Med Terms 4 Flashcards
Cognition
Thinking skills, including language use, calculation, perception, awareness, judgement, learning
Nerve impulse
A signal transmitted along a nerve fiber
Neurotransmitters
A molecule released by axon terminals to influence target cells
Peripheral
Pertaining to or located away from the center; outer part of surface of an organ or body part; part of the nervous system our side the CNS
Vascular
Pertaining to or composed of blood vessels
Quadriplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs
Paraplegia
Paralysis of legs and lower body
Dementia
A progressive, irreversible decline in mental function
Epilepsy
A disease marked by recurrent seizures
Alzheimer’s disease
A chronic, progressive, degenerative cognitive disorder that causes deterioration in thinking and everyday functioning among older adults
Hydrocephalus
The accumulation of excessive amounts of cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricles of the brains, resulting in blockage or destruction of the normal channels for drainage of CSF
A build up of fluid in the cavities deep within the brain
Microcephaly
A birth defect characterized by abnormally small development of the brain and head
Neurosis
A relatively mild mental illness that is not caused by organic disease, involving symptoms of stress but not a radical loss of touch with reality
Poliomyelitis
An acute infectious inflammation of the anterior horns of the gray matter of the spinal cord
Psychosis
A mental disorder in which there is severe loss of contact with reality, evidenced by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech patterns and bizarre or catatonic behavior
Sciatica
A condition in which pain emanating from the lower back is felt along the distribution of the sciatic nerve in the lower extremity
Spina bifida
A birth defect in which a developing baby’s spinal cord fails to develop properly
Parkinson’s disease
A common, chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system that produces progressive movement disorders and changes in cognition and mood
Neuroblastoma
A malignant tumor that arises in neuroendocrine cells of the sympathetic nervous system
Stroke
A sudden loss of neurological function, caused by vascular injury (loss of blood flow) to an age of the brain
Transient ischemic attack
A brief stroke-like attack that, despite resolving within minutes to hours, still requires immediate medical attention to distinguish from an actual stroke
Cataract
A opacity of the lens of the eye, usually occurring as a result of aging, trauma, endocrine or metabolic disease
Glaucoma
Any of a group of eye disease characterized by increased intraocular pressure, resulting in atrophy of the optic nerve and loss of visual fields
Conjunctiva
The mucus membrane that lines the eyelids and is reflected onto the eyeball
Lacrimal gland
Glands that secrete tears
Diplopia
Two images of an object seem at the same time (double vision)
Retinopathy
Any noninflammatory retinal damage or disease
Otorrhea
Inflammation of ear with purulent (pus) discharge
Amblyopia
Unilateral or bilateral decrease of best corrected vision in an otherwise healthy eye
Decreased eyesight due to abnormal vision development
Blepharoptosis
Drooping of the upper eyelid
Astigmatism
A common imperfection in the eyes curvature
Hordeolum
A red, painful lump near the edge of the eyelid that may look like a boil or pimple (stye)
Photophobia
Unusual intolerance of light
Strabismus
Disorder in which the eyes do not look in exactly the same direction (cross eyed)
Tinnitus
A subjective ringing, buzzing, tinkling or guessing sound in the ear
Vertigo
A sensation of moving around in space and loss of balance
Anacusis
Total or significant loss of hearing
Presbycusis
Progressive loss of hearing with aging, typically resulting from sensorineural hearing loss
Myringotomy
Incision of the tympanic membrane with placement of a tympanostomy tube
