brain.

Fistula Abnormal connection between one hollow organ and either another or the surface of the skin (cutaneous).

Flaccid Floppy, pathologically reduced muscle tone.

Flatus Gas passed from the anus.

Flexion Bending forwards from the conventional anatomical position.

Fluid Retention Accumulation of pathologically increased amounts of fluid in body tissues.

Fluorescein A dye which selectively stains corneal ulcers and injury.

Fluoroscopy Radiographic imaging in real-time, that is, an enhanced image of internal structures displayed simultaneously on an electronic monitor.

Focal Localised.

Folic Acid A growth factor which cannot be produced in the human body, and which must therefore be provided in the diet.

Follicular, of Ovarian Cyst Consisting of aggregations of spherical cells which surround an ovum or egg.

Footling Breech Presentation Position of the fetus in which a foot or feet are the first body parts which would be delivered vaginally.

Foramen An anatomical hole in a bony or membranous structure.

Foraminotomy Surgical enlargement of a foramen.

Foreign Body-type Reaction Characteristic response of tissues to the presence of particulate foreign-material, as detected by microscopic examination.

Forensic Medicine The branch of medicine concerned with scientific investigation of the causes of injury and death in unexplained circumstances, particularly when criminal activity is suspected.

Fourchette Back of the introitus (entrance to the vagina) and vulva.

Fracture, Pathological Break in a bone at a point previously weakened by a disease process such as osteoporosis or cancer deposit.

Frontal Sinus One of a pair of air-filled cavities in the skull, located in the forehead.

Frontal, of Skull The forehead and front part of the top of the skull.

Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) A condition in which there is restricted movement of the shoulder joint and of the shoulderblade, and pain at rest, increased during movement; it results from conditions which cause prolonged immobilisation of the shoulder.

Frozen Section (Biopsy) Urgent histological examination of a biopsy undertaken during surgery, for determining the diagnosis and consequently the appropriate surgical procedure.

Full Dilatation Complete (10cm) opening of the cervix in preparation for the extrusion of the fetus.

Fulminant Rapid, intense and severe.

Fundal Height Distance in centimetres between the top of the uterus and the pubis.

Fundoplication Suturing of the fundus (upper part) of the stomach around the esophagus to prevent entry of stomach acid into the esophagus.

Fusion, Bony Rigid joining of two bones or bone fragments across a joint or fracture line.

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