Chapter 10 med term

Exacerbation

A worsening or flare-up of a disease or its symptoms.

Remission

A period when symptoms of a disease decrease or disappear.

Anesthesiologist

A physician who specializes in giving anesthesia and managing pain during surgery.

Endarterectomy

Surgical removal of plaque from the inner lining of an artery.

Meningococcal

Relating to or caused by Neisseria meningitidis, the bacteria that can cause meningitis.

Analgesic

A drug that relieves pain (e.g., acetaminophen, ibuprofen).

NSAID

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, used to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever.

TIA

Transient Ischemic Attack; a temporary "mini-stroke" caused by reduced blood flow to the brain.

Spasm

Sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle.

Paresis

Partial or incomplete paralysis; muscle weakness.

Varicella

The medical name for chickenpox.

Shingles

A painful rash caused by reactivation of the chickenpox (varicella-zoster) virus.

CNS

Central Nervous System; consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Neuroglia

Supporting cells of the nervous system that protect and assist neurons.

-glia

Suffix meaning "glue"; refers to supportive cells in the nervous system.

Myelin

A fatty substance that surrounds and insulates nerve fibers, speeding up signal transmission.

-pleg

Root meaning "paralysis."

-oid

Suffix meaning "resembling" or "like."

Cerebellum

Part of the brain that controls balance, coordination, and fine motor skills.

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain; responsible for thought, memory, senses, and voluntary movement.

Corpus Callosum

A large bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain.

Brainstem

Connects the brain to the spinal cord; controls vital functions like breathing and heartbeat.

Sulcus

A groove or depression on the surface of the brain.

CVA

Cerebrovascular Accident (stroke); caused by interrupted blood supply to the brain.

Hemiparesis

Weakness on one side of the body.

Lou Gehrig's Disease

Another name for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis); a progressive disease that affects motor neurons.

Psychosis

Severe mental disorder where a person loses touch with reality, with symptoms like hallucinations or delusions.

OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; a mental health condition with unwanted repetitive thoughts and behaviors.

Ganglion

A single cluster of nerve cell bodies.

Ganglia

Plural of ganglion; multiple clusters of nerve cell bodies.

Cervical

Referring to the neck region (can also mean the cervix in gynecology, but here it relates to the spine).

Quadriplegia

Paralysis of all four limbs.

Epidural

Injection into the space outside the dura mater, often for pain relief in childbirth or surgery.

Dura Mater

The tough, outermost membrane covering the brain and spinal cord.