Question 1

ABSCESS

Accepted Answer

A circumscribed collection of pus.

Question 2

ACOUSTIC NEUROMAS

Accepted Answer

Benign tumor of the hearing nerve (eighth nerve).

Question 3

ACROMEGALY

Accepted Answer

Disorder marked by progressive enlargement of the head, face, hands, feet and thorax, due to the excessive secretion of growth hormone.

Question 4

ADENOMA

Accepted Answer

A benign growth formed of glandular tissue.

Question 5

AGNOSIA

Accepted Answer

Absence of the ability to recognize the form and nature of persons and things.

Question 6

AGRAPHIA

Accepted Answer

Inability to write due either to muscular coordination issues or to an inability to phrase thought.

Question 7

AMAUROSIS

Accepted Answer

Loss of vision without a visible lesion in the eye structures or optic nerve.

Question 8

AMAUROSIS FUGAX

Accepted Answer

Temporary blindness occurring in short periods.

Question 9

AMENORRHEA

Accepted Answer

Absence of the menses due to causes other than pregnancy or age.

Question 10

AMNESIA

Accepted Answer

Loss of memory caused by brain damage or by severe emotional trauma.

Question 11

ANALGESIA

Accepted Answer

Loss of sensitivity to pain, loss of response to a painful stimulus.

Question 12

ANAPLASIA

Accepted Answer

In the case of a body cell, a reversion to a more primitive condition. A term used to denote the alteration in cell character that constitutes malignancy.

Question 13

ANASTOMOSIS

Accepted Answer

A communication, direct or indirect: a joining together. In the nervous system a joining of nerves or blood vessels.

Question 14

ANESTHESIOLOGIST

Accepted Answer

Physician who administers pain-killing medications during surgery.

Question 15

ANENCEPHALY

Accepted Answer

Absence of the greater part of the brain, often with skull deformity.

Question 16

ANESTHESIA

Accepted Answer

Loss of sensation of a body part or of the body induced by the administration of a drug.

Question 17

ANESTHESIOLOGIST

Accepted Answer

Physician who administers pain-killing medications and monitors complications and reactions during surgery.

Question 18

ANEURYSM

Accepted Answer

Dilation of an artery, formed by a circumscribed enlargement of its wall.

Question 19

ANGIOGRAM

Accepted Answer

A medical imaging report that shows the blood vessels leading to and in the brain, obtained by injecting a dye or contrast substance through a catheter.

Question 20

ANGIOGRAPHY

Accepted Answer

Radiography of blood vessels using the injection of material opaque to X-rays to give better definition to the vessels.

Question 21

ANOREXIA

Accepted Answer

An eating disorder marked by loss of appetite leading to excessive weight loss.

Question 22

ANOSMIC

Accepted Answer

Without the sense of smell.

Question 23

ANOXIA

Accepted Answer

An absence of oxygen.

Question 24

ANTI-COAGULANT

Accepted Answer

A medication that prevents coagulation (clotting) of the blood.

Question 25

ANTIDIURETIC

Accepted Answer

An agent that reduces the output of urine.

Question 26

APHASIA

Accepted Answer

Difficulty with or loss of use of language in any of several ways, including reading, writing or speaking, not related to intelligence but to specific lesions in the brain.

Question 27

APNEA

Accepted Answer

Temporary cessation of breathing.

Question 28

APOPLEXY

Accepted Answer

Often used as equivalent to stroke, this is a condition in which there is bleeding into an organ or blood flow to an organ has ceased.

Question 29

ARACHNOID

Accepted Answer

Middle layer of membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

Question 30

ARACHNOIDITIS

Accepted Answer

Inflammation of the arachnoid membrane, most commonly seen around the spinal cord and cauda equina.

Question 31

AREA

Accepted Answer

(Cortical) - A part of the brain having a special function as in

Motor - The cortical portion of the brain controlling movement.
Sensory - The cortical portion controlling sensation.

Question 32

ARTERIOSCLEROSIS

Accepted Answer

Thickening and calcification of the arterial wall with loss of elasticity and contractility.

Question 33

ARTERIOVENOUS

Accepted Answer

Relating to both arteries and veins.

Question 34

ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATION

Accepted Answer

Collection of blood vessels with one or several abnormal connections between arteries and veins, which may cause hemorrhage or seizures.

Question 35

ASTROCYTE

Accepted Answer

Cell that supports the nerve cells (neurons) of the brain and spinal cord.

Question 36

ASTROCYTOMA

Accepted Answer

Tumor within the substance of the brain or spinal cord made up of astrocytes; often classified from Grade I (slow growing) to Grade III (rapid growing).

Question 37

ATAXIA

Accepted Answer

A loss of muscular coordination, abnormal clumsiness.

Question 38

ATHETOSIS

Accepted Answer

A condition in which there is a succession of slow, writhing, involuntary movements of the fingers and hands, and sometimes of the toes and feet.

Question 39

ATROPHY

Accepted Answer

A wasting of the tissues of a body part.

Question 40

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Accepted Answer

Involuntary nervous system, also termed the vegetative nervous system. A system of nerve cells whose activities are beyond voluntary control.

Question 41

AVASCULAR

Accepted Answer

Non-vascular, not provided with blood vessels.

Question 42

AXON

Accepted Answer

The part of a nerve cell that usually sends signals to other nerves or structures.

Question 43

BACTERICIDAL

Accepted Answer

Causing the death of bacteria.

Question 44

BACTERIOSTATIC

Accepted Answer

Inhibiting or retarding the growth of bacteria.

Question 45

BELL'S PALSY

Accepted Answer

Paralysis of facial muscles (usually one side) due to facial nerve dysfunction of unknown cause.

Question 46

BIOPSY

Accepted Answer

Removal of a small portion of tissue, usually for making a diagnosis.

Question 47

BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER

Accepted Answer

The barrier that exists between the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid, which prevents the passage of various substances from the bloodstream to the brain.

Question 48

BRADYCARDIA

Accepted Answer

Slowness of the heart rate.

Question 49

BRADYKINESIA

Accepted Answer

Slowness in movement.

Question 50

BROWN-SEQUARD'S SYNDROME

Accepted Answer

Loss of sensation of touch, position sense and movement on the side of a spinal cord lesion, with loss of pain sensation on the other side. Caused by a lesion limited to one side of spinal cord.

Question 51

CARCINOMA

Accepted Answer

Cancer, a malignant growth of epithelial or gland cells.

Question 52

CAROTID ARTERY

Accepted Answer

Large artery on either side of the neck that supplies most of the cerebral hemisphere.

Question 53

CAROTID SINUS

Accepted Answer

Slight dilatation on the common carotid artery at its bifurcation containing nerve cells sensitive to blood pressure. Stimulation can cause slowing of the heart, vasodilatation and a fall in blood pressure.

Question 54

CARPAL TUNNEL

Accepted Answer

Space under a ligament in wrist through which the median nerve enters the palm of the hand.

Question 55

CT SCAN

Accepted Answer

(computed tomography scan) A diagnostic imaging technique in which a computer reads X-rays to create a three-dimensional map of soft tissue or bone.

Question 56

CATHETER

Accepted Answer

A small tube used to inject a dye to see the blood vessels, similar to that used for looking at vessels in the heart. May also be used to facilitate drainage.

Question 57

CAUDA EQUINA

Accepted Answer

The bundle of spinal nerve roots arising from the end of the spinal cord and filling the lower part of the spinal canal.

Question 58

CAUDATE NUCLEUS

Accepted Answer

Part of the basal ganglia, which are brain cells that lie deep in the brain.

Question 59

CEREBELLUM

Accepted Answer

- The lower part of the brain that is beneath the posterior portion of the cerebrum. It regulates unconscious coordination of movement.

Question 60

CEREBROSPINAL FLUID

Accepted Answer

Water-like fluid that circulates around and protects the brain and spinal cord.

Question 61

CEREBRUM

Accepted Answer

The principal portion of the brain, which occupies the major portion of the interior of the skull and controls conscious movement, sensation and thought.

Question 62

CERVICAL

Accepted Answer

Of or relating to the neck.

Question 63

CHIASM (OPTIC)

Accepted Answer

Crossing of visual fibers as they head toward the opposite side of the brain. For each optic nerve most of the visual fibers cross to the opposite side, while some run directly backward on each side without crossing.

Question 64

CHOREA

Accepted Answer

A disorder, usually of childhood, characterized by irregular, spasmodic involuntary movements of the limbs or facial muscles.

Term	Definition
ABSCESS	A circumscribed collection of pus.
ACOUSTIC NEUROMAS	Benign tumor of the hearing nerve (eighth nerve).
ACROMEGALY	Disorder marked by progressive enlargement of the head, face, hands, feet and thorax, due to the excessive secretion of growth hormone.
ADENOMA	A benign growth formed of glandular tissue.
AGNOSIA	Absence of the ability to recognize the form and nature of persons and things.
AGRAPHIA	Inability to write due either to muscular coordination issues or to an inability to phrase thought.
AMAUROSIS	Loss of vision without a visible lesion in the eye structures or optic nerve.
AMAUROSIS FUGAX	Temporary blindness occurring in short periods.
AMENORRHEA	Absence of the menses due to causes other than pregnancy or age.
AMNESIA	Loss of memory caused by brain damage or by severe emotional trauma.
ANALGESIA	Loss of sensitivity to pain, loss of response to a painful stimulus.
ANAPLASIA	In the case of a body cell, a reversion to a more primitive condition. A term used to denote the alteration in cell character that constitutes malignancy.
ANASTOMOSIS	A communication, direct or indirect: a joining together. In the nervous system a joining of nerves or blood vessels.
ANESTHESIOLOGIST	Physician who administers pain-killing medications during surgery.
ANENCEPHALY	Absence of the greater part of the brain, often with skull deformity.
ANESTHESIA	Loss of sensation of a body part or of the body induced by the administration of a drug.
ANESTHESIOLOGIST	Physician who administers pain-killing medications and monitors complications and reactions during surgery.
ANEURYSM	Dilation of an artery, formed by a circumscribed enlargement of its wall.
ANGIOGRAM	A medical imaging report that shows the blood vessels leading to and in the brain, obtained by injecting a dye or contrast substance through a catheter.
ANGIOGRAPHY	Radiography of blood vessels using the injection of material opaque to X-rays to give better definition to the vessels.
ANOREXIA	An eating disorder marked by loss of appetite leading to excessive weight loss.
ANOSMIC	Without the sense of smell.
ANOXIA	An absence of oxygen.
ANTI-COAGULANT	A medication that prevents coagulation (clotting) of the blood.
ANTIDIURETIC	An agent that reduces the output of urine.
APHASIA	Difficulty with or loss of use of language in any of several ways, including reading, writing or speaking, not related to intelligence but to specific lesions in the brain.
APNEA	Temporary cessation of breathing.
APOPLEXY	Often used as equivalent to stroke, this is a condition in which there is bleeding into an organ or blood flow to an organ has ceased.
ARACHNOID	Middle layer of membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
ARACHNOIDITIS	Inflammation of the arachnoid membrane, most commonly seen around the spinal cord and cauda equina.
AREA	(Cortical) - A part of the brain having a special function as in Motor - The cortical portion of the brain controlling movement. Sensory - The cortical portion controlling sensation.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS	Thickening and calcification of the arterial wall with loss of elasticity and contractility.
ARTERIOVENOUS	Relating to both arteries and veins.
ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATION	Collection of blood vessels with one or several abnormal connections between arteries and veins, which may cause hemorrhage or seizures.
ASTROCYTE	Cell that supports the nerve cells (neurons) of the brain and spinal cord.
ASTROCYTOMA	Tumor within the substance of the brain or spinal cord made up of astrocytes; often classified from Grade I (slow growing) to Grade III (rapid growing).
ATAXIA	A loss of muscular coordination, abnormal clumsiness.
ATHETOSIS	A condition in which there is a succession of slow, writhing, involuntary movements of the fingers and hands, and sometimes of the toes and feet.
ATROPHY	A wasting of the tissues of a body part.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM	Involuntary nervous system, also termed the vegetative nervous system. A system of nerve cells whose activities are beyond voluntary control.
AVASCULAR	Non-vascular, not provided with blood vessels.
AXON	The part of a nerve cell that usually sends signals to other nerves or structures.
BACTERICIDAL	Causing the death of bacteria.
BACTERIOSTATIC	Inhibiting or retarding the growth of bacteria.
BELL'S PALSY	Paralysis of facial muscles (usually one side) due to facial nerve dysfunction of unknown cause.
BIOPSY	Removal of a small portion of tissue, usually for making a diagnosis.
BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER	The barrier that exists between the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid, which prevents the passage of various substances from the bloodstream to the brain.
BRADYCARDIA	Slowness of the heart rate.
BRADYKINESIA	Slowness in movement.
BROWN-SEQUARD'S SYNDROME	Loss of sensation of touch, position sense and movement on the side of a spinal cord lesion, with loss of pain sensation on the other side. Caused by a lesion limited to one side of spinal cord.
CARCINOMA	Cancer, a malignant growth of epithelial or gland cells.
CAROTID ARTERY	Large artery on either side of the neck that supplies most of the cerebral hemisphere.
CAROTID SINUS	Slight dilatation on the common carotid artery at its bifurcation containing nerve cells sensitive to blood pressure. Stimulation can cause slowing of the heart, vasodilatation and a fall in blood pressure.
CARPAL TUNNEL	Space under a ligament in wrist through which the median nerve enters the palm of the hand.
CT SCAN	(computed tomography scan) A diagnostic imaging technique in which a computer reads X-rays to create a three-dimensional map of soft tissue or bone.
CATHETER	A small tube used to inject a dye to see the blood vessels, similar to that used for looking at vessels in the heart. May also be used to facilitate drainage.
CAUDA EQUINA	The bundle of spinal nerve roots arising from the end of the spinal cord and filling the lower part of the spinal canal.
CAUDATE NUCLEUS	Part of the basal ganglia, which are brain cells that lie deep in the brain.
CEREBELLUM	- The lower part of the brain that is beneath the posterior portion of the cerebrum. It regulates unconscious coordination of movement.
CEREBROSPINAL FLUID	Water-like fluid that circulates around and protects the brain and spinal cord.
CEREBRUM	The principal portion of the brain, which occupies the major portion of the interior of the skull and controls conscious movement, sensation and thought.
CERVICAL	Of or relating to the neck.
CHIASM (OPTIC)	Crossing of visual fibers as they head toward the opposite side of the brain. For each optic nerve most of the visual fibers cross to the opposite side, while some run directly backward on each side without crossing.
CHOREA	A disorder, usually of childhood, characterized by irregular, spasmodic involuntary movements of the limbs or facial muscles.
CHOROID PLEXUS	A vascular structure in the ventricles of the brain that produces cerebrospinal fluid.
COCCYX	The small bone at the end of the spinal column , formed by the fusion of four rudimentary vertebrae. The "tail bone".
COMA	A state of profound unconsciousness from which one cannot be roused
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) SCAN	A diagnostic imaging technique in which a computer reads X-rays to create a three-dimensional map of soft tissue or bone.
CONCUSSION	A disruption, usually temporary, of neurological function resulting from a blow or violent shaking.
CONTRAST MEDIUM	Any material (usually opaque to X-rays) employed to delineate or define a structure during a radiologic procedure.
CONTUSION	A bruise; cerebral contusions often involve blood vessels that leak into brain tissue.
CORONAL SUTURE	The line of junction of the frontal bones and the parietal bones of the skull.
CORTEX	The external layer of gray matter covering the hemispheres of the cerebrum and cerebellum.
CRANIUM	The part of the skull that holds the brain.
CRANIECTOMY	Excision of a portion of the skull.
CRANIOPHARYNGIOMA	Tumor arising from the embryonic duct between the brain and pharynx.
CRANIOPLASTY	The operative repair of a defect of the skull.
CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS	Premature closure of cranial sutures, limiting or distorting the growth of the skull.
CRANIOTOMY	Opening of the skull, usually by creating a flap of bone.
CSF	Cerebrospinal Fluid.
DEPRESSED SKULL FRACTURE	A break in the bones of the head in which some bone is pushed inward, possibly pushing on or cutting into the brain.
DIABETES INSIPIDUS	Excretion of large amounts of urine of low specific gravity. The inability to concentrate urine.
DIFFUSE AXONAL INJURY	Damage to the axons of many nerve cells that lie in different parts of the brain.
DIFFUSE BRAIN INJURY	Damage to the brain that can affect many parts of the brain, often in a subtle fashion; examples include diffuse axonal injury and inadequate blood flow.
DIPHENYLHYDANTOIN	Dilantin; a medication used to control seizures.
DIPLOPIA	Double vision, due usually to weakness or paralysis of one or more of the extra-ocular muscles.
DISC	The intervertebral disc - cartilaginous cushion found between the vertebrae of the spinal column. It may bulge beyond the vertebral body and compress the nearby nerve root, causing pain.
DOME	The round balloon-like portion of the aneurysm which usually arises from the artery from a smaller portion called the neck of the aneurysm.
DOPPLER	A non-invasive study that uses sound waves to show the flow in a blood vessel and can be used to determine the degree of narrowing (percent stenosis) of the vessel. A wand is placed on the skin over the vessel that is to be imaged.
DURA	Dura mater.
DURA MATER	A tough fibrous membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord, but is separated from them by a small space. It is the outermost layer of the three membranes.
DYSESTHESIA	A condition in which ordinary touch, temperature or movement produces a disagreeable sensation.
DYSPHASIA	Difficulty in the use of language due to a brain lesion without mental impairment.
DYSTONIA MUSCULORM DEFORMANS	An affliction, occurring especially in children, marked by muscular contractions producing distortions of the spin and hips.
EDEMA	An excessive accumulation of fluid generally in the extracellular or intracellular areas of the brain.
ELECTROENCEPHALOPGRAHY (EEG)	The study of the electrical currents set up by brain actions; the record made is called an electroencephalogram.
ELECTROMYOGRAPHY (EMG)	A method of recording the electrical currents generated in a muscle during its contraction.
ENDARTERECTOMY	Removal of fatty or cholesterol plaques and calcified deposits from the internal wall of an artery.
ENDOCRINE GLAND	A gland that furnishes an internal secretion, usually having an effect on another organ.
ENDOCRINOPATHY	Any disease due to abnormality of quantity or quality in one or more of the internal glandular secretions.
EPENDYMA -	The membrane lining the cerebral ventricles of the brain and central canal of the spinal cord.
EPENDYMOMA	A growth in the brain or spinal cord arising from ependymal tissue.
EPIDURAL	Immediately outside the dura mater. Same as extradural. Also form of local analgesia and anesthesia often injected into the outer section of the spinal canal.
EPIDURAL HEMATOMA	A blood clot between the dura mater and the inside of the skull.
EPILEPSY	Disorder characterized by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, causing abnormal sensation, movement or level of consciousness.
FALX (CEREBRI)	An extension of dura between the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
FONTANELLE	Normal openings in the skull of infants; the largest of these is the anterior fontanel or "soft spot" in the middle of the head.
FORAMINOTOMY	Surgical opening or enlargement of the bony opening traversed by a nerve root as it leaves the spinal canal.
FUSIFORM ANEURYSM	a sausage-like enlargement of the vessel
GALACTORRHEA	The discharge of milk from the breasts unassociated with nursing or childbirth.
GAMMA KNIFE	Equipment that precisely delivers a concentrated dose of radiation to a predetermined target using gamma rays.
GCS	Glasgow Coma Scale.
GLASGOW COMA SCALE	The most widely used system of classifying the severity of head injuries or other neurologic diseases.
GLASGOW OUTCOME SCALE	A widely used system of classifying outcome after head injury or other neurologic diseases.
GLIA (Also termed neuroglia)	The major support cells of the brain. These cells are involved in the nutrition and maintenance of the nerve cells.
GLIOMA -	A tumor formed by glial cells.
GLIOBLASTOMA	A rapidly growing tumor composed of primitive glial cells, mainly arising from astrocytes.
GLOBUS PALLIDUS	Part of the basal ganglia, which are brain cells that lie deep in the brain.
HEMANGIOMA	An aggregation of multiple, dilated, blood vessels.
HEMATOMA	A collection of blood outside the blood vessels.
HEMIANOPIA	Loss of vision of one-half of the visual field.
HEMIATROPHY	Atrophy of half of an organ or half of the body.
HEMIPLEGIA	Paralysis of one side of the body.
HEMORRHAGE	Bleeding due to the escape of blood from a blood vessel.
HERNIATED NUCLEUS PULPOSUS (HNP)	HERNIATED NUCLEUS PULPOSUS (HNP)
HORMONE	A chemical substance formed in one gland or part of the body and carried by the blood to another organ, which it stimulates to functional activity.
HYDROCEPHALUS	A condition, often congenital, marked by abnormal and excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the cerebral ventricles. This dilates the ventricles and, in infants and young children, causes the head to enlarge.
HYDROMYELIA -	Expansion of the spinal cord due to increased size of the central canal of the cord, which is filled with CSF.
HYPERACUSIS	Abnormal acuteness of hearing or auditory sensation.
HYPERESTHESIA	Excessive sensibility to touch, pain or other stimuli.
HYPERTENSION -	High blood pressure.
HYPOTHALAMUS	A collection of specialized nerve cells at the base of the brain that controls the anterior and posterior pituitary secretions, and is involved in other basic regulatory functions such as temperature control and attention.
INFUNDIBULUM	A stalk extending from the base of the brain to the pituitary gland.

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Neurosurgial terms