Medical Terminology: Senses and Nervous System

Vocabulary terms, diagnostic procedures, diseases, and clinical abbreviations related to the sensory organs (eyes and ears) and the nervous system.

ARMD, AMD

Age-related macular degeneration.

Ast

Astigmatism.

ENT

Ear, nose, and throat.

IOP

Intraocular pressure.

Myop

Myopia.

OM

Otitis media.

SICS

Small incision cataract surgery.

ST

Esotropia.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Degenerative disorder that manifests in adulthood with symptoms of difficulty swallowing and talking, dyspnea, muscle weakness, and paralysis; also called Lou Gehrig disease.

Dementia

Progressive, irreversible deterioration of mental function marked by memory impairment and, commonly, deficits in reasoning, judgment, abstract thought, comprehension, learning, task execution, and use of language.

Alzheimer disease

Chronic, organic brain syndrome characterized by death of neurons in the cerebral cortex and their replacement by microscopic "plaques," resulting in dementia that progresses to complete loss of mental, emotional, and physical functioning and personality changes; also called cerebral degeneration.

Epilepsy

Disorder that results from the generation of electrical signals inside the brain, causing recurring seizures in which some people simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, whereas others have severe convulsions.

Huntington chorea

Inherited, degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with symptoms developing in middle age as nerve cells in the brain waste away, resulting in uncontrolled bizarre movements, emotional disturbances, and mental deterioration; also called neurodegenerative genetic disorder.

Hydrocephalus

Excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the ventricles of the brain that is most common in neonates, but can also occur in adults as a result of injury or disease; if left untreated, causes an enlarged head and cognitive decline.

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Progressive degenerative disease of the CNS, which is characterized by inflammation, hardening, and loss of myelin throughout the spinal cord and brain and produces weakness and other muscular symptoms.

Neuroblastoma

Malignant tumor composed mainly of cells resembling neuroblasts that occurs most commonly in infants and children.

Neurosis

Nonpsychotic mental illness that triggers feelings of distress and anxiety and impairs normal behavior.

Palsy

Partial or complete loss of motor function; also called paralysis.

Bell palsy

Facial paralysis on one side of the face as a result of inflammation of a facial nerve; also called facial nerve palsy.

Cerebral palsy

Bilateral, symmetrical, nonprogressive motor dysfunction and partial paralysis, which is usually caused by damage to the cerebrum during gestation or birth trauma but can also be hereditary.

Paralysis

Loss of muscle function, loss of sensation, or both as a result of spinal cord injury.

Parkinson disease

Progressive neurological disorder caused by neurotransmitter deficiency of dopamine that results in motor disturbances; also called paralysis agitans.

Poliomyelitis

Inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord caused by a virus, commonly resulting in spinal and muscle deformity and paralysis.

Psychosis

Mental disorder marked by loss of contact with reality; often with delusions and hallucinations.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis

Laboratory test that examines a sample of CSF obtained through a lumbar puncture; analyzed for the presence of blood, bacteria, and malignant cells, as well as protein and glucose.

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Procedure where electrodes are placed on the scalp to record electrical activity within the brain; used to evaluate seizure and sleep disorders, evaluate periods of unconsciousness, monitor brain surgeries, and determine whether a person is in a coma or brain dead.

Lumbar puncture (LP)

Insertion of a needle into the subarachnoid space of the spinal column to withdraw a sample of CSF used for biochemical, microbiological, and cytological laboratory analysis; also called spinal tap or spinal puncture.

C1, C2, and so on

First cervical vertebra, second cervical vertebra, and so on.

CNS

Central nervous system.

CSF

Cerebrospinal fluid.

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident; costovertebral angle.

CVD

Cerebrovascular disease.

ICP

Intracranial pressure.

L1, L2, and so on

First lumbar vertebra, second lumbar vertebra, and so on.

MS (abbreviation meanings)

Mitral stenosis; musculoskeletal; multiple sclerosis; mental status; magnesium sulfate.

PNS

Peripheral nervous system.

S1, S2, and so on

First sacral vertebra, second sacral vertebra, and so on.

T1, T2, and so on

First thoracic vertebra, second thoracic vertebra, and so on.

TIA

Transient ischemic attack.

TN

Trigeminal neuralgia.