Question | Answer |
cephalalgia | head pain (headache) |
cerebellar | pertaining to cerebellum |
cerebellitis | cerebellum inflammation |
cerebral | pertaining to cerebrum |
cerebral sclerosis | hardening of the cerebrum |
cerebrospinal | pertaining to cerebrum and spine |
cerebrovascular | pertaining to the vessels in the cerebrum |
electroencephalogram | record of brain’s electricity
(EEG) |
encephalitis | brain inflammation |
encephaloma | brain tumor |
glial | pertaining to connective tissue that surrounds and supports nerve cells |
glioma | brain tumor made up neuroglia |
meningioma | meninges tumor |
meningeal | pertaining to meninges |
meningitis | meninges inflammation |
meningocele | protrusion of the meninges through the spinal column |
myelogram | image of the spinal cord |
myelitis | spinal cord inflammation |
myelopathy | Any disease of the spinal cord |
neural | pertaining to nerves |
neuralgia | nerve pain |
neurectomy | surgical removal of nerve |
neuritis | inflammation of a nerve |
neurocyte | nerve cell |
neuroglia cells | in the brain and spinal cord that support and insulate the neurons |
neurologist | specialist in nerves and nervous system |
neuroma | nerve tumor |
neuropathy | any disease of the nerves |
neuroplasty | surgical repair of the nerves |
polyneuritis | inflammation of many nerves |
neurorrhaphy | suture of nerve |
pontine | pertaining to pons |
radiculitis | nerve root inflammation |
radiculopathy | nerve root disease |
spinal | pertaining to the spine |
thalamic | pertaining to thalamus |
intrathecal | pertaining to within meninges |
analgesia | absence of pain or sensation |
anesthesia | lack of sensations |
hyperesthesia | excessive sensations |
hemiparesis | weakness of half the body |
monoparesis | weakness of one extremity, muscle, or muscle area |
aphasia | lack of speech |
dysphasia | difficult speech |
monoplegia | paralysis of one extremity, muscle, or muscle |
paraplegia | paralysis from the waist down |
quadriplegia | paralysis of all four limbs |
ataxia | lack of muscle coordination |
anesthesiology | branch of medicine specializing in anesthesia, including for surgical procedures,resuscitation measures, and management of acute and chronic pain |
anesthesiologist | One who specializes in the anethesia |
coma | profound unconsciousness or stupor resulting from illness or injury |
conscious | awake and aware of surroundings |
convulsion | severe involuntary muscle contractions and relaxations |
dementia | progressive impairment of intellectual function that interferes with performing activities of daily living |
hemiparesis | weakness or loss of motion on one side of body |
hemiplegia | paralysis on only one side of body |
neurology | branch of medicine concerned with diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions of nervous system |
neurosurgery | branch of medicine concerned with treating conditions and diseases of nervous systems |
neurosurgeon | one who specializes in surgical treatment of nervous system disorders |
palsy | temporary or permanent loss of ability to control movement |
paralysis | temporary or permanent loss of function or voluntary movement |
paraplegia | paralysis of lower portion of body and both legs |
paresthesia | abnormal sensation such as burning or tingling |
seizure | sudden, uncontrollable onset of symptoms |
unconscious | condition or state of being unaware of surroundings, with inability to respond to stimuli |
Alzheimer’s disease | chronic, organic mental disorder consisting of dementia; more prevalent in adults between ages 40 and 60; involves progressive disorientation, apathy, speech and gait disturbances, and loss of memory |
cerebral aneurysm | localized abnormal dilatation of blood vessel, usually artery; result of congenital defect or weakness in wall of vessel; ruptured aneurysm is common cause of hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident |
cerebral contusion | bruising of brain from blow or impact; symptoms last longer than 24 hours include unconsciousness, dizziness, vomiting, unequal pupil size, and shock |
cerebral palsy | a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that is caused by injury or abnormal development in the immature brain, most often before birth |
cerebrovascular accident (CVA) | development of infarct due to loss in blood supply to area of brain; blood flow interrupted by ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhage), floating clot (embolus), stationary clot (thrombosis), or compression |
concussion | injury to brain resulting from brain being shaken inside skull from blow or impact; can result in unconsciousness, dizziness, vomiting, unequal pupil size,and shock; symptoms last 24 hours or less |
epilepsy | recurrent disorder of brain in which seizures and loss of consciousness occur as result of uncontrolled electrical activity of neurons in brain |
hydrocephalus | accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within ventricles of brain; causing head to be enlarged; treated by creating artificial shunt for fluid to leave brain; if untreated may lead to seizures and mental retardation |
Parkinson disease | chronic disorder of nervous system with tremors, muscular weakness, rigidity and shuffling gait. |
transient ischemic attack (TIA) | temporary interference with blood supply to brain, causing neurological symptoms such as dizziness, numbness, and hemiparesis; may eventually lead to full-blown stroke (cerebrovascular accident) |
meningocele | congenital condition in which meninges protrude through opening in vertebral column; see spina bifida |
myelomeningocele | congenital condition in which meninges and spinal cord protrude through opening in vertebral column; see spina bifida |
poliomyelitis | viral inflammation of gray matter of spinal cord resulting in paralysis |
spina bifida | congenital defect in walls of spinal canal in which laminae of vertebra do not meet or close; may result in meningocele or myelomeningocele—meninges or spinal cord being pushed through opening |
Bell’s palsy | one-sided facial paralysis due to inflammation of facial nerve, probably viral in nature; patient cannot control salivation, tearing of eyes, or expression, but most will eventually recover |
multiple sclerosis | inflammatory disease of CNS causing a loss of myelin insulation to nerves |
myasthenia gravis | disease with severe muscular weakness and fatigue due to insufficient neurotransmitter at synapse |
shingles | eruption of painful blisters on body along nerve path, thought to be caused by Herpes zoster virus infection of nerve root |
epidural hematoma | mass of blood in space outside dura mater of brain and spinal cord |
subdural hematoma | mass of blood forming beneath dura mater; meninges are torn by trauma; may exert fatal pressure on brain if hematoma is not drained by surgery |
CAT, CT | radiographic imaging using narrow beam of x-rays. The machine rotates to create several cross sectional images |
echoencephalography | recording of ultrasonic echoes of brain; useful in determining abnormal patterns of shifting in brain |
MRI | use of electromagnetic energy to create cross sectional images |
myelography | injection of radiopaque dye into spinal canal; X-ray is taken to examine normal and abnormal outlines made by dye |
positron emission tomography (PET) | use of positive radionuclides to reconstruct brain sections; measurement taken of oxygen and glucose uptake, cerebral blood flow, and blood volume; amount of glucose brain uses indicates how metabolically active tissue is |
Electroencephalography (EEG) | recording electrical activity of brain by placing electrodes at various positions on scalp; used in sleep studies to determine if there is normal pattern of activity during sleep |
lumbar puncture (LP) | puncture with needle into lumbar area to withdraw fluid for examination and for injection of anesthesia; also called spinal puncture or spinal tap cerebrospinal fluid analysis testing of the CSF for blood, bacteria or virus infections |
cerebrospinal fluid analysis | testing of the CSF for blood, bacteria or virus infection |
Craniotomy | incision into the skull to relieve pressure from head trauma |
cerebrospinal fluid shunts | surgical procedure in which bypass is created to drain cerebrospinal fluid; used to treat hydrocephalus by draining excess cerebrospinal fluid from brain and diverting it to abdominal cavity |
analgesic | narcotic or non-narcotic medication; treats minor to moderate pain |
anesthetic | produces loss of sensation or loss of consciousness |