Nervous System - Vocabulary Flashcards Preview

Medical Terminology > Nervous System - Vocabulary > Flashcards

Flashcards in Nervous System - Vocabulary Deck (41)
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1
Q

acetylcholine (ACh)

A

Cholinergic neurotransmitter

2
Q

amnesia

A

condition of lack of memory

3
Q

amyotrophic lateral schlerosis (ALS)

A

muscular weakness, atrophy, with spasticity caused by degeneration of motor neurons of the spinal cord, medulla, and cortex; also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

4
Q

anencephaly

A

congenital condition in which there is a lack of development in the brain

5
Q

aphagia

A

lack of ability to eat or swallow

6
Q

apraxia

A

lack of ability to use objects properly; inability to perform motor tasks or ADL’s

7
Q

asthenia

A

loss or lack of strength

8
Q

ataxia

A

lack of order; lack of coordination of muscle movement

9
Q

bradykinesia

A

abnormal slowness of motion

10
Q

cephalalgia

A

headache

11
Q

cerebral palsy (CP)

A

disorder of movement and posture

12
Q

concussion

A

head injury with a transient loss of brain function

13
Q

craniectomy

A

surgical excision of a portion of the skull

14
Q

dyslexia

A

condition in which an individual has difficulty in reading and comprehending written language

15
Q

encephalitis

A

inflammation of the brain

16
Q

endorphins

A

chemical substances produced in the brain that act as natural analgesics and provide feelings of pleasure

17
Q

hemiparesis

A

weakness on one side of the body

18
Q

hemiplegia

A

paralysis of one half of the body when its divided along the median sagittal plane

19
Q

quadriplegia

A

complete paralysis of the upper extremities and lower part of the body.

20
Q

paraplegia

A

paralysis of the lower part of the body

21
Q

hydrocephalus

A

condition in which there is an increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain

22
Q

hypnosis

A

artificially induced trancelike state

23
Q

meningitis

A

inflammation of the meninges of the spinal cord or brain.

24
Q

narcolepsy

A

chronic condition with recurrent attacks of uncontrollable drowsiness and sleep

25
Q

neuralgia

A

pain in a nerve

26
Q

neurilemma

A

thin membranous sheath that envelops a nerve fiber; also called the sheath of Schwann or neurolemma

27
Q

neuroglia

A

supporting or connective tissue cells of the central nervous system

28
Q

neurotransmitter

A

chemical substances such as dopamine and acetylcholine transmitted across a synapse that transmits a signal between two neurons

29
Q

oligodendroglioma

A

malignant tumor derived and composed of oligodendroglioma

30
Q

Parkinson’s Disease

A

progressive neurological disorder caused by degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls movement

31
Q

pheochromocytoma

A

chromaffin cell tumor of the adrenal medulla

32
Q

receptor

A

sensory nerve ending that receives and relays responses to stimuli

33
Q

stroke

A

death of focal brain tissue that occurs when the brain does not get sufficient blood and oxygen; also called CVA cerebrovascular accident or brain attack

34
Q

transient ischemic attack TIA

A

temporary interference in the blood supply to the brain; sometimes referred to as ministroke

35
Q

syncope

A

fainting

36
Q

tactile

A

p. to sense of touch

37
Q

vagotomy

A

surgical incision of the vagus nerve

38
Q

computed tomography CT

A

procedure used to study the structure of the brain

39
Q

lumbar puncture LP

A

insertion of a needle into the lumbar for removal of spinal fluid

40
Q

myelogram

A

x-ray of the spinal canal after the injection of a radiopaque dye

41
Q

positron emission tomography PET

A

nuclear imaging procedure that can produce three dimensional pictures of actual organ functioning