Key Terms Flashcards
Abscess
a circumcised collection of pus
Acoustic Neuromas
Benign tumor of the hearing nerve (8th nerve)
Acromegaly
Disorder marked by progressive enlargement of the head, face, hands, feet, and thorax, due to excessive secretion of growth hormone
Adenoma
A benign growth formed of glandular tissue
Agnosia
Absence of the ability to recognize the form and nature of persons and things
Agraphia
Inability to write due either to muscular coordination issues or to an inability to to phrase thought
Amaurosis
Loss of vision without a visible lesion in the eye structures or optic nerve
Amaurosis fugax
Temporary blindness occurring in short periods
Amenorrhea
Absence of the menses due to causes other than pregnancy or age
Amnesia
Loss of memory caused by brain damage or be severe emotional trauma
Analgesia
Loss of sensitivity to pain, loss of response to a painful stimulus
Anaplasia
In the case of a body cell, a reversion to a more primitive condition. A term used to denote the alteration in cell character that constitutes malignancy
Anastomosis
A communication, direct or indirect; a joining together. In the nervous system, a joining of nerves or blood vessels
Anesthesiologist
Physician who administers pain-killing medications during sugery
Anancephaly
Absence of the greater part of the brain, often with skill deformity
Anesthesia
Loss of sensation of a body part or of the body induced by the administration of a drug
Aneurysm
Dilation of an artery, formed by a circumscribed enlargement of its wall
Angiogram
A medical imaging report that shows the blood vessels leading to and in the brain, obtained by injecting dye or contrast substance through a catheter
Angiography
Radiography of blood vessels using the injection of a material opaque to x-rays to give better definition to the vessels
Anorexia
Eating disorder marked by loss of appetite leading to excessive weight loss
Anosmic
Without the sense of smell
Anoxia
An absence of oxygen
Anti-coagulant
Medication that prevents coagulation (clotting) of the blood
Antidiuretic
An agent that reduces the output of urine
Aphasia
Difficulty with or loss of use of language in any of several ways, including reading, writing, or speaking; not related to intelligence but to specific legions in the brain
Apnea
Temporary cessation of breathing
Apoplexy
Often used as equivalent to stroke; condition in which there is bleeding into an organ or blow flow to an organ has ceased
Arachnoid
Middle layer of membranes covering the brain and spinal cord
Arachnoiditis
Inflammation of the arachnoid membrane; most commonly seen around the spinal cord and cauda equina
Area (Cortical)
Part of the brain having special functions as in 1) Motor - the cortical portion of the brain controlling movement 2) Sensory - the cortical portion controlling sensation
Arteriography
Same as angiography - Radiography of blood vessels using the injection of a material opaque to x-rays to give better definition to the vessels
Arteriosclerosis
Thickening and calcification of the arterial wall with loss of elasticity and contratility
Arteriovenous
Relating to both arteries and veins
Arteriovenous Malformation
Collection of blood vessels with one or several abnormal connections between arteries and veins; which may cause hemorrhage or seizures
Astrocyte
Cell that supports the neurons of the brain and spinal cord
Astrocytoma
Tumor within the substance of the brain or spinal cord made up of astrocytes; often classified from Grade I (slow growing) to Grade III (rapid growing)
Ataxia
A loss of muscular coordination, abnormal cluminess
Athetosis
Condition in which there is a succession of slow, writhing, involuntary movements of the fingers and hands, and sometimes of the toes and feet
Atrophy
A wasting of the tissues of a body part
Autonomic Nervous System
Involuntary nervous system; AKA the vegetative nervous system; system of nerve cells whose activities are beyond voluntary control
Avascular
Non-vascular; not provided with blood vessels
Axon
Part of a neuron that usually sends signals to other neurons or structures
Bactericial
Causing the death of bacteria
Bacteriostatic
Inhibiting or retarding the growth of bacteria
Bell’s Palsy
Paralysis of facial muscles (usually one side) due to facial nerve dysfunction of unknown cause
Biopsy
Removal of a small portion of tissue; usually for making a diagnosis
Blood-Brain Barrier
Barrier that exists between the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid, which prevents the passage of various substances from the bloodstream to the brain
Bradycardia
Slowness of the heart rate
Bradykinesia
Slowness in movement
Brown-Sequard’s Syndrome
Loss of sensation of touch, position sense, and movement on the side of a spinal cord lesion, with loss of pain sensation on the other side; caused by a lesion limited to one side of the spinal cord
Carcinoma
Cancer, a malignant growth of epithelial cells or gland cells
Carotid artery
Large artery on either side of the neck that supplies most of the cerebral hemisphere
Carotid sinus
Slight dilatation on the common carotid artery at its bifurcation containing nerve cells sensitive to blood pressure; stimulation can cause slowing of the heart, vasodilatation, and a fall in blood pressure
Carpal Tunnel
Space under a ligament in wrist through which the median nerve enters in the palm of the hand
CT Scan
(Computed Tomography Scan) A diagnostic imaging technique in which a computer reads x-rays to create a 3D map of soft tissue or bone
Catheter
A small tube used to inject a dye to see the blood vessels, similar to that used for looking at vessels in the heart; may also be used to facilitate drainage
Cauda equina
Bundle of spinal nerve roots arising from the end of the spinal cord and filling the lower part of the spinal canal
Caudate nucleus
Part of the basal ganglia which are brain cells that lie deep in the brain
Cerebellum
Lower part of the brain that is beneath the posterior portion of the cerebrum; regulated unconscious coordination of movement
Cerebrospinal fluid
Water-like fluid that circulates around and protects the brain and spinal cord
Cerebrum
The principal portion of the brain; occupies the major portion of the interior of the skull and controls conscious movement, sensation, and thought
Cervical
Of or relating to the neck
Chiasm (Optic)
Crossing of the visual fibers as they head toward the opposite side of the brain; for each optic nerve, most of the visual fibers cross to the opposite side while some run directly backward on each side without crossing
Chorea
Disorder, usually of childhood, characterized by irregular, spasmodic, involuntary movements of the limbs or facial muscles
Choroid Plexus
Vascular structure in the ventricles of the brain that produces cerebrospinal fluid
Coccyx
The small bone at the end of the spinal column formed by the fusion of four rudimentary vertebrae; AKA tail bone
Coma
State of profound unconsciousness from which one cannot be roused
Concussion
A disruption, usually temporary, of neurological function resulting from a blow or violent shaking
Contrast Medium
Any material (usually opaque to x-rays) employed to delineate or define a structure during a radiologic procedure
Contusion
A bruise; cerebral contusions often involve blood vessels that leak into brain tissue
Coronal Suture
Line of junction of the frontal bones and the parietal bones of the skull
Cortex
The external layer of gray matter covering the hemispheres of the cerebrum and cerebellum
Cranium
Part of the skull that holds the brain
Craniectomy
Excision of the portion of the skull
Craniopharyngioma
Tumor arising from the embryonic duct between the brain and pharynx
Cranioplasty
The operative repair of a defect of the skull
Craniosynostosis
Premature closure of cranial structures, limiting or distorting the growth of the skull
Craniotomy
Opening of the skull, usually by creating a flap of bone
CSF
Cerebral spinal fluid
Depressed skull fracture
A break in the bones of the head in which some bone is pushed inward, possibly pushing on or cutting into the brain
Diabetes Insipidus
Excretion of large amounts of urine of low specific gravity; the inability to concentrate urine
Diffuse axonal injury
Damage to the axons of many nerve cells that lie in different parts of the brain
Diffuse brain injury
Damage to the brain that can affect many parts of the brain, often in a subtle fashion; examples include diffuse axonal injury and inadequate blood flow
Diphenylhydantion
Dilantin; a medication used to control seizures
Diplopia
Double vision due usually to weakness or paralysis of one or more of the extra-ocular muscles
Disc
The intervertebral disc - cartilaginous cushion found between the vertebrae of the spinal column; may bulge beyond the vertebral body and compress nearby nerve root, causing pain; Terms “slipped” or “ruptured” or “herniated” disc are often used interchangeably even though there are subtle differences
Doppler
Non-invasive study that uses sound waves to show the flow in a blood vessel and can be used to determine the degree of narrowing (percent stenosis) of the vessel; a wand is placed on the skin over the vessel that is to be imaged; no risks and not painful
Dome
Round balloon-like portion of the aneurysm which usually arises from the artery from a smaller portion called the neck of the aneurysm
Dura / Dura Matter
A tough fibrous membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord, but is separated from them by a small space; outermost layer of the three membranes
Dysesthesia
Condition in which ordinary touch, temperature, or movement produces a disagreeable sensation
Dysphasia
Difficulty in the use of language due to a brain lesion without mental impairment