cephal/o
head
cerebell/o
little brain, cerebellum
cerebr/o
brain, cerebrum
crani/o
skull, cranium
encephal/o
brain
gangli/o
swelling, knot
mening/i, mening/o
membrane
myel/o
spinal cord, medulla, myelin
neur/o
nerve
phren/o, psych/o
mind
radic/o, radicul/o
nerve root
vag/o
vagus nerve
ventricul/o
little belly, ventricle
nervous system components
brain, spinal cord, and nerves
function of the nervous system
sensation of environment, integration of information to form thoughts and memories; control of body movements and many internal functions
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
nerves and ganglia
role of nervous system in homeostasis
perceive changes (stimuli) and convert info into nerve impulses
neuron
nerve cell
neuroglia
other cells of nervous tissue that supports neurons; makes up most of the brain and spinal cord
blood-brain barrier
barrier between brain fluids and the blood which keep most bacteria, harmful cells, and many toxins from entering the nervous system
protection for nervous tissue
bone, meninges, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood-brain barrier
most common affliction of the nervous system
stroke
neurology
the treatment of disorders affecting the nervous system
neurosurgeons
physicians whose medical practice focuses on brain or spinal cord surgery
psychiatrists
physicians whose medical practice addresses mental illnesses
clinical psychologists
mental health professionals trained in the treatment of behavioral disorders
par-
alongside, abnormal
esthesi/o
sensation
phasi/o
speak
-algesia
pain
-asthenia
weakness
aphasia
the inability to speak; clinical sign of a disease process causing the disability
cephalalgia
clinical term for headache, or a generalized pain in the region of the head; muscle contraction (tension) headaches result from sustained muscle contractions often caused by tension; cluster headaches are where the pain is felt on one side of the head in
convulsion/seizure
series of involuntary muscular spasms caused by an uncoordinated excitation of motor neurons that triggers muscle contraction; sign of neurological disorder
hyperalgesia
excessive sensitivity to painful stimuli
hypoalgesia
deficient sensitivity to normally painful stimuli
neuralgia
condition of pain in a nerve
hyperesthesia
excessive sensitivity to a stimulus, such as touch, sound or pain
neurasthenia, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, dysphoria
generalized experience of body fatigue often associated with mental depression
paresthesia
abnormal sensation of numbness and tingling caused by an injury to one or more nerves
polyneuralgia
condition of pain in many nerves
syncope
temporary loss of function due to a sudden reduction of blood flow to the brain
ather/o
fatty
aut/o
self
embol/o
plug
gli/o
glue
gnos/o
knowledge
later/o
side
narc/o
numbness
poli/o
gray
scler/o
hard
thromb/o
clot
vascul/o
little vessel
-lepsy
seizure
-malacia
softening
-plegia
paralysis
-troph
development
agnosia
the loss of the ability to interpret sensory information
Alzheimer disease (AD)
gradual deterioration of the brain resulting in confusion, short-term memory loss, and restlessness
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/Lou Gehrig disease
disease characterized by the progressive atrophy of muscle caused by hardening of nervous tissue on the lateral columns of the spinal cord
autism
developmental disorder that varies in its severity with the patient, characterized by withdrawal from outward reality and impaired development in social conduct and communication; children often avoid eye contact with others and have perseverative behavio
Bell palsy
paralysis of the face muscles on one side due to damage to the seventh cranial nerve
cerebellitis
inflammation of the cerebellum; symptoms include a loss of muscle coordination and equilibrium
coma
general term describing several levels of abnormally decreased consciousness
concussion
injury to soft tissue resulting from a blow or violent shaking; cerebral type: cerebrum undergoes physical damage when it strikes against the inside wall of the cranium; considered minor injury, resulting in head pain and dizziness, and sometimes nausea
traumatic brain injury (TBI)
more severe brain injury which often involves bleeding that can result in functional losses and death
encephalitis
inflammation of the brain; usually caused by bacterial or viral infection
encephalomalacia
softening of brain tissue; usually caused by deficient blood flow to the brain
epilepsy
brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, including convulsions and temporary loss of consciousness; results from sudden uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain; classified as grand mal (convulsions affecting all muscle groups), p
glioma
neoplasm (tumor) of glial cells; becomes life threatening when it crowds out functional neurons
hydrocephalus
congenital disease caused by abnormally increased volume of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain ventricles of a child before the crania sutures have sealed, resulting in enlargement of the cranium, and in many cases, brain damage; can be surgically cor
meningioma
benign tumor of the meninges (several layers of membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which include the pia mater, arachnoid mater, and dura mater) usually arising from the arachnoid mater and occurring within the superior sagittal sinus on top
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges; usually caused by bacterial or viral infection
meningocele
protrusion of the meninges, usually caused by a birth defect in the skull or spinal column
meningomyelocele
protrusion of the meninges and spinal cord through a defective opening in the spinal column
spina bifida
congenital disease featuring meningoceles and meningomyeloceles
multiple sclerosis (MS)
disease characterized by the deterioration of the myelin sheath covering axons within the brain; progressive disease without a known cause, diagnosed by episodes of localized functional losses that eventually lead to paralysis and death; believed to be an
myelitis
inflammation of the spinal cord; usually caused by a bacterial infection spreading from the meninges to the spinal cord, and if not treated, can result in muscle paralysis or sensory loss.
narcolepsy
sleep disorder characterized by sudden uncontrollable episodes of sleep, attacks of paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations (dreams intruding into the wakeful state)
neuritis
inflammation of a nerve; usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection of the connective tissue coverings surrounding a nerve, although it may also result from physical injury to the nerve; also polyneuritis (may be an early sign of increased pressure
neruoma
tumor originating from neurons
neuropathy
disease affecting any part of the nervous system, such as a cranial nerve, the brain, or the spinal cord; also polyneuropathy
cerebral aneurysm
circulatory problem caused by the weakened wall of a blood vessel, resulting in a bulge in the wall that is in danger of bursting; affects arteries channeling blood to the brain, placing the brain at a great risk of the damage that would result from a bur
cerebral atherosclerosis
arteries supplying the brain gradually close due to the accumulation of fatty plaques, reducing the flow of blood to the brain; increases the risk of stroke, as atherosclerotic plaques have a tendency to break away and float downstream, causing plugs that
cerebral embolism
moving blood clot in an artery of the brain
cerebral thrombosis
condition of stationary blood clot in an artery of the brain
cerebral hemorrhage
condition of bleeding from blood vessels associated with the cerebrum
cerebral palsy (CP)
condition that appears at birth or shortly after as a partial muscle paralysis; persists throughout life and is caused by a brain lesion present at birth or a brain defect that arose during development; no treatment or cure
cerebrovascular accident (CVA); stroke
blood supply to the brain is reduced or cut off, resulting in the irreversible death of brain cells followed by losses of mental function or death; may be caused by emboli, thrombus, or a hemorrhage
paraplegia
inability to contract muscles in the legs and lower body
monoplegia
one limb is paralyzed
hemiplegia
paralysis on one side of the body
quadriplegia
paralysis from the neck down including al four limbs
Parkinson disease (PD)
chronic degenerative disease of the brain characterized by tremors, rigidity, and shuffling gait
poliomyelitis; polio
inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord, often resulting in paralysis; caused by one of several viruses belonging to the family poliovirus; vaccine available in 1955 thwarted pandemic that was destroying many lives prior to that year
rabies; hydrophobia
acute, often fatal, infection of the CNS caused by a virus transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected animal; one symptom of mental loss from the infection was a fear of water
ventriculitis
inflammation of the ventricles of the brain; most common cause is a blockage of one of the channels that carry CSF; when it strikes an infant, results in hydrocephalus
ech/o
sound
electr/o
electricity
rhiz/o
nerve root
-lysis
loosen, dissolve
-rrhaphy
suturing
analgesic
most common form of pain management; aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen; pertaining to without pain; codeine and morphine used for severe pain, called opioid analgesics
anesthesia
without the condition of sensation; primary type of pain management used during surgical procedures; usually a blend of narcotics designed to drop the patient into unconsciousness quickly and risk-free as possible; may be administered by inhalation, injec
cerebral angiography
diagnostic procedure that reveals blood flow to the brain by X ray photography; capable of identifying cerebral aneurysm and cerebral thrombosis and tracking the damage that might occur following a cerebral hemorrhage
computed tomography (CT scan)
procedure involving the use of a computer to interpret a series of X ray images and construct from them a three dimensional view of the brain; particularly useful in diagnosing tumors, including gliomas
craniectomy
surgical removal of part of the cranium; usually performed to replace a fractured cranial bone
craniotomy
incision made through the cranium to provide surgical access to the brain; surgical knife called craniotome
echoencephalography (echoEG)
ultrasound technology used to record brain structures in the search for abnormalities
effectual drug therapy
general type of treatment to manage neurological disorders; antianxiety medication reduces patient anxiety levels; anticonvulsants control convulsions occurring in diseases such as epilepsy; antipyretics effective against fever; antidepressants combat dep
tranquilizers and sedatives
effectual drug therapy used to calm agitated and anxious patients
narcotics
effectual drug therapy used to produce stupor or induce sleep
electroencephalography (EEG)
diagnostic procedure that records electrical impulses of the brain to measure brain activity
epidural
injection of a spinal block anesthetic into the epidural space external to the spinal cord; common procedure to manage pain during painful childbirth labor or as an emergency procedure following severe trauma to the pelvic region
evoked potential studies (EP studies)
group of diagnostic tests that measures changes in brain waves during particular stimuli to determine brain function; evaluates sight, hearing, and other senses
ganglionectomy
surgical removal of a ganglion
lumbar puncture (LP); spinal tap
withdrawal (aspiration) of CSF from the subarachnoid space in the lumbar region of the spinal cord; performed to evaluate the composition of the CSF
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
diagnostic procedure where powerful magnets are used to observe soft tissues in the body, including the brain; used to target brain tumors, brain trauma, MS, and other conditions
myelogram
X ray photograph of the spinal cord following injection of a contrast dye
neurectomy
surgical removal of a nerve
neuroscientist
one who participates in neurological research
neurologist
physician who specializes in neurology
neurolysis
procedure of separating a nerve by removing unwanted adhesions
neuroplasty
surgical repair of a nerve
neurorrhaphy
suture of a nerve
neurotomy
incision into a nerve
positron emission tomography (PET scan)
scan using an injected radioactive chemical to provide a map of blood flow within the body that can be correlated to function; useful diagnostic procedure evaluating brain function
psychiatry
branch of medicine that addresses disorders of the brain resulting in mental, emotional, and behavioral disturbances; often uses psychopharmacology (drug therapy targeting the brain) and psychoanalysis (psychiatric therapy) to improve patient's quality of
psychology
not a medical specialty; study of human behavior; clinical type uses applied psychology to treat patients suffering from behavioral disorders and emotional trauma; technique used is called psychotherapy
radicotomy; rhizotomy
incision into a nerve root
reflex testing
series of diagnostic tests performed to observe the body's response to touch stimuli; useful in assessing stroke, head trauma, birth defects, and other neurological challenges; include deep tendon reflexes (DTR) involving percussion at the patellar tendon
vagotomy
vagus nerve is large cranial nerve passing from the brain stem into the thoracic and abdominal cavities; in procedure, several branches of the vagus nerve are severed to reduce acid secretion into the stomach in an effort to prevent the reoccurrence of pe
ment/o
mind
schiz/o
to divide, split
somat/o
body
-lexia
pertaining to a word or phrase
-mania
madness, frenzy
anxiety disorder
state of apprehension of danger and fear over the future that dominates behavior; usually an acute response that includes restlessness, psychological tension, tachycardia, and shortness of breath.
attention deficit disorder (ADD)
neurological disorder characterized by short attention span and poor concentration; usually associated with school-age children but can also affect adults and makes learning very difficult; also ADHD has added symptom of hyperactivity/hyperkinesia
bipolar disease
mental disorder affecting the cognitive functions of the cerebrum, causing alternating periods of high energy and mental confusion with low energy and mental depression
dementia
impairment of mental function characterized by memory loss, disorientation, and confusion; usually associated with old age and sometimes accompanies Alzheimer disease
dyslexia
reading handicap with a neurological base in which some letters and numbers are reversed in order by the brain
mania
emotional disorder of abnormally high psychomotor activity, which includes excitement, a rapid movement of ideas, unstable attention, sleeplessness, and confusion between reality and imagination; megalo type: individual believes oneself to be a person of
neurosis
emotional disorder involving a counterproductive way of dealing with mental stress
paranoia
persistent delusions of persecution resulting in mistrust and combativeness
phobia
irrational, obsessive fear; arachno is fear of spiders; agora is fear of public places; acro is fear of heights; phono is fear of developing a phobia
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
acute condition that includes sleeplessness, anxiety, and paranoia resulting from a severe mental strain or emotional trauma such as military combat or physical assault
psychopathy
general term for a mental or emotional disorder
psychosis
gross distortion or disorganization of mental capacity, emotional response, and capacity to recognize reality and relate to others; most common is schizophrenia
psychosomatic illness
mind creating symptoms that suggest an illness when physical signs are absent; can be a real physical illness resulting from mental anxiety, such as peptic ulcer and hypertension
schizophrenia
condition of split mind; characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and extensive withdrawal from other people and the outside world; many forms, each classified according to the experiences of the patient