| A | B |
|---|
| Acetylcholine | Neurotransmitter chemical released at the ends of some nerve cells |
| Afferent Nerves | Nerves that carry impulses toward the brain and spinal cord; sensory nerves |
| Analgesia | Condition of no sensation of pain (usually by sedation without loss of consciousness) |
| Anencephaly | Condition of no brain (congenital anomaly); completely missing or reduced to small masses |
| Anesthesia | Condition of no nervous sensation |
| Aphasia | Condition of the inability to speak |
| Apraxia | Inability to carry out familiar purposeful movements (in the absence of paralysis or sensory/motor impairment) |
| Arachnoid Membrane | Middle layer of the three membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord; means spider like |
| Astrocyte | A type of neuroglial cell; connective, supporting cell of the nervous system. They transport water and salts. |
| Ataxia | No muscular coordination (often caused by cerebellar dysfunction) |
| Autonomic Nervous System | Nerves that control involuntary body functions; carry impulses from the brain & spinal cord to muscles, glands, and internal organs |
| Axon | Microscopic fiber that carries the nervous impulse along a nerve cell |
| Blood-Brain Barrier | Blood vessels that selectively let certain substances enter the brain tissue and keep other substances out |
| Bradykinesis | Slowness in movement |
| Brain Stem | Lower portion of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord. The pons and medulla oblongata are part of the brain stem |
| Cauda Equina | Horse's tail; a collection of spinal nerves below the end of the spinal cord at the level of the second lumbar vertebra |
| Causalgia | Burning sensation of pain (in the skin) usually following injury to a nerve |
| Cephalalgia (Cephalgia) | Headache |
| Cell Body | Part of a nerve cell that contains the nucleus |
| Cerebellar | Pertaining to the cerebellum |
| Cerebellopontine | Pertaining to the cerebellum and the pons |
| Cerebellospinal | Pertaining to the cerebellum and the spinal cord |
| Cerebellum | Posterior part of the brain; responsible for coordinating voluntary muscle movements & maintaining balance |
| Cerebral Cortex | Outer region of the cerebrum; also called the gray matter of the brain |
| Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) | Liquid that circulates throughout the brain and spinal cord |
| Cerebrum | Largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscle activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, memory, etc. |
| Coma | State of unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be aroused, even by powerful stimuli |
| Irreversible Coma | One in which there is complete unresponsivity to stimuli, no spontaneous breathing or movement, and a flat EEG. AKA brain death. |
| Convolution | Elevated portion of the cerebral cortex; gyrus |
| Comatose | Pertaining to or affected with coma; in a state of coma. |
| Dendrite | Microscopic branching fiber of a nerve cell that is the first to receive the nervous impulse |
| Dura Mater | Outermost layer of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord |
| Dyslexia | Disorder of reading, writing, or learning (despite the ability to see and recognize letters) |
| Efferent Nerves | Nerves that carry impulses away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles, glands, and organs. Motor nerves |
| Encephalitis | Inflammation of the brain |
| Ependymal Cell | A cell that lines parts of the brain and spinal cord and produces cerebrospinal fluid |
| Encephalomalacia | Softening of the brain |
| Encephalopathy | Any disease of the brain |
| Epidural Hematoma | Collection of blood above the dura mater |
| Epilepsy | Chronic disorder marked by attacks of brain dysfunction due to excessive firing of nervous impulses |
| Fissure | Depression, or groove, in the surface of the cerebral cortex; sulcus |
| Glioma | Tumor of neuroglial cells |
| Gyrus | Elevation in the surface of the cerebral cortex; convolution. Plural: Gyri |
| Hemiparesis | Slight paralysis in either the right or left half of the body |
| Kinesiology | Study of movement |
| Hemiplegia | Paralysis of half the body |
| Hyperesthesia | Excessive sensitivity to touch, pain, or other sensory stimuli |
| Hypothalamus | Portion of the brain beneath the thalamus; controls sleep, appetite, body temperature, and secretions from the pituitary gland |
| Hyperkinesis | Condition of excessive movement (muscular activity) |
| Intrathecal Injection | Placement of substances (medications) into the subarachnoid space |
| Leptomeningitis | Inflammation of the pia mater and arachnoid membrane |
| Medulla Oblongata | Part of the brain just above the spinal cord; controls breathing, heartbeat, and the size of blood vessels; nerve fibers cross over here |
| Meningeal | Pertaining to the meninges |
| Meninges | Three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord |
| Meningioma | Tumor of the meninges |
| Meningomyelocele | Hernia of the meninges and spinal cord |
| Microglial Cell | One type of neuroglial cell--a supporting cell of the nervous system that does not carry impulses; it migrates and acts as a phagocyte of waste products of the nervous system |
| Motor Nerves | Nerves (controlling motion) that carry messages away from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and organs |
| Myelin Sheath | Fatty tissue that surrounds and protects the axon of a nerve cell |
| Myelogram | Record (x-ray) of the spinal cord |
| Myoneural | Pertaining to muscle and nerve |
| Narcolepsy | Sudden, uncontrollable episodes of sleep (seizures of sleep) |
| Neuralgia | Nerve pain |
| Neurasthenia | Condition of lack of nerve strength; nervous exhaustion and weakness |
| Neuroanastomosis | Surgical formation of a connection between nerves |
| Neuroglial | Cells in the nervous system that do not carry impulses but are supporting and connective in function. Examples: astrocytes, microglia & oligodendroglia |
| Neuron | A nerve cell; carries impulses throughout the body |
| Nerve | Macroscopic structure consisting of axons and dendrites in bundles like strands of rope |
| Neuropathy | Disease of the nerves |
| Neurorrhaphy | Suture of a nerve |
| Neurotransmitter | Chemical messenger, released at the end of a nerve cell, that stimulates or inhibits another cell. Examples: acetycholine, epinephrine, dopamine |
| Paraplegia | Paralysis of lower portion of body |
| Parasympathetic Nerves | Involuntary, autonomic nerves that help regulate body functions like heart rate and respiration |
| Paresis | Partial paralysis or weakness of muscles |
| Oligodendroglial Cell | A neuroglial cell that produces myelin, which is the fatty tissue that forms a sheath covering the axons |
| Paresthesia | An abnormal sensation such as numbness, tingling, or pricking |
| Parenchyma | The essential cells of an organ. Neurons are the parenchymal tissue of the brain |
| Peripheral Nervous System | Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord; cranial, spinal, and autonomic nerves |
| Pia Mater | Thin, delicate, inner membrane of the meninges |
| Receptor | An organ that receives a nervous stimulation and passes it on to nerves within the body (skin, ears, eyes and taste buds) |
| Plexus | A large, interlacing network of nerves. Example: cervical, lumbar, brachial. Plural: Plexuses |
| Poliomyelitis | Inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord |
| Polyneuritis | Inflammation of many (spinal) nerves, causing paralysis, pain, and wasting of nuscles. Gullain-Barre syndrome is an example. |
| Pons | Bridge--part of the brain anterior to the cerebellum and between the medulla and the rest of the brain |
| Quadriplegia | Paralysis of all four limbs of the body |
| Radiculopathy | Disease of the spinal nerve roots |
| Sensory Nerves | Nerves that carry messages to the brain and spinal cord from a receptor |
| Syncope | Fainting. Syncopal=pertaining to fainting. |
| Stimulus | A change in the internal or external environment that can evoke a response. Plural=stimuli |
| Subdural Hematoma | Collection of blood under the dura mater (outermost layer of the meninges) |
| Sulcus | Depression in the surface of the cerebral cortex; fissure. Plural=Sulci |
| Sympathetic Nerves | Autonomic nerves tht influence body functions involuntarily in times of stress |
| Synapse | The space (juncture) through which a nervous impulse is transmitted from one neuron to another or from a neuron to another cell, such as a muscle or gland cell |
| Stroma | The connective and framework tissue of an organ. Neuroglial cells are the stromal tissue of the brain |
| Thalamus | Main relay center of the brain; it conducts impulses between the spinal cord and the cerebrum. Thalamic = pertaining to the thalamus |
| Vagal | Pertaining to the vagus (10th cranial) nerve |
| Vagotomy | Interruption of the impulses carried by the vagus nerve; often performed in combination with gastroenterostomy or partial gastrectomy; this decreases physical activity of the stomach |
| Ventricles of the Brain | Reservoirs (canals) in the interior of the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid |
| Absence Seizures | A minor form of epileptic seizure (petit mal seizure) consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness and loss of contact with environment |
| Alzheimer Disease | Brain disorder marked by deterioration of mental capacity beginning in middle age. No effective treatment. |
| Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | Progressive disorder characterized by degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain stem. AKA Lou Gehrig's disease |
| Aneurysm | Abnormal widening of a blood vessel; can lead to hemorrhage and CVA (stroke) |
| Astrocytoma | Malignant tumor of neuroglial brain cells (astrocytes) |
| Aura | Peculiar sensation appearing before more definite symptoms |
| Bell Palsy | Involves unilateral facial paralysis, which is due to a disorder of the facial nerve. Etiology is unknown, but complete recovery possible. |
| Cerebral Angiography | Contrast medium is injected into an artery (usually femoral) and x-rays are taken of blood vessel system of brain |
| Cerebral Concussion | Temporary brain dysfunction (brief loss of consciousness) after injury, usually clearing within 24 hours |
| Cerebral Contusion | Bruising of brain tissue as a result of direct trauma to the head; neurological deficits persist longer than 24 hours. Possible permanent brain injury or epilepsy |
| Cerebral Hemorrhage | Bursting forth of blood from a cerebral artery |
| Cerebral Palsy | Partial paralysis and lack of muscular coordination caused by damage to the cerebrum during gestation |
| Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis | Cell counts, bacterial smears, and cultures of samples of CSF are done when disease of the meninges or brain is suspected. |
| Cerebrovascular Accident | Stroke. Disruption in normal blood supply to the brain. Three types: thrombotic, embolic, and hemorrhagic |
| Dementia | Mental decline and deterioration |
| Demyelination | Destruction of myelin on the axons of nerves (seen in multiple sclerosis) |
| Dopamine | A neurotransmitter that is deficient in Parkinson disease |
| Echoencephalography | Ultrasonic waves are beamed through the head, and echoes coming from brain structures are recorded as a picture |
| Electroencephalography | Recording of the electrical activity of the brain. EEG is used to demonstrate seizure activity in the brain, brain tumors, and other diseases/injury to brain |
| Embolus | A clot that breaks off from an area of the body |
| Gait | Manner of walking |
| Glioblastoma Multiforme | The most malignant form of astrocytoma (abnormal immature growths of brain tissue/meninges from neuroglial cells--called gliomas) |
| Grand Mal Seizure | Epileptic seizures characterized by a sudden loss of consciousness, falling down, and then muscle stiffening (tonic contractions) and limb twitching and jerking (clonic contractions). AKA tonic-clonic seizures |
| Shingles | Eruption of blisters in a pattern that follows the path of peripheral nerves around the trunk of the body |
| Herpes Zoster | Type of herpes virus that causes shingles; zoster means girdle |
| Huntington Chorea | Hereditary nervous disorder due to degenerative changes in the cerebrum and involving bizarre abrupt, involuntary, dance-like movements; no cure |
| Hydrocephalus | Abnormal accumulation of fluid (CSF) in the brain |
| Lumbar Puncture | CSF is withdrawn from between two lumbar vertebrae |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Use of magnetic waves to create an image of the brain |
| Meningitis | Inflammation of the meninges; leptomeningitis. Can be caused by bacteria or viruses |
| Migraine | A severe headache sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting |
| Multiple Sclerosis | Destruction of the myelin sheath on neurons in the CNS and its replacement by plaques of hard tissue |
| Myasthenia Gravis | Neuromuscular disorder characterized by relapsing weakness of skeletal muscles attached to bones |
| Palliative | Relieving symptoms but not curing |
| Palsy | Paralysis (partial or complete loss of motor function). |
| Occlusion | Blockage |
| Parkinson Disease | Degeneration of nerves in the brain, occurs later in life. Leads to tremors, muscle weakness & slowness of movement. |
| Petit Mal Seizures | Minor form of seizures consisting of momentary clouding of consciousness & loss of environment contact. AKA absence seizures |
| Positron Emission Tomography | An isotope (radioactive chemical) that gives off particles called positrons is injected intravenously and then recorded on a TV screen. Shows how the brain uses glucose and how brain functions |
| Spina Bifida | Congenital defect in spinal column due to imperfect union of vertebral parts. |
| Spina Bifida Occulta | Vertebral lesion is covered over with skin and evident only by x-ray |
| Spina Bifida Cystica | More severe type involving protrusion of the meninges |
| Stereotactic Radiosurgery | Use of an instrument that, when fixed onto the skull, can locate a target by 3-dimensional measurement. Used with a gamma knife (high energy radiation beams) |
| Thrombus | Blood clot. Thrombosis--formation development or presence of a thrombus |
| Tonic-clonic Seizure | Major convulsive seizure marked by sudden loss of consciousness, stiffening of muscles, and twitching/jerking movements |
| Gilles La Tourette Syndrome | Neurological disorder marked by involuntary, spasmodic, twitching movements, uncontrollable vocal sounds and inappropriate words. AKA TICS |
| Transient Ischemic Attack | A short episode of neurological dysfunction |
| Somnolent | Sleepy |
| Dysarthria | Imperfect articulation of speech due to disturbances of muscular control resulting from central or peripheral nervous system damage |
| Thymectomy | Removal of the thymus gland |
| TIA (Abbreviation) | Transient ischemic attack; mini stroke |
| EEG (Abbreviation) | Electroencephalogram |
| MRI (Abbreviation) | Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
| MS (Abbreviation) | Multiple sclerosis |
| PET (Abbreviation) | Positron emission tomography |
| ALS (Abbreviation) | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis |
| CNS (Abbreviation) | Central nervous system |
| CSF (Abbreviation) | Cerebrospinal fluid |
