med term ch 13

;-;

cephal/o

head

cerebell/o

cerebellum (little brain)

cerebr/o

cerebrum, brain

crani/o

cranium (skull)

encephal/o

brain

gangli/o

swelling, knot

mening/o, mening/i

membrane

myel/o

spinal cord, medulla, myelin

neur/o

nerve

phren/o

mind

psych/o

mind

radic/o, radicul/o

nerve root

vag/o

vagus nerve

ventricul/o

ventricle, little belly

esthes/o

sensation

phas/o

to speak

ather/o

fatty plaque

aut/o

self

embol/o

plug

gli/o

glue

gnos/o

knowledge

narc/o

stupor; numbness; sleep

poli/o

gray

scler/o

hard

thromb/o

clot

vascul/o

little vessel

dur/o

hard

ech/o

sound

rhiz/o

nerve root

tom/o

to cut

ment/o

mind

schiz/o

to divide, split

somat/o

body

Homeostasis

A tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level

neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

neuroglia

cells that support and protect neurons

Blood Brain Barrier (BBB)

physiological barrier between the circulatory system and the central nervous system that establishes a privileged blood supply, restricting the flow of substances into the CNS

neurology

study of the nervous system

psychiatrists

Physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders

clinical psychologist

a psychologist who diagnoses and treats people with emotional disturbances

aphasia

inability to speak

dysphagia

difficulty swallowing

cephalalgia

pain in the head; headache

convulsion

any sudden and violent contraction of one or more voluntary muscles

seizure

sudden, transient disturbances in brain function resulting from an abnormal firing of nerve impulses; may or may not be associated with convulsion

Hyperalgesia

excessive sensitivity to painful stimuli

hypoalgesia

deficient sensitivity to normally painful stimuli

hyperesthesia

increased sensitivity to stimulation such as touch or pain

neuralgia

pain in a nerve

paresthesia

abnormal sensation of numbness and tingling without objective cause

polyneuralgia

condition of pain in many nerves

agnosia

loss of ability to recognize importance of sensory impressions

Alzheimer's disease (AD)

A progressive disease that destroys the brain's neurons, gradually impairing memory, thinking, language, and other cognitive functions, resulting in the complete inability to care for oneself; the most common cause of dementia.

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

condition of progressive deterioration of motor nerve cells resulting in total loss of voluntary muscle control; symptoms advance from muscle weakness in the arms and legs, to the muscles of speech, swallowing, and breathing, to total paralysis and death; also known as Lou Gehrig disease

autism

a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by deficient communication, social interaction, and understanding of others' states of mind

Bell's Palsy

temporary paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve that causes paralysis only on the affected side of the face

cerebellitis

inflammation of the cerebellum

cerebral aneurysm

the widening or abnormal dilation of a blood vessel in the brain

cerebral atherosclerosis

the hardening of an artery in the brain caused by the buildup of fatty plaque

cerebral embolism

a moving blood clot in an artery of the brain

cerebral thrombosis

presence of a stationary clot in a blood vessel of the brain

cerebral hemorrhage

condition of bleeding from blood vessels associated with the cerebrum

cerebral palsy (CP)

paralysis caused by damage to the area of the brain responsible for movement

cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

a.k.a. "Stroke". Lack of blood supply to the brain causing brain damage

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

brief episode of loss of blood flow to the brain, usually caused by a partial occlusion that results in temporary neurologic deficit (impairment); often precedes a CVA

coma

deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison, or a severe blow

concussion

violent shaking up or jarring of the brain

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

mild or severe trauma that can result from a violent impact to the head

encephalitis

inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus

encephalomalacia

abnormal softening of the brain

epliepsy

seizure disorder

glioma

tumor of glial cells graded according to degree of malignancy

hydrocephalus

abnormal accumulation of fluid (CSF) in the brain

meningioma

benign tumor of the coverings of the brain (the meninges)

Meningitis

inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord

meningocele

the congenital herniation of the meninges through a defect in the skull or spinal column

Menigomyelocele

protrusion of the meninges and spinal cord through a defect in the vertebra

spina bifida

a congenital defect that occurs during early pregnancy when the spinal canal fails to close completely around the spinal cord to protect it

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

disease of the central nervous system characterized by the demyelination (deterioration of the myelin sheath) of nerve fibers, with episodes of neurologic dysfunction (exacerbation) followed by recovery (remission)

myelitis

inflammation of the spinal cord or bone marrow

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

neuritis

inflammation of a nerve or nerves

polyneuritis

inflammation involving two or more nerves, often caused by a nutritional deficiency, such as lack of thiamine

intracranial pressure

the amount of pressure inside the skull

neuroma

tumor made up of nerve (cells)

neuropathy

any disease of the nerves

polyneuropathy

disease affecting multiple nerves

Paraplegia

impairment or loss of motor and/or sensory function in the lower half of the body

quadriplegia

paralysis of all four limbs

hemiplegia

paralysis of one side of the body

Parkinson's disease (PD)

chronic, degenerative central nervous disorder characterized by fine muscle tremors, rigidity, and a slow or shuffling gait

Poliomyelitis or polio

Viral infection causing motor neuron; Paralysis of muscles possible death from cardiac failure or respiratory arrest.

ventriculitis

condition of inflammation of the ventricles of the brain

analgesic

drug that relieves pain

opiods

codeine and morphine

anesthesia

loss of feeling or sensation

anethesiologist

a physician who specializes in administering anesthetic agents before and during surgery

cerebral angiography

x-ray imaging of the arterial blood vessels in the brain after injection of contrast material

craniectomy

the surgical removal of a portion of the skull

craniotomy

incision into the skull