C C fibres small, non-myelinated, free nerve endings within skin, and fibres within mixed nerves, carrying afferent pain impulses from high-threshold polymodal nociceptors; C-fibre nerve endings also secrete bradykinins, initiating…

P pacemaker see artificial pacemaker pachyonychia congenita rare, congenital, autosomal-dominant disease characterized by generalized skin thickening and anhidrosis, and marked onychogryphosis of toenails and fingernails developing during babyhood pacinian corpuscles…

S sabre tibia anterior (sagittal-plane) bowing of tibia; characteristic of Paget’s disease sac cyst; capsule sacral plexus nerve fibre plexus (originating from spinal nerves L2–S2) that gives rise to all…

M maceration increase in bulk (with softening) of the stratum corneum; caused by prolonged exposure to sweat or induced by topical application of hydrolysing or caustic chemicals, in treatment of…

W Wagner ulcer classification system see Table U2 walking cast see Aircast boot walking cycle gait cycle; see Tables G1, G3 and G5 walking–running cycle see Table G4 Ward’s sign…

J jellyfish stings acute inflammatory skin reaction, often of legs, from injected jellyfish venom during sea bathing; affected skin areas may show hyperpigmentation Jendrassik’s manoeuvre increased response to a tendon…

A ABCDE checklist of premalignant changes in skin lesions, especially moles; lesion asymmetry; border (profile) irregularity; colour variation; diameter increase; evolution (changes over time) (Figure A1) Figure A1 Dorsal foot…