21 - Terminology: Chapter 10 (part 1)

cerebellar

Pertaining to cerebellum

cerebrospinal fluid

Fluid of brain and spine

cerebral cortex

Outer layer of cerebrum; Cortical means pertaining to the cortex or outer area of an organ.

subdural hematoma

Blood under dura mater; Remember: Hematomas are not tumors of blood, but are collections of blood.

epidural hematoma

Blood above dura mater; Figure 10-12 shows subdural, epidural, and intracerebral hematomas.

encephalitis

Inflammation of brain

encephalopathy

Disease of brain; Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive degenerative disease associated with repetitive brain trauma (concussion).

anencephaly

Without brain

glioblastoma

Immature glial cell tumor; This is a highly malignant tumor (-blast means immature). Gliomas are tumors of glial (neuroglial) cells.

leptomeningeal

Pertaining to thin meninges; The pia and arachnoid membranes are known as the leptomeninges because of their thin, delicate structure.

meningeal

Pertaining to meninges

meningioma

Tumor of meninges; Slowly growing, benign tumor.

myelomeningocele

Protrusion of spinal cord and meninges; Neural tube defect caused by failure of the neural tube to close during embryonic development. This abnormality occurs in infants born with spina bifida.

myoneural

Pertaining to muscle and nerve

myelopathy

Disease of spinal cord

poliomyelitis

Inflammation of gray matter of spinal cord; Polio- means gray matter. This viral disease affects the gray matter of the spinal cord, leading to paralysis of muscles that rely on the damaged neurons. Effective vaccines developed in the 20th century have made "polio" relatively uncommon.

neuropathy

Disease of nerve

polyneuritis

Inflammation of many nerves

cerebellopontine

Pertaining to cerebellum and pons; The suffix -ine means pertaining to.

radiculopathy

Disease of nerve root; Sciatica is a radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve root in the back. A herniated disk is a common cause leading to pain, weakness, or numbness down the leg. See In Person: Sciatica story on page 356.

radiculitis

Inflammation of nerve root; This condition often results in pain and loss of function.

thalamic

Pertaining to thalamus

intrathecal injection

Injection into meningeal sheath; Chemicals, such as chemotherapeutic drugs, can be delivered into the subarachnoid space.

vagal

Pertaining to vagus nerve; This cranial nerve has branches to the head and neck, as well as to the chest.