med term

Neurologist

Disorders of the nervous system

Neurosurgeon

Performing surgical procedures on the nervous system

EEG technician

Using equipment that measures electrical activity of brain, spinal cord, and nerves

Convulsion

Seizure

Epileptic

Pertaining to seizures

Ictal

Pertaining to stroke or epilepsy

Seizure

Excessive brain activity causing an event

Sensory

Function of sensation(touch, taste, see, hear, smell)

Tonic

State of muscle contraction/tightening

Autonomic

Not voluntary

Neuron

Nerve cell

Somatic

Pertaining to the nerves that operate skeletal muscles

Synapse

Where two nerve cells meet

Cerebrospinal fluid

Fluid around brain and spinal cord

Cranial

Pertaining to skull

Oculomotor

Eye movement

Olfactory

Smelling

Optic

Seeing/vision

Cervical

Pertaining to neck

Epidural

Above the dura (outer layer of nerves)

Lumbar

Lower back between ribs and pelvis

Sacral

Lowest area of back/pelvis area

Thoracic

Pertaining to chest

Cognitive

Thinking

Conscious

Having knowledge of self or surrounding

Delirium

Intense confusion

Empathy

Putting yourself in someone else’s situation

Sympathy

Feeling badly for someone else

Aneurysm

Dilation of an artery

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

Sudden problem with brain circulation (blood flow)

Hemiparesis

One sided weakness

Hemiplegia

One sided paralysis

Ataxia

Jerky movement

Palsy

Paralysis from brain damage

Narcolepsy

Involuntary deep sleep

Postictal

After a seizure

Status epilepticus

Seizure lasting longer than 30 minutes

Aura

Sensory experience before abnormal brain activity

Syncope

Temporary loss of consciousness

Tremor

Involuntary shaking

Hematoma

Blood that left the vessel

Encephalitis

Swelling of brain

Paresthesia

Abnormal sensation

Atrophy

When a tissue or organ gets smaller

Neuralgia

Nerve pain

Neuropathy

Disease of nervous system

Hydrocephalus

Excessive CSF fluid around the brain

Angiography

Recording images of vessels after injecting contrast (liquid that shows up when radiated)

Electroencephalogram

Recording electrical activity of brain

Electromyography

Recording electrical activity of muscles

Antiepileptic

Prevents or stops seizures

Psychoactive

Ability to alter mood, behavior, anxiety, thinking, stress

Antagonist

Opposes

Psychedelic

Intensifies senses

Sedative

Calms nervous system

Stimulant

Increases functional ability

Tolerance

Get used to a drug

Anesthesia

Complete loss of senses

EEG

Electroencephalogram

CNS

Central nervous system

CT

Computed tomography

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident

TIA

Transient ischemic attack

CP

Cerebral palsy

LOC

Loss of consciousness or level of consciousness

TBI

Traumatic brain injury

MS

Multiple sclerosis

EMG

Electromyography

LP

Lumbar puncture

PET

Positron emission tomography

IDDM

Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

DM

Diabetes mellitus

HT

Hormone therapy

HRT

Hormone replacement therapy

TSH

Thyroid-stimulating therapy

GH

Growth hormone

FSH

Follicle stimulating hormone

ADH

Antidiuretic hormone

Synergist

Aids the action of another

Modulator

Regulates or adjusts

Steroid

Family of chemical substances in hormones and drugs

Antithyroid

Inhibits production of thyroid hormones

Adjuvant therapy

Treatment after primary treatment

Lymphadenectomy

Surgical excision of lymph nodes

Lobectomy

Surgical removal of a lobe of an organ or gland

Glycosylated hemoglobin

Blood lab value used to determine glucose control

Polyuria

Excessive urine

Polyphagia

Excessive hunger

Polydipsia

Excessive thirst

Paresthesia

Abnormal sensation

Hyperglycemia

High blood sugar

Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar

Diabetes mellitus

Syndrome caused by low or ineffective insulin production

Ambiguous

Unsure

Hirsutism

Excessive body/facial hair

Cushing syndrome

Hypersecretion of cortisol

Catecholamine

Major hormones released in stress response

Tetany

Severe muscle twitches/cramps

Hypothyroidism

Deficient production of thyroid hormone