Nervous System and Special Senses Vocabulary

Achromatism

condition of absence of color; colorless; unable to see color

Acoustic

pertaining to hearing

Afferent

to carry toward

Anesthesia

without feeling or sensation

Audiogram

record of hearing

Audiometer

instrument to measure hearing

Audiometry

measurement of hearing

Auditory

pertaining to hearing

Auricle

pertaining to the outer ear

Binocular

pertaining to both eyes

Blepharitis

inflammation of the eyelid

Blepharoplasty

surgical repair of the eyelid

Blepharoptosis

drooping of the eyelids

Blepharospasm

involuntary contraction of the eyelid

Cacophony

bad sound

Cephalic

pertaining to the head

Cerebrospinal

pertaining to the brain and spinal cord

Cervical

pertaining to the neck (upper portion of the spinal cord)

Conjunctivitis

inflammation of the conjunctiva

Cranial

pertaining to the skull

Craniotomy

incision into the cranium/skull

Cryopexy

fixation using cold (used to repair detached retina)

Dacryocystorhinostomy

surgical creation of an opening between the lacrimal sac and nose

Dementia

memory impairment

Dendrites

branch of a neuron

Diplopia

double vision

Efferent

to carry away from

Encephalitis

inflammation of the brain

Encephalotomy

to cut into the brain

Exophthalmic

pertaining to protruding eyes

Hemiparesis

a partial or incomplete loss of strength or movement on one side of the body.

Hemiplegia

half paralyzed (left or right side of the body)

Hydrocephalus

a condition where there is an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain's ventricles

Hyperopia

far vision (far-sighted)

Infraorbital

pertaining to below the eye

Insomnia

not being able to sleep

Intracranial

within the skull

Intraocular

pertaining to within the eye

Iridectomy

removal of the iris

Keratometry

measurement of the cornea

Keratoplasty

Incisions into the cornea

Lacrimal

pertaining to the tear ducts

Mastoiditis

inflammation of the mastoid bone, which is located behind the ear

Megalomania

having an over-inflated ego

Meninges

coverings of the brain

Meningitis

inflammation of the of the brain coverings (meniges)

Meningocele

herniation or protrusion of the meninges

Microglia

resident cells of the brain that regulate brain development, maintenance of neuronal networks, and injury repair.

Myelography

the process of recording a picture of the spinal cord

Myopia

near-sightedness

Myringotomy

incision into the eardrum

Neuralgia

nerve pain

Neuroglial

pertaining to the neuroglial cells

Neurohormone

to excite from nerves (hormones produced by nerve tissue)

Neurology

the study of nerves

Neuron

nerve cell; pertaining to the nerve

Oculomotor

movement of the eye

Olfactory

referring to smell

Oligodendrocyte

specialized neuroglial cells

Ophthalmologist

one who studies the eyes

Ophthalmoplegia

paralysis of the eyes

Ophthalmoscope

instrument to view the eyes

Optic

pertaining to the eye

Optometry

measurement of the eyes

Orbital

pertaining to the orbit of the eye

Ossicles

pertaining to the bones of the middle ear

Otitis

middle ear infection/inflammation

Otolaryngologist

one who studies the ear and larynx

Otoscope

instrument to view the ear

Paralysis

unable to move

Paraplegia

paralysis of two limbs

Photophobia

fear of light (light sensitive)

Poliomyelitis

inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord

Polyneuritis

inflammation of many nerves

Presbyopia

aging vision

Quadriplegia

paralysis of all four limbs

Radiculopathy

nerve root disease

Retinopathy

disease of the retina

Rhinitis

inflammation of the nose

Rhinoplasty

surgical repair of the nose

Rhinorrhea

nose discharge; runny nose

Schizophrenia

condition of a split mind

Spinal

pertaining to the spine or spinal cord

Stapedectomy

removal of the stapes (correct conductive deafness)

Tonometer

instrument to measure the pressure in the eye (glaucoma)

Trigeminal

pertaining to three branches (cranial nerves)

Tympanitis

inflammation of the ear drum

Vitrectomy

removal of the vitreous humor

Vitreous humor

the transparent gelatinous tissue filling the eyeball behind the lens