Chap 14, Neurology and Psychiatry, Terms Bank Flashcards
abduction (n)
the lateral movement of a limb away from the median plane of the body
adenopathy (n)
swelling and morbid change in lymph nodes
agnosia (n)
unable to perceive or recognize sensory stimuli
agraphia (n)
impairment of the ability to write
akinesis (n)
an extrapyramidal disorder causing a loss of power to perform voluntary movements
amnesia (n)
a disturbance of long-term memory; total or partial inability to recall past experiences
angiography (n)
an x-ray taken after a radiopaque dye is given to visualize the vessels
anticonvulsant (n)
a therapeutic agent that prevents seizures
aphasia (n)
difficulty with using and understanding words
aphonia (n)
loss of the voice as a result of disease or injury
arachnoid (n)
the middle of the three membranes covering the brain; it is a delicate fibrous membrane, resembling a cobweb
astereognosis (n) [a-steer-ee-og-nO-sis]
loss of the ability to judge the form of an object by touch
asymmetry (n)
lack of symmetry of parts or organs on opposite sides of body
ataxia (n)
muscular incoordination
atrophy (n)
a decrease in size of a part or organ; a wasting away of tissue as a result of disuse, radiation therapy, surgery, disease
aura (n)
a sensation, as of light or warmth, that may precede an attack of migraine or a seizure
auscultation (n) [aws-kul-tay-shun]
act of listening through a stethoscope to body sounds, including lungs, heart, and abdomen
axial (adj.)
situated in or relating to an axis
Babinski reflex (n) [bab-in-skeez ree-fleks]
an extension or moving of the big toe upward or toward the head, with the other toes fanned out and extended when the sole of the foot is stimulated
Brudzinski sign (n)
in meningitis, if a leg is passively flexed, a similar movement occurs in the other leg; if the neck is passively flexed, the legs also flex
bruit (n), [broo-ee/broot]
an adventitious sound of venous or arterial origin heard on auscultation
adventitious
happening or carried on according to chance rather than design or inherent nature
in biology formed accidentally or in an unusual anatomical position
causalgia (n)
burning pain, usually associated with peripheral nerve damage
central nervous system (CNS), (n)
portion of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord
cephalalgia (n)
headache
cerebellar (adj.)
relating to the cerebellum, the part of the brain concerned with the coordination and control of voluntary muscular activity
cerebrospinal (adj.)
relating to the brain and spinal cord
cerebrovascular (adj.)
relating to the blood vessels of the brain, especially to pathological changes
Chvostek sign (n)
an abnormal spasm of facial muscles when the facial nerve is tapped lightly
clonus (n)
abnormal condition in which a skeletal muscle alternately contracts and relaxes
concussion (n)
an injury of a soft structure, as the brain, resulting from a blow or violent shaking
coprolalia (n), [kOp-rO-lay-lee-a
involuntary utterance of obscene words, often seen in Tourette syndrome
corneal (adj.)
the clear, transparent, anterior portion of the fibrous coat of the eye composing about one-sixth of its surface
coronal (adj.)
pertaining to a corona, a structure resembling a crown
cortex (n)
an outer part of an organ, such as the brain
cortical (adj.)
relating to a cortex
craniotomy (n)
surgical opening into the skull, performed to control bleeding, remove tumors, relieve pressure inside the cranium, or insert electrodes for diagnosis
cranium (n)
the bony skull that holds the brain
cyanosis (n)
a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, occurring when the oxygen in the blood is sharply diminished, as in carbon monoxide poisoning
decompression (n)
removal of bone to relieve pressure
delusion (n)
belief in something in spite of incontrovertible evidence
dementia (n)
a general mental deterioration due to organic or psychological factors
Dexedrine (n)
brand name for dextroamphetamine, a CNS stimulant
dextroamphetamine (n)
a CNS stimulant
diffuse
spreading, scattered
Dilantin (n)
brand name for phenytoin, used for the prevention and management of seizures
phenytoin (n)
used for the prevention and management of seizures
diplopia (n)
double vision
dorsum (n)
the back or posterior surface of a part
dural (adj.)
pertaining to the dura mater, the outer membrane covering the spinal cord and brain
dura mater (n)
the outermost of the three membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord; it is tough and fibrous
dyseidetic (adj.)
inability to visualize and recall objects (words) previously seen
dyslexia (n)
impairment of ability to read in which letters and words are reversed
dysphonetic (adj.)
inability to connect sounds to objects (words)
dysphoria (n)
mood characterized by anxiety, depression, discontent
echolalia (n)
involuntary repetition of a word or sentence just spoken by another person
electrophoresis (n)
the movement of charged suspended particles through a liquid medium in response to changes in an electric field; for example, a hemoglobin electrophoresis measures the types of hemoglobin in the blood
encephalopathy (n)
disease or dysfunction of the brain
encopresis (n)
inability to control bowel movements, fecal incontinence
epilepsy (n)
convulsive disorder
epileptiform (adj.)
having the form of epilepsy
erythema (n)
abnormal redness of the skin resulting from dilation of the capillaries, as occurs in sunburn
euthymic (adj.)
characterized by moderation of mood
exotropia (n)
outward turning of one eye relative to the other
extensor (n)
muscle that, when flexed, causes extension of a joint or straightening of an arm or leg
extraocular (adj.)
outside the eye
fissures (n)
deep grooves in the brain
flexor (n)
muscle that bends a joint
fundus (n)
that part of the interior of the eyeball exposed to view through the ophthalmoscope; fundi (pl.)
funduscopic (adj.)
the examination of the ocular fundus with an ophthalmoscope
gadolinium (n)
a rare earth metallic element
ganglion (n)
a group of nerve cell bodies located in the peripheral nervous system
Glasgow coma scale (n)
a clinical scale to assess impaired consciousness; assessment includes motor responsiveness, verbal performance, and eye opening
glial cells (n)
cells of the nervous system with functions other than transmitting signals
glove-stocking anesthesia (n)
glove or gauntlet anesthesia is loss of sensation in the hand; stocking anesthesia is loss of sensation in the area covered by a stocking
grand mal (seizure) (n)
generalized tonic-clonic seizure
hallucination (n)
the sensory perception (see, hear, smell, or taste) of something that does not actually exist or has not actually occurred
hematocrit (n)
a measure of the packed cell volume of red cells
hemiparesis (n)
muscular weakness of one half of the body
hemoglobin (n)
the iron-containing pigment of the red blood cells
hepatosplenomegaly (n)
enlargement of both liver and spleen
hippocampus (n)
structure within the brain
hydrocephalus (n)
an excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain
hyperesthetic (adj.)
characterized by acute sensitivity to pain or other stimuli
hyperreflexia (n)
a condition marked by exaggerated deep tendon reflexes
hypometabolism (n)
lowered metabolism
hypnotic (n)
an agent which brings on sleep
ichthyosis (n)
condition in which the skin is dry and scaly, resembling fish skin
ictal (adj.)
referring to the onset of a seizure
icteric (adj.)
pertaining to jaundice
interictal (adj.)
between seizures
ischemia (n)
decreased blood supply due to obstruction, such as narrowing of the blood vessels
lethargy (n)
state of sluggishness, stupor, unresponsiveness
lobectomy (n)
surgical procedure in which a lobe is removed (thyroid, brain, liver, and lungs are divided into lobes)
lymphadenopathy (n)
disease of the lymph nodes
mania (n)
a psychiatric disorder characterized by restlessness, euphoria, grandiosity, and poor judgment with symptoms of insomnia, rapid speech, and distractibility
