Medical Terminology Final - CHAPTER 8

petit mal seizure

are small seizures in which there is a sudden temporary loss of consciousness, lasting only a few seconds; also known as absence seizure.

central nervous system

consists of the brain and the spinal cord

agraphia

inability to convert one's thoughts into writing

aphasia

inability to speak

ganglionitis

inflammation of many nerve cell bodies or ganglions

encephalitis

inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus

viral hepatitis

inflammation of the liver caused by a virus

huntington's chorea

is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and psychiatric problems.

Cheyne-stokes respiration episode

is an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by progressively deeper and sometimes faster breathing, followed by a gradual decrease that results in a temporary stop in breathing called an apnea.

reye's syndrome

is sudden (acute) brain damage and liver function problems of unknown cause. The syndrome has occurred in children who have been given aspirin when they have chicken pox or the flu.

cephalalgia

pain in the head; also known as a headache

migraine headache

paroxysmal (sudden, periodic) attacks of mostly unilateral headache, often accompanied by disordered vision, nausea, or vomiting, lasting hours or days and caused by dilation of arteries

dendrite

receives impulses and conducts them on to the nerve cell body

autonomic nervous system

regulates the involuntary vital functions of the body, such as the activities involving the heart muscle, smooth muscles, and the glands.

Anencephaly

the absence of the brain and spinal cord at birth

aura

transports nerve impulses away from the nerve cell body

apoplexy

unconsciousness or incapacity resulting from a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke

anesthesia

without feeling or sensation

ataxia

without muscle coordination

analgesia

without sensitivity to pain

Myasthenia Gravis

A chronic autoimmune condition that interferes with proper nerve transmission in the skeletal muscles, causing selective muscle weakness

multiple sclerosis

A chronic disease of the central nervous system marked by damage to the myelin sheath. Plaques occur in the brain and spinal cord causing tremor, weakness, incoordination, paresthesia, and disturbances in vision and speech

Encephalopathy

A condition of disturbances of consciousness and possible progression to coma

epilepsy

A disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions.

cerebral palsy

A loss or deficiency of motor control with involuntary spasms caused by permanent brain damage present at birth

lumbar puncture

A procedure used to remove cerebrospinal fluid from the spinal canal.

Parkinson's Disease

A progressive disease that destroys brain cells and is identified by muscular tremors, slowing of movement, and partial facial paralysis

Bell's Palsy

A temporary or permanent unilateral weakness or paralysis of the muscles in the face following trauma to the face or an unknown infection

grand mal seizure

A type of generalized epileptic seizure in which nerve cells fire in high-frequency bursts, usually accompanied by involuntary rhythmic contractions of the body.

hydrocephalus

Abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluids in the ventricles of the brain. "water in the brain "

hydrocele

Abnormal accumulation of serous fluid between the layers of the tunica vaginales which results in painless scrotal swelling

bacterial meningitis

An acute inflammation of the meningeal tissues surrounding the brain and the spinal cord; specifically, the arachnoid mater and the CSF

meningitis

An acute inflammation of the meninges, usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection.

babinski reflex

An infant fans out its toes in response to a stroke on the outside of its foot

guillain-barre syndrome

Autoimmune neurologic disorder marked by weakness and paresthesia that usually travel up the legs

wrist drop

Condition which results from radial and median nerve damage

Peripheral nervous system

Consists of 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal nerves

Cerebrum

Controls consciousness, memory, sensations, emotions, and voluntary movements

romberg test

Determines the integrity of the dorsal white column of spinal cord which transmits impulses to the brain from the proprioceptors involved with posture.

shingles

Development of painful, inflamed blisters that follow the nerve routes; caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Aphasia

Inability to speak

polyarthritis

Inflammation of more than one joint

spinal anesthesia

Is spinal or epidural anesthesia for cesarean section easier to perform & results in more rapid & intense neural blockade

cardiovascular accident

Medical Term for a Stroke, death of part of the brain tissue that is usually due to a blood clot

cluster headache

Occurs in series (cluster periods) lasting for weeks or months separated by remission periods usually lasting months or years.

paraplegia

Paralysis (loss of sensation of voluntary movement) of the lower part of the body and both legs.

quadriplegia

Paralysis of all four limbs

hemiplegia

Paralysis on one side of the body

causalgia

Persistent, severe burning pain that usually follows an injury to a sensory nerve

kernig's sign

Sign of meningitis; positive when the leg is fully bent at the hip and knee, and subsequent extension of the knee leads to pain

cerebral concussion

Temporary brain dysfunction (brief loss of consciousness) after injury; usually clearing within 24 hours.

Agraphia

The inability to convert ones thoughts into writing

Efferent nerves

Transmit nerve impulses away from the central nervous system

echoencephalograph

Use of ultrasound imaging to create a detailed visual image of the brain for diagnostic purposes.

Anesthesia

Without feeling or sensation

Ataxia

Without muscle coordination

Analgesia

Without sensitivity to pain

lupus erythematosus

a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

a disorder caused by compression of a nerve in the carpal tunnel (where the nerve passes through the wrist)

stress headache

a headache characterized by high stress, "band" around the heard or muscle strain

cerebrovascular accident

a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain

encephaloma

abnormal softening of the brain

badykinesia

abnormally SLOW movement

hydrocephaly

an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain