Neurology Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to Neurology

Neurology

The study of the nervous system, its structure, function, and disorders.

CNS

Central Nervous System; consists of the brain and spinal cord.

PNS

Peripheral Nervous System; the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord.

Nerves

Whitish fiber or bundle of fibers that transmits impulses of sensation to the brain or spinal cord, and impulses from these to the muscles and organs.

CSF

Cerebrospinal Fluid; clear, colorless, watery liquid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord of vertebrates.

Brain Lesions

Areas of brain tissue that show damage from injury or disease.

Meningioma

The most common primary brain tumor; meningeal tumor, is typically a slow-growing tumor that forms from the meninges, the membranous layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord

Glioblastoma

glioblastoma multiforme, is the most aggressive and most common type of cancer that originates in the brain, and has a very poor prognosis for survival.

Aneurysm

cerebral or intracranial aneurysm, is a cerebrovascular disorder that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain weakens and balloons out.

Hematoma

intracranial hematoma is a collection of blood within the skull. It's usually caused by a blood vessel that bursts in the brain or by trauma.

Cerebral Ischemia

brain ischemia or cerebrovascular ischemia, is a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to the brain is insufficient to meet metabolic demands.

Stereotactic Brain Biopsy

A surgical procedure to obtain a small tissue sample from the brain through a hole in the skull, often guided by 3D imaging.

Deep Brain Stimulation

Surgical procedure that implants a neurostimulator and electrodes which sends electrical impulses to specified targets in the brain responsible for movement control.

Craniectomy

Removal of a bone block from the skull without replacing it to avoid pressure and damage to the brain in cases where postoperative swelling is expected.

Craniotomy

A procedure where a piece of the skull is removed to help with brain swelling to relieve pressure or to remove a subdural hematoma this is due to trauma.

Awake Craniotomy

Brain surgery performed while the patient is awake to preserve speech and language abilities, especially when a tumor or lesion is in a sensitive area.

Resection of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation

Surgical procedure to remove an abnormal tangle of enlarged blood vessels (AVM) in the brain.

Cranioplasty

reconstructive surgical procedure is performed to correct congenital problems of the skull, or to repair the skull after a traumatic injury or medical procedure.

Endoscopic Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery that allows your surgeon to remove tumors or lesions through your nose and sinuses

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Surgical procedure where a small drainage tube is implanted to relieve the pressure of hydrocephalus.

Nerve Release

Surgical procedure that treats nerve pain caused by entrapment by cutting or removing the tissue that's compressing the nerve.

Lumbar puncture

also known as spinal taps, a needle is inserted into the spinal canal to extract cerebrospinal fluid diagnostic surgery that tests for conditions such as leukemia and meningitis

Discectomy

A correcting a herniated disc, a condition that frequently causes neck and/or arm pain- done though the neck and then the bones are fused together

Spine Fusion

Surgical procedure that is performed to join two or more bones of the spine together, eliminating movement between them.

Laminectomies

procedures that can relieve severe back pain, a major surgical procedure that involves removing part or all of the lamina, removing all or part of a vertebra , or roof, of the spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.

Vertebroplasty

performed as a result of a compression fracture of the vertebrae. A cement-like material is injected into the vertebrae with a needle and bonds together the fractured pieces of bone.

Foraminotomy

can relieve pain associated with a compressed nerve in the spine. The space where nerves exit the spine is widened by cutting away bones on the side of the vertebrae, releasing the pressure and easing pain.

Interlaminar Implant

type of spinal surgery involves implanting a U-shaped device between two vertebrae to maintain their space and ease the pressure on spinal nerves.