Term
|
Definition
| disease characterized by early dementia, confusion, loss of recognition of persons or familiar surroundings and impaired memory |
|
|
Term
| amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) |
|
Definition
| progressive muscle atrophy caused by degeneration and scarring of neurons along the lateral columns of the spinal cord that control muscles (aka Lou Gehrig disease) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| paralysis of muscles on one side of the face caused by inflammation or compression of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII); signs include sagging mouth on the affected side and nonclosure of the eyelid- paralysis is usually temporary |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an embolus lodges in a cerebral artery, causing sudden blockage of blood supply to the brain tissue; atrial fibrillation is a common cause, which can lead to ischemic stroke |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| condition characterized by lack of muscle control and partial paralysis, caused by a brain defect or lesion present at birth or shortly after |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| cognitive impairment characterized by loss of intellectual brain function; patients have difficulty performing complex tasks, reasoning, retaining new information, word finding and behavior; has many causes and is not considered a normal part of aging |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| condition characterized by recurrent seizures; general term given to a group of neurologic disorders, all characterized by abnormal electrical activity in the brain |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| congenital or acquired disorder caused by obstructed circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in dilated cerebral ventricles and impaired brain function; can cause enlargement of the cranium in infants |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| bleeding into the brain as a result of a ruptured blood vessel within the brain; symptoms vary depending on the location of the hemorrhage and often develop suddenly |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| chronic degenerative disease characterized by sclerotic patches along the brain and spinal cord; symptoms fluctuate over the course of the disease, most commonly including fatigue, balance and coordination impairments, numbness and vision problems |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system; symptoms include resting tremors of the hands and feet, rigidity, expressionless face and shuffling gait; usually occurs after 50 |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| inflammation of the sciatica nerve, causing pain that travels from the thigh through the leg to the foot and toes; can be caused by injury, infection, arthritis, herniated disk or from prolonged pressure from sitting for long periods |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| viral disease that affects the peripheral nerves and causes blisters on the skin that follow the course of the affected nerves (aka herpes zoster) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| occurs when there is an interruption of blood supply to a region of the brain, depriving nerve cells of oxygen and nutrients; speech, movement, memory and other CNS functions may be affected to varying degrees (aka cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or brain attack) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| kind of stroke resulting from a blocked blood vessel |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| kind of stroke resulting from bleeding |
|
|
Term
| subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) |
|
Definition
| bleeding caused by a ruptured blood vessel just outside the brain (usually a ruptured cerebral aneurysm) that rapidly fills the space between the pia mater and arachnoid layers of the meninges with blood; symptoms can include an intense, sudden headache accompanied by nausea, vomiting and neck pain (a cause of hemorrhagic stroke) |
|
|
Term
| transient ischemic attack (TIA) |
|
Definition
| sudden deficient supply of blood to the brain lasting a short time; symptoms may be similar to those of stroke, but are temporary and usual outcome is complete recovery; often a warning sign for eventual occurence of a stroke |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| group of diagnostic tests that measure changes and responses in the brain waves elicited by visual, auditory or somatosensory stimuli; (VER and AER are two common types) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| diagnostic procedure performed by insertion of a needle into the subarachnoid space usually between the 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae; performed for many reasons, including the removal of cerebrospinal fluid (aka spinal tap) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| conveying toward a center |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| lack of muscle coordination |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| pertaining to the mental processes of comprehension, judgement, memory and reason |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| state of profound unconsciousness |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| injury to the brain caused by minor or major head trauma; symptoms include vertigo, headache and possible loss of consciousness |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| awake, alert, aware of one's surroundings |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| sudden, involuntary contraction of a group of muscles; may be present during a seizure |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a state of mental confusion as to time, place or identity |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the inability to use speech that is distinct and connected because of a loss of muscle control after damage to PNS or CNS |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| conveying away from the center |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a manner or style of walking |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| unable to express one's thoughts or ideas in an orderly, intelligible manner |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| paralysis from the waist down caused by damage to the lower level of the spinal cord |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| sudden, abnormal surge of electrical activity in the brain, resulting in involuntary body movements or behaviors |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| tube implanted in the body to redirect the flow of a fluid |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| fainting or sudden loss of consciousness caused by lack of blood supply to the cerebrum |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| state of being unaware of surroundings and incapable of responding to stimuli as a result of injury, shock ilness or drugs |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| emotional disorder characterized by feeling of apprehension, tension or unease arising typically from anticipation of unreal or imagined danger |
|
|
Term
| attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) |
|
Definition
| disorder of learning and behavioral problems characterized by marked inattention, distractibility, impulsiveness and hyperactivity |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| spectrum of mental disorders, the features of which include onset during infancy or childhood, preoccupation with subjective mental activity, inability to interact socially and impaired communication (aka Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) or Pervasive Development Disorders (PDD)) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| mood disturbance characterized by feelings of sadness, despair, discouragement, hopelessness, lack of joy, altered sleep patterns and difficulty with decision making and daily function; ranges from normal feelings of sadness through dysthymia (chronic depressive neurosis) to major depression (aka clinical depression, mood disorder) |
|
|
Term
| obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) |
|
Definition
| disorder characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts that result in the tendency to perform repetitive acts or rituals, usually as a means of releasing tension or anxiety |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| episode of sudden onset of acute anxiety, occurring unpredictably |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific situation or object |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| compulsive eating of nonnutritive substances such as clay or ice; often a result of an iron deficiency |
|
|
Term
| posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) |
|
Definition
| disorder characterized by a chronic, debilitating emotional response to a traumatic event perceived as life threatening or severe emotional stress; symptoms include anxiety, sleep disturbance, nightmares, difficulty concentrating and depression |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| any one of a large group of psychotic disorders characterized by gross distortions of reality, disturbance of language and communication, withdrawal from social interaction and the disorganization and fragmentation of thought, perception and emotional reaction |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| disorders characterized by physical symptoms for which no known physical cause exists |
|
|
