Glossary of Terms
Adipocyte:
A fat cell, a connective tissue cell that has differentiated and become specialized in the synthesis and storage of fat.
Adipose tissue:
Adipose tissue, or fat, is an anatomical term for loose connective tissue composed of adipocytes (fat cells). Its main role is to store energy in the form of fat, although it also cushions and insulates the body; and is also the richer known source of adult stem cells.
Adult stem cells:
Undifferentiated cells, found throughout the body after embryonic development that multiply by cell division to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissue.
Angiogenesis:
The process of developing new blood vessels.
Anticoagulants:
Drugs that suppress, delay, or prevent clotting of the blood.
Arteriole:
A small branch of an artery (a vessel that carries blood high in oxygen away from the heart to the body) leading to a capillary.
Autoimmune Disorder:
Any of a large group of diseases characterized by abnormal functioning of the immune system that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against your own tissues.
Autologous:
Derived or transferred from the same individual’s body.
Biocompatible:
The capability of coexistence with living tissues or organisms without causing harm.
Biopsy:
The removal of a sample of tissue from the body for purposes of microscopic examination to assist in diagnosis.
Blastula:
An early embryonic form produced by cleavage of a fertilized ovum and consisting of a spherical layer of cells surrounding a fluid-filled cavity; also called blastoshpere.
BMI (body mass index):
A measurement of body weight relative to height, used to determine if someone is at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese.
Breast asymmetry:
A difference in breast size, shape or both.
Breast Conserving Therapy (BCT):
Refers to the surgical removal of the tumor and a small portion of normal surrounding breast tissue, followed by radiation therapy to the remaining breast tissue. Breast conserving surgery is also called a lumpectomy, quadrantectomy, or partial mastectomy.
Breast prosthesis:
An artificial breast form that can be worn after the breast has been surgically removed; and may be made from silicone, gel foam, fiberfill or other materials that feel similar to natural tissue.
Calcification:
T
he process in which the mineral calcium builds up in soft tissue, causing it to harden. Calcifications may be classified on whether there is mineral balance or not, and the location of the calcification.
Carcinoma:
Any of various cancerous tumors that are derived from epithelial tissue of the skin, blood vessels, or other organs and that tend to metastasize to other parts of the body.
Cell therapy:
The administration of donor cells or a patient's own stem cells as a part of medical treatment.
Cell yield:
The number of cells obtained from processed adipose tissue.
CE Mark:
A European standard for medical devices; a CE Mark indicates that a device meets the requirements of the Medical Device Directive, including consumer safety health or environmental requirements and appropriate quality system standards.
Chemokines:
Proteins that serve as chemical messengers to control the activities of the immune system. Chemokines are involved in a wide variety of processes, including the control of infectious diseases, cancers, and inflammation.
Chondrocyte:
The only cell found in cartilage, which produces and maintains the cartilaginous matrix, which consists mainly of collagen and proteoglycans.
Clean surgical margins:
Areas around a wound site which have been surgically modified by removing debris and dead or damaged tissue prior to administration of reparative surgery or therapy.
Coelom:
The body cavity that forms in the mesoderm during embryonic development. The coelom suspends the gut in fluid in the middle of the body, protecting it from gravity and allowing great increases in body size.
Cyst:
An abnormal sac-like structure filled with either fluid or soft material, occurring in any organ or tissue; may occur for a number of reasons, but is usually harmless unless its presence disrupts organ or tissue function.
Cytokines:
Non-antibody proteins secreted by inflammatory leukocytes and some non-leukocytic cells that act as intercellular mediators. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands.
Differentiation:
A normal process in development in which cells become structurally and functionally different from one another and develop a mature phenotype.
Donor site:
The area of the body from which an organ or tissue is removed for transplant or grafting.
Durable:
Capable of withstanding wear and tear or decay.
Ectoderm:
The layer of cells that covers the surface of an embryo after the process of gastrulation has occurred; this outer layer, together with the endoderm or inner layer, is present in all early embryos.
Embryonic stem cells:
Cells found exclusively in early-stage embryos.
Embryonic stem cells are the "blank slates" of an organism, capable of developing into all types of tissue in the body; and are able to differentiate into all derivatives of the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm. Scientists have long been interested in the therapeutic potential of embryonic stem cells, which may be used someday to create new tissues for organ transplants and replacements for cells destroyed by diseases like diabetes or trauma like spinal cord injuries. Although embryonic stem cells may be derived from embryos or fetal tissue, such stem cells are not themselves embryos.
Endoderm:
The innermost layer of cells or tissue of an embryo n early development, or the parts derived from this, which include the lining of the gut and associated structures.
Endothelial cells:
A specialized type of epithelial cell which forms the inner layer of blood vessels. Endothelial cells play a key role in angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels.
Endothelial progenitor cells:
Undifferentiated cells that reside in the adult bone marrow or circulate in the blood (circulating progenitors) that can be recruited to the sites of ongoing angiogenesis, where they differentiate and mature into endothelial cells.
Enzymatic digestion:
The process of degrading molecules or molecular complexes using proteins referred to as enzymes.
Epithelial:
Relating to the epithelium, the outside layer of the cells that covers all the free, open surfaces of the body, including the skin, and mucous membranes that communicate with the outside of the body.
Estrogen receptor-negative cells:
Cells which do not express functional levels of estrogen receptor protein on their cell membrane surface.
Estrogen receptor-positive cells:
Cells which express functional levels of estrogen receptor protein on their cell membrane surface.
Excision:
Pertaining to the surgical removal of a tissue or organ.
Fat grafting:
A surgical technique where a person’s own fat is transferred from one area of the body to another. This technique can be used to rejuvenate the face, augment the cheeks or lips, or to correct problems such as hollowness around the eyes or acne scars.
Fat necrosis:
A benign condition in which dead or damaged fatty tissues form round, firm lumps in the breast tissue. The lumps are usually painless, but in some women, may be tender. The skin around the lump may appear red, bruised or dimpled.
Fibroblasts:
A cell widely present in connective tissue that makes and secretes collagen.
Gastrulation:
The process by which a blastula becomes a gastrula or, in forms without a true blastula, the process by which three germ cell layers are acquired.
General anesthesia:
A state of total unconsciousness resulting from general anesthetic drugs. A variety of drugs are given to the patient, which have different effects with the overall aim of ensuring unconsciousness, amnesia and analgesia.
Graft resorption:
A decrease or loss of grafted tissue; the process of losing substance.
Graft survival:
When a transplanted tissue or organ is accepted by the body and functions properly. The potential for graft survival is for example, increased with a steady blood flow, when the recipient and donor are closely matched and/or when the transplanted tissue or organ is autologous.
Growth factors:
Substances, usually proteins that induce cells to change their activity. For example, VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) causes blood vessel cells to become activated and start the process of making new blood vessels. Some growth factors are very specific and only act on a small number of cell types. Others act on many different cell types. Most biologic processes require several different growth factors working together in order to get the best outcome.
Hematoma:
A localized collection of blood that accumulates in an organ, tissue, or body space as the result of leakage from a broken blood vessel.
Hemorrhage:
Excessive discharge of blood from the blood vessels; profuse bleeding.
Heterogeneous population:
A population of cells composed of different cell types possessing unique molecular and/or functional phenotypes (Also referred to as Mixed Population).
Keloid scarring:
A sharply elevated, irregularly shaped, progressively enlarging scar due to excessive collagen formation in the dermis during connective tissue repair.
Leukocytes:
White blood cell, or white corpuscle.
Light activities:
Pertaining to after surgery, the patient can begin walking and bathing, however, the patient should rest and relax with strong emphasis on causing the least amount of stress on the body.
Lipid:
Any one of a group of fats or fat-like substances characterized by their insolubility in water and solubility in fat solvents such as alcohol, ether and chloroform.
Local anesthesia:
A type of pain prevention used during minor procedures to numb a small site where pain is likely to occur without changing the patient’s awareness.
Lumpectomy:
The surgical removal of a tumor without removing much of the surrounding tissue or lymph nodes; performed in some cases of breast cancer.
Lymph nodes:
Small bean-shaped glands that help the body fight infection and disease, and remove waste and fluids from lymph and act as filters of impurities in the body.
Macrophage:
A type of white blood cell that ingests foreign material, and is key players in the immune response to foreign invaders such as infectious microorganisms.
Mammogram:
An x-ray of the breast with the breast in a device that compresses and flattens it. There are two basic mammogram tests: screening mammogram, which is performed on women with no signs of breast cancer, and diagnostic mammogram, which takes longer and involves more radiation exposure.
Mastectomy:
The surgical removal of all or part of a breast, sometimes including excision of the underlying pectoral muscles and regional lymph nodes, usually performed as a treatment of cancer.
Metastasis:
The process by which cancer spreads from the place at which it first arose as a primary tumor to distant locations in the body.
Mature cell phenotype:
Refers to a set of defined characteristics ascribed to a particular fully differentiated cell (for example, a skeletal myocyte, osteoblast, chondrocyte or adipocyte) which typically have limited or no ability to further divide or undergo differentiation to a different mature cell type.
Mesenchymal:
Of or pertaining to the mesenchyme (The part of the embryonic mesoderm, consisting of loosely packed, unspecialized cells set in a gelatinous ground substance, from which connective tissue, bone, cartilage, the circulatory and lymphatic systems develop.
Mesoderm:
The middle layer of tissue formed in the gastrula stage of the developing embryo, which lies between the ectoderm and the endoderm and gives rise to the connective tissues, muscles, urogenital system, vascular system, and the epithelial lining of the coelom.
Microenvironment:
The immediate physical and chemical surroundings of an organism.
Microvascular cells:
Cells which compose capillaries, small venules and arterioles, specifically endothelial cells, endothelial progenitors, and surrounding stromal and pericyte type cells.
Mixed population:
A population of cells composed of different cell types possessing unique molecular and/or functional phenotypes (also referred to as Heterogeneous Population).
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging):
A special radiology technique designed to image internal structures of the body using magnetism, radio waves, and a computer to produce images of body structures.
Myocyte:
A muscle cell.
Normal activity:
Pertaining to after surgery, the patient can resume their standard activities, such as returning to work, cleaning the house and all other standard activities.
NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs):
A class of drugs that relieve pain and reduce inflammation when used over a period of time, but are not steroids.
Oil cysts:
A cyst resulting from loss of the epithelial lining of a sebaceous, dermoid, lacteal cyst, subcutaneous injection of oil or fat material, or as a result from trauma or surgery.
Open label study:
A type of study in which both the health providers and the patients are aware of the drug or treatment being given.
Osteoblast:
A cell that makes bone by producing a matrix that then becomes mineralized.
Partial mastectomy:
Surgery that removes only part of the breast, leaving the surrounding healthy tissue in place.
Pedicle:
A skin or tissue graft technique in which a piece of skin from a nearby area remains attached at one of its corners, while the main part of the piece is reattached over the area in need of coverage.
Pericyte:
Slender, contractile, mesenchymal-like cells found in close association with capillary walls. They are relatively undifferentiated and may become fibroblasts, macrophages or smooth muscle cells.
Phase IV post-marketing study:
After a treatment has been approved and is being marketed, it is studied in a phase IV trial to evaluate side effects that were not apparent in the phase III trial.
Pressure bandages:
Bandages for the purpose of arresting hemorrhage; pressure is applied directly over the wound.
Prospective study:
A study in which people meeting the study criteria are enrolled and then followed over a period of time in order to gain data on events or outcome in the time following enrollment.
Proteoglycans:
Proteins that contain carbohydrate or sugar molecules and are components of cartilage that help absorb the shock of body movements and provide the joints with strength and elasticity.
Quadrantectomy:
The surgical removal of the region of the breast (approximately one quarter) containing cancer.
Regenerative medicine:
A field that includes the study and development of artificial organs, specially-grown tissues and cells (including stem cells), laboratory-made compounds, and combinations of these approaches for the treatment of injuries and disease.
Saline implants:
Breast implants that consist of a shell filled with saline, and are sometimes filled during surgery.
Segmental mastectomy:
The removal of cancer as well as some of the beast tissue around the tumor and the lining over the chest muscles below the tumor. Some of the lymph nodes under the arm are also removed, this procedure is also known as a partial mastectomy.
Seroma:
A collection of serum in the body, producing a tumor-like mass.
Serum:
The clear yellowish fluid obtained upon separating whole blood into its solid and liquid components after it has been allowed to clot; also called blood serum.
Silicone implants:
Breast implants that consist of a shell filled with silicone and are pre-filled before surgery.
Smooth muscle cells:
Cells of the smooth muscles; found within the tunica media layer of large and small arteries and veins, the bladder, uterus, male and female reproductive tracts, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, the ciliary muscle and the iris of the eye.
Soft tissue defects:
Defects to tissue that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs of the body (soft tissue pertains to the following: tendons, ligaments, fascia, fibrous tissues, fat, muscles, nerves and blood vessels).
Stromal:
Pertaining to the stroma (The supportive frame work of an organ, gland, or other structure, usually comprised of connective tissue) of an organ.
Tissue expander:
A silicone sac that is gradually inflated with saline to stretch the skin of the chest wall after a mastectomy if it is too tight to accept immediate implantation of breast prosthesis.
Tissue Resident Macrophages:
A large, mobile, highly phagocytic cell derived from monocytes. These cells become mobile when stimulated by inflammation and migrate to the affected area. They are resident in specific tissues.
Tunica:
In anatomy, a general term for a membrane or other structure covering or lining a body part or organ.
Vascular smooth muscle cells:
Refers to the particular type of smooth muscle cell found within, and composing the majority of the wall of blood vessels, and are responsible for the contraction of blood vessels.
Venules:
Small veins that act as vessels which carry blood low in oxygen content from the body back to the heart.