1.
(CVA)??Absence seizure: Minor form of seizure, consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of contact with the environment.
2.
Acetylcholine: Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of nerve cells.
3.
Afferent nerve: Carries nervous impulses toward the brain and spinal cord; sensory nerve.
4.
Akinetic: Pertaining to loss or absence of voluntary movement.
5.
Alzheimer disease: Brain disorder marked by progressive, gradual mental deterioration (dementia) along with personality changes and impairment of daily functioning.
6.
Amyotropic lateral sclerosis: Degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem and resulting in total body paralysis.
7.
Analgesia: Absence of sensitivity to pain.
8.
analgesia: Condition of no sensation of pain (usually accompanied by sedation without loss of consciousness).
9.
Anencephaly: Congenital condition of partial or complete absence of brain matter.
10.
anencephaly: Condition of no brain (congenital anomaly).
11.
Anesthesia: Lack of feeling or sensation.
12.
anesthesia: Condition of no nervous sensation.
13.
anesthetics: Agents that reduce or eliminate sensation.
14.
Aneurysm: Weakening of an arterial wall, which may lead to hemorrhage and cerebrovascular accident (stroke).
15.
Aphasia: Inability to speak; language function is impaired due to injury to the cerebral cortex.
16.
Apraxia: Inability to perform purposeful acts or manipulate objects.
17.
Arachnoid membrane: Middle layer of the meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord.
18.
Astrocyte: Glial (neuroglial) cell that transports salts and water from capillaries.
19.
Astrocytoma: Brain tumor composed of astrocytes (glial cells). The most serious of these tumors is a glioblastoma multiforme (Grades III and IV malignant brain tumor).
20.
Ataxia: Without coordination.
21.
Aura: Peculiar sensation appearing before more definite symptoms.
22.
Autonomic nervous system: Nerves that control involuntary body functions of muscles, glands, and internal organs.
23.
Axon: Microscopic fiber that carries a nervous impulse along a nerve cell.
24.
Bell palsy: Unilateral paralysis of the face caused by a disorder of the facial nerve.
25.
Blood-brain barrier: Blood vessels that let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out.
26.
Bradykinesia: Slow movement.
27.
Brainstem: Lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord.
28.
Cauda equina: Collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord.
29.
Causalgia: Intensely unpleasant burning pain in a limb following damage to nerves.
30.
causalgia: Burning sensation of pain (in the skin); usually following injury to sensory fibers of a peripheral nerve.
31.
Cell body: Part of the nerve cell (neuron) that contains the nucleus.
32.
Central nervous system: Brain and spinal cord.
33.
Cephalgia: Head pain; headache.
34.
cephalgia: Headache (head pain).
35.
Cerebellar: Pertaining to the cerebellum.
36.
Cerebellopontine: Pertaining to the cerebellum and pons.
37.
cerebellopontine: Pertaining to the cerebellum and the pons.
38.
Cerebellum: Part of the brain that coordinates muscle movements and maintains balance.
39.
Cerebral angiography: X-ray record of blood vessels in the brain after intravenous injection of contrast material.
40.
Cerebral concussion: Temporary brain dysfunction (brief loss of consciousness) after injury; usually clearing within 24 hours.
41.
Cerebral contusion: Bruising of brain tissue as a result of direct trauma to the head; neurologic disorder persists longer than 24 hours.
42.
Cerebral cortex: Outer region of the cerebrum.
43.
cerebral cortex: The outer region (gray matter) of the cerebrum.
44.
Cerebral hemorrhage: Bursting of an artery in the brain.
45.
Cerebral palsy: Partial paralysis and muscular coordination caused by loss of oxygen or blood flow to the cerebrum during pregnancy or in the perinatal period.
46.
Cerebrospinal fluid: Clear, watery fluid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord.
47.
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis: Samples of cerebrospinal fluid are examined for blood cells, protein, glucose, tumor cells, bacteria and other substances.
48.
Cerebrovascular accident: Disruption of the normal blood supply to the brain; stroke.
49.
Cerebrum: Largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought and memory, among other functions.
50.
Coma: State of unconsciousness from which a patient cannot be aroused.
51.
Comatose: Pertaining to a coma.
52.
comatose: In a state of coma (profound unconsciousness from which one cannot be roused; may be due to trauma, disease, or action of ingested toxic substance).
53.
Computed tomography: Cross-sectional x-ray imaging of an organ (such as the brain or spinal cord), with or without contrast material.
54.
Cranial nerves: Twelve pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain.
55.
Dementia: Mental decline and deterioration.
56.
Demyelination: Destruction of myelin on axons of nerves (as in multiple sclerosis).
57.
Dendrite: Microscopic branching portion of a nerve cell; first part of the nerve cell to receive the nervous impulse.
58.
Dopamine: Neurotransmitter in the central nervous system; deficient in patients with Parkinson disease.
59.
Doppler ultrasound studies: Sound waves are used to detect blood flow in arteries within the brain and leading to the brain.
60.
Dura mater: Thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
61.
Dyskinesia: Impairment of the ability to perform voluntary movements.
62.
Dyslexia: Difficulty in reading, writing, and learning.
63.
Efferent nerve: Carries messages away from the brain the spinal cord; motor nerve.
64.
Electroencephalography: Process of recording the electricity within the brain.
65.
Embolus: Blood clot that is carried by the bloodstream from one area of the body to another where it blocks a blood vessel.
66.
Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain.
67.
encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain.
68.
Encephalopathy: Disease of the brain.
69.
encephalopathy: Any disease of the brain.
70.
Ependymal cell: A glial cell that lines the membranes within the brain and spinal cord and helps form cerebrospinal fluid.
71.
Epidural hematoma: Collection of blood located above the dura mater.
72.
epidural hematoma: Collection of blood above the dura mater.
73.
Epilepsy: Brain disorder marked by recurrent attacks (seizures) of abnormal nervous impulses.
74.
Gait: Manner of walking.
75.
Ganglion: Collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system; plural is ganglia.
76.
Glial cell: Nervous system cell that is supportive and connective in function: Astrocyte, microglial cell, ependymal cell.
77.
Glioblastoma: Highly malignant brain tumor composed of glial cells (astrocytes).
78.
Glioblastoma: Rapidly growing malignant tumor of the brain.
79.
glioblastoma: Tumor (malignant) of glial (neuroglial or supportive) cells in the brain.
80.
Gyrus, gyri: Sheet of nerve cells that produces a rounded fold on the surface of the cerebrum.
81.
Hemiparesis: Slight paralysis of the right or left half of the body.
82.
Hemiplegia: Paralysis of the right or left half of the body.
83.
Herpes zoster: Viral infection affecting peripheral nerves.
84.
HIV encephalopathy: Disease of the brain (dementia) caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
85.
Huntington disease: Hereditary disorder affecting the cerebrum and involving abrupt, involuntary, jerking movements and mental deterioration in later stages.
86.
Hydrocephalus: Abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles (canals) of the brain.
87.
Hypalgesia: Diminished sensitivity to pain.
88.
hypalgesia: Diminished sensation to pain.
89.
Hyperesthesia: Excessive sensitivity or feeling, especially of the skin in response to touch or pain.
90.
hyperesthesia: Excessive sensitivity to touch, pain, or other sensory stimuli.
91.
Hyperkinesis: Excessive movement.
92.
Hypothalamus: Portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland.
93.
Ictal event: Pertaining to a sudden, acute onset, as the convulsion of an epileptic seizure.
94.
Intrathecal: Pertaining to within the membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
95.
intrathecal injection: Placement of substances (medications) into the subarachnoid space.
96.
Leptomeningeal: Pertaining to the two thinner membranes (arachnoid membrane and pia mater) surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
97.
leptomeningeal: Pertaining to the pia mater and arachnoid membranes of the meninges.
98.
Lumbar puncture: Withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid from the subarachnoid space between two lumbar vertebrae; spinal tap.
99.
Magnetic resonance imaging: Magnetic and radio waves create an image of an organ three planes of the body. The brain and spinal cord can be imaged to detect lesions.
100.
Medulla oblongata: Lower part of the brain, closest to the spinal cord; controls breathing heartbeat, and size of blood vessels.
101.
Meningeal: Pertaining to the meninges.
102.
meningeal: Pertaining to the meninges.
103.
Meninges: Three membranes surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord.
104.
Meningioma: Tumor (benign) of the meninges.
105.
meningioma: Tumor of the meninges.
106.
Meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges.
107.
Meningocele: Hernia of the meninges through a defect or space between vertebrae; a form of spina bifida cystica.
108.
Microglial cell: Phagocytic glial cell that removes waste products from the central nervous system.
109.
Migraine: A severe headache that is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
110.
Migraine: A severe headache, often unilateral, and sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
111.
Motor nerve: Carries impulses from the brain and spinal cord to muscles.
112.
Multiple sclerosis: Chronic neurologic disorder marked by destruction of the myelin sheath on neuronal axons in the CNS and replacement by plaques of sclerotic tissue.
113.
Myasthenia gravis: Autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles.
114.
Myelin sheath: Fatty, white covering over the axon of a nerve cell.
115.
Myelogram: X-ray record (with contrast) of the spinal cord.
116.
myelogram: Record (x-ray) of the spinal cord.
117.
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.
118.
myelomeningocele: Hernia of the spinal cord and meninges; associated with spina bifida.
119.
Myoneural: Pertaining to muscle and nerve.
120.
myoneural: Pertaining to muscle and nerve.
121.
Narcolepsy: Sudden seizures of sleep.
122.
Nerve: Macroscopic cordlike collection of fibers that carry electrical impulses.
123.
Neuralgia: Nerve pain.
124.
neuralgia: Nerve pain.
125.
Neurasthenia: Lack of strength in nerves; a feeling of weakness and exhaustion.
126.
Neuroglia: Supporting cells (stroma) of the nervous system; glial cells.
127.
Neuron: Nerve cell.
128.
Neuropathy: Disease of nerves; primarily in the peripheral nervous system.
129.
neuropathy: Disease of nerves.
130.
Neurotransmitter: Chemical messenger released at the end of a nerve cell.
131.
Occlusion: Blockage or obstruction.
132.
Oligodendroglial cell: Glial (neuroglial) cell that forms the myelin sheath covering the axon of a neuron.
133.
Palliative: Relieving symptoms, but not curative.
134.
Palsy: Paralysis.
135.
Paraplegia: Paralysis of the lower part of the body and both legs.
136.
Parasympathetic nerves: Involuntary, autonomic nerves that regulate normal body functions, such as heart rate, breathing, and the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.
137.
Parenchyma: Essential, functioning cells of any organ. Neurons (nerve cells) are the parenchyma of the nervous system.
138.
Paresis: Slight paralysis.
139.
Paresthesia: Abnormal nervous sensation occurring without apparent cause. Examples are tingling, numbness or prickling sensations.
140.
Parkinson disease: Degeneration of nerve cells that produce the neurotransmitter, dopamine in the brain; leads to tremors, weakness of muscles, and slowness of movement.
141.
Peripheral nervous system: Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves.
142.
Pia mater: Thin, delicate, innermost membrane of the meninges.
143.
Plexus: Network of nerves outside of the central nervous system; brachial, cervical, lumbosacral plexuses are examples.
144.
Poliomyelitis: Inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord.
145.
poliomyelitis: Inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord.
146.
Polyneuritis: Inflammation of many nerves.
147.
polyneuritis: Inflammation of many (spinal) nerves, causing paralysis, pain, and wasting ofmuscles. Guillain-Barré syndrome (sequela of certain viral infections with paresthesias and muscular weakness) is an example.
148.
Pons: Part of the brainstem anterior to the cerebellum, between the medulla and the rest of the brain. The pons connects the upper and lower portions of the brain.
149.
Positron emission: Computerized radiologic procedure using radioactive
150.
Quadriplegia: Paralysis of all four limbs; both arms and both legs.
151.
Radiculitis: Inflammation of a spinal nerve root.
152.
radiculitis: Inflammation of nerve roots.
153.
Radiculopathy: Disease of a spinal nerve root.
154.
radiculopathy: Disease of the spinal nerve roots.
155.
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.
156.
Sciatic nerve: Extends from the base of the spine down the thigh, lower leg, and foot. Sciatica is pain along the course of the nerve.
157.
Sensory nerve: Carries messages to the brain and spinal cord from a receptor; afferent nerve.
158.
Shingles: Viral (herpes zoster) illness that affects peripheral nerves; produces blisters and pain on the skin overlying the path of peripheral nerves.
159.
Spina bifida: Congenital defect in the lumbar spinal column caused by imperfect union of vertebral parts; spinal cord and meninges may herniate through the vertebral gap.
160.
Spinal nerves: Thirty-one pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord. Each spinal nerve affects a particular area of the skin.
161.
Stereotactic radiosurgery: Use of a specialized instrument using three-dimensional coordinates to locate the site to be operated on.
162.
Stimulus: Agent of change (light, sound, touch) that evokes a response.
163.
Stroma: Connective and supportive tissue of an organ.
164.
Subdural hematoma: Collection of blood in the space below the dura mater surrounding the brain.
165.
subdural hematoma: Collection of blood under the dura mater (outermost layer of the meninges).
166.
Sulcus, sulci: Depression or groove in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure.
167.
Sympathetic nerves: Autonomic nerves that activate responses in times of stress; heartbeat, respiration, and blood pressure are affected.
168.
Synapse: Space between nerve cells or between nerve cells and muscle and glandular cells.
169.
Syncopal: Pertaining to syncope (fainting).
170.
Syncope: Fainting; temporary loss of consciousness.
171.
Thalamic: Pertaining to the thalamus.
172.
thalamic: Pertaining to the thalamus.
173.
Thalamus: Main relay center of the brain; located in the central region or diencephalon of the brain.
174.
Thrombus: Blood clot.
175.
Tic: Involuntary movement of a small group of muscles, as of the face.
176.
tomography: glucose or oxygen to image the metabolic activity of cells, such as brain cells.
177.
Tonic-clonic seizure: A major seizure affecting the brain in epilepsy.
178.
Tourette syndrome: Neurologic disorder characterized by multiple facial and other body tics.
179.
Transient ischemic attack: Fleeting episode of ischemia (holding back blood) in the brain.
180.
Trigeminal neuralgia: Flashes of stab like pain along the course of a branch of the trigeminal nerve (5th cranial nerve). The trigeminal nerve has branches to the eye, upper jaw and lower jaw.
181.
Vagal: Pertaining to the vagus nerve.
182.
vagal: Pertaining to the vagus (10th cranial) nerve.
183.
Vagus nerve: Tenth cranial nerve with branches to the chest and abdominal organs.
184.
Ventricles of the brain: Fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) filled canals in the brain.
