Glossary A - C

Acetic acid
A vinegar solution sometimes used under a dressing that helps to kill germs.

Airplane trough
A positioning device for the arms that attaches to a hospital bed. Usually arm wedges are held in place on a airplane trough. Arm wedges on an airplane trough are used to reduce swelling, to regain normal range of motion, and to prevent healing skin from shrinking while in bed.

Airplane or axillary
A splint for the shoulders or axilla is used to prevent the skin from shrinking as it heals and to restore range of motion by stretching the skin under the arms.

Anesthesia
Medicine that puts the patient into a kind of sleep, used so it won't hurt during surgery.

Anesthesiologist
A doctor who gives anesthesia.

Arm wedge
A foam positioning device that is higher at one end and lower at the other. An arm wedge is used to reduce swelling by keeping the arm elevated above the level of your heart.

Artery
One of the heavy-duty tubes or blood vessels that sends blood away from the heart.

Atarax
A medicine that relives itch and makes you sleepy.

Axilla
The area under your arms, the armpit area.

Bacitracin
Antibiotic ointment with an oily consistency. Used for superficial burns.

Bandages
A strip of cloth or other material used to cover a wound or protect an injured part.

Blood pressure
The pressure of the blood against the blood vessel walls.

Blood vessel
Any of the tubes in the body through which the blood flows. Arteries and veins are blood vessels. Your body is full of miles of tubes that carry fast moving blood. These tubes are called blood vessels.

Blowby oxygen mask
A mask used to give a patient oxygen. It fits under the chin and it blows the oxygen towards the patient's nose and mouth.

Bedside tables
A special hospital table that moves around easily because it has wheels. Sometimes bedside tables are used to secure positioning devices such as pillows or arm wedges.

Benedryl
A medicine that helps relieve itch. It can also make you sleepy or sometimes overactive.

Bucks traction
Bucks is a name of a foam sleeve used to hold an arms in traction. Bucks traction is used to keep arm up to reduce swelling, to regain normal range of motion and to prevent healing axilla (under the arm) skin from shrinking.

Burn
When skin is damaged by heat or fire. Burns can be small or large. A first degree burn damages only the top layer of skin. It heals by itself. A second degree burn might heal by itself but may need special care from a doctor to heal better and faster. A third degree burn does not heal by itself. This burn goes through all the skin layers. A third degree burn must be repaired with a skin graft operation before it will heal.

Burn center or burn unit
The part of a hospital where people who have been burned get medical treatment. A burn patient receives care from many people who specialize in burn treatment including doctors, nurses and therapists.

Capillary
One of the tubes that connect the arteries and veins. Capillaries are the smallest of the blood vessels. A capillary is smaller than the size of a piece of hair.

Cardiac monitor
The cardiac monitor looks like a TV with wavy lines and numbers that appear in different colors. A cardiac monitor records heart rate and blood pressure.

Carotene
Pigment in the skin that gives yellowish coloring.

Cast
A splint made of plaster or fiberglass material. A cast for a burn is worn as a splint for the hand, elbow or leg to prevent the skin from shrinking as it heals. It also restores range of motion by stretching the skin. A cast also provides protection to fragile healing skin.

Clavicle strap
Soft cotton strap that is worn in a figure eight pattern around each shoulder to prevent the skin from shrinking as it heals and restores motion by stretching the skin.

Clinitron bed
A bed filled with tiny sand-like beads that are gently moving all of the time.

Compression garments
Compression garments are special clothing made of elastic fabric. These garments are made to fit tight. They help the burn heal by pressing on the scars. The tightness also helps to stop the itching that happens while a burn is healing.

Continuous passive motion machine (CPM)
A CPM is used to restore range of motion by constantly moving the joint by a machine. The CPM also stretches the skin as it moves the joints through range of motion. CPM's might be used on a hand, leg or an arm.

Contracture
Loss of normal movement as a result of healing.

Cotton batting
A type of dressing that is used to pad and protect an area.