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Medical Terminology
Nervous System Terms
63
Medical
Undergraduate 1
02/25/2007

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Term
cerebellum
Definition
coordinates muscle responses, manages equilibrium
Term
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Definition
yellowish fluid in the ventricles
Term
cerebrum
Definition
the largest part of the brain
Term
cranial nerves
Definition
12 pairs of nerves coming directly from the brain
Term
meninges (dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater)
Definition
3 layers - surround the brain and spinal cord
Term
neuron
Definition
functional cells of nervous tissue
Term
spinal cord
Definition
nerve cord that extends down the spine
Term
brainstem
Definition
transmits nerve impulses, regulates breathing rhythm
Term
central nervous system
Definition
brain and spinal cord
Term
peripheral nervous sytem
Definition
cranial and spinal nerves
Term
aphasia
Definition
inability to speak
Term
cephalalgia
Definition
a headache (general head pain)
Term
dysphasia
Definition
difficulty speaking
Term
hyperesthesia
Definition
increased sensitivity to sensation
Term
neuralgia
Definition
pain in a nerve
Term
paresthesia
Definition
abnormal numbness/tingling (no objective cause)
Term
agnosia
Definition
loss of ability to interpret sensory information
Term
cerebral aneurysm
Definition
dilated blood vessel in the brain
Term
cerebral arteriosclerosis
Definition
brain artery hardening
Term
cerebral atherosclerosis
Definition
fatty brain blood vessel deposits restricting blood flow
Term
cerebral embolism
Definition
floating blood clot in the brain
Term
cerebral palsy (CP)
Definition
partial muscle paralysis - brain defect/lesion
Term
cerebral thrombosis
Definition
lodged blood clot in vessels supplying the brain
Term
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
Definition
disruption of brain blood supply resulting in functional loss/death (stroke)
Term
coma
Definition
general term for decreased consciousness
Term
dementia
Definition
impairment of mental function (including memory loss)
Term
encephalitis
Definition
brain inflammation (bacterial/virus infection)
Term
encephalomalacia
Definition
brain tissue softening
Term
epilepsy
Definition
brain disorder - recurrent seizures
Term
hemiplegia
Definition
paralysis on one side of the body
Term
hydrocephalus
Definition
increased volume of CSF in the ventricles
Term
meningioma
Definition
benign meninges tumor
Term
meningitis
Definition
meninges inflammation
Term
meningocele
Definition
meninges protrusion - skull/spinal column defect
Term
spina bifida
Definition
neural tube defect (from birth) - open lesion on the spine
Term
meningomyelocele
Definition
protrusion of meninges AND spinal cord through the spinal cord
Term
multiple sclerosis (MS)
Definition
deterioration of the myelin sheath
Term
myelitis
Definition
spinal cord inflammation
Term
narcolepsy
Definition
sudden, uncontrollable attacks of sleep
Term
paraplegia
Definition
paralysis from the waist down
Term
Parkinson's disease
Definition
degenerative disease; tremors, rigidity, expressionless face, shuffling gait
Term
poliomyelitis
Definition
spinal cord/gray matter inflammation
Term
polyneuritis
Definition
inflammation of many nerves at one time
Term
psychosis
Definition
mental disorder - distortion of emotions, incapacity to recognize reality
Term
quadriplegia
Definition
paralysis of all four limbs
Term
sciatica
Definition
sciatic nerve inflammation
Term
tonic-clonic seizure
Definition
spasms of all muscle groups
Term
abscence seizure
Definition
brief losses of consciousness
Term
shingles (herpes zoster)
Definition
viral peripheral nerve infection (blisters)
Term
syncope
Definition
fainting (sudden blood flow loss)
Term
transient ischemic attack
Definition
temporary loss of blood flow to a part of the brain
Term
analgesia
Definition
relieves pain
Term
anesthesia
Definition
without feeling or sensation
Term
craniotomy
Definition
skull incision to approach the brain
Term
electroencephalogram (EEG)
Definition
records brainwaves
Term
lumbar puncture
Definition
aspiration of spinal fluid (CSF) in the lumbar region
Term
myelogram
Definition
x-ray of the spinal cord
Term
neurology
Definition
study and medical practice of the nervous system
Term
neuroplasty
Definition
surgical nerve repair
Term
psychiatry
Definition
addresses brain disorders
Term
psychology
Definition
study of human behavior
Term
delirium
Definition
acute confusion (sudden change)
Term
migraine headache
Definition
severe (often disabling) headache - visual impairment, light/sound sensitivity, severe pain
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