| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Anencephaly | a neural tube defect in which the cephalic end of the neural tube fails to close, usually between the 23rd and 26th day of pregnancy. Resulting in the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull and scalp. Children with this disorder are born without a forebrain, (cerebral hemispheres) |
| Apraxia | a neurological disorder characterized by the loss of the ability to execute or carry out learned purposeful movement, despite having the desire and physical ability to preform the movements. |
| Astrocyte | – are characteristic star-shaped glial cells in the brain ans spinal cord. They preform many functions, including biochemical support of endothelial cells which form the blood-brain barrier, the provision of nutrients to the nervous tissue, and a principal role in the repair and scarring process of the brain and spinal cord following traumatic injuries. |
| Ataxia | is a neurological sign and symptom consisting of gross lack of coordination of muscle movements. A non-specific clinical manifestation implying dysfunction of parts of the nervous system that coordinate movement, such as the cerebellum. |
| Bradykinesia | slow movement. It is a feature of a number of diseases, most notably Parkinson's disease and other disorders of the basal ganglia. |
| Cerebellum | is the region of the brain that plays an important role in the integration of sensory perception, coordination and motor control. |
| Cerebrum | along with the diencephalon, constitute the forebrain. It is the most anterior or (in humans) the most superior region of the vertebrate nervous system. |
| Comatose | is a profound state of unconsciousness. Someone with this condition cannot be awakened, fails to responds normally to pain or light, does not have sleep-wake cycles, and does not take voluntary actions. |
| Glioma | a type of cancer that starts from the interstial tissue of the brain |
| Gyri | is a ridge in the cerebral cortex |
| Hypothalamus | is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions. Mainly to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland. Regulates metabolic processes as well as activities of the autonomic nervous system. |
| Leptomeningitis | – inflammation of the pia mater or of the arachnoid membrane. (Acute spinal meningitis). Due to a particular type of bacteria, and frequently accompanies tuberculosis, and other infectious type fevers. |
| Meningioma | are the most common primary tumor of the central nervous system, arising from the arachnoid cap cells of the arachnoid villi in the meninges. These tumors are usually benign in nature, but are sometimes malignant. |
| Myelin sheath | is an electrically insulating dielectric material that forms a layer, surrounding the axon of a neuron. |
| Neurasthenia | a psycho-pathological term used to denote a condition with symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, headache, impotence, neuralgia and depressed mood. |
| Paraplegia | is impairment in motor and or sensory function of the lower extremities. Usually as a result of spinal cord injury or a congenital condition such as spinal bifida which affects the neural elements of the spinal canal. |
| Synapse | specialized junctions through which neurons signal to each other and to non-neuronal cells such as those in the muscles or glands. |
| Aura | is the perceptual disturbance experiences by some migraine sufferers before a migraine headache, and the telltale sensation experiences by some people before a seizure. |
| Cerebral angiography | a form of angiography that visualizes the arterial and venous supply of the brain. A medical imaging technique that is now the gold standard for detecting vascular problems of the brain. |
| Cerebral hemorrhage | is a subtype of intracranial hemorrhage that occurs within the brain tissue itself. Usually caused by brain trauma or it can occur spontaneously in hemorrhagic stroke. |
| Cerebral palsy | is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non contagious conditions that cause physical disability in human development. |
| Dementia | a progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the body beyond what might be expected from normal again. Usually occurring in the geriatric population, it is called organic brain disease in younger populations |
| Dopamine | a neurotransmitter produced in several parts of the brain, including the substantia nigra. Also a neurohormone that is released by the hypothalamus. Usually as an inhibitory hormone |
| Embolus | occurs when an object migrates from one part of the body and causes a blockage of a blood vessel in another part of the body. |
| Gait | a pattern of movement of the limbs used for locomotion. |
| Glioblastoma multiforme | a glioma, with vascular endothelial proliferation, rapidly growing, and rapidly invasive. Usually in the cerebrum of adults. |
| Hydrocephalus | an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain. This may cause increased intracranial pressure, progressive enlargement of the head, convulsions and mental disability. |
| Multiple sclerosis | an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the nervous system, leading to demyelination. This affects the ability of the neurons to communicate with each other. |
| Myasthenia gravis | a neuronal disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatigability. It is an autoimmune disorder in which weakness is by circulating antibodies that block acetylcholine receptors at the post synaptic neuromuscular junction. |
| Palliative | any form of medical care or treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of disease symptoms, rather than striving to halt, delay, or reverse progression of the disease itself or provide a cure. |
| Parkinson disease | a degenerative disease of the brain that often impairs motor skill, and speech. Typical signs include muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement or loss of movement. |
| Spina bifida | a developmental birth defect involving the neural tube with an incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube results in an incompletely formed spinal cord. Vertebra does not form completely remaining unfused and open. |
| Tonic-clonic | a type of generalized seizure affecting the entire brain. Formally known as grand mal seizures. Most commonly associated with epilepsy and seizures in general. |
| Tourette syndrome | is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by the presence of multiple motor tics and at least one phonic tic. |
| Transient ischemic attack | is caused by the changes in the blood supply to a particular area of the brain, resulting in a brief neurologic dysfunction that persists, by definition, for less than 24 hours; if symptoms persist, then it is categorized as a stroke. |
| stroma | the framework, usually of an organ, gland, or other structure, as distinguished from the parenchyma |
| acetylcholine | a neurotransmitter that stimulates nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, at the motor end plate of skeletal muscle as well as in the nervous system and muscarinic receptors in smooth muscle. |
| syncopal | loss of consciousness, a particular posture tone associated with decreased cerebral blood flow. |
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