Glossary
Terms used in accessibility research and practice. Each entry has a definition, common aliases, and category tags.
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- Ankle Foot Orthosis(also: AFO, Ankle Brace, Foot Drop Brace)
- An external medical device that encompasses the ankle joint and all or part of the foot, designed to support the ankle and improve gait in people with muscle weakness, spasticity, or structural deformity. AFOs are commonly prescribed for conditions such as cerebral palsy,…
- Body-Powered Prosthesis(also: Cable-Operated Prosthesis, Mechanical Prosthesis)
- A body-powered prosthesis is a type of prosthetic device that uses the wearer's own body movements to operate a mechanical function, typically through a cable-pull system. In upper-limb devices like those produced by the e-NABLE community, wrist flexion pulls cables that cause…
- Cosmesis(also: Cosmetic Cover, Prosthetic Cosmesis)
- A covering applied to a prosthetic device that is designed to make the prosthesis look more natural or socially acceptable, and sometimes to improve grip or functionality. Cosmeses are available in a limited range of skin tones, which raises significant equity concerns—people…
- Myoelectric Control
- The use of electromyographic (EMG) signals from voluntary muscle contractions as control inputs for external devices, most commonly powered upper-limb prostheses but also exoskeletons, wheelchairs, and general computer input. Traditional myoelectric control uses direct mappings…
- Prosthesis(also: Prosthetic, Prosthetic Device, Artificial Limb)
- A prosthesis is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, which may be lost through congenital conditions, injury, or disease. Prostheses range from purely cosmetic devices designed to replicate natural appearance, to functional devices that restore some degree of…
- Upper-Limb Prosthetic(also: Upper Limb Prosthesis, Arm Prosthetic, Hand Prosthetic)
- A prosthetic device that replaces or augments part or all of a missing upper limb — fingers, hand, wrist, forearm, or full arm. Upper-limb prosthetics range from passive cosmetic devices and body-powered cable-driven hands to externally powered myoelectric systems that read…
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