Chapter 10 Med Terms

Nervous System and Mental Health

caus/o

Burning; burning pain

cerebr/o

Cerebrum; largest part of the brain

concuss/o

Shaken together; violently shaken

contus/o

Brusing; crushing injury

encephal/o

Brain

-esthesia

Sensation; feeling

esthet/o

Sensation; feeling

-mania

Abnormal or excessive preoccupation; obsession

mening/o

Meninges; membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord

neur/i, neur/o

Nerve; nervous system

-phasia

Speech

phobia

Fear

psych/o

Mind

radicul/o

Nerve root

-tropic

Acting on; affecting

acrophobia

Fear of heights

Alzheimer’s disease

Progressive brain disorder that causes memory loss and decline in thinking and behavior

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Progressive disease that damages nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles, causing muscle weakness and paralysis

anesthetic

Medication that causes loss of sensation, with or without loss of consciousness

anesthetist

Healthcare professional trained to administer anesthetics

anorexia nervosa

Eating disorder characterized by restricted food intake, intense fear of gaining weight, and distorted body image

anxiety disorders

Conditions involving excessive fear, worry, or anxiety that interferes with daily life

autism spectrum disorder

Developmental condition affecting communication, social interaction, and behavior

Bell’s palsy

Sudden weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face

carotid ultrasonography

Ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries to assess blood flow

causalgia

Severe, persistent burning pain, often following nerve injury

cerebral contusion

Bruising of brain tissue caused by an injury

cerebral palsy

Group of disorders affecting movement, muscle tone, and posture due to damage to the developing brain

cerebrovascular accident

Stroke; damage to the brain caused by interrupted blood flow or bleeding

cervical radiculopathy

Disorder caused by compression or irritation of a nerve root in the neck

claustrophobia

Fear of enclosed or confined spaces

cognition

Mental processes involved in thinking, learning, understanding, and remembering

coma

State of deep unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened

concussion

Brain injury caused by a blow or jolt that disrupts normal brain function

cranial hematoma

Collection of blood within the skull

delirium

Sudden, often temporary state of confusion and altered awareness

delirium tremens

Severe form of alcohol withdrawal involving confusion, agitation, and potentially dangerous physical symptoms

delusion

False belief that persists despite evidence to the contrary

dementia

Decline in memory and other thinking abilities that interferes with daily life

dura mater

Tough outermost membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord

dyslexia

Learning disorder that affects reading and language processing

electroencephalography

Recording of the electrical activity of the brain

encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain

epidural anesthesia

Injection of anesthetic into the epidural space to block sensation, often during childbirth or surgery

epilepsy

Neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures

factitious disorder

Condition in which a person deliberately falsifies or produces symptoms of illness without an obvious external reward

hallucination

Sensory experience that occurs without an external stimulus

hemorrhagic stroke

Stroke caused by bleeding in or around the brain

hydrocephalus

Abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain

hyperesthesia

Abnormally increased sensitivity to sensory stimulation

ischemic stroke

Stroke caused by a blockage that reduces blood flow to part of the brain

lethargy

State of unusual tiredness, sluggishness, or reduced alertness

meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord

meningocele

Protrusion of the meninges through an opening in the skull or spinal column

migraine headache

Recurring headache disorder that may cause severe pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light or sound

multiple sclerosis

Chronic disease in which the immune system damages the protective covering of nerves in the brain and spinal cord

myelitis

Inflammation of the spinal cord

myelography

X-ray imaging of the spinal cord and surrounding structures after contrast material is introduced

narcolepsy

Disorder causing excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden episodes of sleep

neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals between nerve cells

obsessive-compulsive disorder

Mental health disorder involving unwanted recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviors or rituals

panic attack

Sudden episode of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart or shortness of breath

parasomnia

Abnormal behavior or experiences occurring during sleep

paresthesia

Abnormal sensation such as tingling, prickling, or numbness

Parkinson’s disease

Progressive neurological disorder affecting movement, often causing tremor, stiffness, and slowed movement

peripheral neuropathy

Damage or dysfunction of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord

post-traumatic stress disorder

Condition that may develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event

Reye’s syndrome

Rare, serious condition that causes swelling in the liver and brain, often following a viral illness in children or teenagers

schizophrenia

Mental health disorder that can affect thinking, perception, emotions, and behavior

sciatica

Pain traveling along the sciatic nerve, often from the lower back down the leg

seizure

Sudden episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can affect movement, sensation, awareness, or behavior

shaken baby syndrome

Serious brain injury caused by violent shaking of an infant or young child

syncope

Temporary loss of consciousness caused by reduced blood flow to the brain; fainting

tremor

Involuntary rhythmic shaking of a body part

trigeminal neuralgia

Disorder causing sudden, severe facial pain along the trigeminal nerve