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| neurology | study of nervous system |
| acetylcholine | a neurotransmitter that, among its functions, triggers muscle contraction User-contributed |
| Afferent Neurons | A neuron that usually conducts impulses from sensory receptors to the central nervous system. |
| ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) | thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord noun |
| amnesia | partial or total loss of memory |
| amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) | wasting of involved muscle groups, starting at extremities and moving medial. Caused by decreased nerve innervation, but only affects the motor neurons, not the cognitive or sensory ones. |
| analgesia | without sensitivity to pain |
| anencephaly | a defect in brain development resulting in small or missing brain hemispheres |
| anesthesia | without feeling or sensation |
| aneurysm | the balooning out of an artery wall at a point where it has grown weak |
| aphasia | inability to use or understand language (spoken or written) |
| arachnoid membrane | The middle layer of the meninges that derives its name from the fact that it resembles a spider web. It is impermeable to the cerebrospinal fluid. It is anchored to the underlying tissues by rootlets. |
| Astrocytes | (CNS) large, branching cells that form the Blood-Brain Barrier (connect) |
| aura | a sensation (as of a cold breeze or bright light) that precedes the onset of certain disorders such as a migraine attack or epileptic seizure |
| autonomic nervous system | controls smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glandular whatnot for the CNS |
| axon | long shaft of neuron |
| bell's palsy | unilateral facial paralysis resulting from inflammation of fascial muscle - us friction to help |
| biopsy | examination of tissues or liquids from the living body to determine the existence or cause of a disease |
| brain stem | regulates internal state of the body |
| brain tumor | an abnormal growth located inside the skull |
| carotid endarterectomy | procedure removes obstructions within the carotid artery |
| carpal tunnel syndrome | Painful, inflammatory condition that affects the carpal or wrist portion of the median nerve. Often associated with repetitive actions such as typing. Can be caused by physical trauma or hereditary conditions that |
| cell body | largest part of a typical neuron; contains the nucleus and much of the cytoplasm |
| central nervous system | barin and spine |
| cephalagia | pain in head or headache |
| cerebellum | attached to the brain stem. controls bodily movements, posture, and maintains equilibrium. |
| cerebral palsy (cp) | caused by lack of oxygen to parts of the body of babys brian durining birth |
| cerebrospinal fluid (CFS) | clear liquid produced in the ventricles of the brain; cushion, supports, nourish and helps remove metabolic wastes |
| cerebrovascular accident (CVA) | damage to the brain that occurs when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted; also known as a stroke |
| cluster headache | Unilateral, severe periorbital headache with tearing and conjunctival erythema.and keep comming back more in males |
| coma | a state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness |
| (cerebral) concussion | injury to the brain causing loss of consciousness for a brief period of time resulting from blunt imapact |
| cerebral contusion | "bruise" of the brain from it striking the inside of the skull |
| craniotomy | surgical incision into the skull to expose the brain tissue |
| 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 |
| dendrites | branching extensions of neuron that receives messages from neighboring neurons |
| diskectomy | excision of an intervertebral disk |
| dyslexia | impaired ability to read |
| EEG | a graphical record of electrical activity of the brain noun |
| Efferent Neurons | This is the name for neurons that conduct impulses from the central nervous system to an organ. AKA motor neurons. |
| encephalitis | inflamammation of the brain cAUSED BY A VIrus |
| epilepsy | recurring condition which a group of neurons in the brain spontaneously send out electrical impulses in an abonormal uncontrolled way |
| Ganglia | Collections of neuron cell bodies which are outside of the central nervous system |
| hematoma | localized swelling filled with blood in the brain |
| hemiparesis | partial paralysis of the right or left half of the body |
| Hydrocephaly | increased water of the brain. causes extra large heads in infants. |
| hyperesthesia | increased sensitivity to stimulation such as touch or pain |
| infarct | localized necrosis resulting from obstruction of the blood supply |
| Interneurons | transmit impulses between the sensory and motor neurons. |
| laminectomy | surgical removal of the bony arches on one or more vertebrae |
| medulla oblongata | located at the top of the spinal cord. controls breathing, blood pressure, and heart beat. |
| meningitis | infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the meninges (the tissues that surround the brain or spinal cord) usually caused by a bacterial infection noun |
| meningomyelocele | protrusion of the meninges and spinal cord |
| Microglia | (CNS) tiny cells with complex branches and are phagocytes (remove garbage from CNS) |
| migraine headache | a headache characterized by throbbing pain on one side of the head. associated with aura. |
| Motor Neurons | These are cells that conduct impulses from the central nervous system to an organ. AKA efferent neurons. |
| MS | multiple sclerossis |
| myelo | bone marrow or spinal cord |
| myelograph | picture of the spinal cord |
| mylin sheath | the insulating material that encases most large axons |
| narcolepsy | sleep disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep |
| Nerves | Bundles of axons and their sheaths which extend from the central nervous system |
| neuralgia | acute spasmodic pain along the course of one or more nerves |
| neuritis | inflammation of a nerve accompanied by pain and sometimes loss of function |
| neuroma | any tumor derived from cells of the nervous system noun |
| Neurotransmitters | endogenous chemicals which relay, amplify, and modulate signals between a neuron and another cell |
| Oligodendrocytes | (CNS) cells with few branches that form myelin (produce myelin sheath) |
| parasympathetic system | part of ANS; complements sympathetic nervous system by regulating calming measures like decreased heart rate, relaxing sphincters, increasing peristalsis, etc. |
| paresthesia | abnormal skin sensations (as tingling or tickling or itching or burning) usually associated with peripheral nerve damage |
| parkinsons disease | a progressive disease that destroys brain cells and is identified by muscular tremors, slowing of movement, and partial facial paralysis |
| cerebral cortex | thin gray matter outer layer that covers the surface of the cerebrum |
| pons | above medulla oblongata. sends reports to other structures in the brain stem. |
| cerebrum | Forebrain. Analysis of sensory information. Control over voluntary movements, consciousness, memory, emotions, voluntary movement. |
| somatic nevrous system | controls voluntary movement of skeletal muscles |
| Sub arachnoid space | Space at the bottom of the arachnoid that actually contains the cerebral spinal fluid CSF. Sub means below. |
| sympathetic | part of ANS that regulates fight or flight response like increased heart rate, raising blood pressure, constricting blood vessels |
| synapse | space between two neurons where commution between neurons happens |
| syncope | a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain (fainting) |
| termanal branches | where one nerve ends |
| TIA | transient ischemic attack mini stroke |
| trisomy | chrosomal abnormality in which there is one more than the normal number of chromosomes in a cell |
| brainstem | transit point to spinal cord. contains midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata |
| cerebellum | back of the skull. balance, position of self in space, location of body parts in relation to one another. |
| midbrain | uppermost part of brain stem |
| Brudzinski's sign | indicates meningitis: involuntary flexion of arm, hip, and knee when patient's neck is passively flexed |
| Meningitis | A medical condition that is caused by the inflammation of the meninges. The inflammation is usually due to an infection from viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms. |
| Kernig's sign | Severe stiffness of the hamstrings causes an inability to straighten the leg when the hip is flexed to 90 degrees. one symptom of meningitis. |
| ischemia | lack of blood flow |
| Cerebrospinal fluid | a fluid that circulates throughout the central nervous system. occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system. contains salt, glucose, white blood cells. |
| Cheyne-Stokes respirations | abnormal breathing pattern characterized by periods of apnea followed by deep, rapid breathing |
| hypothalamus | part of the diencephalon that regulates sleep, appetite, and body temp |
| thalamus | between cerebrum and midbrain; receives all sensory stimuli except smell and sends them to cerebral cortex |
| anencephaly | congenital condition meaning the absence of brain and spinal cord; incompatible with life. |
| kinesiology | study of muscle movement |
| neuritis | inflammation of a nerve |
| palliative | soothing |
| neuroblastoma | highly malignant tumor of the sympathetic nervous system |
| peripheral neuritis | inflammation of a peripheral nerve, with various effects. carpal tunnel, Bell's palsy, and trigemenial neuralgia (tic douloureux) are all types. |
| trigemenial neuralgia (tic douloureux) | inflammation of the fifth cranial nerve, causing pain in various parts of the face |
| Bell's palsy | weakness or paralysis in the face; caused by trauma, infection, or tumor. |
| carpal tunnel | compression of the median nerve caused by inlammation and swelling of tendons in the wrist, which is a result of overuse. causes pain, particularly at night. |
