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MBC 100 The Language of Medicine, Ch. 10 Med Term

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Term
Definition
acetylcholine   Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells.  
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afferent nerves   Carry nervous impulses toward the brain and spinal cord; sensory nerves.  
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akinetic   Pertaining to loss or absence of voluntary movement.  
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analgesia   Absence of sensitivity to pain.  
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anencephaly   Congenital condition of partial or complete absence of brain matter.  
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anesthesia   Absence of nervous feeling or sensation. (numb)  
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aphasia   Inability to speak; language function is impaired due to injury to the cerebral cortex.  
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apraxia   Inability to perform purposeful acts or manipulate objects.  
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arachnoid membrane   Middle layer of meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord.  
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astrocyte   Glial (neuroglial) cell that transports salts and water from capillaries.  
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ataxia   Without coordination.  
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autonomic nervous system   Nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs.  
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axon   Microscopic fiber that carries a nervous impulse along a nerve cell.  
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blood-brain barrier   Blood vessels that let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out.  
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bradykinesia   Slow movement.  
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brainstem   Lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord.  
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cauda equina   Collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord.  
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causalgia   Intense burning pain, often resulting from injury to a peripheral nerve.  
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cell body   Part of the nerve cell (neuron) that contains the nucleus.  
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central nervous system   Brain and spinal cord.  
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cephalgia   Head pain; headache.  
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cerebellar   Pertaining to the cerebellum.  
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cerbellopontine   Pertaining to the cerebellum and pons.  
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cerebellum   Part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance.  
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cerebral cortex   Outer region of the cerebrum.  
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cerebrospinal fluid   Clear, watery fluid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord.  
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cerebrum   Largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought and memory, among other functions.  
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coma   State of unconsciousness from which a patient cannot be aroused.  
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comatose   Pertaining to a coma.  
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cranial nerves   Twelve pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain.  
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dendrite   Microscopic branching portion of a nerve cell; first part of the nerve cell to receive the nervous impulse.  
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dura mater   Thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord.  
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dyslexia   Difficulty in reading, writing, and learning.  
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dyskinesia   Impairment of the ability to perform voluntary movements.  
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efferent nerves   Carry messages away from the brain and the spinal cord; motor nerves.  
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encephalitis   Inflammation of the brain.  
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encephalopathy   Disease of the brain.  
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ependymal cell   A glial cell that lines the membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form the cerebrospinal fluid.  
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epidural hematoma   Collection of blood located above the dura mater.  
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ganglion   Collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system; plural is ganglia.  
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glial cell   Nervous system cell that is supportive and connective in function.  
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glioblastoma   Rapidly growing malignant tumor of the brain.  
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gyrus;gyri   Sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded fold on the surface of the cerebrum.  
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hemiparesis   Slight paralysis of the right or left half of the body.  
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hemiplegia   Paralysis of the right or left half of the body.  
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hypalgesia   Diminished sensitivity to pain.  
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hyperesthesia   Excessive sensitivity or feeling, especially of the skin in response to touch or pain.  
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hyperkinesis   Excessive movement.  
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hypothalamus   Region of the brain lying below the thalamus, but above the pituitary gland. It stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete and release hormones.  
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intrathecal   Pertaining to within the membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord.  
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leptomeningitis   Inflammation of the two thinner membranes (arachnoid and pia mater) surrounding the brain and spinal cord.  
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medulla oblongata   Lower part of the brain, closest to the spinal cord; controls breathing heartbeat, and size of blood vessels.  
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meningeal   Pertaining to the meninges.  
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meninges   Three membranes surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord.  
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meningioma   Tumor (benign) of the meninges.  
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microglial cell   Phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system.  
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midbrain   The uppermost portion of the brainstem.  
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motor nerves   Carry impulses from the brain and spinal cord to muscles.  
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myelin sheath   Fatty, white covering over the axon of a nerve cell.  
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myelomeningocele   Congenital hernia (protrusion) of the spinal cord and meninges through a defect (gap) in the vertebral column. This defect is often associated with spina bifida.  
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myelopathy   Disease of the spinal cord.  
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myoneural   Pertaining to muscle and nerve.  
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narcolepsy   Sudden seizures of sleep.  
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nerve   Macroscopic cordlike collection of fibers that carry electrical impulses.  
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neuralgia   Nerve pain.  
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neurasthenia   Lack of strength in nerves; a feeling of weakness and exhaustion.  
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neuroglial cells   Supporting cells (stroma) of the nervous system.  
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neuron   Nerve cell.  
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neuropathy   Disease of nerves; primarily in the peripheral nervous system.  
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neurotransmitter   Chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell.  
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oligodendroglial cell   Glial (neuroglial) cell that forms the myelin sheath covering the axon of a neuron.  
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paraplegia   Paralysis of the lower part of the body and both legs.  
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parasympathetic nerves   Involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions, such as heart rate, breathing, and the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.  
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paranchyma   Essential, functioning cells of any organ. Neurons (nerve cells) are this part of the nervous system.  
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peresis   Slight paralysis.  
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paresthesia   Abnormal nervous sensation occurring without apparent cause.  
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peripheral nervous system   Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves.  
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pia mater   Thin, delicate, and innermost membrane of the meninges.  
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plexus   Network of nerves outside of the central nervous system; brachial, cervical, and lumbosacral are examples.  
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poliomyelitis   Inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord.  
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polyneuritis   Inflammation of many nerves.  
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pons   Part of the brainstem anterior to the cerebellum, between the medulla and the rest of the brain. It connects the upper and lower portions of the brain.  
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quadriplegia   Paralysis of all four limbs; both arms and both legs.  
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radiculitis   Inflammation of a spinal nerve root.  
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receptor   Organ that receives nervous stimulation and passes it on to nerves that carry the stimulation to the brain and spinal cord; skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds.  
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sciatic nerve   Extends from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot.  
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sciatica   Painful inflammation along the course of the sciatic nerve.  
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sensory nerves   Carry messages to the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerves.  
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spinal nerves   Thirty-one pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord. Each one affects a particular are of the skin.  
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stimulus   Agent of change (light, sound, and touch) that evokes a response.  
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stroma   Connective and supportive tissue of an organ.  
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subdural hematoma   Collection of blood in the space below the dura mater surrounding the brain.  
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sulcus; sulci   Depression or groove in the surface of the cerbral cortex; fissure.  
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sympathetic nerves   Autonomic nerves that activate responses in times of stress; heartbeat, respiration, and blood pressure are affected.  
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synapse   Space between nerve cells or between nerve cells and muscle and glandular cells.  
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syncopal   Pertaining to syncope (fainting).  
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syncope   Fainting; temporary loss of consciousness.  
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thalamic   Pertaining to the thalamus.  
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trigeminal neuralgia   Flashes of stab like pain along the course of a branch of the trigeminal nerve (5th cranial nerve). This nerve branches to the eye, upper jaw and lower jaw.  
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vagal   Pertaining to the vagus nerve.  
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vagus nerve   Tenth cranial nerve with branches to the chest and abdominal organs.  
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ventricles of the brain   Fluid (cerbrospinal fluid) filled canals in the brain.  
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