Medical terms Unit 10 Flashcards
causalgia
severe burning pain caused by injury to a sensory nerve
cerebral palsy
condition characterized by poor muscle control, spasticity, speech defect, and other neurologic deficiencies
cerebrovascular accident
damage to the brain that occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted
concussion
violent shaking or jarring of the brain
cerebral contusion
bruising of brain tissue as a result of a head injury causing the brain to bounce against skull bone
encephalitis
inflammation of the brain
electroencephalography
recording the electrical activity through electrodes attached to the scalp
hyperesthesia
condition of abnormal and excessive sensitivity to touch, pain, or other sensory stimuli
paresthesia
burning or prickling sensation usually felt in the hands, arms, legs, or feet
anesthetic
medication used to prevent pain during surgery and other procedures
anesthetist
medical professional who specializes in administering anesthesia
myelography
radiographic study of the spinal cord
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord
meningocele
congenital herniation of the meninges through a defect in the skull or spinal column
myelitis
inflammation of the spinal cord & bone marrow
myelosis
tumor of the spinal cord & bone marrow
neurotransmitters
chemical substances that make it possible for messages to cross from the synapse of the neuron to the target receptor
peripheral neuropathy
disorder of the peripheral nerves that carry information to and from the brain & spinal cord
neuroplasty - surgical repair of a nerve
acrophobia
excessive fear of heights
claustrophobia
abnormal fear of being in small or enclosed spaces
psychologist
a specialist with a doctoral degree who evaluates and treats emotional problems & mental illness
psychiatrist
physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating chemical dependencies, emotional problems, and mental illness
cervical radiculopathy
nerve pain caused by pressure on the spinal nerve roots in the neck
neurotropic
medication, toxin, or virus that tends to attack the nervous system
Alzheimer’s disease
group of disorders involving parts of the brain that control thought, memory, & language
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
rapidly progressive neurological disease that attacks nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles
anxiety disorder
mental condition characterized by excessive irrational dread of everyday situations
autism
broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, & nonverbal behaviors
Bell’s palsy
temporary paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve causing paralysis of the affected side of the face
carotid ultrasonography
diagnostic test to detect plaque buildup in the carotid artery
cognition
mental activities associated with thinking, learning, & memory
coma
deep state of unconsciousness marked by absence of spontaneous eye movements, no response to painful stimuli, & lack of speech
cranial hematoma
collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the brain
delirium
acute condition of confusion, disorientation, disordered thinking & memory, agitation, and hallucinations
delirium tremens
disorder involving sudden & severe mental changes or seizures after abruptly discontinuing alcohol use
delusion
false personal belief that is maintained despite obvious proof or evidence to the contrary
dementia
slow progressive decline in mental abilities
dura mater
thick outermost membrane of the meninges
dyslexia
learning disability cause by brain’s inability to process symbols
echoencephalography
use of ultrasound imaging to create a detailed image of the brain
epidural anesthesia
regional anesthesia produced by injecting medication into the epidural space or lumbar or sacral region of the spine
epilepsy
chronic neurological condition w/recurrent episodes of seizures
factitious disorder
serious mental disorder in which individual intentionally presents false medical or psychiatric symptoms
Guillan-Barré syndrome
inflammation of the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves
hallucination
a sensor perception experienced in the absence of external stimulation
hemorrhagic stroke
bleeding in the brain caused by a leaking blood vessel or a ruptured aneurysm
hydrocephalus
condition in which excess cerbrospinal fluid accumulates in the ventricles of the brain
hypochondriasis
unrealistic fear that one is seriously ill despite medical evidence to the contrary
ischemic stroke
event that occurs when blood to the brain is blocked by narrowing or blockage of a carotid artery
lethargy
lowered level of consciousness marked by listlessnes, drowsiness, & apathy
migraine headache
severe throbbing pain or pulsing sensation usually on one side of the head
multiple sclerosis
progressive autoimmune disorder that causes demyelination of the myelin sheath
narcolepsy
chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness & sudden attacks of sleep
obsessive-compulsive disorder
chronic, long-lasting disorder characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts & behaviors
panic attack
unexpected sudden experience of fear & physical symptoms in the absence of danger
Parkinson’s disease
chronic degenerative central nervous disorder characterized by fine muscle tremors, rigidity, and slow shuffling gait
post-traumatic stress disorder
mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event
Reye’s syndrome
serious or deadly disorder in children causing swelling of the liver and brain
schizophrenia
psychotic disorder usually characterized by withdrawal from reality
sciatica
inflammation of the sciatic nerve
seizure
sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain
shaken baby syndrome
brain injury, blindness, fractures, seizures, paralysis, or death caused by a violent shaking
syncope
brief loss of consciousness caused by decreased flow of blood to the brain
trigeminal neuralgia
inflammation of the fifth cranial nerve causing severe pain
