Glossary of Chiropractic & Medical Terms

ILIAC BONE - A part of the pelvic bone. Two ilia and one sacrum comprise the pelvis.

ILIAC CREST - The large, prominent portion of the pelvic bone at the belt line of the body.

IMMOBILIZATION - Limitation of motion or fixation of a body part usually to promote healing.

IMPAIRMENT - Any physical or functional abnormality or loss, including disfigurement, resulting from an injury, and any psychological damage arising from the abnormality or loss. Impairment implies loss of a bodily function. Impairment is not the loss of a bodily ability, e.g. the loss of a pinkey finger tip is a small, but permanent bodily impairment, but is a significant disability if you are a professional pianist, and not a disability at all if you are a commercial fisherman.

IN VITRO - Describing biological phenomena that are made to occur outside the living body traditionally in a test tube. In vitro is Latin for in glass.

IN VIVO - Within a living body. In vivo is Latin for in life.

INCIDENCE: The number of new cases of a disorder at or over a certain time in a designated area.

INFERIOR - Situated below or directed downward.

INFORMED CONSENT - Consent of the patient who has received sufficient information to have surgery, receive medication, or participate in a clinical course or study.

INITIAL PATIENT EVALUATION: The assessment procedures performed on a patient upon initial contact. Initial evaluation may include a series of diagnostic or evaluative sessions separated by days or weeks for the purpose of evaluating the patient's state prior to the initiation of care. Also known as preliminary assessment, preliminary evaluation, clinical work-up, preliminary work-up.

INSTABILITY: An undesirable or unstable joint condition resulting in damage or symptoms while under the influence of physiologic loading.

INSTRUMENT: A specific tool or measuring device. It includes questionnaires filled out by patients.

INTERNAL FIXATION - The immobilization of bone fragments or joints with implants in order to promote healing or fusion.

INTER-RATER RELIABILITY: The extent to which results obtained by different raters or interviewers using the same measurement method will agree.

INTERVERTEBRAL DISC - See disc.

INTRACEREBRAL HEMATOMA - A blood clot within the brain.

INTRACRANIAL - Within the cranium of the skull.

INTRINSIC - Situated entirely within or pertaining exclusively to a part.

ISCHEMIA - Inadequate circulation of blood generally due to a blockage or compression of an artery