Disease of the Nervous system

amnesia

Partial or total (global) loss of memory of recent or remote (past) experiences

anencephaly

Rare congenital condition in which some or all of the cranium and cerebrum are missing

aphasia

Loss of the ability to communicate verbally or in writing

expressive aphasia

The inability to verbally express thoughts

receptive aphasia

The inability to understand the spoken or written word

arteriovenous malformation (AVM)

Abnormality in which arteries in the brain connect directly to veins (rather than to capillaries), forming an abnormal twisted nest of blood vessels

brain tumor

Benign or malignant tumor of any area of the brain

cephalalgia

Pain in the head, commonly known as a headache

cerebral palsy (CP)

Caused by a lack of oxygen to parts of the fetus' brain during birth

cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Disruption or blockage of blood flow to the brain, which causes tissue death and an area of necrosis known as an infarct

hemiplegia

Paralysis on one side of the body

hemiparesis

Muscle weakness on one side of the body

coma

Deep state of unconsciousness and unresponsiveness caused by trauma or disease in the brain, by metabolic imbalance with accumulation of waste products in the blood (hepatic coma), or by too little glucose in the blood (hypoglycemia)

concussion

Traumatic injury to the brain that results in an immediate loss of consciousness (LOG) for a brief or prolonged period of time

dementia

Disease of the brain in which many neurons in the cerebrum die, the cerebral cortex shrinks in size, and there is progressive deterioration in mental function

Down syndrome

Naturally occurring, random error in cell division that creates a genetic defect in which there are three of chromosome 21, instead of the normal two

dyslexia

Difficulty reading and writing words even though visual acuity and intelligence are normal

encephalitis

Inflammation and infection of the brain caused by a virus

epilepsy

Recurring condition in which a group of neurons in the brain spontaneously sends out electrical impulses in an abnormal, uncontrolled way, also known as seizures or convulsions

status epilepticus

a prolonged, continuous seizure or repeated seizures that occur without the patient regaining consciousness

hematoma

Localized collection of blood that forms in the brain because of trauma to the cranium or the rupture of an intracranial aneurysm or an AVM

Huntington's chorea

Progressive inherited degenerative disease of the brain that begins in middle age

hydrocephalus

Condition in which an excessive amount of cerebrospinal fluid is produced or the flow of cerebrospinal fluid is blocked

meningitis

Inflammation and infection of the meninges of the brain or spinal cord caused by a bacterium or virus

migraine headache

Specific type of recurring headache that has a sudden onset with severe, throbbing pain, often on just one side of the head

narcolepsy

Brief, involuntary episodes of falling asleep during the daytime while engaged in activity

Parkinson's disease

Chronic, degenerative disease due to an imbalance in the levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and acetylcholine in the brain, also known as parkinsonism

syncope

Temporary loss of consciousness

neural tube defect

Congenital abnormality of the neural tube (embryonic structure that becomes the fetal brain and spinal cord)

meningocele

a protrusion of the meninges through the skin

radiculopathy

Acute or chronic condition that occurs because of a tumor, arthritis, or a herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) (when the contents of an intervertebral disk are forced out through a weak area in the disk wall)

spinal cord injury (SCI)

Trauma to the spinal cord with a partial or complete transection of the cord

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Chronic, progressive disease of the motor nerves coming from the spinal cord

anesthesia

Condition in which sensation of any type, including touch, pressure, proprioception, or pain, has been lost

Bell's palsy

Weakness, drooping, or actual paralysis of one side of the face because of inflammation of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII)

carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)

Chronic condition caused by repetitive motions of the hand and wrist, often from constant typing or data entry

Guillain-Barre syndrome

Autoimmune disorder in which the body makes antibodies against myelin

hyperesthesia

Condition in which there is a heightened awareness and sensitivity to touch and increased response to painful stimuli

multiple sclerosis (MS)

Chronic, progressive, degenerative autoimmune disorder in which the body makes antibodies against myelin. There is acute inflammation of the nerves and loss of myelin (demyelination) with interruption of nerve conduction in the brain and spinal cord

neuralgia

Pain along the path of a nerve and its branches that is caused by an injury

neuritis

Inflammation or infection of a nerve

polyneuritis

A generalized inflammation of many nerves in one part of the body or all the nerves in the body

neurofibromatosis

Hereditary disease with multiple benign fibrous tumors (neurofibromata) that grow on the peripheral nerves, also known as von Recklinghausen's disease

neuroma

Benign tumor of a nerve or any of the specialized cells of the nervous system

neuropathy

General category for any type of disease or injury to a nerve

paresthesia

Condition in which abnormal sensations, such as tingling, burning, or pinpricks, are felt on the skin