Nervous System Diseases, Conditions, and Diagnostic Procedures

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering clinical pathologies, conditions, and diagnostic procedures of the nervous system.

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 (named after the baseball player who was afflicted by this 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.

sciatica

Severe pain in the leg along the course of the sciatic nerve, which travels from the hip to the foot.

shingles

Chronic viral disease in which painful blisters appear on the skin along the course of a peripheral nerve and is caused by inflammation secondary to herpes zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox; also called herpes zoster.

spina bifida

Congenital neural tube defect characterized by incomplete closure of the spinal canal through which the spinal cord and meninges may or may not protrude.

spina bifida occulta

Most common and least severe form of spina bifida without protrusion of the spinal cord or meninges.

spina bifida cystica

More severe type of spina bifida that involves protrusion of the meninges (meningocele), spinal cord (myelocele), or both (meningomyelocele).

stroke

Inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to the brain caused by a clot or ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhage), allowing the brain tissue to die; it is a medical emergency; also called cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Interruption in blood supply to the brain that does not cause permanent brain damage but may be an indication of a higher risk for a more serious and debilitating condition (stroke); also called ministroke.

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis

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

electroencephalography (EEG)

Diagnostic procedure where electrodes are placed on the scalp to record electrical activity within the brain; used to evaluate seizure and sleep disorders and 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.