medterms unit 10

causalgia

 severe burning pain caused by injury to a sensory nerve

cerebral palsy

condition characterized by poor muscle control, spasticity, speech defect, and other neurologic deficiencies

concussion

violent shaking or jarring of the brain

cerebrovascular accident

damage to the brain that occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted

cerebral contusion

bruising of brain tissue as a result of a head injury causing the brain to bounce against skull bone

encephalitis

inflammation of the brain

electroencephalography

 recording the electrical activity through electrodes attached to the scalp

hyperesthesia

condition of abnormal and excessive sensitivity to touch, pain, or other sensory stimuli

paresthesia

 burning or prickling sensation usually felt in the hands, arms, legs, or feet

anesthetic

medication used to prevent pain during surgery and other procedures

anesthetist

medical professional who specializes in administering anesthesia

myelography

 radiographic study of the spinal cord

meningitis

 inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord

meningocele

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

myelitis

inflammation of the spinal cord & bone marrow 

myelosis

tumor of the spinal cord & bone marrow

neurotransmitters

 chemical substances that make it possible for messages to cross from the synapse of the neuron to the target receptor

acrophobia

excessive fear of heights

peripheral neuropathy

 disorder of the peripheral nerves that carry information to and from the brain & spinal cord

neuroplasty

surgical repair of a nerve

claustrophobia

abnormal fear of being in small or enclosed spaces

psychologist

 a specialist with a doctoral degree who evaluates and treats emotional problems & mental illness

psychiatrist

 physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating chemical dependencies, emotional problems, and mental illness

cervical radiculopathy

nerve pain caused by pressure on the spinal nerve roots in the neck

Alzheimer’s disease

 group of disorders involving parts of the brain that control thought, memory, & language

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

rapidly progressive neurological disease that attacks nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles

anxiety disorder

mental condition characterized by excessive irrational dread of everyday situations

autism

broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, & nonverbal behaviors

Bell’s palsy

temporary paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve causing paralysis of the affected side of the face

carotid ultrasonography

diagnostic test to detect plaque buildup in the carotid artery

cognition

mental activities associated with thinking, learning, & memory

coma

deep state of unconsciousness marked by absence of spontaneous eye movements, no response to painful stimuli, & lack of speech

cranial hematoma

collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the brain

delirium

 acute condition of confusion, disorientation, disordered thinking & memory, agitation, and hallucinations

delirium tremens

disorder involving sudden & severe mental changes or seizures after abruptly discontinuing alcohol use

delusion

false personal belief that is maintained despite obvious proof or evidence to the contrary

dementia

slow progressive decline in mental abilities

dura mater

thick outermost membrane of the meninges

dyslexia

learning disability cause by brain’s inability to process symbols

echoencephalography

 use of ultrasound imaging to create a detailed image of the brain

epidural anesthesia

regional anesthesia produced by injecting medication into the epidural space or lumbar or sacral region of the spine

epilepsy

chronic neurological condition w/recurrent episodes of seizures

factitious disorder

serious mental disorder in which individual intentionally presents false medical or psychiatric symptoms

Guillan-Barré syndrome

inflammation of the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves 

hallucination

 a sensor perception experienced in the absence of external stimulation

hemorrhagic stroke

bleeding in the brain caused by a leaking blood vessel or a ruptured aneurysm

hydrocephalus

condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the ventricles of the brain

hypochondriasis

unrealistic fear that one is seriously ill despite medical evidence to the contrary

ischemic stroke

event that occurs when blood to the brain is blocked by narrowing or blockage of a carotid artery

lethargy

lowered level of consciousness marked by listlessness, drowsiness, & apathy

migraine headache

severe throbbing pain or pulsing sensation usually on one side of the head

multiple sclerosis

progressive autoimmune disorder that causes demyelination of the myelin sheath

narcolepsy

chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness & sudden attacks of sleep

obsessive-compulsive disorder

chronic, long-lasting disorder characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts & behaviors

panic attack

unexpected sudden experience of fear & physical symptoms in the absence of danger

Parkinson’s disease

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

post-traumatic stress disorder

mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event

Reye’s syndrome

serious or deadly disorder in children causing swelling of the liver and brain

schizophrenia

 psychotic disorder usually characterized by withdrawal from reality

sciatica

 inflammation of the sciatic nerve

seizure

 sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain

shaken baby syndrome

brain injury, blindness, fractures, seizures, paralysis, or death caused by a violent shaking

syncope

brief loss of consciousness caused by decreased flow of blood to the brain

trigeminal neuralgia

inflammation of the fifth cranial nerve causing severe pain