Body Piercing Glossary

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This glossary is being continually expanded and updated.

Achilles

• A piercing of the skin overlying the Achilles Tendon just above the heel.

Acrylic

• A clear plastic derived from acrylic acid.
• Commonly known by the name Perspex®.

Adrenaline

• See epinephrine.

Adverse Reaction

• An unwanted side effect of a treatment, usually applied to medications.
• Adverse reactions are often unpredictable.
• It is always prudent to ask before piercing whether the piercee has any allergies.

Aerosol Spread

• The spread of viral or bacterial infection through the air.
• Commonly occurs when we catch a cold or flu by breathing the air into which another person has sneezed.
• Can also occur when fine particles of blood enter the air during piercing or tattooing.
• Is the reason only one person should be operated upon or pierced or tattooed in one room at any one time.
• Hospital operating theatres have special ventilation ensuring only filtered air passes over the patient and aerosol spread of infection does not occur.

Ala

• The medical term for the side of the nose.
• Composed of a wing of skin-covered cartilage.
• The plural of "ala" is "alae".

Alcohol

• Commonly refers to ethanol, the active ingredient of wine, spirits and beer
• To scientists means a class of organic compounds composed of a chain of carbon atoms attached to a hydroxyl group.

Alcoholism

• A condition of dependence on alcohol to the extent it damages a person's body, soul or relationships.
• Regular consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol thins the blood and will cause excessive bleeding in piercings.

Alcohol Swab

• A square of fibrous material saturated with isopropyl alcohol, sealed in an impervious wrapper which can be easily torn open.
• Commonly used to swab the skin before giving injections.
• Provides limited antisepsis and may in fact spread bacteria around on the skin.
• Often mistakenly used to clean piercings, and whilst momentarily killing a few bacteria, its alcohol actually kills the healing skin thus inviting infection.

Allergy

• Sensitivity to a substance so that the body reacts adversely to any contact with that substance.
• Varies in degree from a mild to a life-threatening reaction.
• Retraction of the skin of the piercing away from the jewelry is sometimes a sign of allergy.
• See also Hypersensitivity

Alloy

• A mixture of various metals.
• Usually has different qualities from the metals that it contains, e.g. though 75% gold, 18 carat gold is much stronger and resistant to wear than pure gold.

Ampallang

• A horizontal piercing through the glans penis.
• May or may not traverse the urethra.
• Also called palang

Anaesthetic

• A drug that stops nerves conducting sensations (pain, light touch, deep pressure, taste) to the brain.
• Can be injected.
• Can be applied as a paste or gel onto the skin.
• Commonest form is lidocaine or lignocaine.
• Can be used to make some piercing procedures painless.

Anaphylaxis

• An extreme reaction to skin contact, ingestion or injection of a substance.
• Symptoms include:
  • Collapse
  • Inability to breath
  • Swelling of the skin, face, mouth, tongue
  • Rapid pulse
  • Low blood pressure
• Can be fatal if untreated.
• Treatment is by the injection of epinephrine (also called adrenalin).
• In piercing can occur with:
  • antiseptics e.g. iodine containing compounds
  • Antibiotics e.g. penicillin, used to treat infections

Anatomical position

• A medical convention used to facilitate the precise description of body parts.
• In the anatomical position the body is imagined standing on tip toes, with the palms pointed forward, the soles of the feet backwards, and in males, the penis erect and pointing upwards.
• Commonly used terms include:
  • Ventral or Anterior= in front
    e.g.
    The palm is the ventral surface of the hand;
    the underside of the penile shaft is the ventral surface of the shaft;
    the tragus is anterior to the ear canal.
  • Dorsal or Posterior = at the back.
    e.g.
    The back of the hand is the dorsal surface;
    The reverse Prince Albert exits on the dorsum of the penis.
  • Superior = higher than
    e.g.
    The helix of the ear is superior to the lobe;
    the clitoral hood is superior to the tip of the clitoris.
  • Inferior = lower than
    e.g.
    The frenum of the tongue connects the inferior surface of the tongue to the floor of the mouth.
  • Medial= towards the midline
    e.g.
    The big toe is medial to the little toe.
  • Lateral= away from the midline
    e.g.
    The thumb is lateral to the other fingers when standing with the palms pointing forward;
    the outer helix of the ear is lateral to the tragus.

Anatomy

• The study or description of the structure of the body.

Antibiotic

• A substance that kills or prevents the growth and reproduction of bacteria.
  e.g.
  • Penicillin is bactericidal - it kills bacteria.
  • Sulphamethoxazole is bacteriostatic - it stops bacteria growing.

Anti-coagulant

• A substance that decreases the ability of the blood to clot.
• Anti-coagulants may cause increased or uncontrolled bleeding when performing a piercing.

Antiseptic

• A substance that destroys micro-organisms that might cause disease.
• Antisepsis does not produce a sterile environment but merely reduces the chance of infection.

Anti-Tragus

• The extrusive ridge of cartilage inferior and lateral to the ear canal, opposite the tragus.

APP

• The Association of Professional Piercers
• A non-profit organisation based in Georgia, USA.
• Membership is available internationally.
• Standards are very high.
• The website includes links to USA State legislation.
• www.safepiercing.org

Apradavya

• A vertical piercing passing through the glans of the penis.
• Usually traverses the urethra.

Areola

• The pigmented area surrounding the nipple of the breast.

Argyria

• The word is derived from the Latin "argentum" meaning silver.
• Refers to a black discoloration of the skin caused by silver from jewlery being absorbed into the skin in healing piercings.
• Silver jewelry should never be used in healing piercings, only in healed piercings.

Aspiration

• Inhalation into the lung of any object.
• Any oral piercing carries a risk of the accidental inhalation of jewelry parts into the lung.
• This a medical emergency requiring hospital admission for operation to remove the object.

Aspirin

• A white crystalline drug used for pain relief, treatment of inflammation, and to prevent strokes and heart attacks.
• A potent anti-coagulant that will increase bleeding during and after piercing procedures.
• Chemical name Acetasalicylic acid.

Austin bar

• A piercing passing horizontally through the tip of the nose.

Autoclave