Dictionary

sartorius muscle The long band of muscle that stretches from the calf to the pelvis. It moves the thigh and, by extension, the leg.

SARS See severe acute respiratory syndrome.

sarcoma botryoides A malignancy of the cervix, vagina, or bladder in infants and young children that arises from embryonal rhabdomyoblasts (ancestral muscle cells). The tumor resembles a bunch of grapes. It has a generally good prognosis. Treatment includes conservative surgery followed by chemotherapy. Also known as embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. See also rhabdomyosarcoma; sarcoma; sarcoma, soft-tissue.

sarcoma, synovial A malignant tumor of soft tissue that arises near, but not in, a joint. Synovial sarcomas most often occur in adolescents or young adults, are typically slow-growing, and may escape notice until they become painful. They occur mainly in the arms and legs, near large joints, especially the knees. Although the tumor is…

sarcoma, soft-tissue A sarcoma that begins in the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, or other supporting tissue of the body. See also sarcoma.

sarcoma, Ewing A malignant tumor that arises in a primitive nerve cell within bone or soft tissue and affects children and adolescents, especially between ages 10 and 20. Ewing sarcoma usually appears in the large bones of the arms and legs and the flat bones of the pelvis, spine, and ribs. Treatments include chemotherapy, surgery,…

sarcoma One of a group of malignant tumors that arise from connective tissue. Many types are named after the type of cell, tissue, or structure involved. See also angiosarcoma; chondrosarcoma; fibrosarcoma; liposarcoma; osteosarcoma; rhabdomyosarcoma; sarcoma botryoides; sarcoma, Ewing; Kaposi sarcoma; sarcoma, soft-tissue; sarcoma, synovial.

sarcoidosis A disease of unknown origin that causes small lumps (granulomas) due to chronic inflammation in body tissues. Sarcoidosis can appear in almost any body organ, but it most often starts in the lungs or lymph nodes. It can also affect the eyes, liver, and skin; and less often it affects the spleen, bones, joints,…

Sapphism See lesbianism.

SAPHO syndrome Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis syndrome, which involves symptoms including warmth, tenderness, pain, swelling, and stiffness of involved joints (arthritis); fluid-filled blister-like areas (pustules), typically on the palms of the hands and/or the soles of the feet, and peeling and flaking of skin in those areas; abnormal, excessive growth of bone, frequently…

saphenous vein, small The smaller of the two saphenous veins, which runs behind the outer malleolus (the protuberance on the outside of the ankle joint), comes up the back of the leg, and joins the popliteal vein in the space behind the knee (popliteal space). See also saphenous vein.

saphenous vein, large See saphenous vein, great.