Lins Medical

DIVING & DIVING MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

A Terms	Definition
AGE	Arterial Gas Embolism.
Alcyonaria	Class meaning polyp animal, includes soft corals, sea fans and whips.
Anal	Near the rear opening of the digestive system of an animal.
Arterial Gas Embolism	Arterial gas embolism is a major cause of death in diving and the initial cause (pulmonary barotrauma) usually goes undetected. The pulmonary barotrauma is usually caused by expansion of air during ascent, it can also be caused by holding your breath while ascending.

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B Terms	Definition
Barotrauma	An injury sustained due to pressure differences between the outside environment and the inside of a body structure; most commonly occurs in the ear and lungs.
Bends	The popular name for Decompression Sickness. Derived from the bodily cntrotions its victims undergo when atmospheric pressure is abruptly changed from a high pressure to a relatively lower lower one. Also called Diver's Paralysis.
Blue Orb Syndrome	Said to be a panic attack or near panic attack with feelings similar to vertigo. These attacks are not only experienced by novice divers but by seasoned proffessionals. It is thought to be induced when the diver loses sight of of familiar objects and becomes disorientated. This set of symptoms has been given the name "blue orb syndrome." However, among inexperienced divers, there is usually an objective basis (e.g., loss of air or a shark) behind the panic response.

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C Terms	Definition
Caisson Disease	Another name for Decompression Sickness in underwater workers. Caused by a rapid decrease in atmospheric pressure. The condition is named after the pressurised, watertight compartments (caissons) in which underwater construction men work. Caisson Disease is a form of Bends.
Camouflage	Colours, markings and/or outlines that blend into the surrounds and background.
Carapace	Hard shield covering the head and upper body of an animal.
Cilia	Fine, thread like projections which beat rhythmically, used primarily for propulsion.
Chlorophyll	Green pigment found in all algae and the majority of plants.
Classification	Means of describing and grouping a plant or animal: (phylum, class, order, family, genus and species).
Cnidaria	Phylum meaning stinging nettle animal includes hydroids, sea jellies, soft corals, sea fans and whips,anemones and hard corals.
Colony	Group of individual animals that are interconnected.
Countershaded	Dark coloured back progressing to a lightly coloured underside such as the manta ray.

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D Terms	Definition
Decompression	A return to normal environmental pressures after being exposed to increased pressure.
Decompression Sickness	Nitrogen bubbles forming in the body after a dive also known as the Bends. Caused by a rapid or too fast ascent by the diver going from an area of high pressure to lower pressure. Nitrogen which is normally present in the blood in a dissolved form increases in concentration as a diver goes deeper due to the increase in pressure. This increase will not normally cause any ill effects if the diver ascends at a slow rate allowing the nitrogen to escape the blood as it passes through the lungs and is exhaled. If the diver ascends rapidly then the nitrogen is suddenly released from its soluable state in the blood and forms bubbles. These bubbles of nitrogen also called air emboli, now loose in the circulation force their way into capillaries and block the normal flow of blood starving the cells on the other side and this is termed Decompression Sickness.
Diver's Paralysis	Another name for Decompression Sickness or the Bends.
Dorsal	On the back.

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E Terms	Definition
Emboloism	This is the sudden blocking of an blood vessel by foreign material or a clot. In the diver it is most often a nitrogen bubble. An embolism is the cause of Decompression Sickness.
Ear Squeeze	Ear squeeze with injury to the ear drum, is the most common diving related illness. It occurs when pressure changes during descent and ascent occur and the diver is unable to equalise the pressures. This causes the inner ear to effectively undergo a compression/squeeze and trauma is sustained.

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F Terms	Definition

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G Terms	Definition
Gastropod	An animal with a muscular foot.
Gastropoda	Class meaning stomach-foot includes, univalves, nudibranches and sea hares.
Gill slits	Skin folds around the fills allowing water fo flow from the mouth, across the gills and out of an animal.

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H Terms	Definition
Holdfast	Root like anchoring structure found on seaweed.
High Pressure Nervous Syndrome (HPNS)	A condition where the nervous system becomes over excited due to increased pressure. This condition is associated with depths of greater than 200 meteres. Symptoms may include nausea, tremor, dizziness, loss of memory and coordination.
High Pressure Oxygenation	This is when a person is exposed to oxygen under pressure greater than normal atmospheric pressure. Also caused Hyperbaric Oxygenation.
Hyperbaric Oxygenation (HBO)	This is the exposure to oxygen under pressure greater than normal atmospheric pressure. Also called High Pressure Oxygenation.

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I Terms	Definition
Intertidal	The zone between high and low tide.

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J Terms	Definition

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K Terms	Definition

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L Terms	Definition
Larva	Develpment stage between the egg and the adult of an animal.

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M Terms	Definition
Mantle	The fold of skin covering a mollusc's body.
Medusa	Free moving, bell shapped form of cnidarian.

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N Terms	Definition
Narcosis	A state of diminished consciousness where the bodys normal reactions to stimuli and the body may become sedated or completely anaethetised.

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O Terms	Definition
Operculum	Horny plate that closes a shells opening.

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P Terms	Definition
Pectoral	On the sides of an animal near the head.
Polyp	Attached form of cnidarian with hollow body and a mouth surrounded by tentacles.
Porifera	Phylum meaning pore bearer, includes sponges.
Primative	An early stage of evolutionary development.
Pulmonary Embolism	Obstruction of the pulmonary artery by an embolus. In diving the embolus is usually a nitrogen bubble.
Pulmonary Barotrauma	Trauma sustained due to pressure differences between the outside environment and the inside of the lungs. Usually occurs during ascent as a result of holding ones breath.

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Q Terms	Definition

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R Terms	Definition
Radula	A gastropod's tounge like band of teeth.
Regenerate	To restore or regrow a lost body part or parts.
Reverse Block	This is caused by a blockage in an airspace (ear, sinus, lung, tooth) that prevents the expanding air on ascent from escaping. This results in an overexpansion injury if the diver is unable to equalize the pressure. Common causes include congestion or underlying pathophysiology.

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S Terms	Definition
Scuba	Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
Sea Itch	Also known as sea bathers eruption. Signs and symptoms include an intensely itchy red rash which affects the areas of skin exposed to seawater. The rash is the result of stings by the larvae of Coelenterata. The venom contains proteins which are both toxic and induce an allergic reaction in humans.
Siphon	A tube or canal.
Species	Group of similar animals which mate and produce fertile offspring.
Spicule	Tiny, glass like objects that are embedded in the body mass.

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T Terms	Definition
Tube feet	Short, hollow limbs connected to a water canal system in echinoderms.

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U Terms	Definition
Unco	Term used when a diver reaches the surface in an unconscious state.

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V Terms	Definition
Venom	Poison of animal origin.
Ventral	Underneath.

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W Terms	Definition

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X Terms	Definition

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Y Terms	Definition

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Z Terms	Definition

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