Medical Terminology I Word List #5 Nervous System

Front 1

cerebellum

Back 1

lower posterior part of the brain that is the center of muscle coordination and equilibrium

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cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Back 2

colorless fluid produced within the ventricles of the brain that provides liquid shock absorption and a source of nourishment for the brain and spinal cord

Front 3

cerebrum

Back 3

largest part of the brain, includes the right and left cerebral hemispheres, the corpus callosum, the central cortex, and the lobes

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cranial nerves

Back 4

12 pairs of nerves that unite with the brain

Front 5

meninges

Back 5

(dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater)

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neuron

Back 6

functional cell of nervous tissue, which generates and transmits nerve impulses

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spinal cord

Back 7

cylindrical cord of nervous tissue extending through the spinal canal from its union with the medulla of the brain to the lumbar vertebral region

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brainstem

Back 8

lowermost part of the brain, includes the medulla and pons, which transmit impulses between the spinal cord and other parts of the brain

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central nervous system(CNS)

Back 9

main division of the nervous system that contains the brain and spinal cord

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aphasia

Back 10

inability to speak

Front 11

cephalalgia

Back 11

a headache or general pain in the head

Front 12

dysphasia

Back 12

difficulty speaking

Front 13

hyperesthesia

Back 13

increased sensitivity to stimulation

Front 14

neuralgia

Back 14

pain in a nerve

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paresthesia

Back 15

abnormal sensation of numbness and tingling without an objective cause

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agnosia

Back 16

a loss of the ability to interpret sensory info

Front 17

cerebral aneurysm

Back 17

type of cerebral vascular disease where a blood vessel supplying the brain becomes dilated

Front 18

cerebral arteriosclerosis

Back 18

type of cerebral vascular disease characterized by hardening of the arteries of the brain

Front 19

cerebral embolism

Back 19

presence of a floating blood clot in a blood vessel supplying the brain

Front 20

cerebral palsy (CP)-

Back 20

condition revealed by partial muscle paralysis that is caused by a brain defect or lesion present at birth or shortly after

Front 21

cerebral thrombosis

Back 21

lodged blood clot within vessels supplying the brain

Front 22

cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

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disruption of the blood supply to the brain results in functional losses or death

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coma

Back 23

general term describing several levels of decreased consciousness

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dementia

Back 24

literally not in the mind, impairment of mental function that is characterized by memory loss, disorientation, and confusion

Front 25

encephalitis

Back 25

inflammation of the brain, usually caused by bacterial or viral infection

Front 26

encephalomalacia

Back 26

softening of brain tissue, usually caused by deficient blood flow

Front 27

epilepsy

Back 27

brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizures

Front 28

hemiplegia

Back 28

paralysis of one side of the body

Front 29

hydrocephalus

Back 29

increased volume of CSF in the brain ventricles of a child before the cranial sutures have sealed, causing enlargement of the cranium

Front 30

meningioma

Back 30

benign tumor of the meninges

Front 31

meningitis

Back 31

inflammation of the meninges, usually caused by bacterial or viral infection

Front 32

meningocele

Back 32

protrusion of the meninges through an opening caused by a defect in the skull or spinal column

Front 33

spina bifida

Back 33

meningocele occurring in newborns

Front 34

meningomyelocele

Back 34

protrusion of the meninges and spinal cord through the spinal column

Front 35

multiple sclerosis (MS)

Back 35

deterioration of the myelin sheath covering axons within the brain, exhibited by episodes of localized functional losses

Front 36

myelitis

Back 36

inflammation of the spinal cord

Front 37

narcolepsy

Back 37

sleep disorder characterized by sudden uncontrollable attacks of sleep, attacks of paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations

Front 38

paraplegia

Back 38

paralysis from the waist down

Front 39

Parkinson disease

Back 39

chronic degenerative disease of the brain indicated by hand tremors, rigidity, expressionless face, and shuffling gait

Front 40

poliomyelitis

Back 40

inflammation of gray matter of the spinal cord caused by one of several polioviruses that often leads to paralysis

Front 41

polyneuritis

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inflammation of gray matter of the spinal cord caused by one of several polioviruses that often leads to paralysis

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psychosis

Back 42

incapacitating mental disorder indicated by a gross distortion of emotions, incapacity to recognize reality and relate to others, and cope with ordinary demands of daily life

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quadriplegia

Back 43

paralysis of all four limbs

Front 44

sciatica

Back 44

inflammation of the sciatic nerve, producing pain that extends from the thigh to the toes

Front 45

seizure (tonic-clonic and absence)

Back 45

sudden attack of spasms or convulsions which involve all muscle groups (tonic-clonic or grand mal) or involves brief losses of consciousness without motor involvement

Front 46

shingles or herpes zoster

Back 46

viral infection of the peripheral nerves that erupts as painful skin blisters along nerve tracts

Front 47

syncope

Back 47

fainting

Front 48

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Back 48

brief episode of loss of blood flow to the brain that results in a temporary neurologic impairment, and often precedes a CVA

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analgesia

Back 49

an agent that relieves pain

Front 50

anesthesia

Back 50

without feeling or sensation

Front 51

craniotomy

Back 51

excision of part of the skull to approach the brain

Front 52

electroencephalogram

Back 52

procedure recording the electrical impulses of the brain

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lumbar puncture

Back 53

aspiration of CSF from the subarachnoid space in the lumbar region of the spinal cord

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myelogram

Back 54

x-ray photo of the spinal cord after injection of a contrast

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neurology

Back 55

study and medical practice of the nervous system

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neuroplasty

Back 56

surgical repair of a nerve

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psychiatry

Back 57

branch of medicine that addresses disorders of the brain

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psychology

Back 58

the field of study of human behavior

Front 59

delirium

Back 59

more or less temporary disorder of the mental faculties characterized by restlessness, excitement, delusions, hallucinations

Front 60

migraine headache

Back 60

an extremely severe paroxysmal headache, usually confined to one side of the head and often associated with nausea