Abscess 
Localized collection of pus in any part of the body.
Aerobe
A microorganism which lives and grows in the presence of free oxygen.
Altered Tissue Perfusion
When oxygenated blood does not flow freely through the vessels to the tissue.
Alternate Course Spandex (ACS)
Fabric structure characterized by a course of non-elastic yarn alternated with a course of elastic yarn. Alternate course knitting is more conventional and produces sheer fabric.
Ambulatory
Walking or able to walk; not confined to bed.
Anaerobe
A microorganism which grows in the absence of oxygen.
Anamnesis
Anamnesis means the patient’s medical history.
All the elements in relation with the evolution of a disease and different pathologies that the patient underwent are registered. It is important for instance to know if venous disorders existed in the family, with parents, grand-parents, brothers and sisters. All the diseases the patient had are also important as well as the treatment he underwent. Thanks to all these pieces of information, the doctor can better tackle his patient’s situation and his venous disorders.
Angiology
Arteries, veins and lymph vessel study.
Antibacterial
An agent that inhibits the growth of microbes.
Antimicrobial
An agent that inhibits the growth of microbes.
Arterial
Pertaining to one or more arteries, vessels that carry oxygenated blood to the tissue.
Artery
The vessel that carries blood through the human body. Arteries carry the blood full of oxygen from the heart to the other organs.
Axilla
The armpit
Bactericidal
An agent which destroys bacteria.
Bacteriostatic
An agent which is capable of inhibiting the growth or multiplication of bacteria.
Blanching
To become white; maximum pallor
Boarding
A heat setting operation in which stockings are put on metal leg forms for a specific size and shape and then dried in a steam cabinet. This gives the “stocking form” a smooth appearance. It is a process similar to ironing.
Canalization
Formation of channels in tissue.
Cell Migration
Movement of cells in the repair process.
Cellulitis
Inflammatory process with tissue under the skin; characterized by edema, redness, pain and interference with function.
Chronic
Constant, persistant and which evolves little by little. The opposite of ‘chronic’ is ‘acute’.
Chronic venous insufficiency
We gather under this term all the consequences related to a failing of the venous return in the inferior limbs, in the case for instance of a thrombosis or varicose veins : legs swelling, skin pigmentation, eczema and ulcer. The chronic venous insufficiency is classified according to three degrees of seriousness.
Circular Knit
The major knitting method in hosiery construction
Claudication
Inadequate blood supply which produces severe pain in calf muscles during exercise which subsides with rest
Coagulability
The state of being capable of forming or of being formed into clots
Collagen
Main supportive protein of skin, tendon, bone, cartilage, and connective tissue
Colonized
Presence of bacteria which cause no local or systemic signs or symptoms
Competent
Capable to fulfil its function (i.e. vein or venous valve)
Complication
An element, a situation which may be the cause of an unfavorable evolution of a disease.
Compression
The act of pressing together; forcing into closer union.
Compression stockings
Elastic stockings which guarantee a compression treatment. The compressive therapy has to be followed for a long period of time. The aim of the compression stockings is to avoid the formation of an oedema.
Compressive bandage
Elastic knitted bandage allowing a compressive treatment. The compressive bandage is particularly used on a leg affected by serious swelling and after a varicose veins surgery. The compressive bandages are efficient in the sense that your legs become less swollen.
Compressive treatment, compressive therapy
A treatment that exerts an external pressure on your legs through a compressive bandage or compression stockings. This compressive treatment exerts an action on the venous system and contributes to the sick veins calibre’s narrowing, thus allowing the valves to function again. Prior swellings and oedemas are resorbed.
Consistency
An indefinite degree of density, viscosity or thickness
Contamination
The soiling by contact or introduction of organisms into the wound
Contraction
The pulling together of wound edges in the healing process
Course
A series of adjacent loops forming a horizontal line across the knitted fabric
Crater
Tissue defect extending at least to the subcutaneous layer
Crusted
Dried secretions
Cutaneous
Belonging to the skin; existing on or affecting the skin
Debridement
Removal of devitalized tissue
Debris
Remains of broken down or damaged cells or tissue
Decitex
The metric measuring system used to indicate the weight in grams of 10,000 meters of a yarn. Example: 90 decitex means that 10,000 metres weigh 90 grams
Decubitis
A misnomer for a pressure core
Deep Vein System
Deep veins, which include the anterior tibial, posterior tibial, peroneal, popliteal, deep femoral, superficial femoral, and iliac veins
Demarcation
Line of separation between viable and nonviable tissue
Denude
Loss of epidermis
Dependent pain
Pain occurring when extremity is lower than the heart
Dermal
The inner layer of skin in which hair follicles and sweat glands originate; involved in Grade II-IV pressure sores
Dermatitis
Inflammation of the skin
Dermatosis
Any disorder of the skin
Dernier
The weight in grams of 9000 meters of yarn. The lower the dernier, the lighter and finer the yarn and the sheerer the garment
Disinfiltration Gymnastic
Specific gymnastic exercises which reinforce veins and contribute to the elimination of a venous stasis.
Distally
Farthest from a point of reference. Example, the ankle is distal to the heart
Double Covered Spandex
Spandex that has been wrapped in both directions with nylon or polyester continuous filament yarn or other textile fibers
Dyeing
The permanent application of color to a yarn or fabric
Eczema
Irritating inflammation of the skin. Eczema is not contagious and is, most of the time, linked with a varicose problem which has not been treated. Eczema can be acute (skin redness, oedema, herpes, scab) or chronic.
Edema
An abnormal accumulation of fluid in the tissues
Elastic
A term which designates the ability of a yarn to return to its original size or shape after being stretched
Elasticity
The ability of a strained material to recover its original size or shape immediately after removal of the stress that caused deformation
Elastomer
Elastic fibers such as rubber or spandex that have physical stretch properties
Embolism
Blood clot that provokes an obstruction of the arteries. If this blood clot stagnates in the lungs, it can be fatal.
Enzymes
Biomechanical substances that are capable of breaking down necrotic tissue
Epidermis
The outer layer of skin
Epithelization
Regeneration of the epidermis across wound surface
Erythema
Redness of the skin surface produced by vasodilation
Eschar
Thick, leathery necrotic tissue; devitalized tissue
Etiology
The science dealing with the causes of diseases.
Every Course Spandex (ECS)
Fabric knit structure characterized by each course utilizing an elastic yarn. Every course spandex produces balanced, fine-knit fabric
Excoriation
Linear scratches on the skin
Extension
The straightening of a flexed limb
Exudate
Accumulation of fluids in wound. May contain serum, cellular debris, bacteria, and leukocytes
Fibroblast
Any cell or corpuscle from which connective tissue is developed
Flexion
The act of bending; decreasing of the angle at the joint between two bones
Friction
Surface damage caused by skin rubbing against another surface
Full-Thickness
Tissue destruction extending through the dermis to involve the subcutaneous layer and possible muscle/bone.
Granulation
The formation or growth of small blood vessels and connective tissue in a full thickness wound
Heparin
Anticoagulant for the blood
Heparin
Medication allowing the liquefaction of blood. Heparin is given by injection or infusion.
Hydrophilic
Attracting moisture
Hydrophobic
Repelling moisture
Hyperemia
Presence of excess blood in vessels; engorgement
Immune
Not susceptible to a particular disease
Induration
Abnormal firmness of tissue with a definitive margin
Infection
Overgrowth of microorganisms capable of tissue destruction and invasion, accompanied by local and systemic symptoms
Inflammation
Defensive reaction to tissue injury; involves increased blood flow and capillary permeability and facilitates physiologic cleanup of wound. Accompanied by increased heat, redness, swelling and pain in the affected area
Insufficiency
A function limitation, an organ or organic system deficiency.
The ‘venous insufficiency’ means that the valves simply don’t function properly by failing to pump the blood back up to the heart.
Insulation
Maintenance of wound temperature close to body temperature
Internal varicose veins
Term used in everyday speech but not in the medical field. By ‘internal varicose veins’ we mean deep veins, invisible and incapable of allowing an efficient blood circulation due to a non – functioning of the valves for example.
Ischemia
A deficiency of blood due to obstruction of a blood vessel to a part
Kneipp's cure
Water jets, showers....water cures invented by Sebastien Kneipp. They have a beneficial effect on your veins.
Lesion
A broad term referring to wounds or sores
Leukocytosis
Increase in the number of leukocytes (above 10,000/cu.mm) in the blood
Lumen
The channel within a tube (as a blood vessel)
Lymph
The colorless, odorless fluid circulating in the lymphatic vessels
Lymphedema
Swelling of subcutaneous tissues due to the presence of excessive lymph fluid due to the obstruction of lymph vessels
Maceration
Softening of tissue by soaking in fluids
Macrophage
Cells which have the ability to destroy bacteria and devitalized tissue
Necrotic
Dead tissue
Pairing
The finishing operation in which individual stockings are inspected and made into pairs prior to folding and packaging
Partial-Thickness
Loss of epidermis and possible partial loss of dermis
Patella
A triangular bone at the knee; kneecap
Pathogen
Any disease producing agent or microorganism
Peroneal vein
One of the veins of the system, located below the knee.
Phlebitis
Inflammation of a vein
Pigmentation
The coloration or discoloration of part by a pigment
Plain Knit
The most common knit in hosiery. Plain knit gives a smooth, sheer surface
Pliable
Supple; flexible
Popliteal Fossa
The space behind the knee
Popliteal Vein
Deep vein in the leg
Pre-boarding
After a stocking or pantyhose is knit, each stitch and loop is permanently set in place by an operation called "pre-boarding" or heat setting in a steam chamber
Pressure Sore
An area of localized tissue damage caused by ischemia due to pressure
Prophylactic
Tending to ward off disease; preventive
Proximal(ly)
Nearest to a reference point
Pulmonary
Pertaining to the lung
Pulmonary Artery
The only artery in the circulation system that carries deoxygenated blood
Pulmonary embolism
See embolism
Pus
Thick fluid indicative of infection, containing leukocytes, bacteria, and cellular debris
Pyogenic
Producing pus
Reactive Hyperemia
Extra blood in vessels in response to a period of blocked blood flow
Recumbent
Lying down
Reflux
A flowing back
Reinforced
Toe and heel areas often are strengthened to improve abrasion resistance and therefore increase durability
Rubber
An extruded, natural latex thread incorporated in some stockings as an elastic
Saphenous Vein
Surface vein
Scab
Dried exudates covering superficial wounds
Sclerosing
Injection of a chemical into a vein to cause fibrosis (scarring) and obliteration (removal, destruction of the lumen)
Sclerotherapy
Injection of sclerosing solutions in the treatment of varicose veins
Serous
Producing a serous secretion, or containing serum
Serum
The clear, straw-colored liquid portion of the blood
Shear
Trauma caused by tissue layers sliding against each other; results in disruption or angulation of blood vessels
Single Covered Spandex
Spandex that has been wrapped in one direction with nylon or other yarn
Sinus Tract
A course or pathway which can extend in any direction from the wound surface; results in dead space with potential for abscess formation
Slough
Loose, stringy necrotic tissue
Sonography duplex
Specific method which allows a precise diagnosis of the venous system.
Stasis
A stoppage of flow, as of blood or other body fluid; a slackening of the blood current
Stitch
A stitch is the basic repeating unit of the yarn pattern in forming a knitted fabric, consisting of the needle loop and the sinker loop
Stretch Yarns
Continuous filament yarns (e.g. nylon) that have been textured to give them elasticity
Strip
Remove epidermis by mechanical means; denude
Superficial Femoral Vein
Deep vein in the leg
Superficial Vein System
Superficial veins, which include the lesser and greater saphenous veins and their tributaries
Textured Yarns
Yarns modified so they have desirable properties such as "hand" (feel), increased softness, and greater fit latitude
Therapeutic
Pertaining to or effective in the treatment of disease
Thrombophlebitis
The development of venous thrombi (clots) in the presence of inflammatory changes in the vessel wall
Thrombosis
Formation of blood clots or thrombi inside a blood vessel or in one of the chambers of the heart
Thrombus
A blood clot
Trophic
Changes that occur as a result of inadequate circulation, such as, loss of hair, thinning skin, and ridging of nails
Ulcer
An open sore
Undermine
Tissue destruction underlying intact skin along wound margins
Unna Boot
Rolled bandages containing calamine lotion, glycerin, zinc oxide, and gelatin
Varicose veins
Superficial veins that are dilated and distorted and contain valves that no longer function properly. Blood stagnates in these vessels instead of going back to the heart. Varicose veins don’t disappear by themselves, except for the ones that appear during pregnancy.
Varicosities
Dilated tortuous superficial veins
Vasoconstriction
Construction of blood vessels
Vasodilation
Dilation of blood vessels, especially small arteries and arterioles
Vein
A vessel through which blood passes from various organs or parts of the body back to the heart
Velocity
Quickness or speed in motion or movement; swiftness, rapidity
Venous
Pertaining to the veins
Wound Base
Uppermost viable tissue layer of the wound; may be covered with slough or eschar
Wound Margin
Rim or border of wound
Wound Repair
Healing process. Partial thickness involves epithelialization; full thickness involves contraction, granulation, and epithelization
Yarn
A generic term for an assemblage of fibers or filaments, either natural or manufactured, twisted or laid together to form a continuous strand suitable for use in producing fabrics
Yarn Count
A numerical designation expressing relationship of length to weight (See also dernier)
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