Vocabulary Words (Glossary)

A

• Adolescents [ad-uh-LES-ents]: Teenagers, or young people who are no longer children but not yet adults.
• Anesthesia [an-es-THEE-zhuh]: The use of medications (called anaesthetics) to prevent pain during surgery. There are various types of anaesthetics including local, regional and general anaesthesia, each serving different medical needs. Most craniofacial surgery is performed under a general anaesthetic.

B

• Brachycephaly [brak-ee-SEF-uh-lee]: A condition where a baby's head is unusually flat at the back and short from front to back, can be either positional/deformational (sutures are still open) or synostosis (sutures have fused).

C

• Consultation Meeting [kon-suhl-TAY-shun MEE-ting]: A meeting where a patient talks with a surgeon about a surgery they might need. The surgeon checks if the surgery is a good idea, explains what will happen, talks about any risks, and answers the patient’s questions.
• Coronal Suture [kor-roh-nuhl soo-CH-er]: Refers to a specific suture (line where skull bones meet) that runs horizontally across the top of the head.
• Cranial Vault [KRAY-nee-al volt]: The parts of the skull at the top of the head that surround and protect the brain.
• Craniectomy [kray-nee-EK-tuh-mee]: A surgical procedure that involves removing a portion of the skull.
• Craniosynostosis [kray-nee-oh-sin-oh-s-TOE-sis]: A condition where one or more sutures in a baby's skull fuse too early, which can cause the head to grow in an abnormal shape.

E

• Endoscopic [en-doh-SKOP-ik]: A tiny camera used by doctors during certain surgeries.

I

• Incision [in-SIZH-un]: A cut or opening made by a surgeon during an operation.
• Irregularities [ih-reg-yoo-LAIR-ih-teez]: Uneven or abnormal features; things that are not smooth or typical.

L

• Lambdoid Suture [lam-doy-d soo-CH-er]: One of the two major sutures at the back of the skull.

M

• Metopic Suture [meh-top-ik soo-CH-er]: The suture in the central forehead that runs from the soft spot in the front to the top of the nose

O

• Orthotics [or-THOT-iks]: The field of healthcare that deals with the design and use of special devices (like helmets or braces) to support or correct parts of the body.

P

• Plagiocephaly [play-jee-oh-SEF-uh-lee]: A condition where a baby's head is flattened on one side, can be either positional/deformational (sutures are still open) or synostosis (sutures have fused). Plagio means asymmetric.

• Protrude [pro-TROOD]: To stick out from something.

• Psychosocial [sy-koh-SOH-shul]: Relating to the combination of psychological and social factors; how a person's thoughts and emotions interact with their social environment.

R

• Repercussions [ree-per-KUSH-unz]: Unintended and usually negative consequences that follow an action or event.

S

• Sagittal Suture [SAJ-i-tal soo-CH-er]: The suture that runs from the soft spot in the front to the soft spot in the back in the middle of the skull.
• Surgeon [NYUR-oh-ser-jun]: A doctor who performs surgery.
• Sutures [SOO-chers]: The flexible connections between the bones of a baby's skull allow the skull to grow.
• Synostosis [sin-oh-s-TOE-sis]: Referring to the fusion of two or more bones.

T

• Transfusions [trans-FYOO-zhunz]: The process of receiving blood products from a donor.