brain
major portion of the central nervous system
cerebrum
largest portion of the brain, divided into left and right hemispheres; it controls the skeletal muscles, interprets general senses (such as temperature, pain, and touch), and contains centers for sight and hearing.
ventricles
spaces withing the brain that contain a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid; the cerebrospinal fluid flows through the subarachnoid space around the brain and spinal cord
cerebellum
located under the posterior portion of the cerebrum; its function is to assist in the coordination of skeletal muscles and to maintain balance; also called hindbrain
brainstem
stemlike portion of the brain that connects with the spinal cord; ten of the twelve cranial nerves originate in the brainstem
pons
literally means bridge; it connects the cerebrum with the cerebellum and brainstem
medulla oblongata
located between the pons and spinal cord; it contain centers that control respiration, heart rate, and the muscles in the blood vessel walls, which assist in determining blood pressure
midbrain
most superior portion of the brainstem
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
clear, colorless fluid contained in the ventricles that flows through the subarachnoid space around the brain and spinal cord; it cushions the brain and spinal cord from shock, transports nurtrients, and clears metabolic waste
spinal cord
passes through the vertebral canal extending from the medulla oblongata to the level of the second lumbar vertebra; the spinal cord conducts nerve impulses to and from the brain and initiates reflex action to sensory information without input from the brain
meninges
three layers of membrane that cover the brain and spinal cord
dura mater
tough outer layer of the meninges
arachnoid
delicate middle layer of the meninges; the arachnoid membrane is loosely attached to the pia mater by weblike fibers, which allow for the subarachnoid space
pia mater
thin inner layer of the meninges
nerve
cordlike structure that carries impulses form one part of the body to another; there are twelve pairs of cranial neves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves
ganglion
group of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system
glia
cells that form support and nourish nervous tissue; some cells assist in the secretion of cerebrospinal fluid and others assist with phagocytosis; they do not conduct impulses; three types astroglia, oligodendroglia, microglia; also called neuroglia
neuron
conducts nerve impulses to carry out the function of the nervous system; destroyed neurons cannot be replaced
cerebell/o
cerebellum
cerebr/o
cerebrum, brain
dur/o
hard, dura mater
encephal/o
brain
gangli/o, ganglion/o
ganglion
gli/o
glia
meningi/o, mening/o
meninges
myel/o
spinal cord
neur/o
nerve
radic/o, radicul/o, rhiz/o
nerve root (proximal end of a peripheral nerve, closes to the spinal cord)
esthesi/o
sensation, sensitivity, feeling
ment/o, psych/o
mind
mon/o
one, single
phas/o
speech
poli/o
gray matter
quadr/i
four
#NAME?
specialist, physician
#NAME?
tratment, specialty
#NAME?
seizure, attack
#NAME?
slight paralysis
cerebellitis
inflammation of the cerbellum
cerebral thrombosis
pertaining to the cerebrum, abnormal condition of a clot (blood clot in a blood vessel of the brain); a type of ischemic stroke
duritis
inflammation of the dura mater
encephalitis
inflammation of the brain
encephalomalacia
softening of the brain
encephalomyeloradiculitis
inflammation of the brain, spinal cord, and nerve roots
gangliitis
inflammation of a ganglion
glioblastoma
tumor composed of developing glial tissue (the most malignant and most common primary tumor of the brain)
glioma
tumor composed of the glial tissue
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges
meningioma
tumor of the meninges (benign and slow growing)
meningocele
protrusion of the meninges
meningomyelocele
protrusion of the meninges and spinal cord; also called myelomeningocele
mononeuropathy
disease affecting a single nerve
neuralgia
pain in a nerve
neurasthenia
nerve weakness
neuritis
inflammation of a nerve
neuroarthropathy
disease of nerves and joints
neuroma
tumor made up of nerve (cells)
neuropathy
disease of the nerves
poliomyelitis
inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord
polyneuritis
inflammation of many nerves
polyneuropathy
disease of many nerves
radiculitis
inflammation of the nerve roots
radiculopathy
disease of the nerve roots
rhizomeningomyelitis
inflammation of the nerve root, meninges, and spinal cord
subdural hematoma
pertaining to below the dura mater, tumor of blood
alzheimer disease (AD)
disease charaterized by early senility confusion, loss of recognition of persons or familiar surrounding, restlessness, and impaired memory
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
progressive muscle atrophy caused by hardening of nerve tissue on the lateral columns of the spinal cord; also called Lou Gehrig disease)
bell palsy
paralysis of muscles on one side of the face, usually a temporary condition; symptoms include a sagging mouth on the affected side and nonclosure of the eyelid
cerebral aneurysm
aneurysm in the cerebrum
cerebral embolism
an embolus (usually a blood clot or a piece of atherosclerotic plaque arising from a distant site) lodges in a cerebral artery, causing sudden blockage of blood supply to the brain tissue; a common cause is atrial fibrillation
cerebral palsy (CP)
condition characterized by lack of muscle control and partial paralysis, caused by a brain defect or lesion present at birth or shortly after
dementia
cognitive impairment characterized by a loss of intellectual brain function
epilepsy
disorder in which the main symptom is recurring seizures
hydrocephalus
increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain, which can cause enlargement of the cranium in infants
intracerebral hemorrhage
bleeding into the brain as a result of a ruptured blood vessel within the brain; a type of ischemic stroke frequently associated with high blood pressure
multiple sclerosis (MS)
degenerative disease characterized by sclerotic patches along the brain and spinal cord
parkinson disease (PD)
chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system; symptoms include resting tremors of the hands and feet, rigidity, expressionless face, and shuffling gait
sciatica
inflammation of the sciatic nerve, causing pain that travels from the thigh through the leg to the foot and toes; can be caused by injury, infection, arthritis, herniated disk, or from prolonged pressure on the nerve from sitting for long periods
shingles
viral disease that affects the peripheral nerves and causes blisters on the skin that follow the course of the affected nerves; also called herpes zoster
stroke
occurs when there is an interruption of blood supply to a region of the brain, depriving nerve cells in the affected area of oxygen and nutrients;
subarachnoid hemorrhage
bleeding caused by a ruptured blood vessel just outside the brain (usually a ruptured cerebral aneurysm) that rapidly fills the space between the brain and skull (subarachnoid space) with blood; the patient may experience an intense, sudden headache accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and neck pain
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
sudden deficient supply of blood to the brain lasting a short time; the symptoms may be similar to those of stroke, but with TIA the symptoms are temporary and the usual outcome is complete recovery
ganglionectomy
excision of a ganglion; also called gangliectomy
neurectomy
excision of a nerve
neurolysis
separating a nerve (from adhesions)
neuroplasty
surgical repair of a nerve
neurorrhaphy
suture of a nerve
neurotomy
incision into a nerve
radicotomy, rhizotomy
incision into a nerve root
cerebral angiography
radiographic imaging of the blood vessels in the brain (after an injection of contrast medium)
CT myelography
process of recording (scan) the spinal cord (after an injections of a contrast agent into the subarachnoid space by lumbar puncture
electroencephalogram (EEG)
record of the electrical impulses of the brain
electroencephalograph
instrument used to record the electrical impulses of the brain
electroencephalography
process of recording the electrical impulses of the brain
computed tomography of the brain (CT scan)
process that includes the use of a computer to produce a series of brain tissue images at any desired depth
magnetic resonance imaging of the brain or spine (MRI scan)
a noninvasive technique that produces sectional images of soft tissues of the brain or spine through a strong magnetic field
positron emission tomography of the brain (PET scan)
an imaging technique with a readioactive substance that produces sectional imaging of the brain to examine blood flow and metabolic activity; images are projected on a viewing screen
evoked potential studies (EP studies)
a group of diagnostic tests that measure changes and responses in brain waves elicited by visual, auditory, or somatosensory stimuli; visual evoked response (VER) is a response to visual stimuli; auditory evoked response (AER) is a response to auditory stimuli
lumbar puncture (LP)
insertion of a needle into the subarachnoid space usually between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae; also called spinal tap
anethesia
without (loss of) feeling or sensation
aphasia
condition of without speaking (loss or impairment of the ability to speak)
cephalalgia
pain in the head (headache); also called cephalgia
cerebral
pertaining to the cerebrum
craniocerebral
pertaining to the cranium and cerebrum
dysphasia
condition of difficulty speaking
encephalosclerosis
hardening of the brain
gliocyte
glial cell
hemiparesis
slight paralysis of half (right or left side of the body)
hemiplegia
paralysis of half (right or left side of the body); stroke is the most common cause
hyperesthesia
excessive sensitivity (to stimuli)
interictal
(occuring) between seizures or attacks
intracerebral
pertaining to within the cerebrum
monoparesis
slight paralysis of one (limb)
monoplegia
paralysis of one (limb)
myelomalacia
softening of the spinal cord
neuroid
resembling a nerve
neurologist
physician who studies and treats diseases of the nerves (nervous system)
neurology
study of nerves (branch of medicine dealing with diseases of the nervous system)
panplegia
total paralysis; also called pamplegia
paresthesia
abnormal sensation (such as burning, prickling, or tingling sensation, often in the extremities; may be caused by nerve damage or peripheral neuropathy
postictal
(occurring) before a seizure or attack
preictal
(occurring) before a seizure or attack
quadriplegia
paralysis of four (limbs)
subdural
pertaining to below the dura mater
afferent
conveying toward a center
ataxia
lack of muscle coordination
cognitive
pertaining to the mental processes of comprehension, judgment, memory, and reason
coma
state of profound unconsciousness
concussion
jarring or shaking that results in an injury
conscious
awake, alert, aware of one's surroundings
convulsion
sudden, involuntary contraction of a group of muscles (synonymous with seizure)
disorientation
a state of mental confusion as to time, place, or identity
dysarthria
the inability to use speech that is distinct and connected because of a loss of muscle control after damage to the peripheral or central nervous system
efferent
conveying away from the center
gait
a manner or style of walking
incoherent
unable to express one's thoughts or ideas in an orderly, intelligible manner
paraplegia
paralysis from the waist down caused by damage to the lower level of the spinal cord
seizure
sudden attack with an involuntary series of contractions (synonymous with convulsion)
shunt
tube implanted in the body to redirect the flow of fluid
syncope
fainting or sudden loss of consciousness caused by lack of blood supply to the cerebrum
unconsciousness
state of being unaware of surroundings and incapable of responding to stimuli as a result of injury, shock, or illness
psychiatrist
a physician who studies and treats disorders of the mind
psychiatry
specialty of the mind (branch of medicine that deals with the treatment of mental disorders)
psychogenic
originating in the mind
psychologist
specialist of the mind
psychology
study of the mind (a profession that involves dealing with the mind and mental processes in relation to human behavior)
psychopathy
(any) disease of the mind
psychosis
abnormal condition of the mind (major mental disorder characterized by extreme derangement, often with delusions and hallucinations)
psychosomatic
pertaining to the mind and body
anorexia nervosa
an eating disorder characterized by a disturbed perception of body image resulting in failure to maintain body weight, intensive fear of gaining weight, pronounced desire for thinness, and, in females, amenorrhea
anxiety disorder
an emotional disorder characterized by feelings of apprehension, tension, or uneasines arising typically from the anticipation of unreal or imagined danger
attention deficit hyperativity disorder (ADHD)
a disorder of learning and behaviroal problems characterized by marked inattention, distractability, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity
autism
a mental disorder, the features of which include onset during infancy or childhood, preoccupation with subjective mental activity, inability to interact socially, impaired communication, and repetitive body movements
bipolar disorder
a major psychological disorder typified by a disturbance in mood; the disorder is manifested by manic and depressive episodes that may alternate or elements of both may occur simultaneously
bulimia nervosa
an eating disorder characterized by uncontrolled binge eating followed by purging (induced vomiting)
major depression
a mood disturbance characterized by feelings of sadness, despair, discouragement, hopelessness, lack of joy, altered sleep patterns, and difficulty with decision making and daily function; also referred to as clinical depression, mood disorder)
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
a disorder characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts that result in the tendency to perform repetitive acts or rituals (compulsions), usually as a means of releasing tension or anxiety
panic attack
an episode of sudden onset of acute anxiety, occurring unpredictably, with feelings of acute apprehension, dyspnea, dizziness, sweating, and/or chest pain, depersonalization, paresthesia and fear of dying, loss of mind or control
phobia
a marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific situation or object
pica
compulsive eating of nonnutritive substances such as clay or ice; this condition is often a result of an iron deficiency
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
a disorder characterized by an acute emotional response to a traumatic event perceived as life threatening or severe emotional stress
schizophrenia
any one of a large group of psychotic disorders characterized by gross distortions of reality, disturbance of language and communication, withdrawal from social interaction, and the disorganization and fragmentation of thought, perception, and emotional reaction
somatoform disorders
disorders characterized by physical symptoms for which no known physical cause exists
AD
alzheimer disease
ADHD
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
ALS
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
CNS
central nervous system
CP
cerebral palsy
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
CVA
cerebrovascular accident
EEG
electroencephalogram
EP studies
evoked potential studies
LP
lumbar puncture
MRI scan
magnetic resonance imaging scan
MS
multiple sclerosis
OCD
obsessive-compulsive disorder
PD
parkinson disease
PET scan
positron emission tomography scan
PNS
peripheral nervous system
PTSD
posttraumatic stress disorder
TIA
transient ischemic attack