Term | Definition |
caus/o- | burn; burning |
concuss/o- | of concussed |
contus/o- | to bruise |
encephal/o- | brain |
klept/o- | to steal |
mening/o- | meninges |
myel/o- | spinal cord; bone marrow |
neur/i- | A substance that induces insensitivity to pain. |
neur/o- | nerve |
psych/o- | mind |
-esthesia | nervous sensation |
-graphy | process of recording |
-mania | obsessive preoccupation |
-phobia | fear |
-trophic | 1.Of or relating to feeding and nutrition. |
-tropic | turning |
acrophobia | Extreme or irrational fear of heights. |
Alzheimer's disease | Progressive mental deterioration occurring in middle or old age, due to generalized degeneration of the brain. |
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | A progressive degeneration of the motor neurons of the central nervous system, leading to wasting of the muscles and paralysis. |
anesthetic | A substance that induces insensitivity to pain. |
anesthetist | A medical specialist who administers anesthetics. |
anxiety disorders | A chronic condition characterized by an excessive and persistent sense of apprehension, with physical symptoms such as sweating, palpitations, and feelings of stress |
autism | a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. |
Bell's palsy | Paralysis of the facial nerve, causing muscular weakness in one side of the face. |
carotid ultrasonography | the method of locating this blockage if there is one, as it may not cause symptoms to show up |
causalgia | Severe burning pain in a limb caused by injury to a peripheral nerve. |
cerebal palsy | Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions, such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking. |
cerebrovascular accident | stroke: a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain. |
cervical radiculopathy | pain starting in the upper spine (neck) that causes pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck and going down the arm or arms. |
claustrophobia | Extreme or irrational fear of confined places. |
cognition | 1.The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses. |
coma | 1.A state of deep unconsciousness that lasts for a prolonged or indefinite period, caused esp. by severe injury or illness. |
concussion | 1.Temporary unconsciousness caused by a blow to the head. Also, loosely, aftereffects such as confusion or temporary incapacity. |
cranial hematoma | A collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the brain |
delirium | 1.An acutely disturbed state of mind that occurs in fever, intoxication, and other disorders. |
delirium tremens | A psychotic condition typical of withdrawal in chronic alcoholics, involving tremors, hallucinations, anxiety, and disorientation. |
delusion | 1.An idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality |
dementia | a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior. |
dura mater | the outermost (and toughest) of the 3 meninges. |
dyslexia | a reading disability that occurs when the brain does not properly recognize and process certain symbols. |
echoencephalography | The use of ultrasound waves to investigate structures within the skull. |
encephalitis | Inflammation of the brain, caused by infection or an allergic reaction. |
epidural anesthesia | regional anesthesia resulting from injection of an anesthetic into the epidural space of the spinal cord |
epilespsy | Any of various neurological disorders characterized by sudden recurring attacks of motor, sensory, or psychic malfunction with or without loss of consciousness or convulsive seizures. |
factitious disorder | a group of mental disturbances in which patients intentionally act physically or mentally ill without obvious benefits |
Guillain-Barre synrome | a form of peripheral polyneuritis characterized by pain and weakness and sometimes paralysis of the limbs |
hallucination | An experience involving the perception of something not present. |
hemorrhagic stroke | stroke caused by the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. |
hydrocephalus | A condition in which fluid accumulates in the brain, typically in young children, enlarging the head and sometimes causing brain damage. |
hyperesthesia | Excessive physical sensitivity, esp. of the skin. |
hypochondriasis | chronic and abnormal anxiety about imaginary symptoms and ailments |
ischemic stroke | caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain (as from a clot blocking a blood vessel). |
lethargy | A lack of energy; sleepiness. |
meningitis | Inflammation of the meninges caused by viral or bacterial infection. |
meningocele | a protrusion of the meninges through an opening in the skull or spinal column, forming a bulge or sac filled with cerebrospinal fluid. |
migraine headache | a neurological syndrome characterized by altered bodily perceptions, severe headaches, and nausea. |
multiple sclerosis | A chronic, typically progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord |
myelitis | Inflammation of the spinal cord. |
myelography | An x-ray of the spinal cord after injection of air or a radiopaque substance into the subarachnoid space. |
narcolespy | A condition characterized by an extreme tendency to fall asleep whenever in relaxing surroundings. |
neurotransmitters | A chemical substance, such as acetylcholine or dopamine, that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse. |
obsessive-compulsive disorder | an anxiety disorder in which people have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (obsessions), or behaviors that make them feel driven to do something (compulsions). |
panic attack | A sudden feeling of acute and disabling anxiety. |
paresthesia | a sensation of pricking, tingling, or creeping on the skin that has no objective cause |
Parkinson's disease | a disorder of the brain that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination. |
peripheral neuropathy | A problem with the functioning of the nerves outside the spinal cord. |
posttraumatic stress disorder | occur after you've seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death. |
Reye's syndrome | sudden (acute) brain damage and liver function problems. of uncertain cause but sometimes precipitated by aspirin. |
schizophrenia | a mental disorder that makes it hard to: Tell the difference between what is real and not real; Think clearly; Have normal emotional responses; Act normally in social situations. |
sciatica | pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg. |
shaken baby syndrome | a collective term for the internal head injuries a baby or young child sustains from being violently shaken. |
syncope | 1.Temporary loss of consciousness caused by a fall in blood pressure. |
trichotillomania | an irresistible urge to pull out your own hair. |
trigeminal neuralgia | a nerve disorder that causes a stabbing or electric-shock-like pain in parts of the face. |