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289 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
absolute refractory period
The time when another action potential cannot be set off no matter how much current you inject.
accommodation
Decrease in spike firing rate with time.
acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter that connects nerves to muscles. Also active at other synapses in CNS/ANS. Chemical structure.
action potential
A spike in membrane voltage caused by opening and closing of Na and K channels. This is the signal that is conducted down the axon to transmit information to other neurons.
active (excitable) membrane
Membranes that have voltage-sensitive channels
afferent
An axon neuron or tract that brings information in towards the central nervous system
after-hyperpolarization
Hyperpolarization after an action potential
agonist
A drug that will activate a particular receptor opposite of antagonist
amino acid
The building blocks of peptides and proteins. Some amino acids also serve as neurotransmitters
ampa receptor
A kind of glutamate receptor that mediates excitatory (depolarizing) signals. The channel conducts both Na+ and K+.
amygdala
A nucleus involved in emotional and sexual behavior. Part of the limbic system
anatomy
The study of structures in biology. Contrasted with physiology.
antagonist
A drug that will block a particular receptor opposite of agonist
aphasia
Loss of language skills following brain damage.
area mt
One of many areas for higher cortical processing of vision. This one mediates the visual perception of motion.
artificial neural network (ANN)
Networks of simple units that do complex things due to their connectivity. The computer science/engineering approach to computational neuroscience.
association cortex
An area of cortex that does not receive primary sensory (or give off primary motor) information; some of these areas are thought to be involved in integrating or associating different types of information.
associative long term potentiation
Increased strength in a weakly stimulated synapse with strong activation in a nearby synapse. This has been shown to occur in some areas of hippocampus.
astrocytes
Glial cells that are involved in nutritive support for neurons and in maintaining concentrations in the extracellular space.
attention
A neural mechanism that permits brain function to be focused on a particular sensory stream.
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
A section of the nervous system innervating organs.
axon
The axon is classically regarded as the output side of the neuron. In vertebrates axons may be myelinated. Conduction of signals down the axons is due to apaction potentials which are self-regenerative signals that propagate by saltatory conduction.
axon collateral
A branch of an axon.
axon hillock
The initial part of the axon. This may be where action potentials start in some neurons.
axon terminal
The end of an axon. There is usually a synapse here.
basal ganglia
A large nuclear complex rostral (anterior) to the thalamus. Involved in motor activity planning initiative.
binding problem
The brain somehow has to bind together information about a single object that is processed in different places. For example a visual image is taken apart so that motion color shape and other aspects can be separately analyzed yet somehow one has a unitary
blind spot
The area in which one cannot see because light rays fall on the optic disk. The optic disk has no photoreceptors. Somehow this blindness is ignored by the brain an act of completion
blood-brain barrier
A barrier that keeps bad stuff floating around in the blood from getting into the brain.
bouton en passant
(= synaptic bouton) A synapse that is not at an axon terminal but is just a swelling as the axon passes by a dendrite.
brain
The part of the CNS within the skull
brainstem
The part of the CNS between the thalamus and the spinal cord.
cable equation
An equation that describes how voltage attenuates along an electrical cable. Originally proposed by Lord Kelvin to describe the reduction of telegraph signals from Europe to North America it is also used to describe attenuation of membrane voltage down a
cascade
A chemical amplification process where the product of one enzyme (or a second messenger) augments the rate of another enzyme which creates a large amount of another messenger controlling yet another enzyme. A few such steps can turn a relatively small che
CAT scan
Computerized axial imaging. An imaging method that recreates 2 dimensional cross sections using transforms of x-ray conductance through tissue. Also called CT scan.
cauda equina
"The big ""horses tail"" of nerves at the base of the spinal cord. "
caudal
The tail side of the body. In the brain this is toward the back (posterior) and in the spinal cord it's towards the bottom (inferior).
cell assembly
Hebb hypothesized that cell assemblies (groups of simultaneously active neurons) could represent perceived or remembered objects.
cell body
Synonym for soma
central nervous system (CNS)
The brain (including retina and brainstem) and spinal cord
cerebellum
A complex movement control center at the caudal end of the brain overlying the brainstem.
cerebral cortex
Grey matter at the surface of the brain
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
The fluid that bathes the CNS and lies inside the ventricles
chemical synapse
A synapse where information is conveyed by the diffusion of a neurotransmitter across the synaptic cleft to bind to and activate receptors on the other side
chunking
The ability of the brain to organize complex multi-part information into a single remembered object. An example is seen in remembering a telephone number -- it is hard to remember as a collection of digits but chunking into a set of 3 followed by a set of
co-transmitters
Different neurotransmitters released at a single synapse.
completion
The ability of the nervous system to ignore inconsistencies or gaps in incoming information to construct a complete story. Neglect syndromes may be in part caused by excessive completion.
conduction velocity
The speed of spike (action potential) conduction along an axon
consolidation
Putative process whereby memories are moved from temporary storage in hippocampus to more permanent storage in cerebral cortex
contralateral
The other side. Most of the brain innervates contralateral structures. Opposite of ipsilateral.
contralateral neglect syndrome
A very odd syndrome often seen after strokes affecting the non-dominant hemisphere. The patient may deny that the contralateral side of his body belongs to him or her.
convergence
Multiple inputs coming into one neuron
coronal plane
The vertical plane that runs from left to right (or lateral to medial) and up to down (ventral to dorsal). An example would be the coronal plane running from ear to ear
corpus callosum
The large white matter that connects the two hemispheres
corticospinal tract
(aka pyramidal tract) A tract of axonthat starts in motor cortex and goes down to the spinal cord. Responsible for some aspects of fine motor control.
critical period
A limited period of time when a particular aspect of brain development is sensitive to a change in the external environment
current
Movement of charge. In a wire this represents a wave of electrons moving but in living tissue current is carried by ions. current I is measured in Amperes (amps). current clamp Holding a steady current in a neuron and watching how the voltage responds.
cytoarchitectonic map
A map of the cerebral cortex that distinguishes areas according to anatomical differences such as the prominence of a particular cortical layer.
cytoplasm
The contiguous fluid inside a cell that lies outside the organelles.
Dale's principle
the hypothesis that a single neuron has only one transmitter that is given off at all its synapses. Although this has turned out to be wrong in part (see co-transmitters) it seems to still hold true that major neurotransmitters such as glutamate and GABA
delta waves
slow waves (< 4 Hz) of the EEG seen in deep sleep
dendrite
Cellular extensions from the soma. They are generally fatter and shorter than axons and are never myelinated. Dendrites were classically thought to be electrically passive but it now appears that many are active. Dendrites are classically regarded as the
dendritic spine
A spiny excrescence off the side of a dendrite. Often the site of an excitatory synapse. Has specialized internal structures presumed related to its signal carrying function.
dendritic tree
The full set of dendrites that belong to a neuron.
depolarization
Change in membrane potential positive from the resting membrane potential. This is usually associated with excitation of the cell.
diffusion
The tendency of particles at a high concentration to move to places where they are not so concentrated.
disinhibition
Removal or reduction of inhibitory action in a neural circuit.
divergence
Multiple outputs coming from one neuron
dominant hemisphere
The cerebral hemisphere that controls language. This is the left hemisphere in most people.
dorsal
The back side of the body. For the CNS this would be posterior in the spinal cord and superior (up) in the brain.
driving force
The potential felt by ions of a particular type. This depends on the difference between the current membrane potential and the Nernst potential corresponding to the concentration difference across the membrane.
efferent
An axon neuron or tract that takes information out away from the CNS.
electrical self-stimulation
A mechanism for allowing an animal to deliver small electric currents to activate a particular spot in its own brain.
electrical synapse
A gap junction connection between cells that allows direct current flow that can thereby pass electrical signals from one cell to another.
electrochemical equilibrium
A balance between diffusive force in one direction and a membrane potential gradient in the other direction. The membrane potential where this occurs is the Nernst potential.
electroencephalogram (EEG)
A recording of electrical signals from the brain made on the skin of the head.
endorphin
A peptide neurotransmitter that is active at the same location where opium or morphine acts.
enteric nervous system
The nervous system that runs the gut. It can function on its own even after being completely disconnected from other parts of the nervous system.
epilepsy
A brain disorder where repeated seizures occur.
equilibrium potential
The Nernst potential that produces electrochemical equilibrium for a particular ion.
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
Depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane potential due to synaptic action. Nominally excitatory.
exocytosis
Release of material from a cell due to fusion of a vesicle with the cell membrane. This is how neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft.
extracellular
The outside of cells.
facilitation
The ability of incoming excitatory signals to produce a transient increased excitability. Generally shorter in duration as compared to potentiation.
fovea
The central part of the retina that has the most acute vision
frequency coding
The notion that increases in spike frequency are an important part of the code of the nervous system. Also called rate coding.
frontal lobe
The most anterior lobe of the brain. Thought to play a role in initiative and planning.
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
A technique for imaging physiological activity using magnets and radio waves
gaba
The major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS
ganglion (plural ganglia)
A collections of neurons lying outside the CNS
gap junction
An ion channel that connects two cells together.
gating
The ability of channels to be opened or closed either by membrane potential (voltage-gated) or by the arrival of a neurotransmitter or other chemical (ligand-gated)
glial cell
The most common type of neuron in the nervous system. These cells play roles in support hormone release and balancing extracellular concentrations. Two important types are astrocytes and oligodendroglia.
glutamate
An amino acid that is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
grandmother cell theory
The theory that the brain codes involves specific neurons that stand for specific things in the world -- ie a neuron that lights up when grandma is seen heard smelled or touched
grey matter
Brain volumes made up of cell bodies such as cerebral cortex basal ganglia and thalamus. Looks grey when you cut open a brain.
gyrus (Plural: gyri)
The cerebral hemispheres are folded; gyri are the ridges.
habituation
A nonassociative learning form leading to decreased behavioral responses to repeated stimulation
Hebb synapse
A synapse that that increases in strength when both the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons are active at the same time.
hippocampus
A cortical area in the temporal lobe. This area is involved in declarative memory (memory for events).
Hodgkin-Huxley equation
A set of equations that describe the evolution of the action potential by taking account of changes in conductance of voltage-sensitive sodium and potassium channels.
horizontal plane
The horizontal plane is horizontal with the person in the anatomical position. it runs rostral (front) to caudal (back); medial to lateral (also left to right).
Huntington's disease
An inherited movement disorder characterized by dance-like movements.
hyperpolarize
Change in membrane potential negative from the resting membrane potential. This is usually associated with inhibition of the cell.
in vitro
"Study of biological tissue that has been taken out of the organism. (means ""in glass"") "
in vivo
"Study of biological tissue in the intact organism. (means ""in life"") "
inactivation
Closing of an ion channel with time.
inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
Neurotransmitter-induced postsynaptic potential making the postsynaptic neuron less likely to fire action potentials
innervate
For a neuron to connect up synaptically with something
integration
Combination of incoming signals in a neuron or neuronal unit.
interneuron
A neuron with axons that only project locally. In the cortex many of these appear to be inhibitory.
intracellular
The inside of a cell.
invertebrate
An animal without a spine. Can be divided into squishies (clam octopus leech) and crunchies (insect limulus lobster).
ion
A charged atom. The most important ions in the nervous system are Na+K+Cl-Ca++. The superscript tells you what type of charge it is and whether it is monovalent (one +) or divalent (two +s).
ion channel
An protein that lies in the cell membrane (integral membrane protein) that has a hole that allows ions to pass from one side of the membrane to the other. Most of these ion channels are selective only allowing passive of certain ions and not letting other
ipsilateral
On the same side of the midline or body opposite of contralateral.
lateral
Towards the side. For example the ears are lateral to the brain.
lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN)
An area of the thalamus that relays information from the retina.
learning
Storage of new information in a biological or artificial system.
length constant
Space constant
ligand-gated channels
An ion channel which opens and closes depending on the arrival of some chemical -- usually either a neurotransmitter or second messenger
limbic system
A set of interconnected brain structures that may be involved in emotion (see Papez circuit).
limulus
The horseshoe crab an animal whose visual mechanisms have been heavily studied.
lipid bilayer
The architecture of membranes in living things. Can be understood by thinking of a soap bubble. Soaps are amphoteric: one end is fatty and the other end is ionic. This allows them to clean: one end sticks to grease (hydrophobic = hates water) and the othe
long term potentiation (LTP)
A persistent strengthening of synaptic strength that may be the neural analogue of the Hebb synapse. NMDA receptors are involved in this process.
long-term depression (LTD)
A persistent weakening of synaptic strength.
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A technique for imaging the anatomy of the brain using magnets and radio waves.
map
An area in the nervous system where some aspect of the sensory world is represented. This may be topographic as in vision or touch or may represent some other aspect of the stimulus as in a tonotopic (frequency-oriented) map for hearing. Maps are not alwa
medial
Towards the middle. For example the nose is medial to the cheeks.
membrane capacitance
The ability of the membrane to store charge by keeping positive and negative charge separated on opposite sides of the membrane.
membrane conductance
The inverse of membrane resistance. The ease with which a particular ion can move across the membrane. Conductance g is measured in Siemens S. (See Ohm's law)
membrane potential
The voltage drop across a membrane. Specifically the difference in force that a charge would feel at opposite sides of the membrane. This term is synonomous with membrane voltage or membrane polarization. One speaks of membrane voltage or potential being
membrane resistance
Measurement of the difficulty that a charge has moving from one side of the membrane to the other. Resistance R is measured in Ohms. Resistance is related to current and voltage by R=V/I Ohm's law. Resistance = 1 / conductance
microelectrode
A small glass tube tapered toward the tip that can be inserted into neurons to allow intracellular recording. Slightly bigger microelectrodes may be made of different materials and used in extracellular recording.
micron
10-6 meters. A neuron soma may be 5-30 microns in diameter.
milliseconds
10-3 seconds. A typical action potential duration is 1-2 ms.
millivolt
10-3 volts. A typical neuron resting membrane potential is about -75 mV.
motor cortex
Cortical areas that control movement
myelin
The insulation that is wrapped around axons by oligodendroglia which permits faster conduction velocity by saltatory conduction.
neglect syndrome
Contralateral neglect syndrome
Nernst equation
An equation for calculating the equilibrium potential of a particular ion
Nernst potential
The equilibrium potential for a particular ion. This is the potential that balances out the chemical diffusive gradient to produce electrochemical equilibrium.
nerve
A bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system. Nerves run to muscles and from sensory organs in the periphery.
neuron
The principal information carrying element of the nervous system. These can differ widely in shape and connectivity. Most neurons have a soma dendrites and an axon. Two important neuron types are pyramidal cells and inhibitory interneurons.
neuron doctrine
The concept put forth by Cajal that suggested that neurons are separate cells. This was contested by Golgi's reticular hypothesis that suggested that the nervous system was just one big continuous network.
neuronal membrane
The lipid bilayer that separates the outside from the inside of a neuron.
neuropeptides
Peptides (short sequences of amino acids) that serve as neurotransmitters
neuropharmacology
Study of how drugs alter neural function
neuropil
Areas where numerous dendrites and axons come together making connections.
neurotransmitter
A chemical released across a chemical synapse to communicate from one neuron to another.
NMDA receptor
A type of glutamate receptor that provides a more prolonged time course of excitation than does AMPA and appears to be responsible for triggering long term potentiation.
node of Ranvier
A gap in the myelin sheath where action potentials can be generated. The jumping of the action potential from one node to the next is saltatory conduction
non-dominant hemisphere
The cerebral hemisphere that doesn't control language. This is the right hemisphere in most people. It is thought to play a role in spatial tasks.
nucleus
A collection of cell bodies in the central nervous system. Also an organelle that is responsible for reproduction in a cell.
occipital lobe
The rearmost cortex where the primary visual area lies.
Ohm's law
V=IR (voltage equals current times resistance); since g=1/R can also write I=gV
olfaction
the sense of smell
oligodendrocytes
These cells directly provide the myelin sheath wrapping that provides insulation for axons.
optic chiasm
The crossing point for the optic nerves (which are not really nerves) coming from the retina.
organelle
The cell has an anatomy too. Organelles are the organs of the cell and include stuff for making energy for reproducing and for making proteins.
orientation column
An area of visual cortex with neurons that respond primarily to line segments seen on the retina that have a particular angle with the horizontal
Papez circuit
A set of interconnections within the limbic system that were proposed (by Papez) to form the emotion system.
parallel processing
The idea that calculation in the brain involves many paths working in parallel simultaneously (opposite of serial processing)
parietal lobe
The large middle region between occipital and frontal lobes. Houses language in the dominant hemisphere and spatial functions in the non-dominant hemisphere. Has many areas of association cortex.
Parkinson's disease
A movement disorder featuring tremor rigidity reduced movement (except for the tremor) and tendency to fall. Associated with loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.
passive membrane
Membranes that lack voltage-sensitive channels. Voltage in such membranes is governed by the cable equation
perikaryon
Synonym for soma
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
The nervous system that lies outside of the brain and spine.
phasic
A transient response to a continuing stimulus opposite of tonic.
physiology
The study of functional interactions in biology. Contrasted with anatomy.
plasticity
Changes in neural connectivity
positron emission tomography (PET)
A technique for imaging physiological activity using radioactive substances.
posterior
Backwards depending on the position in the CNS corresponds to either caudal or dorsal.
postsynaptic
The part of a synapse on the receiving side
postsynaptic potential (PSP)
Change in voltage in the postsynaptic membrane caused by activation at that synapse.
potential
Voltage
presynaptic
The part of a synapse on the transmitting side
primary sensory cortex
An area of cortex that receives sensory information directly from the thalamus or other non-cortical area
primary visual cortex
The primary sensory area for vision
primate
Monkeys apes and people
proprioception
sensation of movement in muscles and joints
prosopagnosia
a neurological condition where specific faces can't be recognized
proximal
Closer to the center of the body opposite of distal
pyramidal cell
A characteristic neuron of the cortex that has a cell body shaped like a pyramid which gives off a large apical dendrite.
pyramidal tract
Corticospinal tract
rate coding
Frequency coding
"""realistic"" neural network "
Networks of neurons simulated to be relatively close to the real thing. The quotes around realistic are necessary because the complexity of neurons makes it impossible to accurately simulate them at this time. A neurophysiological approach to neural netwo
receptive field
"The receptive field of a neuron are the union of all those locations where stimulation will activate that neuron. For touch this could be an area of skin while for vision this would be the area (visual field) that this neuron ""sees"" "
receptor
A site on a cell membrane where a chemical can bind. Most receptors are highly selective they will only bind a particular type of chemical and not others. Receptors are the site where the neurotransmitter binds on the postsynaptic membrane.
recurrent collaterals
Axon collaterals that come back and synapse either on the same neuron or on the same type of neuron that they come from
reflex
A stereotyped closed stimulus-response loop
relative refractory period
A period during which a repeated neuron stimulation must be increased in order to generate another action potential
resting membrane potential
The membrane potential that a neuron will remain at in the absence of stimulation of activity. It is determined by a complex function that takes into account relative permeabilities of different ions and their respective Nernst potentials. Usually somewhe
reticular activating system
An area of brainstem that causes arousal or wakening when stimulated. Damage to this area can cause coma.
rostral
The head side of the body. In the brain this is toward the front (anterior) and in the spinal cord it's towards the top (superior). Opposite of caudal.
sagittal plane
The vertical plane that runs from front to back and up to down. Mid-sagittal would be the plane that runs through the middle of the nose.
saltatory conduction
The jumping of an action potential from one node of Ranvier to the next in a myelinated axon.
second messenger
An intracellular chemical that transmits a message between one place and another. In many cases a neurotransmitter activates a receptor that then secondarily relays the information to open an ion channel or activate another series of chemicals.
sensory channel
A psychophysics term for a neural pathway for a particular sense or aspect of a sense.
soma
The cell body of a neuron. This is where most of the metabolic activity of the neuron is centered. It has the organelles for producing energy and creating proteins. In the classical view signals generally pass through the soma on the way from the dendrite
space constant (lambda)
The distance along a passive dendrite for a fixed voltage to decline by 1/e (~37%)
spatial summation
Adding up of synaptic potentials arriving at different places on one cell
spike
An action potential
spike frequency
The frequency at which spikes occur. Usually between 5-100 Hz in most cell types.
spike-initiation zone
A specialized area with particularly high concentrations of voltage-gated ion channels that is the first to generate an action potential.
spinal cord
The part of the central nervous system that lies in the spine
spontaneous activity
"The ""resting"" firing of a neuron when not being stimulated. "
stimulus
A maneuver that can activate a sensory receptor.
sulcus (pl. sulci)
The cortex is a folded 2-dimensional sheet. The infoldings are sulci.
summation
The nonlinear adding together of multiple synaptic inputs.
synapse
Synapses are the connections between neurons. Some are electric but in vertebrates most are chemical involving the diffusion of a chemical messenger from one side (presynaptic) to the other (postsynaptic) across the synaptic cleft. Two important neurotran
synaptic cleft
The region separating the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes at chemical synapse
synaptic transmission
The sending of information across the synapse usually by means of release and reception of a neurotransmitter
synaptic vesicle
Organelles found in the presynaptic cell that store and release neurotransmitter
temporal lobe
A lobe of the brain lying mostly inferior (ventral) and pointing forward (rostral-ward) from below the major fissure. The auditory area and hippocampus (memory area) are in the temporal lobe.
temporal summation
Adding together of postsynaptic potentials arriving one after another at a synapse
terminal
The end of an axon
terminal arbor
A bunch of axon branches at the end of an axon
tetrodotoxin (TTX)
A poison that comes from the puffer fish and blocks voltage-sensitive sodium channels. Allegedly used in the voodoo religion for creating zombies.
thalamus
A large collection of nuclei that forms the major entry point for most sensory systems to the brain. It is also involved in sleep.
threshold
An activation level that causes a neuron or neural analog to pass from a quiescent to an excited state. In the case of a neuron this would be the voltage where an action potential would be generated.
time constant (tau)
The amount of time it takes a fixed voltage to die off by 1/e (~37%)
tonic
A sustained response to a continuing stimulus opposite of phasic
tract
A bundle of axons that run together in the CNS
ventral
The belly side of the body. For the CNS this would be anterior in the spinal cord and inferior (down) in the brain.
ventricles
Large cavities in the brain containing fluid
vesicle
An organelle that can store a chemical keeping it from floating loose around the cytoplasm. See synaptic vesicle
voltage
A measure of the force that a charge experiences due to an electric field. Symbol: V units: volts (also called potential)
voltage clamp
Holding a steady voltage in a neuron and watching how the current responds.
voltage-gated channel
Synonym for Voltage-sensitive channel
voltage-sensitive channel
An ion channel that opens or closes in response to changes in membrane potential.
white matter
Brain volumes made up of axons going from one place to another. Looks white when you cut open a brain.
ABLATION
separation or detachment extirpation; eradication. Removal of a part especially by cutting.
ADDISON'S DISEASE
Addison's anemia disease A disease characterized by a bronzelike pigmentation of the skin severe prostration progressive anemia lOW blood pressure diarrhea and digestive disturbance; it is due to disease (hypofunction) of the adrenal glands and is usuall
AGNOSIA
loss of the power to recognize the import of sensory stimuli; auditoty visual olfactory gustatory and tactile.
AKATHISIA
a condition of motor restlessness ranging from a feeling of inner disquiet to inability to sit or lie quietly or to sleep; seen as side effect of antipsychotic drugs. Called also acathisia and kathisophobia.
APLASIA
lack of development of an organ or tissue or of the cellular products from an organ or tissue.
APRAXIA
inability to carry out purposeftal movements in the absense of paralysis or other motor or sensory impairment especially inability to make proper use of an object.
ATAXIA
failure of muscular coordination; irregularity of muscular action.
BRADYCARDIA
slowness of the heart beat as evidenced by slowing of the pulse rate to less than 60.
CATALYSIS
increase in the velocity of a chemical reaction or process produced by the presence of a substance that is not consumed in the net chemical reaction or process; negative catalysis denotes the slowing down or inhibition of a reaction or process by the pres
CATALYZE
to cause or produce catalysis.
CHOREA
the ceaseless occurrence of a wide variety of rapid highly complex jerky movements that appear to be well coordinated but are performed involuntarily.
CLONIC
pertaining to or of the nature of clonus.
CLONUS
alternate muscular contraction and relaxation in rapid succession.
COGWHEEL RIGIDITY
rigidity of a muscle which gives way in a series of little jerks when the muscle is passively stretched.
CUSHING'S DISEASE
a condition more commonly seen in females due to hyperadrenocorticism resulting from neoplasms of the adrenal cortex or anterior lobe of the pituitary
DIPLOPIA
the perception of two images of a single object; called also ambiopia double vision and binocular polyopia.
DYSARTHRIA
imperfect articulation of speech due to disturbances of muscular control which result from damage to the central or peripheral nervous system (d. literalis stuttering).
DYSPHORIA
" (Gr. ""excessive pain anguish agitation"") disquiet; restlessness; malaise."
DYSTONIC REACTION
spasmodic muscular contractions especially of the neck face and back.
FASCICULATION
the formation of fasciculi. A small local contraction of muscles visible through the skin representing the spontaneous discharge of a number of fibers innervated by a single motor nerve filament.
FASCICULI
plural of fasciculus ( a general term for a small bundle of nerve muscle or tendon fibers.
FORMICATION
a sensation as of small insects crawling over the skin.
HEMODIALYSIS
the removal of certain elements from the blood by virtue of the difference in the rates of their diffusion through a semipermeable membrane e.g. by means of a hemodialyzer.
HEMODIALYZER
an apparatus by which hemodialysis may be performed blood being separated by a semipermeable membrane from a solution of such composition as to secure diffusion of certain elements out of the blood. Popularly called artificial kidney
HYPERPHAGIA
ingestion of a greater than optimal quantity of food.
HYPERPHASIA
excessive talkativeness.
HYPERPYRETIC REACTIONS
pertaining to exhibiting or causing hyperpyrexia.
HYPERPYREXIA
a highly elevated body temperature.
HYPONATREMIA
deficiency of sodium in the blood; salt depletion.
HYPOPLASIA
incomplete development of an organ so that it fails to reach adult size; it is less severe in degree than aplasia.
IATROGENIC DISORDERS
resulting from the activity of physicians. Originally applied to disorders induced in the patient by autosuggestion based on the physician's examination manner or discussion the term is now applied to any adverse condition in a patient occurring as the re
LEUKOPENIA
reduction in the number of leukocytes in the blood the count being 5000 or less.
MENIERE'S DISEASE
Prosper Meniere French physician 17991862). Deafness tinnitus and vertigo resulting from nonsuppurative disease of the labyrinth (endolymphatic hydrops).
MIOSIS
contraction of the pupil.
MYOCLONIC TWITCHES
relating to or marked by myoclonus.
MYOCLONUS
shocklike contractions of a portion of a muscle an entire muscle or a group of muscles restricted to one are of the body or appearing synchronously or asynchronously in several areas.
MYXEDEMA
a condition characterized by a dry waxy type of swelling with abnormal deposits of mucin in the skin (mucinosis) and other tissues and associated with hypothyroidism. The edema is of the nonpitting type and the facial changes are strikingly distinctive wi
NYSTAGMUS
an involuntary rapid movement of the eyeball which may be horizontal vertical rotatory or mixed i.e. of two varieties.
OPHTHALMOPLEGIA
paralysis of the eye muscles.
PARASOMNIA
state in which there is no response to stimuli verbal or mental except that of a reflex nature
PARESTHESIA
morbid or perverted sensation; an abnormal sensation as burning prickling formication etc
PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA
a well encapsulated lobular vascular tumor of chromaffin tissue of the adrenal medulla or sympathetic paraganglia. The cardinal symptom reflecting the increased secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine is hypertension which may be persistent or intermi
. CHROMAFFIN
taking up and staining strongly with chromium salts; said of certain cells occurring in the adrenal coccygeal and carotid glands along the sympathetic nerves and in various organs.
PICK'S DISEASE
(Arnold Pick) lobar atrophy of the brain.
POLYDIPSIA
excessive thirst persisting for long periods of time as in diabetes mellitus.
POLYURIA
the passage of a large volume of urine in a given period a characteristic of diabetes
PORPHYRIA
any of a group of disturbances of porphyrin metabolism characterized by marked increase in formation and excretion of porphyrins or their precursors.
PORPHYRIN
any one of a group of iron free or magnesium free cyclic tetrapyrrole derivatives which occur universally in protoplasm. The form the basis of the respiratory pigments of animals and plants
RESPIRATORY TACHYPNEA
excessive rapidity of respiration; a respiratory neurosis marked by quick shallow breathing.
ROSTRAL: ANTERIOR
pertaining to or resembling a rostrum; having a rostrum or beak.
ROSTRUM
a beaklike appendage or part; a general term for such a structure. Rostrum of corpus callosum the anterior and lower end of the corpus callosum.
TERATOGENESIS
the production of physical defects in offspring in utero.
TERATOGENIC
tending to produce anomalies of formation or teratism.
THYROTOXICOSIS
a morbid condition resulting from overactivity of the thyroid gland.
TINNITUS
a noise in the ears as ringing buzzing roaring clicking etc. Such sounds may at times be heard by others than the patient.
TONOMETRY
the measurement of tension or pressure especially the indirect estimation of the intraocular pressure from determination of the resistance of the eyeball to indentation by an applied force
UREMIA
the retention of excessive by products of protein metabolism in the blood and the toxic condition produced thereby