Medical Glossary - Letter H¶

This medical glossary of terms beginning with the letter "H" contains the more common medical terms one might expect to encounter in a medical report or in hospital notes. The glossary is intended as a quick reference only; many of the terms are also referenced and illustrated in more detail in the medical libraries, to which you should refer for more detailed information.

Haemarthrosis¶

A collection of blood within a joint cavity

Hematoma¶

A localized collection of blood

Hemodialysis¶

Hemodialysis is a mechanical method of detoxifying the blood using an artificial kidney to purify the blood. It is used in cases of acute and chronic kidney disease or trauma

Hemorrhage¶

Profuse bleeding

Hemostasis¶

To arrest or stop bleeding

Halitosis¶

Bad breath

Hallux¶

The big toe

Hallux Malleus¶

Hammertoe, a deformity of a toe at the proximal interphalangeal joint

Hallux Valgus¶

A deformity of the big toe seen as the big toe being bent towards the adjacent toes

Hallux Varus¶

A deformity of the big toe seen as the big toe being bent away from the adjacent toes

Halo Traction¶

Traction involving the use of a metal ring with adjustable screws which is attached to the cranium used in the treatment of neck fractures or dislocations

Hamate Bone¶

One of the bones of the wrist, a carpal bone, it is the smallest of the distal carpal bones with a hook-like prominence on its palmar surface. This hook of the hamate is firmly attached to multiple ligaments. It has connections with the capitate and lunate

Hamstring¶

Tendons at the back of the knee. Refers to the one or all of the tendons of the biceps femoris muscle, semitendinosus muscle and semimembranosus muscle

Hard Palate¶

The hard bony part of the roof of the mouth, the front part of the roof of the mouth towards the upper teeth

Harrington Rod¶

An internal fixation device inserted into the spine. It may be used in cases of unstable fractures or to correct spinal deformities

Head Halter¶

A device used for cervical traction. It comprises a series of straps, one to go under the chin and the other to go around the back of the head

Hematuria¶

Blood in the urine

Hemicolectomy¶

Hemicolectomy, or colectomy is the surgical removal of half of the colon (part of the large intestine)

Hemilaminectomy¶

Removal of portion of a lamina of a vertebra

Hemipelvectomy¶

The amputation of the entire leg along with half of the pelvis on the same side

Hemiplegia¶

Paralysis affecting one side of the body

Hemothorax¶

Blood in the pleural space i.e., between the lungs and the chest wall

Heparin¶

An anticoagulant, a blood-thinning agent, used to prevent or reduce the risk of arterial embolism (blood clotting)

Hepatic¶

Relating to the liver

Hepatic Artery¶

An abdominal artery supplying blood to the stomach, small intestine and liver

Hepatic Duct¶

A duct (canal) that transports bile from the liver to the small intestine

Hernia¶

An abnormal protrusion of an organ or tissue through a surrounding wall, occurring most frequently in the abdominal and groin regions

Herniated Disc¶

A protrusion of the nucleus pulposus from an intervertebral disc

Heterogenous¶

From a different species. The term generally applies to a skin graft

Heterograft¶

A graft taken from another species. The term generally applies to a skin graft

Hiatus Hernia¶

A hernia through the diaphragm, the muscular partition between the chest and the abdomen. The herniated tissue is usually from the stomach

High Velocity Manipulation¶

A type of osteopathic manipulation

Hind foot¶

The back part of the foot formed by the calcaneus and talus bones

Hip¶

The articulation between the acetabulum, a depression in the pelvis and the head of the femur, the thigh bone

Hippocampus¶

A protrusion from the floor of a chamber of the brain

Histrionic¶

Describes an individual who tends to be dramatic and who uses exaggerated gestures

Homograft¶

A skin graft where the tissue is taken from a donor of the same species. Also known as an allograft

Humeroradial¶

Relating to the humerus and the radius, the elbow area where the distal humerus articulates with the radius

Humeroscapula¶

Relating to the humerus and the scapula, the shoulder area where the proximal end of the humerus articulates with the scapula

Humeroulnar¶

Relating to the humerus and the ulna bone, the elbow area where the ulna articulates with the distal portion of the humerus

Humerus¶

The bone of the upper arm. It comprises a proximal end, a shaft and a distal end. The proximal end of the humerus is made up of a head, which is ball shaped and which is surrounded by a slightly indented groove referred to as the anatomical neck. Below the anatomical neck are two bony protuberances called the greater tubercule and lesser tubercule. The growth centers (epiphysis) are located in the tubercules (and also the head). A tapered upper end of the shaft where it meets the head is referred to as the surgical neck. The shaft is round in shape and is the attachment point for major muscles including the deltoid, biceps brachii and brachialis anticus muscles and triceps brachii muscles. The distal humerus ends in two rounded eminences called condyles, which receive the head of the radius and the upper end of the ulna. The condyle that connects with the radius is called the capitulum. The condyle that connects with the ulna is named the trochlea. On either side of the capitulum and trochlea are two projections called epicondyles (medial and lateral). The medial epicondyle protects the ulna nerve as it courses down the arm. Two depressions above the trochlea and capitulum called the coronoid fossa and olecranon fossa receive parts of the ulna during forearm movement

Hydrarthrosis¶

A collection of fluid within a joint

Hydrocele¶

An abnormal collection of fluid in the scrotum

Hydrocephalus¶

An abnormal increase of cerebrospinal fluid in or around the brain

Hyoid Bone¶

A small bone in the neck, which serves as an attachment point for muscles and to support the tongue

Hyperbaric Oxygen¶

Oxygen being given under pressure greater than normal atmospheric pressure, it is usually given in a hyperbaric chamber, a form of treatment for decompression sickness

Hyperextension¶

Over extension of a limb, or body part, the term is often used to describe the mechanics of a soft tissue neck injury (whiplash) suffered in a motor vehicle accident

Hyperglycemia¶

Excessive sugar in the blood as seen in diabetes, high blood sugar

Hyperopia¶

Far sightedness

Hypertrophy¶

An abnormal enlargement of a body part or organ

Hyperventilation¶

Abnormal rapid and deep breathing causing faintness, tightness in the chest, palpitations and other abnormal symptoms

Hypervolemia¶

Describes a condition in which there is an excessive amount of blood in the body

Hypodermis¶

The deepest layer of the skin, the hypodermis or subcutaneous layer binds the dermis to underlying organs and structures. This layer is comprised mainly of loose fibrous connective tissue interlaced with blood vessels

Hypogastric Artery¶

This is an artery of the pelvis and is a branch of the common iliac artery. It supplies blood to the pelvic organs, buttock, genitalia and anus

Hypogastric Region of Abdomen¶

A region of the abdomen. The hypogastric region contains the bladder, some of the small intestine and the sigmoid colon. It describes the location of the lower center one third of the abdomen

Hypoglycemia¶

Hypoglycemia is a condition in which the amount of sugar in the bloodstream is below normal. It can result due to an excess of insulin, infection, irregular eating and exercise. Trauma can induce a hypoglycemic episode. Treatment is the administration of glucose

Hypothalamus¶

The hypothalamus is a small portion of the diencephalon (part of the brain situated between and below the cerebral hemispheres and above the medulla oblongata and the cerebellum). It is connected with the pituitary gland that hangs below it in the sella turcica (cavity in the base of the skull) by means of a narrow stalk called the infundibulum. The hypothalamus has many vital functions. It activates and controls the autonomic nervous system. It regulates body temperature, body fluid balance, sleep, perspiration, sexual activity and the development of secondary sex characteristics and emotional control. It has also been shown to be involved in the regulation of food intake

Hypothenar¶

Refers to part of the hand, the fleshy part of the palm on the same side as the little finger

Hypoxemia¶

Insufficient oxygen in the blood