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Nervous System

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Question
Answer
acetylcholine   Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells.  
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afferent nerve   Carries messages TOWARD the brain and spinal cord (sensory nerve).  
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arachnoid membrane   Middle layer of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord.  
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astrocyte   Type of glial (neuroglial) cell that transports water and salts from capillaries.  
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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 the nervous impulse along a nerve cell.  
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blood-brain barrier   Blood vessels (capillaries)that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out.  
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brainstem   Lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord; includes the pons and medulla oblongata.  
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cauda equina   Collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord  
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cell body   Part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus.  
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central nervous system (CNS)   Brain and the spinal cord  
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cerebellum   Posterior part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance.  
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cerebral cortex   Outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain.  
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cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)   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.  
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cranial nerves   Twelve pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain with regard to the head and neck (except the vagus nerve).  
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dendrite   Microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first part to receive the nervous impulse.  
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dura mater   Thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord.  
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efferent nerve   Carries messages AWAY FROM the brain and spinal cord; motor nerve.  
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ependymal cell   Glial cell that lines membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid.  
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ganglion (ganglia - plural)   Collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.  
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glial cell (neuroglial cell)   Supportive and connective nerve cell that does not carry nervous impulses. Examples are astrocytes, microglial cells, ependymal cells, and oligodendrocytes.  
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gyrus (gyri - plural)   Sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded ridge on the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution.  
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hypothalamus   Portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland.  
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medulla oblongata   Part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels; nerve fibers cross over here.  
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meninges   Three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.  
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microglial cell   Phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system.  
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motor nerve   Carries messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs; efferent nerve.  
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myelin sheath   Covering of white fatty tissue that surrounds and insulates the axon of a nerve cell. Myelin speeds impulse conduction along axons.  
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nerve   Macroscopic cord-like collections of fibers (axons and dendrites) that carry electrical impulses.  
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neuron   Nerve cell that carries impulses throughout the body.  
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neurotransmitter   Chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell. It stimulates or inhibits another cell, which can be a nerve cell, muscle cell, or gland cell. Examples of neurotransmitters are acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.  
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oligodendroglial cell   Glial cell that forms the myelin sheath covering axons. Also called oligodendrocyte.  
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parasympathetic nerves   Involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.  
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parenchyma (par EN ki ma)   Essential, distinguishing tissue of organ/system. NERVOUS = brain, spinal cord, neurons. LIVER = hepatocytes. KIDNEY = nephrons where urines forms.  
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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 inner membrane of the meninges.  
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plexus (plexuses - plural)   Large, interlacing network of nerves. Examples are lumbosacral, cervical, and brachial plexuses.  
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pons   Part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the midbrain. It is a bridge connecting various parts of the brain.  
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receptor   Organ that receives a nervous stimulus and passes it on to afferent nerves. The skin, ears, eyes, and taste buds are receptors.  
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sciatic nerve   Nerve extending from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot. Sciatica is pain or inflammation along the course of the nerve.  
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sensory nerves   Thirty-one pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord.  
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stimulus (stimuli - plural)   Agent of change (light, sound, touch)in the internal or external environment that evokes a response.  
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stroma   Connective and supporting tissue of an organ. Glial cells are the stromal tissue of the brain.  
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sulcus (sulci - plural)   Depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure.  
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sympathetic nerves   Autonomic nerves that influence bodily functions involuntarily in times of stress.  
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synapse   Space through which a nervous impulse travels between nerve cells or between nerve and muscle or glandular cells.  
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thalamus   Main relay center of the brain. It conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum; incoming sensory messages are relayed through the thalamus to appropriate centers in the cerebrum.  
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vagus nerve   Tenth cranial nerve; its branches reach to the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach. Unlike other nerves, vagus leaves head and wanders into abdominal and thoracic cavities.  
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ventricles of the brain   Canals in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid.  
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hydrocephalus   Abnormal Accumulation of fluid (CSF) in the brain.  
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spina bifida   Congenital defects in the lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts(neural tube defect).  
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spina bifida occulta   vertebral defect is covered over with skin and only evident in x-ray.  
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spina bifida cystica   More severe with cyst-like protrustions.  
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spina bifida cystica with meningocele   Meninges protrudes to outside of body.  
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Alzheimer disease (AD)   Brain disorder marked by gradual and progressive mental deterioration (dementia), personality changes, and impairment of daily functioning.  
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amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)   Degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. Lou Gehrig disease  
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epilepsy   Chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity.  
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Huntington disease   Hereditary disorder marked by degenerative changes in the cerebrum leading to abrupt involuntary movements and mental deterioration.  
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multiple sclerosis (MS)   Destruction of the myelin sheath on neurons in the CNS and its replacement by plaques of sclerotic (hard) tissue.  
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myasthenia gravis (MG)   Autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles.  
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palsy   Paralysis (partial or complete loss of motor function).  
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cerebral palsy   Partial paralysis & lack of muscular coordination caused by loss of oxygen or blood flow to the cerebrum during pregnancy or perinatal period.  
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bell palsy   Paralysis on one side of face. Likely caused by a viral infection.  
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Parkinson disease (parkinsonism)   Degeneration of neurons in the basal ganglia, occurring in later life and leading to tremors, weakness of muscles, and slowness of movement. Cause by a deficiency of dopamine.  
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Tourette syndrome   Involuntary, spasmodic, twitching movements; uncontrollable vocal sounds; and inappropriate words.  
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herpes zoster (shingles)   Viral infection affecting peripheral nerves.  
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meningitis   Inflammation of the meninges; leptomeningitis.  
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human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalopathy   Brain disease and dementia occurring with AIDS.  
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brain tumor   Abnormal growth of brain tissue and meninges.  
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cerebral concussion   Temporary brain dysfunction (brief loss of consciousness) after injury, usually clearing within 24 hours.  
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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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cerebrovascular accident (CVA)   Disruption in the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke.  
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migraine   Severe, recurring, unilateral, vascular headache.  
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absence seizure   Minor form of seizure, consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of awareness of surroundings.  
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aneurysm   Enlarged, weakened area in an arterial wall, which may rupture, leading to hemorrhage and CVA (stroke).  
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astrocytoma   Malignant tumor of astrocytes (glial brain cells).  
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aura   Peculiar symptom or sensation occurring before the onset of an attack of migraine or an epileptic seizure.  
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dementia   Mental decline and deterioration.  
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demyelination   Destruction of myelin on axons of neurons (as in multiple sclerosis).  
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dopamine   CNS neurotransmitter, deficient in patient with Parkinson disease.  
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embolus   Clot of material that travels through the bloodstream and suddenly blocks a vessel.  
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gait   Manner of walking.  
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ictal event   Pertaining to a sudden, acute onset, as with the convulsions of a epileptic seizure.  
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occlusion   Blockage  
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palliative   Relieving symptoms but not curing them.  
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thymectomy   Removal of the thymus gland; used as treatment for myasthenia gravis.  
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TIA   Transient ischemic attack.  
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tic   Involuntary movement of a small group of muscles, as of the face; characteristic of Tourette syndrome.  
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tonic-clonic seizure   Major convulsive seizure marked by sudden loss of consciousness, stiffening of muscles, and twitching and jerking movements.  
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cerebrospinal fluid analysis   Samples of CSF are examined. Used to diagnose infection, tumors, or multiple sclerosis.  
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cerebral angiography   X-ray imaging of the arterial blood vessel in the brain after injection of contrast material. Used to diagnose vascular disease (aneurysm, occlusion, hemorrhage) in the brain.  
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computed tomography (CT) of the brain   X-ray technique that generates computerized multiple images of the brain and spinal cord.  
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myelography   X-ray imaging of the spinal canal after injection of contrast medium into the subarachnoid space. Now being replaced with CT & MRI scans.  
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magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)   Magnetic field and pulses of radiowave energy create images of the brain and spinal cord.  
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positron emission tomography (PET) scan   Radioactive glucose is injected and then detected in the brain to image the metabolic activity of cells. Used to diagnose Alzheimer disease, stroke, schizophrenia, and epilepsy.  
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Doppler ultrasound studies   Sound waves detect blood flow in the carotid and intracranial arteries. Detects occlusion in blood vessels.  
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electroencephalography (EEG)   Recording of the electrical activity of the brain.  
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lumbar puncture (LP)   CSF is withdrawn from between two lumbar vertebrae for analysis. Another name is spinal tap.  
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stereotactic radiosurgery   Use of a specialized instrument to locate and treat targets in the brain. A high-energy radiation beam treats deep tumors and abnormal blood vessel masses.  
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AD   Alzheimer disease  
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AFP   alpha-fetoprotein; elevated levels in amniotic fluid and maternal blood are associated with congenital malformations of nervous system. Anencephaly and spina bifida  
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ALS   amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - Lou Gehrig disease  
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AVM   arteriovenous malformation; congenital tangle of arteries and veins in the cerebrum.  
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CNS   central nervous system  
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CSF   cerebrospinal fluid  
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CT   computed tomography  
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CVA   cerebrovascular accident  
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EEG   electroencephalography  
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GABA   gamma-aminobutyric acid (neurotransmitter)  
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ICP   intracranial pressure (normal pressure is 5 to 15 MM Hg)  
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LP   lumbar puncture  
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MAC   monitored anesthetic care  
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MG   myasthenia gravis  
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MRA   magnetic resonance angiography  
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MRI   magnetic resonance imaging  
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MS   multiple sclerosis  
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1/2P   hemiparesis  
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PCA   patient-controlled anesthesia  
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PET   positron emission tomography  
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PNS   peripheral nervous system  
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PSRS   proton stereotactic radiosurgery  
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Sz   seizure  
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TBI   traumatic brain injury  
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TENS   transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; technique using a battery-powered device to relieve acute and chronic pain.  
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TIA   transient ischemic attack; temporary interference with the blood supply to the brain  
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TLE   temporal lobe epilepsy  
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tPA   tissue plasminogen activator; a clot-dissolving drug used as therapy for stroke.  
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cerebell/o   cerebellum  
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cerebr/o   cerebrum  
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dur/o   dura mater  
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encephal/o   brain  
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gli/o   glial cells  
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lept/o   thin, slender  
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my/o   muscle  
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myel/o   spinal cord (means bone marrow in other contexts)  
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neur/o   nerve  
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pont/o   pons  
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radicul/o   nerve root (of spinal nerves)  
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thalam/o   thalamus  
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thec/o   sheath (refers to the meninges)  
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vag/o   vagus nerve (10th cranial nerve)  
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alges/o, -algesia   excessive sensitivity to pain  
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-algia   pain  
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caus/o   burning  
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comat/o   deep sleep (coma)  
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esthesi/o, -esthesia   feeling, nervous sensation  
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kines/o kinesi/o -kinesia -kinesis -kinetic   movement  
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-lepsy   seizure  
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lex/o   word, phrase  
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-paresis   weakness  
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-phasia   speech  
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-plegia   paralysis (loss or impairment of the ability to move parts of the body)  
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-praxia   action  
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-sthenia   strength  
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syncop/o   to cut off, cut short  
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tax/o   order, coordination  
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meningi/o   meninges  
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spinal bifida cystica with myelomeningocele   Both spinal cord and meninges protrude from body  
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