Glossary of Terms

• AE — above elbow
• amputation — the loss or absence of all or part of a limb
• amputee — a person who has an amputation or limb absence
• authorization — approval from the reimbursement agency for payment of prosthetic services
• BE — below elbow
• bilateral — both sides (legs or arms)
• componentry — parts used in a prosthesis
• congenital deficiency — condition present at birth, when all or part of a limb fails to develop normally
• contralateral — refers to the side that is opposite of the injured or missing hand or arm
• control scheme — method to control a prosthesis such as myoelectric, push switch, pull switch, servo, etc.
• controller — an electrical circuit that controls an electric hand, wrist or elbow movement and function found in electrically-powered prostheses
• disarticulation — amputation through a joint: commonly the hip, shoulder, knee, ankle, elbow, or wrist
• donning and doffing — putting on and taking off a prosthesis
• dorsal surface — surface of the back of the hand
• EMG (Electromyography) — electrical signal generated during contraction of the muscles
• endoskeletal prosthesis — one built more like a human skeleton with support and components on the inside and a cosmetic cover on the outside
• functional envelope — the area in space where the patient can control their prosthesis
• Greifer — an electric hook made by Otto Bock that provides increased grip force, durability, opening distance, and wrist flexion and extension
• gross body movements — large non-precise movements of the body
• hybrid prosthesis — prosthesis that combines several prosthetic options in a single prosthesis. Most commonly, when we refer to a hybrid prosthesis, we are referring to a prosthesis for an individual who possesses a transhumeral (above-elbow) amputation or deficiency. The most common hybrid prosthesis utilizes a body-powered elbow and a myoelectrically controlled terminal device (hook or hand)
• initial prosthetic assessment — physical evaluation session with the patient discussing their needs, goals and the prosthetic options available
• justification — written documentation that supports use of a specific prosthetic option because of the medical condition of the amputee 
• Occupational Therapy/OT — evaluation and training to maximize independence and function in daily living
• palmar surface — the palm or grasping side of the hand 
• passive prosthesis — also called a cosmetic prosthesis because it rarely provides the ability to grasp items. The prosthetic hand is non-functional and its main purpose is restoring the residual limb to a natural appearance.
• patient-to-patient mentoring — amputee-to-amputee discussion and sharing of concerns and questions
• pediatric componentry — prosthetic parts designed for child-sized amputees
• prehension — ability to hold, grasp or pinch
• ProControl — electronic circuit made by Motion Control, Inc. that proportionally controls myoelectric hand and wrist movements
• pronate — rotation of the wrist in an inward direction
• proprioception — the awareness of the position of one's body
• range of motion (ROM) — range of movement of a limb
• referral source — individual or entity that instructs the amputee where to receive prosthetic care, typically a physician, case manager for the insurance company, or rehab nurse
• rehabilitation plan — personalized action plan detailing the steps involved to fully maximize rehabilitation potential
• rehabilitation team — group of people (physician/ surgeon, occupational therapist, case manager/ rehab coordinator, prosthetist, psychologist and amputee) working cooperatively to create and implement a rehabilitation plan
• residual limb — portion of limb remaining after amputation, sometimes referred to as a stump
• solid color core — any material whose color is consistent throughout, not just on the first layer
• socket – may also be referred to as a patient interface; the portion of the prosthesis that fits around the residual limb/stump and to which the prosthetic components are attached
• suction — provides suspension by means of negative pressure vacuum in a socket; achieved by forcing air out of the socket through a one-way valve when donning and using the prosthesis
• supinate — rotation of the wrist in an outward direction
• terminal device — a device (typically a hand or hook) attached to the wrist unit of an upper extremity prosthesis
• transhumeral amputation — amputation that occurs above the elbow
• transradial amputee/amputation — person with an amputation below the elbow or an amputation that occurs through the radius and ulna (bones of the forearm)
• voluntary-closing device — terminal device that is closed by forces on a control cable; grasp is proportional to the amount of pull on the cable
• voluntary-opening device — terminal device that is opened by body motion and closed by elastic bands or springs
• wrist unit — component that allows interchanging or repositioning of terminal devices