Ganglion Health Dictionary

(plural: ganglia). Harmless cystic swelling of the sheath of a tendon, chiefly on the wrist. Deposits of calcium may thicken walls and form a focus of pressure causing pain. May also appear on the ankle. Relief comes when the swelling disperses or bursts.

Treatment. Topical Castor oil packs or Rue lotion are said to be effective. Internal treatment of no value. A ganglion may be dispersed by sudden pressure by the thumbs or by a smart blow with a book. 

A group of nerve cells that have a common function; for example, the basal ganglia in the brain are concerned with the control of muscular movements.

The term is also used to describe a fluid-filled swelling associated with the sheath of a tendon.

This term is used in two senses. In anatomy, it means an aggregation of nerve cells found in the course of certain nerves. In surgery, it means an enlargement of the sheath of a tendon, containing ?uid. The latter occurs particularly in connection with the tendons in front of, and behind, the wrist.

Causes The cause of these dilatations on the tendon-sheaths is either some irregular growth of the SYNOVIAL MEMBRANE which lines them and secretes the ?uid that lubricates their movements, or the forcing-out of a small pouch of this membrane through the sheath in consequence of a strain. In either case a bag-like swelling forms, whose connection with the synovial sheath becomes cut o?, so that synovial ?uid collects in it and distends it more and more.

Symptoms A soft, elastic, movable swelling forms, most often on the back of the wrist. It is usually small and gives no problems. Sometimes weakness and discomfort may develop. A ganglion which forms in connection with the ?exor tendons in front of the wrist sometimes attains a large size, and extends down to form another swelling in the palm of the hand.

Treatment Sudden pressure with the thumbs may often burst a ganglion and disperse its contents beneath the skin. If this fails, surgical excision is necessary but, as the ganglion may disappear spontaneously, there should be no rush to remove it unless it is causing inconvenience or pain.

n. (pl. ganglia) 1. (in neurology) any structure containing a collection of nerve cell bodies and often also numbers of synapses. In the *sympathetic nervous system chains of ganglia are found on each side of the spinal cord, while in the *parasympathetic system ganglia are situated in or nearer to the organs innervated. Swellings in the posterior sensory *roots of the spinal nerves are termed ganglia; these contain cell bodies but no synapses. Within the central nervous system certain well-defined masses of nerve cells are called ganglia (or nuclei); for example, the *basal ganglia. 2. an abnormal but harmless swelling (cyst) that sometimes forms in tendon sheaths, especially at the wrist.