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Medical Terminology Nervous System WGU

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Question
Answer
acalculia   inability to perform mathematical calculations  
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AD   alzheimer disease, progressive, neurodegenerative disease in which patients eshibit an impairment of cognitive functioning  
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afferent   of nerves and nerve impulses, bringing toward or into  
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ageusia   inability to taste  
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agnosia   inability to recognize objects by use of the senses  
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agraphia   a loss of the ability to write or to express thoughts in writing because of a brain lesion  
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ALS   amyotrophic lateral sclerosis  
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amnesia   partial or total loss of memory  
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anosmia   absence of the sense of smell (as by damage to olfactory nasal tissue or the olfactory nerve or by obstruction of the nasal passages)  
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ANS   SNS (fight or flight) +PNS (rest & digest)  
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aphasia   inability to use or understand language (spoken or written) because of a brain lesion  
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apraxia   inability to make purposeful movements  
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astrocytes   largest, most numerous glial cells; maintain blood-brain barrier to isolate CNS from general circulation; provide structural support for CNS; regulate ion and nutrient concentrations; perform repairs to stabilize tissue and prevent further injury  
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astrocytoma   star-shaped tumor that usually develops in the cerebrum; frequently in people younger than 20 years old  
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athetosis   a continuous succession of slow writing involuntary movements of the hands and feet and other body parts  
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aura   premonitory awareness of an approaching physical or mental disorder; peculiar sensation that precedes seizures  
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autonomic system   the part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands  
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axon   long fiber that carries impulses away from the cell body of a neuron  
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babinski reflex   reflex in which babies will fan out their toes when you touch the sole of their feet  
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BBB   the barrier that strictly regulates what substances can enter the interstitial fluid of the brain; keeps neurons in the brain from being exposed to drugs and wastes in the blood and varying levels of normal substances that could affect the brain  
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Bell palsy   temporary paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve that causes drooping only on the affected side of the face  
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brain scan   image of the brain taken after injection of radioactive isotopes into the circulation  
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brain   cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon, brainstem  
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brainstem   midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata  
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carotid endarterectomy   the surgical removal of the lining of a portion of a clogged carotid artery leading to the brain  
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cauda equina   collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord  
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central nervous system   the portion of the vertebrate nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord  
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cerebellum   coordinates voluntary movement but is involuntary in its function (muscle memory)  
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cerebral angiography   X-ray record of blood vessels in the brain after intravenous injection of contrast material.  
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cerebral contusion   Bruising of brain tissue as a result of direct trauma to the head; neurologic deficits persist longer than 24 hours  
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cerebral cortex   made up of gray matter, covers the hemispheres  
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cerebral cortex   the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center  
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cerebrum   area of the brain responsible for all voluntary activities of the body  
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cerebrum   the largest portion of the brain, responsible for thinking, reasoning, and memory  
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coma   a state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness  
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concussion   injury to the brain caused by a blow  
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cordotomy   cutting of nerve fibers to relieve intractable pain  
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CP   cerebral palsy  
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craniectomy   excision of part of the skull to approach the brain  
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craniotomy   incision of the skull  
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CSF   cerebral spinal fluid, located in ventricles and the subarachnoid space  
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CVA   cerebrovascular accident  
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dendrites   branching extensions of neuron that receives messages from neighboring neurons  
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dermatomes   skin surface areas supplied by a single afferent spinal nerve  
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diencephalon   thalamus and hypothalamus  
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diplegia   paralysis of corresponding parts on both sides of the body  
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DTR   deep tendon reflexes  
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dyslexia   a learning disability that results in difficulty reading and writing  
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dysphagia   difficulty swallowing  
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dyssomnia   difficulty with the sleep-wake cycle  
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echoencephalography   a noninvasive diagnostic procedure that uses ultrasound to study the anatomy of the brain  
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EEG   electroencephalogram  
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efferent   conducting outward, away from  
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encephalitis   inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus  
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EP   evoked potential  
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epilepsy   a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions  
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fasciculation   muscular twitching of contiguous groups of muscle fibers  
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frontal lobe   controls functions of speech and the motor area control voluntary movement on the contralateral side of the body  
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gait   manner of walking  
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GARS   gait assessment rating scale  
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glia   cells that support, nurture, and insulate neurons, remove debris when neurons die, enhance the formation and maintenance of neural connections, and modify neuronal functioning  
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gray matter   cell bodies of motor neurons  
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gray matter   greyish nervous tissue containing cell bodies as well as fibers  
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Guillain-Barre syndrome   autoimmune condition that causes acute inflammation of the peripheral nerves in which myelin sheaths on the axons are destroyed, resulting in decreased nerve impulses, loss of reflex response, and sudden muscle weakness  
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gyri   elevated ridges on cortical surface of the cerebral hemisphere, which increase the surface area and provide space for additional cortical neurons  
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hemiparesis   weakness on one side of the body  
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hemiplegia   paralysis of one side of the body  
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HIVD   herniated intervertebral disk  
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homeostasis   process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment  
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huntington chorea   Inherited disease of the CNS that usually has its onset in people between 30 and 50 years of age. This disease is characterized by quick, involuntary movements, speech disturbances, and mental deterioration.  
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hydrocephalus   n abnormal condition in which cerebrospinal fluid collects in the ventricles of the brain  
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hypokinesia   abnormally decreased muscle function or activity  
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hypothalamus   controls peripheral autonomic nervous system, as well as body temperature, sleep, and appetite  
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lobes   the different regions into which the cerebral cortex is divided  
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LP   lumbar puncture  
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medulla oblongata   regulates heart rate, blood pressure, breathing  
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medulloblastoma   malignant tumor cerebellum; invades fourth ventricle  
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meninges   protective covering composed of dura mater, arachnoid membrane, and pia mater  
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meningioma   benign tumor of the meninges  
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meningitis   infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the meninges (the tissues that surround the brain or spinal cord) usually caused by a bacterial infection  
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midbrain   site of reflex centers for eye and head movements  
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migraine   a severe recurring vascular headache  
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monoparesis   slight paralysis of one (limb)  
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monoplegia   paralysis of a single limb  
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MS   multiple sclerosis  
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MSLT   multiple sleep latency test  
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myelin   a white fatty substance that forms a medullary sheath around the axis cylinder of some nerve fibers  
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myelography   roentgenography of the spinal cord to detect possible lesions (usually after injection of a contrast medium into the subarachnoid space)  
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narcolepsy   a sleep disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep  
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nerve block   chemical interruption of a nerve pathway effected by injecting a local anesthetic  
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nerve roots   where 31 pairs of spinal nerves emerge from spinal chord  
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neural impulse   action potential  
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neuralgia   acute spasmodic pain along the course of one or more nerves  
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neurectomy   excision of a nerve  
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neuritis   inflammation of a nerve accompanied by pain and sometimes loss of function  
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neuroblastoma   malignant tumor containing embryonic nerve cells  
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neuroendoscopy   use of a fiberoptic camera to visualize neural structures; used for placing a shunt in hydrocephalic patients  
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neurofibroma   tumor of the fibrous covering of a peripheral nerve  
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neuroglia   non-conducting cells of nervous tissue with supportive and metabolic functions  
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neurolysis   destruction of a nerve  
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neuroma   any tumor derived from cells of the nervous system  
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neurons   nerve cells  
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neuroplasty   surgical repair of a nerve  
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neurorrhaphy   suture of a nerve  
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neurotomy   incision into a nerve  
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neurotransmitters   chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons  
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occipital lobe   vision  
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parageusia   Perversion of taste in which substances possess an unpleasant flavor.  
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paraparesis   a slight paralysis or weakness of both legs  
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paraplegia   paralysis of the lower half of the body (most often as a result of trauma)  
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paresthesia   abnormal skin sensations (as tingling or tickling or itching or burning) usually associated with peripheral nerve damage  
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parietal lobe   touch and taste  
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PD   parkinson's disease  
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peripheral nervous system   12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves  
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peripheral nervous system   The section of the nervous system lying outside the brain and spinal cord  
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PET   positron emission tomography  
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plexus   a network formed by the nerve fibers of several nerves  
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polyneuritis   inflammation of many or all of the peripheral nerves (as in leprosy)  
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pons   bridge between cerebrum and medulla oblongata  
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PSG   polysomnography  
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quadriparesis   Weakness of all four limbs, both arms and both legs  
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quadriplegia   paralysis of both arms and both legs  
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radiculitis   an inflammation of the root of a spinal nerve that causes pain and numbness radiating down the affected limb; also known as a pinched nerve  
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rizotomy   sensory nerve roots are destroyed.  
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schwann cells   Supporting cells of the peripheral nervous system responsible for the formation of myelin.  
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sciatica   neuralgia along the sciatic nerve  
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seizure   sudden, transient disturbances in brain function resulting from abnormal firing of nerve impulses (may or may not be associated with convulsion)  
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shingles   viral disease that affects the peripheral nerves and caused blisters on the skin that follow the course of the affected nerves  
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somatic system   the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles  
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spasm   a painful and involuntary muscular contraction  
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SPECT   single photon emission computed tomography  
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spina bifida   a not uncommon congenital defect in which a vertebra is malformed, congenital defect in the spinal column characterized by the absence of vertebral arches, often resulting in pouching of spinal membranes or tissue  
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spinal cord   a major part of the central nervous system which conducts sensory and motor nerve impulses to and from the brain  
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spinal nerves   cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal  
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stereotaxic radio-surgery   surgery using radiowaves to localize structures within a 3D space  
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stimulus   something that causes a response  
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sulci   shallow grooves that separate gyri  
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sympathectomy   surgical interruption of a nerve pathway in the sympathetic nervous system  
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synapse   the junction between two neurons (axon-to-dendrite) or between a neuron and a muscle  
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syncope   a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain  
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Tay-sachs disease   A human genetic disease caused by a recessive allele for a dysfunctional enzyme, leading to accumulation of certain lipids in the brain. Seizures, blindness, and degeneration of motor and mental performance usually become manifest a few months after birth  
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temporal lobe   auditory and olfactory areas  
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TENS   transcutaneaous electrical nerve stimulation  
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terminal fibers   the branching fibers at the end of the axon that lead the nervous impulse from the axon to the synapse  
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thalamus   relays sensory information and translates it into sensations of pain, temperature and touch  
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TIA   brief episode in which the brain gets insufficient blood supply  
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Tourette syndrome   Disorder of multiple motor and vocal tics  
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vagotomy   Incision of the vagus nerve  
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ventriculoperitonostomy   procedure to drain fluid from the brain ventricles through a shunt, catheter, and valve that leads to the abdominal cavity.  
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ventriculostomy   A surgical hole in the head to the level of the cerebral ventricle; usually done to relieve elevated intracranial pressure and brainstem herniation.  
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vertigo   a reeling sensation  
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white matter   myelin covered axons that extend from the nerve cell bodies  
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