| Term | Definition |
| paraplegia | paralysis from the waist down |
| glioma | a tumor of neuroglial cells |
| poliomyelitis | inflammation of gray matter of the spinal cord caused by one of several polioviruses that often leads to paralysis;
also called polio |
| anesthesia | a process of treatment that results in a absence of felling or sensation |
| neuroplasty | surgical repair of a nerve |
| cerebral embolism | presence of an embolism (floating blood clot) in a blood vessel that supplies the brain |
| cerebellitis | inflammation of the cerebellum |
| psychiatry | branch of medicine that addresses mental, emotional and behavioral disorders |
| gangliitis | inflammation of a ganlion |
| meningomyelocele | protrusion of the meninges and spinal cord through the spinal column |
| cerebral aneurysm | a type of cerebral vascular disease where a blood vessel that supplies the brain becomes dilated due to a weakening of its wall |
| epilepsy | a brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizures |
| radicotomy | incision into a nerve root |
| hemiplegia | paralysis on one side of the body |
| dysphasia | difficulty speaking |
| palsy | paralysis of localized areas |
| neuralgia | pain in nerve |
| radiculopathy | a disease of spinal nerve roots |
| amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | progressive loss of muscle cause by hardening of nervous tissue on the lateral columns of the spinal cord; also known as Lou Gehrig's disease; abbreviated ALS |
| myelitis | inflammation of the spinal cord |
| monoplegia | paralysis of one limb |
| dementia | decline or impairment of mental function that is characterized by memory loss disorientation and confusion; literally means "not in the mind" |
| multiple sclerosis | the deterioration of the myelin sheath withing the brain,exhibited by episodes of localized functional losses
abbreviated MS |
| neurolysis | separating a nerve by removing adhesions |
| neurorrhaphy | suturing of a nerve |
| cerebral thrombosis | thrombosis (lodged blood clot) within blood vessels that supply the brain |
| analgesic | an agent that relieves pain |
| craniectomy | surgical excision of part of the skull to approach the brain |
| radiculitis | inflammation of the spinal nerve roots |
| syncope | fainting usually caused by a sudden loss of blood flow to the brain |
| craniotomy | incision into the skull to approach the brain |
| cerebral atherosclerosis | a type of cerebral vascular disease where a buildup of fatty plaque on the inside wall of a vessel that supplies the brain results in reduce blood flow |
| meningitis | inflammation of the meninges, usually caused by bacterial or viral infection |
| neuroarthropathy | a disease of the nervous system that results in pain within one or more joints |
| computed tomography | also called CT scan or CAT scan
this procedure |
| electroencephalography | a procedure that records the electrical impulses of the brain
abbreviated EEG |
| duritis | inflammation of the dura mater |
| quadriplegia | paralysis of all four limbs
also known as tetraplegia |
| encephalitis | inflammation of the brain, usually cause by bacterial or viral infection |
| lumbar puncture | aspiration of CSF from the subarachnoid space in the lumbar region of the spinal cord
abbreviated LP |
| psychosomatic | pertaining to both the mind and body |
| concussion | injury to the brain caused by violent movement of the head; includes symptoms of vertigo and loss of consciousness |
| cerebral angiography | x-ray photograph of the blood vessels in the brain following injection of contrast medium |
| cerebral arteriosclerosis | a type of cerebral vascular disease characterized by hardening of the arteries that supply the brain |
| shingles | viral infection of the peripheral nerves that erupts as painful skin blisters along nerve tracts |
| sciatica | inflammation of the sciatic nerve |
| psychopathy | any disease affecting the mind |
| neurotomy | incision into a nerve |
| meningocele | protrusion of the meninges through an opening caused by a defect in the skull or spinal column |
| neurasthenia | a vague condition of body fatigue often associated with depression |
| neurology | the study of nervous system |
| Parkinson's disease | chronic degenerative disease of the brain characterized by hand tremors, rigidity,expressionless face and shuffling gait
abbreviated PD |
| hemiparesis | PARTIAL paralysis on one side of the body |
| cerebral palsy | a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement and motor skills; usually caused by brain damage that occurs before or during a child's birth or during the first few years of the child life; abbreviated CP |
| encephalomalacia | softening of brain tissue,usually caused by deficient blood flow |
| neurosis | an emotional disorder that involves a counterproductive way of dealing with stress |
| cerebrovascular accident | AKA; Stroke
disruption of the blood supply to the brain resulting in functional losses or death abbreviated CVA |
| neuroma | any tumor that originates from nervous tissue |
| meningioma | benign tumor of the meninges, |
| psychosis | mental disorder characterized by a gross distortion of emotions and incapacity to recognize reality, relate to others, and cope with ordinary demands of daily life |
| hydrocephalus | increased volume of CSF in the brain ventricles of a child before the cranial sutures have been sealed, causing enlargement of the cranium |
| polyneuritis | inflammation of many nerves at one time |
| Alzheimer's disease | deterioration of brain function characterized by confusion, short-term memory loss and restlessness; Abbreviated AD |
| ganglionectomy | surgical excision of a ganglion |
| coma | AKA; deep sleep
describes several levels of decreased consciousness |
| myelogram | x-ray photograph of the spinal cord following injection of a contrast dye |
| monoparesis | partial paralysis of one limb |
| positron emission tomography | brain scan tht provides a map of metabolic function within the brain that can be correlated to brain activity
abbreviated PET scan |
| paresthesia | abnormal sensation of numbness and tingling without an objective cause |
| magnetic resonance imaging | use of magnets and computer imaging to identify structural details of soft tissues
abbreviated MRI |
| cepalalgia | a headache, or general pain to the head |
| aphasia | inability to speak |
| hyperesthesia | increased sensitivity to stimulation, such as touch or pain |
| echoencephalograpghy | use of ultrasonography or ultrasound to record brain structures
abbreviated EchoEG |
| neuritis | inflammation of a nerve |
| transient ischemic attack | brief episode of loss of blood flow to the brain that results in a temporary neurologic impairment and often precedes a CVA |
| neurectomy | surgical excision of a nerve |
| cerebrovascular disease | disorder resulting from a change within one or more blood vessels that supply the brain |
| narcolepsy | a sleep disorder characterized by sudden uncontrollable acts of sleep |
| seizure | sudden uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain resulting in convulsions |
| psychology | study of human behavior |
| reflex testing | diagnostic tests performed to observe the body's response to various stimuli |
