Medical dictionary

What is chondrocalcinosis?Chondrocalcinosis, also known as calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, is a rheumatic disease characterised by the excessive accumulation of calcium crystals in the cartilage of joints. The knee is the area that is most often affected by this disease, although it is also common in other joints and bone areas. It also typically occurs more in older people.  W

What is chondromalacia? Chondromalacia, also known as runner’s knee, refers to a condition where the surface of the cartilage on the undersurface of the kneecap (the patella) deteriorates over time. Runner’s knee is common among young adults, especially those who practice certain sports that have a great impact on the knees such as basketball, volleyball, football, cycling, tennis,

What is chronic fatigue syndrome? Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition which involves long-term disabling tiredness. It affects about 200,000 people in the UK, and it generally develops between the ages of 20 and 40. It is three times as common in women as in men. Chronic fatigue syndrome is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME. Can chronic fatigue syndrome be cu

What is clubfoot? Clubfoot, also called talipes equinovarus or just talipes, is a condition affecting the muscles and bones in the feet. It is relatively common – around 1 in every 1,000 babies in the UK is born with a club foot. In around half of those affected, the condition is present in both feet.  What are the symptoms of clubfoot? The main symptom is the appearance o

What are congenital malformations? Congenital malformations are defects or abnormalities in the baby's body that develop during pregnancy. There are more than 4,000 types of congenital malformations, and they are categorised into two main groups: Structural congenital malformations: Those in which the baby is born without a part of the body or they have a malformation in that part. Wi

What is a coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe illnesses such as pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Almost everyone will get infected by a coronavirus at least once in their life, and most of the time t

What is cubital tunnel syndrome? Cubital tunnel syndrome (a form of ulnar nerve entrapment or ulnar neuropathy) is a condition in which the ulnar nerve becomes trapped or compressed. This nerve runs from your neck, through the elbow, to your hand, connecting to the little finger and half of the ring finger. It is the largest nerve in the body unprotected by muscle or bone, and due to its relati

What are cysts?Cysts are closed sacs in the body’s tissue that may be filled with fluid, air, or other substances. They have a membrane, or “shell”, to divide them from the surrounding tissue, and the cells that make up this membrane are abnormal compared to the surrounding cells. Cysts can appear almost anywhere on the body, including on bones, organs, and the skin. There are hundreds or typ

What is degenerative disc disease? We all have discs between the vertebrae, which, in young, healthy people, act as shock absorbers, helping the back to stay flexible and absorb the impact between the bones caused by movement. However, the natural ageing process leads to wear and tear, and the once rubbery discs shrink and lose integrity. This is known as degenerative disc disease (DDD). Des