NHS Pathways Glossary
Abdomen—ANSWER--The area between the bottom of the rib cage down
to the groin
Abortion—ANSWER--Termination of pregnancy
Abscess—ANSWER--Collection of pus from an infection
Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison's Disease)—ANSWER--Failure of the
adrenal glands
Amputation—ANSWER--Severing of a body part
Anus—ANSWER--A persons back passage
Anxiety—ANSWER--Persistent and excessive worrying about and aspects
of daily life
Allergen—ANSWER--Something which triggers an allergy
Analgesia—ANSWER--Pain relief
Aneurysm—ANSWER--Localised widening of the aorta
, Aorta—ANSWER--The main artery from the heart
Assault—ANSWER--Injury with intent to cause harm
Aura—ANSWER--Distinctive feeling of warning sign that a seizure is on its
way
Back—ANSWER--Area between the base of the neck and bottom of spine
including buttocks
Bipolar disorder—ANSWER--Also known as manic depression, severe
mood swings, from high active episodes to low depressed periods
Blunt injury—ANSWER--Does not involve a break in the skin or other body
surface
Blurred vision—ANSWER--When things have a fuzzy appearance
Breathlessness—ANSWER--Feeling of having to work harder than normal to
get air in and out of the lungs
Chemotherapy—ANSWER--Treatment with drugs to combat disease,
usually cancer
Chest—ANSWER--Area between collar bones and bottom of rib cage
Chronic—ANSWER--Long term symptoms appearing slowly
Cirrhosis—ANSWER--Scarring of the liver
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
Abdomen—ANSWER--The area between the bottom of the rib cage down
to the groin
Abortion—ANSWER--Termination of pregnancy
Abscess—ANSWER--Collection of pus from an infection
Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison's Disease)—ANSWER--Failure of the
adrenal glands
Amputation—ANSWER--Severing of a body part
Anus—ANSWER--A persons back passage
Anxiety—ANSWER--Persistent and excessive worrying about and aspects
of daily life
Allergen—ANSWER--Something which triggers an allergy
Analgesia—ANSWER--Pain relief
Aneurysm—ANSWER--Localised widening of the aorta
, Aorta—ANSWER--The main artery from the heart
Assault—ANSWER--Injury with intent to cause harm
Aura—ANSWER--Distinctive feeling of warning sign that a seizure is on its
way
Back—ANSWER--Area between the base of the neck and bottom of spine
including buttocks
Bipolar disorder—ANSWER--Also known as manic depression, severe
mood swings, from high active episodes to low depressed periods
Blunt injury—ANSWER--Does not involve a break in the skin or other body
surface
Blurred vision—ANSWER--When things have a fuzzy appearance
Breathlessness—ANSWER--Feeling of having to work harder than normal to
get air in and out of the lungs
Chemotherapy—ANSWER--Treatment with drugs to combat disease,
usually cancer
Chest—ANSWER--Area between collar bones and bottom of rib cage
Chronic—ANSWER--Long term symptoms appearing slowly
Cirrhosis—ANSWER--Scarring of the liver
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
