| Question | Answer |
| Perikaryon | Used synonymously with the cell body (soma) of the neuron |
| Decussation | A crossing - used more liberally to indicate crossing of fibers and tracts in the CNSossing - |
| Embryo | The name given the developing human prior to the end of the second month of gestation |
| Ipsilateral | On the same side |
| Chiasma | A crossing - usually relating to the crossing of optic fibers (e.g. - optic chiasma) |
| Neo- | Prefix meaning "new". Usually in contrast to archi- or paleo-. |
| Chordata | Phylum in which man is classified |
| Epiphysis Cerebri | Pineal gland (body) |
| Fugal | Traveling away from. Ex.- pallidalfugal (away from the pallidal nuclei) |
| Neurohypophysis | The posterior pituitary or "pars nervosa" |
| Modality | A specific sensory entity, such as gustatory (taste), olfaction (smell), pain, etc. |
| ALS | Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrigh's Disease) |
| Pachymeninx | Thick membrane. Used synonymously with the dura mater. |
| Neurilemma | A covering around a neuron fiber created by a surrounding cell (it may not be myelinated). |
| Kinesthesia | The modality of conscious awareness of body position and muscle movement. |
| Aphasia | Inability to communicate by speech, writing, or signs. |
| Arcuate | Arranged like an arch |
| Contralateral | To the opposite side |
| Retrograde | Going backward. Refers to going back toward the cell body. |
| Neoplasm (tumor) | Any new abnormal growth |
| DRG | Dorsal Root Ganglia |
| Foetus (fetus) | name applied to the developing human after the second month of gestation |
| Homo Sapiens | Proper way to write the genus and species of man |
| Fissure | a relatively deep groove (infolding) |
| Sulcus | a relatively shallow groove (infolding) |
| Pallium | To "cloak". Used synonymously with "cortex". (e.g.- Cerebral cortex is the same as cerebral pallium) |
| Reticular | Net-like |
| PET | Positron Emission Tomography (device using radioactively labeled compunds for functional analysis) |
| Crus | Leg or Leg-like |
| Foramen | Opening (such as Foramen Magnum) |
| Operculum | "Lid" or "covering" |
| Hypophysis Cerebri | Pineal gland (entire structure) |
| Micron | A metric system unit of length meaning "small" (synonymous with micrometer). |
| Adrenergic | The releasing of adrenalin-like (norepinephrine included) molecules at a target site. |
| Striae (striatal) | A groove or streak-like formation |
| Metastatic | Transferring to other tissue |
| EEG | Electroencephalogram (graph). Record and instrument used to pick up brain waves. |
| Nerve | Whitish colored PNS structures filled with neuron fibers which innervate the body's parts. |
| Falx | Sickle-shaped (falces is plural) |
| Aneurysm | An abnormal dilation of a blood vessel wall and its lumen (forms a blood containing sac) |
| Adenohypophysis | The anterior and intermediate portions of the pituitary gland |
| Ischemia | To suppress blood supply to an area. Results in abnormal function and may lead to necrosis. |
| Stroke | Blood vascular loss in the CNS leading to permanent or prolonged brain damage (cerbrovascular accident) |
| Lesion | Any type of injury, damage, or "hurt" |
| M.O. | Medulla Oblongata |
| Central Canal | A tiny channel found within the spinal cord and inferior medulla oblongata. |
| Dentate | Notched or toothlike |
| Cytoarchitecture | The pattern of cell arrangements |
| Mammalia | Class in which man is classified |
| M.S. | Multiple Sclerosis |
| Angiography | X-ray of blood vessels injected with radiopaque dyes. |
| Cholinergic | The releasing of choline-like (acetylcholine) molecules at a target site. |
| Myelopathy | Lesion of the spinal cord (rarely used for entire CNS) |
| Cornu | Horn-like projection (cornua is plural) |
| Vertebral Canal (Neural Canal) | Passageway created by the continuous nature of the vertebral foramina. |
| TIA | Transient Ischemic Attack (often precedes the CVA) |
| CVA | Cerebrovascular Accident |
| Folia | Small page-like gyri of the cerebellum |
| Axolemma | name applied to the outer plasma membrane (plasmalemma) of an axon. |
| Cephalgia | Headache (also spelled cephalalgia) |
| Ganglia | A cluster or group of neuron cell bodies within the PNS (a few exceptions exist in the PNS) |
| CAT | Computerized Axial Topography |
| Archi- | Prefix meaning "beginning" or "original" |
| Glial | Literally - "glue like". Several CNS cell types are included as glial cells. |
| Nuclei | As used in neurology, a cluster or group of neuron cell bodies located within the CNS |
| Somesthetic | To sense the body |
| Neuron | a nerve cell |
| Neonate | The newborn infant |
| Hematoma | An accumulation of blood outside of the blood vessels (e.g. - subdural hematoma) |
| IVF | Intervertebral Foramen (opening through which the spinal nerve emerges from the vertebral canal). |
| Dysphasia | A partial or unusual loss of communicative ability. |
| BBB | Blood Brain Barrier |
| Aqueduct | Passageway, e.g. - Cerebral Aqueduct of Sylvius |
| GABA | Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (an amino acid which is a common inhibitory CNS neurotransmitter) |
| Paralysis | Total or partial loss of normal motor function. |
| Axon | a process of a neuron which carries a charge or impulse toward the cell body |
| Pons | Bridge. Located between the M.O. and the midbrain. |
| Anterograde | Going forward. Refers to going away from the neuron cell body. |
| Ramus | Literally meaning a "branch". The major branches off of the spinal nerve trunks are called the white ramus, gray ramus, dorsal ramus, ventral ramus, etc. |
| Cauda Equina | Horse's Tail |
| ACH | Acetylcholine (first neurotransmitter identified - widespread in CNS and PNS) |
| Paleo- | Prefix meaning "old". Similar to but not used interchangeably with Archi- in the CNS. |
| Myelography | X-ray of vertebral canal and spinal cord structures folowing injection of radiopaque dyes into the CSF. |
| Gyrus | Tortuous convolution. Usually found between sulci and/or fissures of the cerebrum |
| MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging (utilizes large magnets which rearrange hydrogen molecules) |
| Idiopathic | Generally used to mean something of an unknown cause |
| Vertebrata | Subphylum in which man is classified |
| CSF | Cerebrospinal Fluid |
| Rectus | Meaning "straight" |
| Proprioception | The modality of subconscious awareness of body position and muscle movement. |
| Fenestrae | Window-like |
| Fiber | A dominately long process (dendrite or axon) of a neuron which can be called a "fiber". Also designated as a "nerve fiber" or a "neuron fiber". |
| Primate | Order in which man is classified |
| Leptomeninx | Thin membrane. Collective term for the arachnoid mater and pia mater. |
| Necrosis | Death of cells or tissue |
| Ataxia | General term for irregularity in skeletal muscle coordination. |
| Malignant | Spreading life threatening neoplasm |
