Medical Glossary

Papilledema

Swelling of the optic nerve at the point of entrance into the eyeball. Choked disk.

Paraparesis

Partial paralysis affecting the lower limbs.

Paraspinous muscles

Muscles on either side of the spine.

Paresthesia

Abnormal sensation such as numbness, prickling, and tingling.

Paucity

Smallness or lower in number.

Peritoneum

The membrane covering the visceral organs and lining the abdominal cavity.

Permeable

Capable of allowing passage of fluid or substances in solution.

Pia Mater

The inner membrane of the meninges that encloses the brain and spinal cord.

Platybasia

A developmental anomaly of the skull or an acquired softening of the skull bones so that the floor of the posterior cranial fossa bulges upward in the region adjacent to the foramen magnum.

Pleural

The membranes around the lungs.

Pleural Space

Space between the lungs and the membranes that surrounds the lungs.

Polygyria

Excess of the normal number of convolutions of the brain.

Posterior

Toward the back of the body.

Posterior Fossa

Depression in the back of the skull where the cerebellum lies.

Posterior Fossa Angiogram

A study of the blood vessel structures of the back of the brain cerebrum.

Prone

Lying horizontal with face down.

Proprioception

The awareness of posture, movement, and changes in equilibrium and the knowledge of position, weight, and resistance of an object in relation to the body.

Proximal

Closer to the midline or origin; opposite of distal.

Ptosis

When one or both upper eyelids droop because of weakness often related to the third cranial nerve.
Please note that whilst we aim to respond promptly, we are not an emergency service. If you have a life threatening emergency, we advise you to dial 999 and ask for an ambulance.