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Nervous system
non-psychiatric terms
183
Health Care
Undergraduate 1
07/03/2015

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Term
cerebr/o
Definition
cerebrum (largest part of brain)
Term
cerebell/o
Definition
cerebellum (little brain)
Term
crani/o
Definition
skull
Term
encephal/o
Definition
entire brain
Term
esthesi/o
Definition
sensation
Term
gangli/o
Definition
ganglion (knot)
Term
gli/o
Definition
glue
Term
gnos/o
Definition
knowing
Term
kinesi/o
Definition
movement
Term
lex/o
Definition
word or phrase
Term
mening/o
Definition
meninges (membrane)
Term
myel/o
Definition
spinal cord or bone marrow
Term
narc/o
Definition
stupor, sleep
Term
meningi/o
Definition
meninges (membrane)
Term
phas/o
Definition
speech
Term
phob/o
Definition
exaggerated fear or sensitivity
Term
phor/o
Definition
carry, bear
Term
phren/o
Definition
mind
Term
schiz/o
Definition
split
Term
somat/o
Definition
body
Term
hypn/o
Definition
sleep
Term
spin/o
Definition
spine (thorn)
Term
vertebr/o
Definition
vertebra
Term
stere/o
Definition
three dimensional or solid
Term
thym/o
Definition
mind
Term
somn/I
Definition
sleep
Term
spondyl/o
Definition
vertebra
Term
psych/o
Definition
mind
Term
somn/o
Definition
sleep
Term
ton/o
Definition
tone, tension
Term
tax/o
Definition
order or coordination
Term
thalam/o
Definition
thalamus (a room)
Term
top/o
Definition
place
Term
ventricul/o
Definition
ventricle (belly or pouch)
Term
cata-
Definition
down
Term
-asthenia
Definition
weakness
Term
-lepsy
Definition
seizure
Term
-mania
Definition
abnormal impulse (attraction) toward
Term
-paresis
Definition
slight paralysis
Term
-plegia
Definition
paralysis
Term
central nervous system (CNS)
Definition
brain and spinal cord
Term
brain
Definition
portion of CNS contained within the cranium
Term
cerebrum
Definition
largest portion of the brain; divided into right and left halves, known as cerebral hemispheres, that are connected by a bridge of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum; lobes of the cerebrum are named after the skull bones they underlie
Term
frontal lobe
Definition
anterior section of each cerebral hemisphere responsible for voluntary muscle movement and personality
Term
parietal lobe
Definition
portion posterior to the frontal lobe, responsible for sensations such as pain, temperature, and touch
Term
temporal lobe
Definition
portion that lies below the frontal lobe, responsible for hearing, taste, and smell
Term
CNS
Definition
central nervous system = brain and spinal cord
Term
occipital lobe
Definition
portion posterior to the parietal and temporal lobes, responsible for vision
Term
cerebral cortex
Definition
outer layer of cerebrum consisting of gray matter, responsible for higher mental functions (cortex = bark)
Term
Thalamus (diencephalon)
Definition
each of two gray matter nuclei deep within the brain responsible for relaying sensory information to the cortex
Term
gyri
Definition
convolutions (mounds) of the cerebral hemispheres
Term
sulci
Definition
shallow grooves that separate gyri
Term
fissures
Definition
deep grooves in the brain
Term
cerebellum
Definition
portion of the brain located below the occipital lobes of the cerebrum, responsible for control and coordination of skeletal muscles
Term
brainstem
Definition
region of the brain that serves as a relay between the cerebrum, cerebellum, and spinal cord; responsible for breathing, heart rate, and body temperature; the three levels are the mesencephalon (midbrain), pons, and medulla oblongata
Term
ventricles
Definition
series of interconnected cavities within the cerebral hemispheres and brainstem filled with cerebrospinal fluid
Term
cerebrospinal fluid
Definition
plasma-like clear fluid circulating in and around the brain and spinal cord
Term
spinal cord
Definition
column of nervous tissue from the brainstem through the vertebrae, responsible for nerve conduction to and from the brain and the body
Term
meninges
Definition
three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, consisting of the dura mater, pia mater, and arachnoid mater
Term
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Definition
nerves that branch from the CNS, including nerves of the brain (cranial nerves) and spinal cord (spinal nerves)
Term
cranial nerves
Definition
12 pairs of nerves arising from the brain
Term
spinal nerves
Definition
31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord
Term
sensory nerves
Definition
nerves that conduct impulses from body parts and carry sensory information to the brain; also called afferent nerves (ad = toward; ferre = carry)
Term
motor nerves
Definition
nerves that conduct motor impulses from the brain to muscles and glands; also called efferent nerves (e = out; ferre = carry)
Term
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Definition
nerves that carry involuntary impulses to smooth muscle; cardiac muscle, and various glands
Term
PNS
Definition
peripheral nervous system
Term
ANS
Definition
autonomic nervous system
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
control center for the autonomic nervous system located below the thalamus (diencephalon)
Term
sympathetic nervous system
Definition
division of the ANS concerned primarily with preparing the body in stressful or emergency situations
Term
parasympathetic nervous system
Definition
division of the ANS that is most active in ordinary conditions; it counterbalances the effects of the sympathetic system by restoring the body to a restful state after a stressful experience
Term
aphasia
Definition
inability to speak
Term
dysphasia
Definition
difficulty speaking
Term
coma
Definition
a deep sleep; a general term referring to levels of decreased consciousness with varying responsiveness; a common method of assessment is the Glasgow coma scale
Term
delirium
Definition
a state of mental confusion caused by disturbances in cerebral function; the many causes include fever, shock, or drug overdose (deliro = to draw the furrow awry when plowing, i.e., to go off the rails)
Term
dementia
Definition
an impairment of intellectual function characterized by memory loss, disorientation, and confusion (dementio = to be mad)
Term
motor deficit
Definition
loss or impairment of muscle function
Term
sensory deficit
Definition
loss or impairment of sensation
Term
neuralgia
Definition
pain along the course of a nerve
Term
paralysis
Definition
temporary or permanent loss of motor control
Term
flaccid paralysis
Definition
defective (flabby) or absent muscle control caused by a nerve lesion
Term
spastic paralysis
Definition
stiff and awkward muscle control caused by a CNS disorder
Term
hemiparesis
Definition
partial paralysis of the right or left half of the body
Term
sciatica
Definition
pain that follows the pathway of the sciatic nerve caused by compression or trauma of the nerve or its roots
Term
seizure
Definition
sudden, transient disturbances in brain function resulting from abnormal firing of nerve impulses (may or may not be associated with convulsion)
Term
convulsion
Definition
to pull together; type of seizure that causes a series of sudden, involuntary contractions of muscles
Term
syncope
Definition
fainting
Term
tactile stimulation
Definition
evoking a response by touching
Term
hyperesthesia
Definition
increased sensitivity to stimulation such as touch or pain
Term
paresthesia
Definition
abnormal sensation of numbness and tingling without objective cause
Term
agnosia
Definition
any of many types of loss of neurologic function involving interpretation of sensory information
Term
astereognosis
Definition
inability to judge the form of an object by touch (e.g. , a coin from a key)
Term
atopognosis
Definition
inability to locate a sensation properly, such as to locate a point touched on the body
Term
Alzheimer disease
Definition
disease of structural changes in the brain resulting in an irreversible deterioration that progresses from forgetfulness and disorientation to loss of all intellectual functions, total disability, and death
Term
cerebral palsy (CP)
Definition
condition of motor dysfunction caused by damage to the cerebrum during development of injury at birth; characterized by partial paralysis and lack of muscle coordination (palsy = paralysis)
Term
cerebrovascular disease
Definition
disorder resulting from a change within one or more blood vessels of the brain
Term
cerebral arteriosclerosis
Definition
hardening of the arteries of the brain
Term
CP
Definition
cerebral palsy
Term
cerebral atherosclerosis
Definition
condition of lipid (fat) buildup within the blood vessels of the brain (ather/o = fatty [lipid] paste)
Term
cerebral aneurysm
Definition
dilation of a blood vessel in the brain (aneurysm = dilation or widening)
Term
cerebral thrombosis
Definition
presence of a stationary clot in a blood vessel of the brain
Term
cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
Definition
stroke = damage to the brain caused by cerebrovascular disease; e.g., occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus or thrombus or intracranial hemorrhage after rupture of an aneurysm
Term
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Definition
brief episode of loss of blood flow to the brain; usually caused by a partial occlusion that results in temporary neurologic deficit (impairment); often precedes a CVA
Term
encephalitis
Definition
inflammation of the brain
Term
epilepsy
Definition
disorder affecting the CNS, characterized by recurrent seizures
Term
CVA
Definition
cerebrovascular accident = stroke
Term
TIA
Definition
transient ischemic attack
Term
stroke
Definition
CVA = damage to the brain caused by cerebrovascular disease; e.g., occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus or thrombus or intracranial hemorrhage after rupture of an aneurysm
Term
Huntington chorea
Definition
hereditary disease of the CNS characterized by bizarre involuntary body movements and progressive dementia (choros = dance)
Term
tonic-clonic
Definition
stiffening-jerking; a major motor seizure involving all muscle groups; previously termed grand mal (big bad) seizure
Term
absence
Definition
seizure involving a brief loss of consciousness without motor involvement; previously termed petit mal (little bad) seizure
Term
partial
Definition
seizure involving only limited areas of the brain with localized symptoms
Term
glioma
Definition
tumor of glial cells graded by degree of malignancy
Term
herniated disk (disc)
Definition
protrusion of a degenerated or fragmented intervertebral disk so that the nucleus pulposus protrudes, causing compression on the nerve root
Term
herpes zoster
Definition
viral disease affecting the peripheral nerves characterized by painful blisters that spread over the skin following the affected nerves; usually unilateral; also known as shingles
Term
Huntington disease (HD)
Definition
hereditary disease of the CNS characterized by bizarre involuntary body movements and progressive dementia (choros = dance)
Term
MS
Definition
multiple sclerosis
Term
hydrocephalus
Definition
abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain as a result of developmental anomalies, infection, injury, or tumor
Term
meningioma
Definition
benign tumor of the coverings of the brain (meninges)
Term
meningitis
Definition
inflammation of the meninges
Term
migraine headache
Definition
paroxysmal (sudden, periodic) attacks of mostly unilateral headache often accompanied by disordered vision, nausea, or vomiting, lasting hours or days, and caused by dilation of arteries
Term
multiple sclerosis (MS)
Definition
disease of the CNS characterized by the demyelination (deterioration of the myelin sheath) of nerves fibers, with episodes of neurologic dysfunction (exacerbation) followed by recovery (remission)
Term
myasthenia gravis
Definition
autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction causing a progressive decrease in muscle strength; activity resumes and strength returns after a period of rest
Term
myelitis
Definition
inflammation of the spinal cord
Term
narcolepsy
Definition
sleep disorder characterized by a sudden, uncontrollable need to sleep, attacks of paralysis (cataplexy), and dreams intruding while awake (hypnagogic hallucinations)
Term
Parkinson disease
Definition
slowly progressive degeneration of nerves in the brain characterized by tremor, rigidity of muscles, and slow movements (bradykinesia), usually occurring later in life
Term
plegia
Definition
paralysis
Term
hemiplegia
Definition
paralysis on one side of the body
Term
paraplegia
Definition
paralysis from the waist down
Term
quadriplegia
Definition
paralysis of all four limbs
Term
poliomyelitis
Definition
inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord caused by a virus, often resulting in spinal and muscle deformity and paralysis (polio = gray)
Term
polyneuritis
Definition
inflammation involving two or more nerves, often caused by a nutritional deficiency such as lack of thiamine
Term
sleep apnea
Definition
periods of breathing cessation (10 seconds or more) that occur during sleep, often causing snoring
Term
spina bifida
Definition
congenital defect in the spinal column characterized by the absence of vertebral arches, often resulting in pouching of spinal membranes or tissue
Term
lumbar puncture (LP)
Definition
introduction of a specialized needle into the spine in the lumbar region for diagnostic or therapeutic purpose, such as to obtain cerebrospinal fluid for testing; also called spinal tap
Term
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Definition
nonionizing imaging technique using magnetic fields (MRI) and radiofrequency waves to visualize anatomic structures (especially soft tissue) such as the tissues of the brain and spinal cord
Term
electroencephalogram (EEG)
Definition
record of the minute electrical impulses of the brain, used to identify neurologic conditions that affect brain function and level of consciousness
Term
evoked potentials
Definition
minute electrical waves that are sorted out of ongoing EEG activity to diagnose auditory, visual, and sensory pathway disorders
Term
polysomnography
Definition
recording of various aspects of sleep (e.g., eye and muscle movements, respiration, and EEG patterns) to diagnose sleep disorders
Term
LP
Definition
lumbar puncture
Term
MRI
Definition
magnetic resonance imaging
Term
EEG
Definition
electroencephalogram
Term
magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
Definition
magnetic resonance imaging of the blood vessels, for detecting pathologic conditions such as thrombosis and atherosclerosis
Term
MRA
Definition
magnetic resonance angiography
Term
intracranial MRA
Definition
MRI of the head to visualize the vessels of the circle of Willis (common site of cerebral aneurysm, stenosis, or occlusion)
Term
extracranial MRA
Definition
MRI of the neck to visualize the carotid artery
Term
nuclear medicine imaging
Definition
radionuclide organ imaging
Term
SPECT brain scan (single photon emission computed tomography)
Definition
scan combining nuclear medicine and computed tomography to produce images of the brain after administration of radioactive isotopes
Term
positron emission tomography (PET)
Definition
technique combining nuclear medicine and computed tomography to produce images of brain anatomy and corresponding physiology, used to study stroke, Alzheimer disease, epilepsy, metabolic brain disorders, chemistry of nerve transmissions in the brain, and so on; provides greater accuracy than SPECT but is used less often because of cost and limited availability of the radioisotopes
Term
single photon emission computed tomography
Definition
SPECT brain scan
Term
PET
Definition
positron emission tomography
Term
radiography
Definition
x-ray imaging
Term
cerebral angiogram
Definition
x-ray of blood vessels in the brain after intracranial injection of contrast medium
Term
computed tomography (of the head)
Definition
computed tomographic x-ray images of the head used to visualize abnormalities; such as brain tumors and malformations
Term
myelogram
Definition
x-ray of the spinal cord made after intraspinal injection of contrast medium
Term
reflex testing
Definition
test performed to observe the body’s response to a stimulus
Term
deep tendon reflexes (DTR)
Definition
involuntary muscle contraction after percussion at a tendon (e.g., patella, Achilles) indicating function; positive findings are either no reflex response or an exaggerated response to stimulus; numbers are often used to record responses: +1 diminished response, +2 normal response, +3 more brisk than average response, +4 hyperactive response
Term
DTR
Definition
deep tendon reflexes
Term
Babinski sign or reflex
Definition
pathologic response to stimulation of the plantar surface of the foot; a positive sign is indicated when the toes dorsiflex (curl upward)
Term
transcranial sonogram
Definition
image made by sending ultrasound beams through the skull to assess blood flow in intracranial vessels; used in diagnosis and management of stroke and head trauma
Term
craniectomy
Definition
excision of part of the skull to approach the brain
Term
craniotomy
Definition
incision into the skull to approach the brain
Term
diskectomy (discectomy)
Definition
removal of a herniated disk; often done percutaneously (per = through; cutaneous = skin)
Term
laminectomy
Definition
excision of one or more laminae of the vertebrae to approach the spinal cord
Term
vertebral lamina
Definition
flattened posterior portion of the vertebral arch
Term
microsurgery
Definition
use of a microscope to dissect minute structures during surgery
Term
neuroplasty
Definition
surgical repair of a nerve
Term
spondylosyndesis
Definition
spinal fusion
Term
chemotherapy
Definition
treatment of malignancies, infections, and other diseases with chemical agents to destroy selected cells or impair their ability to reproduce
Term
radiation therapy
Definition
treatment of neoplastic disease using ionizing radiation to impede proliferation of malignant cells
Term
stereotactic (stereotaxic) radiosurgery
Definition
radiation treatment to inactivate malignant lesions, using multiple, precise external radiation beams focused on a target with the aid of a stereotactic frame and imaging such as CT, MRI, or angiography; used to treat inoperable brain tumors and other lesions
Term
stereotactic (stereotaxic) frame
Definition
mechanical device used to localize a point in space targeting a precise site
Term
Glioma
Definition
Malignant tumor of the glial cells
Term
Glialblastoma Multiformae (GBM)
Definition
Aggressive glial tumor
Term
Medulloblastoma
Definition
Malignant tumor occurring in the medulla and commonly spreads into the CSF
Term
Oligodendroglioma
Definition
Malignant tumor of the oligodendrocytes
Term
Astrocytoma
Definition
Malignant tumor of the astrocytes
Term
Brain Metastases
Definition
The spreading of a primary tumor to the brain. Eg. Lung, breast, kidney
Term
GBM
Definition
Glialblastoma Multiformae = Aggressive glial tumor
Term
analgesic
Definition
agent that relieves pain
Term
anticonvulsant
Definition
agent that prevents or lessens convulsions
Term
antidepressant
Definition
agent that counteracts depression
Term
sedative
Definition
agent that quiets nervousness
Term
hypnotic
Definition
agent that induces sleep
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