Dictionary

catheter, PA A catheter that is inserted into the pulmonary artery.

catheter, Swan-Ganz A style of oximetry catheter that is inserted into a major vein under the collarbone or in the neck, threaded through the right side of the heart, and then threaded into the pulmonary artery. Physicians can use monitoring equipment with a Swan-Ganz catheter to measure blood pressure inside the heart and to find…

cathexis In psychiatry, the concentration of psychic energy on an idea.

cauda equina A bundle of spinal nerve roots that arise from the end of the spinal cord. The cauda equina comprises the roots of all the spinal nerves below the first lumbar (L1) vertebra in the lower back.

cauda equina syndrome Impairment of the nerves in the cauda equina, characterized by dull pain in the lower back and upper buttocks and lack of feeling (analgesia) in the buttocks, genitalia, and thigh, together with disturbances of bowel and bladder function.

caudad Toward or of the feet or tail. The opposite of cranial. See also Appendix B, “Anatomic Orientation Terms.”

caudal anesthesia Anesthesia produced by injection of a local anesthetic into the caudal canal, the sacral portion of the spinal canal. Caudal anesthesia is used to provide anesthesia and analgesia (pain relief) below the umbilicus. It may be the sole anesthetic or combined with general anesthesia. Also known as caudal epidural anesthesia or a caudal…

caudal regression syndrome A disorder characterized by absence of all or part of the sacrum and dysfunction of the bowels, bladder, and legs. About 20 percent of children with caudal regression are born to mothers with diabetes. Treatment involves surgery to correct these defects, when possible.

caul Folk term for the membranes that surround the fetus in the womb, particularly for the presence of these membranes over the newborn infant’s face or head at birth, a relatively common and usually harmless occurrence. In some cultures, the presence of a caul at birth is considered spiritually significant.

carotid artery Either of the two key arteries located in the front of the neck, through which blood from the heart goes to the brain. The right and left common carotid arteries are located on each side of the neck. Together, these arteries provide the principal blood supply to the head and neck. The left…

carotid endarterectomy An operation to clear the carotid artery of buildup of cholesterol-containing matter along its inner wall. See also endarterectomy.

carpal tunnel A tunnel in the wrist formed by bone and tissues in the palm side of the wrist that provides passage for the median nerve to the hand.