Medical terms glossary - R

This medical term glossary provides explanations in plain English of a number of technical terms you may encounter in the process of pursuing a clinical negligence claim.

Radial - Near the radius.

Radius - The outer bone of the forearm.

Raynaud's disease - Blood vessel in fingers go into spasm on exposure to cold for no apparent reason.

Raynaud's phenomenon - Similar to Raynaud’s disease but with an identified cause.

Recurvatum - Abnormal overextension of knee or elbow.

Reduction - Readjusting to normal position.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy - Pain associated with disturbances of blood flow and wasting of skin and muscle, which may follow trauma, inflammatory or arthritic conditions.

Renal - Of or relating to the kidney.

Resection - Any surgery removing part of the body.

Respiratory capacity - Lung capacity.

Retrograde amnesia - Memory loss applying to memories from before a traumatic incident.

Rheumatoid arthritis - Inflammatory joint disease causing disfiguration.

Right homonymous hemianopia - Loss of right side of vision.

Rigor mortis - Stiffening of muscles after death.

Romberg's sign - Balance test.

Rotation - Movement around the long axis of the hip, shoulder, or spine.

Rotator - Muscles that rotate a joint.

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