MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY: Chapter 9

Neurology and Nervous System

neurology

study of nervous system

nervous system

consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that form a connected pathway on which nerve impulses travel throughout the body

functions of the nervous system

receive, process, and interpret sensory information from the internal body and the environment around the body; sends motor commands to muscles and other structures of the body

meninges

surround the brain

brain

largest part of the central nervous system and located in the cranium

anencephaly

rare congenital condition in which all or part of the cranium and cerebrum are missing; babies are born with the condition survive only a few days

\-cephaly

condition of the brain

amnesia

partial or total loss of memory due to damage to the hippocampus

amnes/o

memory loss

aphasia

loss of the ability to communicate verbally or in writing; expressive, receptive, global

brain death

irreversible loss of brain function; confirmed by an EEG that is flat, indicating no brain wave activity, for thirty minutes

brain tumor

benign or malignant tumor in any area of the brain; arise in the neuroglia or meninges and dangerous due to increased threat of increased pressure, edema, and seizure

astrocytoma

malignant tumor from astrocytes in the cerebrum

ependymoma

benign tumor from ependymal cells in the ventricles and central spinal canal

glioblastoma multiforme

malignant tumor from immature astrocytes in the cerebrum

glioma

benign of malignant tumor from any neuroglial cell

lymphoma

malignant tumor from the microglia in the cerebrum

meningioma

benign tumor from the meninges around the brain or spinal cord

oligodendroglioma

malignant tumor from the oligodendroglia in the cerebrum

schwannoma

benign tumor from the Schwann cells that produce myelin near the cranial or spinal nerves

cephalalgia

a headache; a symptom with many causes

cephal/o

head

alg/o

pain

cerebral palsy

caused by a lack oxygen to the brain at birth; causes spastic muscles, lack of coordination, paralysis, seizures, and intellectual disability

cerebrovascular accident

disruption or blockage of blood flow to the brain that causes an infarct; a stroke

coma

a state of deep unconsciousness and unresponsiveness; caused by trauma, disease, or metabolic imbalance

delirium

acute confusion, disorientation, and agitation due to toxic levels and chemicals, drugs, or alcohol; symptoms subside as substance is metabolized

concussion

immediate loss of consciousness due to sudden impact of the brain with the cranium patient must be watched for signs of hemorrhage

chronic traumatic encephalopathy

result of repeated concussions that can cause brain damage

neurocognitive disorder

disease of the brain in which many neurons die, the cerebral cortex shrinks in size, and mental function deteriorates; formerly called dementia; alzheimer, parkinson, MS

down syndrome

genetic defect created by random error in cell division; causes three copies of chromosome 21 in the genes rather than two copies; affects every cell in the body

dyslexia

difficulty reading and writing words, though visual acuity and intelligence are normal; caused by an abnormality of the occipital lobe

encephalitis

inflammation and infection of the brain caused by a viral infection; involves fever, headache, vomiting, irritability, and photophobia

epilepsy

recurring condition in which groups of neurons in the brain spontaneously send out abnormal, uncontrolled electrical impulses

tonic-clonic seizure

the patient is unconscious with excessive motor activity; body alternates between tonic and clonic and lasts 1-2 minutes

tonic

excess muscle tone

clonic

jerking muscle contractions

absence seizure

the patient is conscious with slight or no muscle activity; patient cannot respond to external stimuli (vacant staring, blinking, or facial tics) lasts 5-15 seconds

complex partial seizure

the patient has some degree of impaired consciousness with some involuntary contractions; can involve automatisms like lip smacking, lasts 1-2 minutes

simple partial seizure

the patient has no impaired consciousness but cannot stop involuntary motor activity; may involve jerking the hand or turning the head, last 1-2 minutes

hydrocephalus

excessive or blocked cerebrospinal fluid flow in the brain that causes increased pressure; ventricles distend and brain compresses

hematoma

localized collection of blood due to cranial trauma or hemorrhage; intraventricular or subdural

meningitis

infection and inflammation of the meninges due to bacterium or virus

photophobia

sensitivity to light

migraine headache

recurring headache with severe, throbbing pain on one side of the head; (maybe) caused by constriction and sudden dialtion of arteries in the brain

narcolepsy

brief episodes of involuntarily falling asleep while engaged in daytime activities; believed to have a hereditary component

narco

to put to sleep

parkinson disease

chronic, degenerative disease caused by imbalance in dopamine and acetylcholine levels; in time, patient struggles with voluntary movements

syncope

temporary loss of consciousness (fainting); associated with decreased blood flow to the brain

neural tube defect

congenital abnormality of the neural tube, an embryonic spinal structure; vertebrae from incompletely causing an opening in the vertebral column and the opening is covered only by skin and meninges

meningocele

when only the spinal cord pushes through the opening of the neural tube defect

meningomyelocele

occurs when both the meninges and the spinal cord protrude through the opening of the neural tube defect

radiculopathy

acute or chronic condition of pressure and pain on spinal nerve roots; caused by a tumor, arthritis, or herniated disk

radix

root

spinal cord injury

partial or complete transection of the spinal cord; nerve impulses are interrupted causes loss of sensation and paralysis, muscles atrophy, reflex arc of lower spine may be intact causing spastic paralysis

flaccid paralysis

muscles tone and atrophy

paraplegia

when both legs are paralyzed

para

abnromal; two partsp

pleg/o

paralysis

quadriplegia

occurs when both arms and both legs are paralyzed

dorsal nerve roots

sensory stimulation into spinal cord

ventral nerve roots

motor stimulation out of spinal cord

anesthesia

loss of sensation of any type; can be temporary or permanent

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

chronic, progressive disease of the motor nerves that go from the spinal cord to the muscles; causes muscle wasting, spasm, and eventual paralysis. Sensory nerves and cognitive abilities are unaffected (Lou Gherig disease)

bell palsy

weakness, drooping, or paralysis, on one side of the face due to facial nerve inflammation; usually temporary

carpal tunnel syndrome

chronic condition caused by repetitive hand and wrist motions; there is inflammation of the forearm tendons within the carpal tunnel of the wrist

carp/o

wrist

guillain-barre syndrome

autoimmune disorder in which the body produces antibodies against myelin; usually begins in the legs as peripheral nerves become inflamed, myelin is destroyed, and nerve conduction is interrupted

hyperesthesia

increased sensitivity to touch and pain stimuli

multiple sclerosis

chronic, progressive autoimmune disorder in which the body makes antibodies against myelin; acute inflammation and chronic myelin destruction, demyelinated areas harden into plaques, remission and gradually worsening flare ups

neuroma

of the nerve benign tumor

neuralgia

pain along the path of a nerve and its branches caused by injury

gemin/o

group

neuritis

infection or inflammation of a nerve

polyneuritis

infection of inflammation of many nerves

neuropathy

general term for any type of nerve disease or injury

paresthesia

condition of abnormal tingling or burning sensation on the skin; caused by chronic nerve damage and diabetic neuropathy

alpha fetoprotein

amniotic fluid test to determine if a fetus has meningocele or meningomyelocele; fluid is collected via amniocentesis

amni/o

to prick

cent

surgical to puncture

cerebrospinal fluid examination

visually examines color and clarity of CSF, microscopically examines cells in CSF, and chemically tests CSF for proteins

normal CSF

clear and colorless

pink CSF

indicated a brain or spinal cord bleed

Cloudy CSF

indicates bacterial infection

cerebral angiography

contrast dye and x-rays that outline the arteries of the brain; shows aneurysm, stenosis, arterial plaques, and tumors

computed axial tomography

x-ray slices of the cranium, brain, vertebral column, or spinal cord used to create a complete image; contrast dye can provide greater detail

doppler ultrasonography

high-frequency sound waves that produce a two-dimensional image of stenosis, plaque, or turbulence in the carotid arteries

magnetic resonance imaging

magnetic field and radio waves that create image slices of the cranium, brain, vertebral column, and spinal cord to make a complete image

positron emission tomography

radioactive glucose that, as it is metabolized, releases positrons that create an image of cellular and metabolic brain activitysk

ull x-ray

x-ray of the skull that uses no contrast dye; shows only bone, no vessels or soft tissues

electroencephalography

electrodes placed on the head and connected to a machine to record the electrical activity of the brain; pattern should be the same on both sides if they aren’t this may indicate a tumor, abnormal waves suggest encephalopathy or dementia

evoked potential testing

EEG and stimulus used to record changes in brain changes; visual evoked response → eye to brain, brainstem auditory evoked response→ ear to brain, somatosensory evoked response → extremities to the brain

nerve conduction study

two electrodes placed at measured intervals to determine the speed at which an electrical impulse travels along a nerve; first electrode applies an impulse, second electrode receives the impulse

polysomnography

EEG and eye movement, muscle activity, heartbeat, and respiration measurements taken while a patient sleeps; diagnoses insomnia and sleep apnea

somnus

sleep

babinski sign

tests of reflexes using the end of a percussion hammer to sole of the foot; normal → toes curl, abnormal (postive) → great toe flexes and other toes fan out

glasgow coma scale

numerical scale that measures the depth of a coma; total score ranges from 1-15 and is additive of scores for individual response scores

lumbar puncture

procedure to obtain CSF for laboratory testing or test pressure of CSF; spinal tap

mini-mental state examination

tests concrete and abstract thinking and long and short term memory; if a patient can state their name, date, and location, they are oriented x3

neurologic examination

tests coordination, sensation, balance, and gait